Amnesia - The Matlock Pack: Book One

Sunday 27 December

~*Cody’s POV*~

For the rest of the weekend, all I could think about was what Takeshi had told me.

The paper that he had given me was now worn on the edges and along the crease lines because I had handled it so much. I couldn’t stop myself unfolding the paper, staring at the name on it, then folding it up again.

All Nat, Bells, and I did for the entire weekend was watch movies and eat scones. We were all nervous about how tomorrow would go when everyone returned to camp, including the two people that had caused Bells and I so much trauma on Christmas night. Throughout the day, we had listened to campers returning to their apartments after the long weekend, but we never opened the door to talk to any of them or to see if Tatum and Zelda were among them. Mum and Takeshi messaged us occasionally to check in, but otherwise, we had been left to our own devices.

I had another sleepless night. Because I had been thinking about her name for so long during the day, those four little letters had infested my dreams and the echo of her name chased away the nightmares like a dreamcatcher on steroids. Every time I woke up, it was to the whispers of her name bouncing off the walls of my room until her name slowly vanished into the ether.

Nahi.

It felt like I was going mad. Roux assured me I wasn’t. She remained remarkably quiet as I mulled over everything going on in my brain, speaking up only once — to let me know she would support whatever decision I ultimately made.

Night had fallen when I finally decided to call her. I almost convinced myself that it was just to talk to her, to meet her and see what she was like, but I think deep down I knew that I’d end up making a deal with her when she got here; consequences be damned.

As much as everything that was going on with Tatum, and now Zelda, played heavily on my mind, I knew that if worse came to worst, Bells and I could escape the two of them simply by fleeing Matlock, presumably with Nat in tow. For now, however, we had put our faith in both Mum and Takeshi that sanity would prevail, and things would return to normal — Bells would be back in the running for the Warrior Training course, and I would go to university to study nursing and midwifery just as we had planned, however many months, if not years, previously.

Nat had mentioned to us yesterday that she had thrown her name in the Warrior Training course ring when she had met with the instructors last week, however she doubted she would be selected, especially if Spence had any say in the matter. Otherwise, she was leaving her options completely open, regardless of what the next few days held. She admitted that whatever Bells would end up doing was likely what she would try to do.

However, with Mum… Even if I left Matlock, she would still be stuck with Dad. She refused to ask Nahi for help herself, and Takeshi had all but admitted that Mum would need Nahi’s help to break the fated mate bond. I desperately wanted her to be clear of him. She didn’t deserve the treatment she received from him and the guilt I felt that I had been the cause of it weighed heavily on me.

If there was only one thing I could do for Mum for the rest of my life, then getting her away from him would be the best gift I could ever give her.

As Takeshi had suggested, I opened my bedroom balcony door and went on the hunt for some food for a magpie. We didn’t have any birdseed on hand, and as we hadn’t had the option of leaving the apartment, I hadn’t been able to purchase any. We had mince though, so I grabbed some, made sure I thawed it to room temperature and left it in crumbled chunks on a saucer on my dresser.

I could totally be a hospitable guest. Even to a menace of a magpie.

After locking myself in my bedroom, I grabbed a glass of water and took a long gulp. My throat was still swollen, and although I had progressed to being able to say two words at a time in a throaty garble, I found it easier to try to talk after a drink. Settling myself cross-legged on my bed, I opened the scrap of paper one last time, laid it next to my laptop and tried desperately to calm my nerves.

I had the distinct impression that my life was going to change tonight. And I honestly didn’t know if that was going to be a good thing or a bad thing.

Taking one incredibly nervous deep breath in, I spoke as I breathed out.

“Nahi.”

Wrapping my arms around myself, I braced myself for whatever was going to happen next. Takeshi hadn’t told me what to expect once I spoke her name. Would she suddenly appear in front of me? Or would the wind pick up and she’d be carried into my room on the invisible currents like some Mary Poppins-type creature?

I looked around my room, peering into every corner, expecting this strange, unknown woman to suddenly jump out at me and scare the shit out of me.

Nothing.

I frowned. Had I not said her name right? I picked up the scrap of paper and stared at it. There’s only one way to say Nahi, isn’t there? I mouthed her name again, trying to figure out if there was a chance that I had mispronounced it. I didn’t think there was. Had Takeshi given me the wrong name? Maybe my voice wasn’t strong enough to call her?

I sighed, laid back on my bed and closed my eyes, holding the scrap of paper in my hands over my chest. I didn’t know what else to do.

“Hi Cody. I wondered when you would call for me.”

My eyes flew open, and I sat up, frantically looking around the room to see where the voice was coming from. A chuckle drew my attention to the door of the ensuite.

Nahi stepped out from the shadows; her head tilted to one side as she studied me just as much as I was studying her. I had to admit that I was initially a little alarmed to see her naked form, but bare skin had never been an issue for me. If she was comfortable walking around a stranger’s bedroom nude, then I wouldn’t make a big deal out of it. And anyway, her strawberry blonde dreadlocks were so long that they almost acted like her clothes.

A magpie sat on the top of her head, eyeing me cautiously. I remembered the mince on the dresser and opened my mouth to tell her about it, then realised I couldn’t speak. Holding a finger up to Nahi, I leaned forward to type on my laptop. “Mince on dresser for magpie.” I pointed to the plate as the electronic voice spoke for me.

Still studying me, Nahi tilted her head the other way and lifted a hand to the bird on her head. It hopped onto her outstretched finger and held on as she took two steps to her left, only disembarking when Nahi placed her hand next to the plate. The magpie fluffed its feathers, made a clucking sound like a chicken, and dug in.

Goddess, I really hoped it wouldn’t poop on my dresser.

“Her name is Gidja,” Nahi said as she ran a light finger down the magpie’s back. “She’s always liked you.”

I frowned, then typed. “When has she met me before?”

“Gidja was there the day you and your mother picked Nat up.”

I made an ‘O’ with my mouth as the memory came back. Gidja was that magpie? Huh. What a small world.

Nahi glided around the room, walking like she was made of liquid. There was an ease of movement about her I envied. She was about the same height as me but had a way of moving that I could only dream of. Her grey eyes studied my room, her hands occasionally drifting out to touch something that intrigued her. “I know why you called for me.”

My fingers flew over the keyboard. “How much will it cost me?”

“More than you know.”

“If I pay the price, will she be free of him and be safe, with no ill effects from the loss of the bond?” I watched her steadily.

“Yes.”

I clenched my jaw. “Then I agree to the terms.”

She came to a stop in front of me. “So eager. So confident.” She ran a finger across my cheek, pale white lines and dots appearing on her body.

I tapped on the keys, then stared at her as the electronic speakers spoke for me, daring her to contradict my words. “For my Mum, I would do anything.”

Nahi gave me a small smile, once more tilting her head at me to study me. “Not just for your mother.”

I frowned. Where had that come from? What did she mean?

“You will understand once you see.” She pushed the laptop to the side and climbed onto the bed. Straddling my lap, she brought both her hands to my cheeks and pulled my lips to hers.

Nahi’s entire body started glowing as seconds became minutes. I froze in place, not knowing what I should be doing. Was this the payment? Didn’t Mum and Takeshi say something about a down-payment?

I stared into Nahi’s grey eyes. Or were they turning a dark lilac? As I watched, her pupils grew smaller and smaller. The iris started dancing through a kaleidoscope of colours, starting with the dark lilac, then shifting to a hot pink, then to an iridescent gold; on and on the colours mutated until suddenly I began seeing literal fire in her eyes. I focused on the flames, watched them twist and morph until it was like I was watching a movie made just for me.

I was in one of the many tiny side streets of Matlock. The shops I was so familiar with were on either side of me, engulfed in flames as a bushfire raged around me, yet the heat didn’t affect me.

I walked towards main street. There was something I needed to see there, something drawing me further on. Just as I made it to the intersection, a figure brushed past me, yet ignored me entirely.

“Tatum?” I called out, my voice clear, but he never turned. He gave no indication that he had heard me at all as he joyfully dragged something behind him.

Not something. Someone.

Bells was naked, a black leather collar around his neck his only adornment. A leash was attached to the collar and although Bells was battling against every step, his hands at the collar, trying desperately to free himself from it, Tatum was able to use the leash to pull him along.

I rushed forward to help Bells, bringing my hands to his neck to undo the collar, but my fingers drifted through his form.

“It’s a vision, Cody. You can’t interact with a vision.”

I turned around to see Nahi standing two steps behind me. “What is all this?” I flung my hands out to indicate the burning buildings that surrounded us, the struggling figure of Bells being dragged by his neck down main street by his brother.

“This is the future. Or, should I say, one potential future.”

“How…?” I was horrified. “When?!”

“The how of it I’m still figuring out. The when of it, though. That’s a little easier to pinpoint.” Nahi nodded her head at one of the shop-front windows. An Easter bunny was on display, slowly melting as flames licked at the ears.

“Easter? But that doesn’t make sense. Bushfires don’t happen at that time of the year…” I trailed off as a familiar voice dragged my attention away from Nahi.

“Tatum, let Bells go. We all know it’s not him you want,” Nat shouted over the noise of the fire. She stood strong in the middle of the deserted street, her hands on her hips, staring daggers at the man approaching her, her eyes never once drifting to Bells. Smoke and ash drifted around her.

“You couldn’t save the town,” Tatum cackled. He tugged once on the leash, forcing Bells to fall at his feet. Once on his knees, Bells glared at Tatum, still trying to work at the collar to get it off. “What makes you think you can save your beloved?”

“He’s not my beloved, Tatum. He hasn’t been since New Year’s Eve.” Nat narrowed her eyes at Tatum. “But I expect you already knew that.”

“Watch closely, Cody.” Nahi had moved and was now standing immediately behind me, whispering in my ear. I shouldn’t have been able to hear her over the mayhem of the inferno raging around us, but I could. “Look for what you cannot see.”

A gunshot rang out, echoing loudly even over the roar of the fire. I watched as Nat slumped to the ground, blood spreading over her chest.

“NO!” Bells screamed, finally tearing free of Tatum’s hold. Or had Tatum simply let the leash go? Bells ran to Nat, skidded to a stop next to her, and dropped to his knees. He howled in grief as he cradled her dead body in his arms, rocking her from side to side. Tears streamed from his eyes, leaving trails along his soot-covered cheeks.

Tatum hooted as he danced a little jig in the middle of the street. A shadowy figure approached Tatum, black robes flowing from his form. Her form? A dark mist enveloped the robes, trailing behind them as they fluttered in the wind churned up by the firestorm. A rifle was in the form’s hand, poking its barrel out through the robes swirling around their legs as they walked.

The figure patted Tatum on the shoulder, then walked forward to stand over Bells and Nat. They crouched before Bells, a hand softly caressing his cheek to dry his tears. A distorted voice carried over the noise of the fire: “What makes you think Tatum was talking to Nat?”

The shadowy figure swivelled in place, turning to look back at Tatum. As we were standing right behind Tatum, we had a clear view of the evil red eyes glowing from the void where the cape lay over their head. “Nahi, you brought a friend this time. How nice.”

My eyes widened. “What the fuck, Nahi?”

Nahi took a step past me, staring at the figure next to Bells. “This is new,” she muttered absently.

The figure stood and started walking towards us.

“Nahi?”

The figure’s strides were getting longer.

“Nahi?!”

Nahi took one step back to be in line with me. She reached her hand out to me and I grabbed it, our eyes still trained on the shadowy figure approaching us. As soon as our hands touched, the shadows retreated around the person, letting their form take shape as they advanced towards us, letting us both see for a fraction of a second who it was before the shadows coalesced around them again.

I gasped as I recognised the person who was now only two metres away and was reaching a hand out to grab at me. Flinching, I turned my head from them and brought my free hand up to my face. I closed my eyes and leaned into Nahi’s shoulder.

I felt the atmosphere change around me. The smell of burning left the air, the roar of the fire fading away into nothing, and a different type of darkness fell over my closed eyelids. The slight pressure that had been on my lips disappeared, but the pressure on my cheeks remained.

“Bunyip…” breathed Nahi.