Page 17 of New Year with the Cartel

"Fendwyr,"I replied right away, my mind still racing. Why did this stranger feel so familiar? Why did saying our names aloud seem to solidify something between us? It didn't make any sense.

We stared at each other in silence, the cacophony of the fighting fading into background noise as we became lost in each other's gaze. There was something undeniable passing between us, a connection that transcended words, that spoke of a shared history, of destiny intertwined.

"Are you alright?"Gustall asked finally, breaking the spell."You look... confused."

"That's because I am,"I admitted, running a hand through my hair."I don't know how I got here, or what's happening. Everything feels strange, surreal... It's like I'm in some sort of dream, but that can't be true."

His expression softened, and he reached out, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder."It's probably just the drink,"he said gently."You've been asleep for hours, and you were drinking so much before."

I was drinking too much? I thought, frowning. Or was there something else at play here?

But before I could voice my doubts, Gustall continued,"Come on, let's find somewhere quiet to sit down. You need to rest."He smiled, guiding me back inside the room I'd awakened in earlier.

We settled ourselves onto the plush chairs near the window, the faint light of the moon casting long shadows across the room. I leaned back, closing my eyes briefly as I tried to gather my thoughts, to make sense of the whirlwind of events.

"You mentioned I've been asleep for hours,"I began, opening my eyes to look at Gustall."How long have I been here? Do you know what brought me to this place?"

Gustall shifted in his seat, looking down at his hands folded in his lap."Well, you arrived earlier today,"he said slowly."You were... not yourself, if you understand my meaning. Confused, disoriented. You kept rambling about seeing things, knowing people from another time."

My brows furrowed as I processed his words. So, I had been like this since this morning? That explained the strange clothing, and the unfamiliar surroundings. But it didn't explain why I felt such a deep connection to this man, or why my dreams seemed so real, so vivid. Or why, in some way, this also felt like a dream.

"And you've been taking care of me all this time?"I asked, my voice softening as I took in his delicate features, the way his blond hair complemented his face. He radiated an aura of gentleness, of kindness that seemed at odds with the opulence surrounding us.

He blushed slightly at my question, looking up at me through lowered lashes."Yes, well, someone had to,"he murmured."Besides, it wasn't any trouble. You're... interesting company, Fendwyr."

Interesting company? I wanted to laugh at the understatement, but something held me back. Perhaps it was the sincerity in his voice, the way his eyes shone with genuine curiosity as he looked at me.

"But why do you think I was acting that way?"I pressed, needing to understand, to grasp at some explanation for the strangeness of my behavior."Do you know what caused it?"

Gustall hesitated, biting his lower lip as he considered his response."I can't say for certain,"he admitted."But I believe it might have something to do with the necklace you were wearing when you first arrived."

Necklace? I touched my throat, finding nothing but bare skin."What necklace?"I asked, my frown deepening. What was he talking about?

"It was beautiful,"Gustall said."A silver chain with a locket pendant, inscribed with symbols I couldn't decipher. When I tried to take it off you, you became agitated, aggressive even. So, I left it alone, hoping that once you woke up, you'd tell me more about it."

I nodded, trying to remember anything about a necklace, but coming up blank. Whatever had triggered these visions, whatever had led me to this place, it was clear that I had no memory of it.

"Do you think it's important?"I asked, leaning forward in my chair."The necklace, I mean. Could it be connected to why I keep having these... dreams?"

Gustall shrugged, his eyes darting away from mine."I honestly don't know,"he said."But maybe if we found it, we could figure out what's going on. Wherever you hid it, perhaps?"

I glanced around the room, my gaze landing on the bed where I had awoken earlier. On a hunch, I walked over to it, lifting the mattress to reveal a small, hidden compartment beneath. I wasn't as surprised about the finding as I thought I was going to be.

Inside, nestled among dusty blankets, lay the very necklace Gustall had described—a delicate silver chain with a locket pendant, adorned with intricate symbols that seemed to dance and shift in the moonlight.

"Here it is,"I murmured, holding it up for him to see. The metal was cool against my fingers, the weight familiar somehow, as if I had held it a thousand times before.

Gustall stood, moving closer to examine the piece. His eyes widened as he took in the details, tracing the patterns etched into the surface."These symbols..."he whispered."I'm not sure, but maybe they remind me of something, something ancient, almost forgotten..."

Chapter 11

Gustall

I woke to Fendwyr's agitated movements beside me, his massive frame twitching and turning in a way that seemed completely at odds with his usual composed demeanor. What was going on? I asked myself. I was worried. It was unlike him to behave like that.

Soft grunts escaped his lips, his face contorted in what looked like confusion rather than distress. Strange—I'd really never seen him like this before.

"Fendwyr," I called out, placing a hesitant hand on his shoulder. Though we'd already spent more time together, I didn't know how he was going to react. He remained a dangerous person, after all.

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