The Amnesia Experiment: A Young Adult Dystopian Novel by Caroline Wei

Author:Caroline Wei [Wei, Caroline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-08-09T05:00:00+00:00

20

OLIVER

Mom met me right at the palace doors, the Caesitas guards saluting me. Her usually calm demeanor was replaced by running mascara and red eyes. She took my arm as we raced through the hallways.

“He’s not going to make it,” Mom sobbed. “Oh, Oliver, I’m so sorry.”

Bitterness gripped my heart. I couldn’t lose anyone else. Not here. Not now.

We barged into Father’s room, where a man almost unrecognizable met me. Father’s bronzed skin and broad shoulders had shrunk into a skin of skeletal cheekbones and shriveled face. His hair had considerably grayed, and doctors and nurses surrounded him somberly.

I fell to my knees next to him, grasping his frail hands. “Father.”

“My boy.” He smiled at me. “You’re back from Niveus.”

“Yes, to see you. How are you feeling?”

Father sighed, turning his head towards the ceiling. “I’ve been getting by.” He coughed violently, and Mom passed him her handkerchief. The seafoam silk was immediately stained with blood.

“Listen, Ollie,” Father said, tightening his hold on my hands. “I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to do more for you.”

I shook my head. “You are a warrior, Father. One of the best kings Caesitas has ever seen.”

“Yeah, well”—Father laughed from deep within his lungs—“Caesitas hasn’t been around very long. No, Oliver, I’m talking about the Amnesia Experiment.”

I swallowed.

“I know you loved that Niveus princess. It was obvious to your mother and I. It was so powerful, what you had with her, and yet, I just stood by when the Experiment initiated just because Niveus was a bully. I’ve often asked myself, what kind of example was I to you?” Father’s eyes cut to mine. “The answer is that I failed you.”

“You didn’t,” I said firmly.

“I was a coward.”

“No, Father, anyone in your place would have done the same thing.”

“Not you.” Father reached out to touch my face, and the hot rush of tears threatened to overtake me. I couldn’t cry in front of him. I wouldn’t. “That’s why you would make a great king. You have to promise me to do everything you’ve always wanted to do, but didn’t. Don’t let anything stop you, because you’ll regret it in ten, twenty years. I want you to win her back. I want you to win Caesitas back.”

I was the picture of strength, I was the picture of strength, strength, strength.

Mom’s face was running with tears; she was gasping into her sleeve.

“You’re not leaving,” I whispered brokenly.

“No,” Father said, smiling. “I’m not.” Then he took a shuddering breath and closed his eyes.

And just like that, he was gone.

Quick, like a snowfall.

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