Pandora's Box

Chapter thirty-two

June traces her fingers over the dusty wooden counter at the palace weaponry. She reminisces in the familiar stench of metal polish. She can identify every single weapon in this room although she's never touched it. The only thing she can remember is that her parents always turned her away when she got too close to the counter. Now she is the one turning them away.

A single tear flows down her cheeks as she thinks back to the overwhelming surprise she received a few minutes ago which caused her to run here. She remembers that the carriage dropped her off in front of a small cobblestone manor. She vaguely remembers the way she used to wait on the steps for her parents to come back home. She admired the steps even though they were nothing more than damaged wood.

For some reason she can't remember a single moment with her parents. Her memories are blurry as if someone purposely locked them away so she will never remember. She tosses a small flame between her hands as she wanders around.

Her mind raced through the events of when she arrived: she stood on the steps for a while and caught sight of the interior of the house. The window revealed the dining room which seated her mother, her father and an unknown child with features very similar to hers. Her mother sits holding the child's hand, teaching her to write while her father walks over with a plate of pancakes.

The perfect little family. The rage that sparked then is still flaming now. She hates that her parents replaced her. June thinks back to all the years where Toni used to help her with everything because her parents were never around to do it. Toni was the one who taught her to read, to write, to cook and everything else. He became her family and in this moment, she really wishes he was standing next to her.

She notes how her mother had spotted her and smiled but she only turned around and ran. No words could describe the unwelcoming feelings she had when she bolted.

The image of that dining room repeatedly plays on her mind, as she admires every inch of metal in the weaponry. An image where the only pictures were of the three. Not only are her parents happier without her, they've forgotten her completely and replaced her with a miniature version that they could sculpt into whatever they please.

"Juniper." The most comforting voice appears behind her. Toni walk over and stands right next to her. He looks over at her face and wipes the tear falling down then pulls her into a tight bear hug.
"It's okay." His soothing voices calms her mind and for that moment everything seems to be okay. He runs his fingers gently through her hair the way one would calm a crying child.

"Milo and I just finished lunch with our parents and we're heading back to the palace until we get this magical nonsense sorted. Do you want to come along?" June immediately looks up and nods. She never has to say anything, Toni always happens to know what to say.

"How did you know I was here?" June's voice croaks. She hangs onto Toni as they walk towards the exit.
"That's easy. This is the one place you would always run off to when you were younger. Don't you remember?" He gives her a comforting smile as finally leave the weaponry behind them and walk into the sunlight.

That smile is useless because it's not comforting. June can't remember running here as a child. She can't remember where she used to hide or how she used to find this place. Her memories have been blocked and she can't help but think there's a reason for that.