Bring Me Back To You
Prologue
Mila
it has been a while since we last talked.
Mila
this is the last time.
Mila
I've just done a lot of thinking lately and
Mila
I wish there was a way to
In the year 1998, after Mila's mom died,
she had to move in with her dad in a lonely town called Comett Springs.
After her parents' divorce, Mila and her mom moved to Italy.
Compared to Italy, where sunshine bathed the landscape in golden hues,
Comett remained perpetually cloaked in moody weather, shifting between rainy spells, windy days and occasional bursts of sunshine.
Being new to the neighborhood,
Mila felt a pang of homesickness for the friends she left behind.
Reluctantly, she found herself in the company of a group of girls who extended introductions.
She had friends back in Italy.
Besides, their friendliness felt somewhat rehearsed.
Her dad convinced her though, to give it a chance, assuring her that they were 'nice' kids.
Until, one sunny afternoon,
as they were playing dodgeball, one of the girls threw the ball hard to bounce and flew over the
fence surrounding the so-called 'haunted house' at the end of the street.
"What's your name?"
Girl 1
The ball is in the haunted house...
Kristie
That's the house where the weird family lives.
Girl 1
a deranged killer lived in that house.
Girl 1
When the killer was discovered,
Girl 1
there were bloodstains, dismembered body parts and
Girl 1
signs of struggled everywhere!
Kristie
That sounds like crap.
Girl 1
It's true! My mom said it!
Kristie
who's going to go there and get the ball?
They all exchanged worried glances, unsure of how to retrieve it from that house.
Kristie
I say Mila should get it.
Mila
But it's not my fault the ball went there.
Mila
Why should I have to go?
Kristie
It's about time you prove to us that you're not a scaredy cat.
Girl 1
You have to do it, Mila.
Girl 1
We all did something like this when we were new.
She gave in to their persuasion because she wanted to feel like she belonged.
With heavy steps and a knot in her stomach,
she approached the iron gate of the house.
Mila
(Even if it's morning, it's still creepy.)
Mila
(Why would anyone want to live here?)
She wanted to run away, but they encouraged her to go forward.
As she caught sight of the ball near the poolside, both of them suddenly burst into laughter.
Confused, she turned around and
Panic swelled within her chest at the eerie atmosphere.
The more she scanned her surroundings, the more she felt her anxiety.
Every gust of wind and sway of a branch made her think of chilling images.
Frozen on her spot, the story earlier played out vividly in her mind.
Girl 1
...a deranged killer lived in that house.
Girl 1
When the killer was discovered,
Girl 1
There were bloodstains, dismembered body parts and
Girl 1
signs of struggled everywhere!
Worse, the crisp morning air carried with it a hint of chlorine from the pool, triggering a memory about hospitals.
Mila
(I can't... breathe.)
Tears welled up in her eyes.
A voice shattered the eerie silence, and she shrieked.
Whipping around, her eyes widened in surprise as she saw a boy standing by the glass doors.
She admired the gentleness of his gaze, realizing that, in the fleeting moment, she had found comfort in the eyes of a stranger.
Mila stared blankly at him, finally managing a nod.
?
They don't want to play with you anymore?
Mila
They ran away and left me.
He frowned, as if in concentration until he remembered what he was holding.
Tears caught in her lashes as relief washed through her.
?
choose your friends wisely.
And with that, an unexpected meeting happened that started beside the pool of the supposedly haunted house.
"Can a kid get an amnesia?"
The next day, as she faced the same girls, the memory of his advice plagued in her mind.
Kristie made it pretty clear that she harbored some ill feelings towards Mila with the way she looked after she saw her.
To make things worse, Mila had her seat next to them, and so she had to act as if she wasn't bothered even if she was.
Kristie
Mind control is a thing.
Kristie
I saw it on Discovery Channel.
Girl 1
Kristie, you're full of crap.
Kristie
No, you're full of crap.
Mila felt something at the back of her head.
Kristie
Fries make you fat.
Kristie
And you're not supposed to eat in class.
The greasy fry slid from her back to the empty chair beside her.
Kristie
Anyway, mind control is a thing, right?
Girl 1
What does she know about it?
Kristie
It's a real thing, yes or no?
Girl 1
Why are you asking her?
Kristie
Her dad writes about them.
Girl 1
I thought her dad died?
Kristie
That's her mom, dummy.
Kristie
And her dad is an artist.
Kristie
He draws stuff and they own that grocery store near the park.
Kristie seemed proud of her local knowledge and beamed with satisfaction.
Mila only nodded her head because she didn't want them to discuss her personal life further.
Kristie
she controlled the pencil with her mind.
Ms. Owens
Settle down, people!
Ms. Owens arrived before Kristie could reply.
There was someone trailing behind her.
The boy's head was slightly down, preferring to avoid attention.
Despite his attempt to blend in, he walked with quiet confidence.
Ms. Owens
We have another student joining us this year.
Ms. Owens
Why don't you tell us about yourself?
Marco
Nice to meet you all.
Mila heard Kristie whispered:
Girl 1
Mind control him, Kristie.
Girl 1
If you can, that means it's re—
Ms. Owens
Anythind you'd like to share to us, Marco?
Ms. Owens
Hobbies? Favorite color?
He scanned the classroom, disinterested and nonchalant.
Uncertainly loomed behind his eyes until it met Mila's.
Marco
Favorite color... maybe green?
She looked away before he could recognize her because Mila felt self-conscious all of a sudden.
After all, when they met, she remembered how she looked a bit of a mess.
Red-faced, sniffling and full of...boogers.
Mila
(He probably thinks I'm a loser.)
Ms. Owens
You can sit wherever, Marco.
His eyes moved casually from one seat to another, unaffected by the curious gazes.
He moved down to rows of seats.
It didn't help that he was tall, and he had floppy hair because Mila could still see him even if head was bowed down.
He moved further and further until
Mila
(What happened to her voice?)
Kristie
There's a vacant seat here next to Mila.
The class was starting, he hurried towards it.
Mila
(But I feel nervous.)
Mila glanced at him then.
Mila
(I shouldn't have done that...)
Mila
(He doesn't look like he remembers me.)
Marco's face remained neutral when he sat next to her, and placed his bag on the floor.
Mila
(As if we didn't know each other at all.
Mila's Dad
This looks nice.
Mila's Dad
What do you think?
Mila
What's the extra shelf for?
Mila
I thought that was for the canned goods?
Mila's Dad
People buy canned goods, they see my comics.
Mila's Dad
you like Conundrum Man!
Mila
I like it because you wrote it.
Her legs dangled against the counter of Camila's Mart.
One of the three only local grocers in the whole Comett Springs.
It used to be called 'Belladonna'—a mix of her mother and paternal grandmother's name.
Her dad changed it to Camila after Mila's full name, believing that it would bring him more luck.
Mila stared at the store's logo: a cartoonized version of three-year old her.
Mila
(I feel bothered about that Marco kid.)
Mila
(I wanted to say hi, but he pretended we didn't know each other.)
Mila
(Why did he look so unfriendly compared to the kind boy I met?)
Mila
Dad, can a kid get amnesia?
Mila's Dad
Who's this 'kid'?
Mila
Don't look at me like that.
He made a funny face as heated denial rose in her throat.
Mila's Dad
I didn't say anything...
Mila's Dad
But you remember the six Bs and one C?
Mila's Dad
Books Before Boys Because Boys Bring Cooties.
Mila
So, you have cooties?
Mila's Dad
I said boys, I'm a man.
Her dad laughed, wiping off his forehead with the sleeve of his checkered polo.
Mila
Is that how you're bringing the 'chicks'?
Mila
You purposefully try to look like someone who smells like Italian dressing.
Mila's Dad
Italian dressing?
Mila
You look like someone who smells like vinegar.
He stood up from the floor and pretended to be serious, stalking towards her with exaggerated gestures.
Mila's Dad
Italian dressing, huh?
Her dad swept her into his arms, holding her playfully in the air.
Mila's Dad
Smell this vinaigrette!
Mila laughed, struggling beneath his armpit.
They both laughed, and he set her down gently.
Mila's Dad
All the other chicks will be repelled because,
Mila's Dad
you're my only chick.
Mila
I still wish you'd get a girlfriend.
Mila's Dad
Conundrum Man is my girlfriend.
Download NovelToon APP on App Store and Google Play
