The Devil's Sweetheart

A blur memory of his own self sitting on a hilltop, holding a hand, soft like a delicate flower. \'The earth delights to feel your feet, and the wind longs to play with your locks. Here I am becoming envious of them.\'

His memory contributed to the last part of the missing sentence from the message card. His hazy mind also remembered picking something tiny, fallen on the ground, next to him. He slowly tried to see past the girl\'s face, but the voice again screamed into his ears, decreeing him to get back. \'I warned you about the consequences....\'

\'\'Stop...\'\' He screamed; the gravel voice was turning him insane.

\'\'Devin...are you okay_\'\'

\'Yet you didnot listen to me on that day.\' 

This time the voice turned orotund.

\'Stop digging for your memories if you don\'t want to end up dying.\'

\'\'Please stop it! Please..I will not think about them.\'\' Devin closed his ears at the disembodied voice, but he doesn\'t think the owner of the voice had ever listened to his pleas. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and his chest began to tighten. 

With a start, he woke up when the voice faded into the mist, taking the girl away. Running a hand through his hair, he breathed in and out, long and deep until he was steadily breathing. As his body calmed down, his gaze turned to his surroundings. He was in the office, in his private room. Daniel and Harley were watching him, a panicked look on their face. Another fleeting memory, yet it yielded nothing.

\'\'Devin..are you fine?\'\' Harley asked as she approached him slowly. Earlier, while they were talking, her brother fainted suddenly, frightening her. So, Harley assumed Devin hadn\'t recovered fully. \'\'\'Do you feel pain in your chest?\'\'

Devin glanced at her but didnot answer.

\'\'I_I have called the doctor,\'\' Harley said and glanced at Daniel. \'\'Uncle, can you check if the doctor had arrived.\'\'

\'\'I am fine. Send him back.\'\' Devin tiredly uttered and slowly made his way to the bathroom. He splashed water across his face, and his thoughts went back to the image he witnessed. His disease has no medicine. Just like Leena said, his memories are forcefully blocked. Who had done it? And who is that girl constantly appearing in his mind? He will get to know to some extent if he can find the person who had sent him the flowers.

Trudging back to the room, Devin looked at Harley. \'\'Did you find out the person who had delivered the flowers?\'\' He calmly asked.

\'\'Umm...I didnot investigate yet_\'\'

\'\'Then what are you still sitting here? Go, and get the work done!\'\' Devin\'s scream was soul-dying. Harley cringed in fright. \'\'Right away.\'\'

\'\'Don\'t inform Leena about the incident,\'\' Devin said as Harley walked past him.

\'\'As if I don\'t have any other work,\'\' Harley yelled at him before storming out.

For the next two hours, Devin impatiently walked back and forth in the office room, waiting for Harley. Within two hours, he called Harley twenty times, asking for an update, and eventually got scolded by her.

\'\'If Leena knows that you are behaving like a fangirl, I don\'t doubt if she kills you,\'\' Harley declared, not liking the way Devin was thinking about another woman other than Leena. 

\'\'I have ways to coax my wife.\'\' He replied impassively. \'\'Did you find it?\'\'

 Shaking her head, Harley unlocked her mobile and handed it to Devin. \'\'The flowers were delivered from Jade hotel, and the room is booked under a girl named Tessa Shane.\'\'

\'\'Tessa Shane?\'\' Devin pondered if he had a memory of the name, but nothing surfaced. \'\'Let\'s go and meet her.\'\' He stated.

\'\'Do you know her? Why do you want to meet her?\'\'

\'\'To get answers.\'\'

\'\'What kind of_\'\'

\'\'You talk too much.\'\' Devin dragged Harley along with him.

The hotel management was alarmed when a group of people entered the Jade hotel entryway, demanding that they meet Tessa Shane, one of the Jade hotel clients. But still, they refused the permit Devin to go into the room, which would hinder the privacy of their clients. 

Scared of his intimidating gaze, they called the room and explained the situation. The woman was kind enough to grant the permission upon their request. Only when they got the green signal, the hotelier escorted Devin to the private elevator.

Swirling thoughts were running through his mind with every footstep he took. Devin tried to keep calm, but internally his mind was in a mess.

 Will he able to recognize the woman? Will that girl recognize him and tell him about the missing memories? 

Harley signaled the bodyguards, and they moved to a safe distance where they cannot hear their private conversation.

The door opened, his gaze immediately landed on her, and nothing happened. He didnot find any familiarity. But, Devin didnot miss the startled expression on her face. 

\'\'Devin!\'\' The girl covered her mouth in surprise. \'\'I can\'t believe my darling is standing in front of me. Ooops...sorry for the formal entanders. Surprise got over me.\'\' Extending her hand, the woman flashed a smile at him. \'\'My name is Tessa Shane. I am a big fan_\'\'

\'\'Were you the one who sent the Birds of Paradise flowers?\'\' Devin asked, coming straight to the point.

\'\'Y_es. I also prayed for your health.\'\' She added to gain brownie points.

\'\'How do you know that I like Birds of Paradise?\'\' 

\'\'Ummm...I don\'t know Birds of Paradise are your favorite. I randomly picked them.\'\' Tessa said, fidgeting with her fingers.

Devin absentmindedly nodded his head. His hope died down again. He turned to leave, but he wanted to try his luck for one last time. \'\'H_ave we met before?\'\'

The question stunned Tessa. Why is he asking such an odd question? \'\'No! It\'s my first time, and I am delighted to meet you in person.\'\'

He half-smiled at her and turned around to leave. The shocked Harley followed behind him.

\'\'Why did you ask such a bizarre question? If she reveals it to the media, you will be put in the spotlight again.\'\' Her brother just talked as if he had lost his memories. Did the accident damage his brain also? Harley wondered. 

Without heeding Harley\'s thoughts, Devin stepped into the car.

...

Tessa closed the door and clutched her chest to calm her wobble breathing.