The Devil's Sweetheart

''Biomimetic leaves. It's a hybrid tree that can convert its energy into electric energy. It should be somewhere near this house. High heat levels can put electric devices in danger, and which is why the house is built in a deep forest.'' Devin explained.

''How are you so sure about this?'' Nick questioned. He felt like Devin was talking as if he has experienced it.

''Because..'' Devin didnot reply after the word. There is a reason he knows. He was here, and it all started from here. He has come here to warn that woman, and in the end, like a twist of the tale, he got a bigger surprise.

Devin looked around, and right opposite to him, there was a large passage. As they walked in, the door was already open, and when they stepped inside, a woman was standing near an open shutter window, with her back facing them. ''Welcome back, Devin.'' She said without turning to them. ''Do you remember this place? It was your home for one whole year.''

''Was it you who wiped my memories?'' With a disgust-filled voice, he questioned. One year home! Has she kept me in this prison for one year? Devin was wondering how one can remember everything but only forget memories of one person. If this woman created a super generation electronic device, wiping one person's memories is not a big deal.

''Yes. I made your memories disappear.'' Morvena turned back, a smile on her face.

''Why?'' 

''A deal.'' She replied in a flat voice.

''A deal for what!'' 

''A deal to wipe out your memories.'' 

''Don't mince the words.'' He snapped at her coldly. ''Who gave you the contract?''

''The person who gave me the contract also made a deal to keep it confidential from you.''

''What's the exchange offer that person made with you?'' Devin probed. A contract to wipe his memories?

''Your memories in exchange for a life!''

''W_hat? I don't understand!'' She is speaking in puzzles, which is making Devin hard to understand.

''Ýou will never understand,'' Morvena said. ''Don't try to search for him. Even if you search the entire world, you will not find him unless you get back your memories.''

Devin got a hint already. Him! So, it's a man who had a pact with her. He only has to find that person. But how? This woman is neither ready to tell the person's name nor ready to bent for money. He promised Leena not to look for his memories, but now that he knew someone gave a contract, he wants to dig deeper. What if the history repeats, and he loses his memories again. He can't bear to lose Leena.

Everything he has, wealth, fame, everything, but why did he want his memories? What benefit did he get by targeting my memories? There should be a reason.

''You better stop looking for your memories, Devin. Your dear wife is already worried. What if your past love comes back to hunt you?'' There was a mocking edge in Morvena's tone.

''With or without memories, no one can replace my Leena. The only reason I am keeping you alive after all the things you have said to her is...'' He paused. ''Because you saved her life. As per my memories, I don't care if they come back or not. I only want to find the person who contacted you.'' With that, he turned to leave.

''Good luck in finding then.''

Before Devin stepped out, Morvena called him. ''It takes four hours to step into the city from this dense forest. I can help you in_''

''No thanks. I can manage.'' 

With Devin, and Nick gone, Morvena sighed and went into the room to look for the electronic substance. She stroked the substance with the utmost care, knowing that it doesn't feel any emotion. ''I wish you were here to give a shoulder to lean on.'' She looked at the towering figure with a smile. ''I miss you, mom.''

....

''Whose memories you lost? Why did you lose? I am curious.'' Nick thought of the possible scenarios. ''My theory is, you might have seen a witch or Shaman performing witchcraft or shamanism, and they got scared that you will spill their secrets to the world, and you ended up losing memories of that person.''

''Your imagination is worse than Leena.'' 

''I learned from that worst.'' He cheekily replied. ''I have heard creatures eating flesh for food, but this is an exceptional case. Now have sacrificed our mobiles.'' Nick started his babble as they walked in the forest. ''I don't have any problem because I am still single, but you are a married man.'' Nick paused and then continued his rattles. ''Leena would have called you by now. That creature had gobbled your mobile, and another mobile is in the car, which is far away. She would have called my number, which is already dead. With our phones not reachable, she will think... and you already know her...''

''Stop it, Nick!'' Devin cut him off. He is ransacking his brain to come up with an alibi, and he is pulling his leg. When they hit the road and their car entered into their vision, the first thing Devin did was to check his mobile. Nick peeked into Devin's mobile and giggled. ''32 missed calls! I can see your future, Devin!''

His hand shook as he hit Leena's number. ''WANG DEVIN! Where the fuck you are! No phone calls! No messages!..''

''Sweetheart, please listen to me.'' He hurriedly explained. ''I_I just. actually..I.. '' He cursed his brain for not catching up one story like Leena. ''I lost my mobile, and I didnot know I had a spare mobile in the car. But the thing is, when I was playing some music...''

''I am not a five-year-old kid to believe. Always getting into trouble..Wait until you come home... You need a good lesson..''

It seemed to go on for hours, and by the time Leena shouted herself hoarse, Devin's energy wholly depleted.