Chapter 7
Charlie
A loud sigh escapes my lips, frustrated I opened my eyes and maneuvered myself to a sitting position on the plush sofa. A quick glance to my left sat a very pensive doctor Alfonso. His warm chocolate brown eyes piercing me with a disproving frown and pursed lips. I guess he expected this session to produce more insight. I couldn’t blame him. I, too, was woefully disappointed.
Four days flew by since the cafeteria incident, four days of me trying but failing to trigger a fresh memory. Bereft and exhausted, I laid awake night after night reliving the gruesome scene of my dad’s lifeless body lying prone on the dirt floor of what appeared to be a campsite, riddled with bullets. My tiny fist pressing against his opened flesh. After witnessing that, getting out of bed seemed like a monumental task, one I couldn’t even do. The nurses and orderlies came into my room three times for the day, left food, and pills. Stoically, I ate what my churning stomach could take and left the rest, the pills I took without thinking twice.
Even grumpy Aragon, who I learned actual Christian name was Francis, need I say more. Insert eye roll here. Well, he became concerned when he realized I had become a subdued recluse of my volition. The nurses tried to encourage me to join the others as was accustomed, but I declined. In all his wisdom, Aragorn decided he would send Riley to convince me to get out of bed.
Riley showed up, sat by my bed as I laid with my eyes starring at the white ceiling lost in thought. In my mind, I saw the ceiling disappearing to be replaced with the starry sky I saw in my memory. Safe to say I was stuck inside my head, reliving this nightmare literally every damn day. How the hell would I cope if I remembered everything, was that the reason I lost my memory in the first place, was it the reason they threw me into this hellhole? Did I completely lose my shit, have a mental breakdown? That would explain so much, except for the fact that no one answered my questions when it came to my family.
“Hi I am Riley, Francis sent me to ask if you would come to dinner,”
For the first time, I really looked at her. Flush cheeks and a hesitant smile made me realize how nervous and unsure she was in my presence. Odd, I wasn’t that big a pain in the ass, was I? I shook the stupid thought from my head and smiled at her.
“Raincheck, just not feeling up for company tonight,” I said.
I notice the smile slipped from her face and a small quiver alighted her slight frame. Concerned, I gently took her hand as she started for the door, stopping her movement.
“Is there something wrong, why did you become so scared Riley what is the matter.” Hesitating for a minute, she spoke, then stopped immediately. Swung her head to the open entrance as if she feared someone was listening.
“It’s nothing I promise. Have a good night Charlie,” Unconvinced. I nod as she saunters from my room, her blonde ponytail swinging from left to right, and a distinctive stiffness to her normally slow gait. Something was definitely wrong. I could feel it. For a minute there, I felt the need to run after her and make her tell me what was wrong. My instincts told me she wouldn’t say a damn thing if she believed someone could overhear our conversation. The encounter stayed with me for a while. Riley had definitely made me forget my shit for a while. Now my focus seemed to be on her.
She had only been here for a week and already the smile she once greeted me with had dimmed a bit. That wasn’t good it could only mean one thing, trouble.
That was over two days ago, two days of being Riley’s shadow every chance I got. It was easier to focus all my efforts on Riley, at least getting her to open up to me. It was a slow process. Today I got a smile that actually made it all the way to her eyes.
“Charlie,” I jolted from my thoughts, apparently doctor Alfonso had been calling my name for quite some time.
He stared at me as if I had completely zoned out on him, which I had clearly
“Are you hearing me this time, Charlie?”
“Of course, sorry I zoned out a bit there,” I said apologetically, squirming in embarrassment.
“We should try the mediation exercise one more time,” A loud groan left my lips, my gaze was on the laughing doctor Alfonso clearly my discomfort was amusing.
We have been at this for several hours now. The only answer it produced was a distinct hatred of any form of mediation. Why anyone did this was beyond me. I found it to be annoying as hell. This place was quiet enough without the addition of stupid meditation. I swear between the psychotropic drugs, mediation, electric shock, this place was like a version of the Invasion of the Body Natches. Creating little mindless drones.
I needed out of this twilight zone mindscape. I decided whether I got my memories back or not. I was leaving in two days. My plan, easy-peasy, become friendly with the good doctor, borrow his ID, wait until nightfall when everyone was asleep, disguise myself as a nurse, the costume, I got over a month ago, hidden under the floorboard of my room. I had set my plan into motion for weeks. I was simply buying time until I figured out what the hell happened to me. But I just could do it anymore. The answers I sought weren't in this place.
The problem, Riley, she had become the sister I always wanted but never had. I loved my brothers but there were times I wished my parents had given me a sister to talk shop with, like boys, makeup, even life. How the hell was I going to leave her. She was alone in the world, abandoned by parents who could never understand how special and sweet she was.
She hadn't told me the details, from the bits and pieces of conversation it appeared as if she had been sent to Bellmore institution for the criminally insane because she was different, how I still wasn't sure, maybe when she trusted me enough she could disclose what that was, in the meantime patience was my new saving grace when it came to her.
She had been at my side since the day before when I finally showed up for dinner. I actually saw the relief on Aragorn's face or should I say, Francis, I kind of liked his given name better at least I would use it when I wanted to tease or get under his skin.
When I entered the dining hall, I saw Francis stood at attention, a slight smirk playing on his huge lips. I wasn’t sure if he was happy; whether I was up and out of my room or not. But I was where he could see me, which meant I wasn’t getting myself into trouble. Although his eyes did bulge when I walked in a spaghetti strap top and short shorts. Not my usual attire.
Lately, I have been feeling like a furnace has been inhabiting my body. Nothing I do short of stripping naked seemed to help curb this incessant heat plaguing my body for the last two days. It was so odd I snuck into the central room that housed the thermostat. Someone almost discovered me tinkering with the stupid device. That would not have been pretty. It sure as shit would have mess with my plans of escape. Especially if I wasn't successful, took over thirty minutes to get the temperature right.
Upon entry, I noticed everyone seemed to be dressed in oversized coats, scarves, and sweaters. Huddled in small groups, for a moment I felt the tingling relief of cold air being replaced with unwavering guilt. Then I remembered I was just a visitor and any inconvenience I was causing would be rectified after my departure. It was the only way I could justify other people's discomfort. It pretty much sucked, but I couldn’t let that twist me into knots.
So that being said, I strolled in a spaghetti strap top with shorts, with no fucks to give attitude.
“Charlie, I am going to need you to focus now,” shit there I was again, zoning out.
I closed my eyes and let the quiet settle into my mind, drifting closer to the memory that wreaked havoc with my emotions for days. This was it. I had to remember or give up trying and discover the truth.
“I want you to tell me where you were in the last memory.”
Doc says as I let my mind take me back to the stars, and smoke so thick I felt like it overpowered my senses.
Chapter 8 The first thing I see is smoke. I am surrounded by its thick, ashen puffs. There is no discernible solid surface anywhere, nothing to hold on to. Then in walks a figure, his face shrouded in darkness. How I knew it was a male, no idea, but I figured it could only be male considering the height and broad shoulders. I gasp as his familiar salt and pepper hair, dark brown eyes, and chiseled jaw become clear. My dad. A huge smile appears on my face. I run and throw myself in his arms, crying and laughing as he catches me in mid-jump. “Hey pumpkin,” Dad says, squeezing me even tighter, placing a chaste kiss on my forehead, as he used to when I was younger. “What are you doing here, you’re not supposed to be here Charlie, you have to go?” “I ----I don’t know what happened Dad,” my words falter as he looks at me with worried eyes. “Where’s mom, where are the boys? Do you even know what’s going on? Where I am right now.” I cried, gazing at h
Chapter 8 Charlie My eyes popped open on a gut retching scream, curled into a fetal position I laid on the sofa, completely devastated. Tears streaming down my face, a fist clutched in my mouth to quiet my sobs. I wasn’t sure what I witness; It wasn't a memory that I could say with absolute certainty; I felt like I was in-between realities, a place where my dad was dead, but still able to warn me. How any of it was possible, was the question of the century. Maybe I was just as delusional as the rest of the patients here. Either way, whatever it was, it left a giant hole in my aching chest. Gentle hands patted me on the back as more tears fell from my eyes. So lost in my grief, I did not know the doctor had entered my personal space, until I felt his calloused hands on my shoulder, trying to comfort me. It was useless. Nothing short of my family magically turning up yelling surprise would lift this pain from my heart. “It's okay, Charlie,
Chapter 9RileyI sat in the corner of my room, on the white linoleum floor, my knees to my chest, my head bowed as if in reverence all the while my hands covered my aching head as the voices kept bombarding me with negative thoughts. I was tired of the constant negative things people thought, tired of having a front-row seat to the evil in the world.Usually, the meds help drown out the voices and the pressure of whether I should intervene or ignore what I knew, particularly when I hear someone thinking about hurting themselves or others. Being a clairvoyant, who picked up on the negative thoughts, pretty much sucked ass. Hell, even my own parents were afraid of me and had been for years as my abilities developed.At the first opportunity, they had me committed, telling the police that I was a danger to myself and the others they fostered to earn more money. Joe, my dad, was incapable of working. He was in a car accident when I was four, thus the f
Chapter 10 Charlie It was hot, super fucking hot. Playing with the stupid thermostat hadn’t helped, either. No matter how cold I turned the dial, this insufferable heat I felt just kept intensifying. Today, like the last three days in a row, I woke with sweaty armpits and drenched sheets, let’s not mention the disgusting mess that was my panties and tank top, they never stood a chance. I was so out of my element it was a joke. I would give my left nut, if I had one, what was the equivalent of a nut for a female, tits maybe, hmm. Insert groan here, too much thinking. Fuck if I knew what the equivalent of a guy's nuts was. Anyway, whatever it was, I would give that for someone to explain to me in great detail what the hell was going on with me. I mean, don’t get me wrong, the other changes I thought were kinda awesome, like the increase in strength. I practically lifted my bed a couple of days ago when I couldn’t find one of my shoe
Chapter 11 Charlie Someone was in my room, on top of me, don’t panic Charlie, at least not yet. Just breathe deep breaths. Calm down, you can get out of this. How the hell did he get in? I try to think back. When Riley left, she closed the door. Then I realized. I hadn’t locked it. How fucking stupid. I was like a momma bear with Riley’s safety. I guess not so much with myself, shit. My eyes lifted and as clear as day I saw it was Legolas, his pointy Elvin ears gave him away. Wearing a balaclava wasn’t really helping him. For a moment, I was scared. What would he do to me, in the back of my mind I knew, but denial and anger kept pushing the disturbing thought away? Was he the one who attacked Riley? The son of a bitch tried to rape her, the bastard would pay for that and any other unwilling females he raped or tried to rape. He bends close to my ears and whispers. “If you scream, I will kill you bitch, you got that,” he
Chapter 12 Francis “FUCK”, I shouted Of course, the stupid little girl would get herself into more trouble. Trouble was Charlie’s middle fucking name after pain in the ass, which she had been since I took this post. I was a fucking enforcer, for god’s sake, not a freaking babysitter. I should be at the Alpha's side protecting him, not his mate. Another growl left my lips as I struggled in my haste to throw on the t-shirt, shorts, and jeans I discarded on the floor the night before. Sleeping naked was easier after a run, not that I could go far, considering I had to have an eye on the pain in the ass down the corridor at all times. Aggravated, I left my room sands footwear to get to my charge, all the while pondering what the hell I had been thinking to take this post. I must admit when the Alpha first approach me with his asinine plan for the new gig, it sounded easy enough. “Take the job Francis,” he said. “How much trouble coul
Chapter 13 5 years later Charlie I trudge through the quiet, dense underbrush, as I felt the crunch of fallen leaves and small stones sticking to my front paws. It had been five years since that faithful night, since my life had gone to complete and utter shit, practically splintered into a million pieces. Shards of me were everywhere, and I was just trying to put the pieces back together like a 3d jigsaw puzzle, one piece at a time. I stopped as the tickle of pine, and the feeling of home filled my nostrils, drawing in a deep breath as memories of that night began fading in and out. I was confused, yet the prospect of finding another piece of the puzzle thrilled me to the bone. Unexpectedly, a painful longing stole the nervous breath that suddenly felt trapped within my chest. The mere idea of what lay ahead gave me pause. Mate, the words whispered in my head, my wolf paced back and forth, restlessness, and apprehension dawning
Chapter 14 Naja “I will not ask again, what are you doing in my territory.” No one answered my question. The little runts stood tall like they were the innocent parties in this equation. Hell, they appeared almost indignant by my line of questioning. Stubborn little shits. So apparently plan A was a bust, on to Plan B, I guess, scare them into leaving. “Well, we could do this dance one of two ways,” I said as I paced the length of the forest that separated us. Of course, this was all for show. I wasn’t some monster hunting little red riding hood and her pet wolf on her way to grandma’s house. Considering they had already encountered two big bad wolves, they had to be wary of another coming out of the woodworks, like a mirage, asking stupid fucking questions. “You can either turn and leave and all would be forgiven for the two idiots there.” I pointed to the recent kills laying at their feet for emphasis. “Or, I c