The Forgotten: Book One

Chapter 3

I woke up with the Earth's largest migraine and set up on my elbows with no pain. I stopped and looked down to see myself wearing a large oversized T-shirt and grey sweats that bagged on my legs nicely. Haley looked at me from the end of the bed with a blank, unemotional face.

"They were the only things I could find in my Cousin's room that was near pajamas. Going through your clothes is a nightmare." She said humorously.

I rubbed my head in annoyance, "Who..." Trailing off.

"I'm Haley." She raised her eyebrow, a spark of emotion showing behind her eyes, but not revealing itself any further.

"I know who you are." I snapped, irritatingly, "I meant who is your cousin."

"Terren."

My eyes widen, "He's your cousin?"

"Unfortunately," She scowled as she said this.

"You don't sound so excited about that." I laughed, rubbing the back of my head.

She cracked a smile, "I am. He is just... hard to get along with sometimes."

"You mean he's an asshole?" I felt like giggling.

"Well, yes. He can be an asshole quite often." She chuckled and came to help me sit up, "Your wounds are finally gone so we can get you into your own room and into your own clothes."

At that moment, Terren came bursting into the room with an angry look and stopped before us in a pair of small gym shorts and a black work out shirt with the sides ripped down. I stopped and stared immediately as I saw his abs flex beneath his shirt with his unsettled posture and movements.

He caught my eye and his began to blaze, "My clothes."

Haley looked at him with no expression, "Yeah. She needed clothes."

"She has a room, damnit! I didn't have any clothes for bed because you ransacked my room!"

"Sleep naked for all I care. You were supposed to provide the key to her room and you refused to stop working out so I borrowed your clothes. Plus, you know going through her clothes is a mess."

I started to feel guilty and hung my head, "I'm sorry, Terren."

He looked towards me in shock and his face had turned pale, "Oh no, it's fine..."

Haley looked at me and I thought I saw a speckle of fear behind the hardness of her eyes. As if she had seen this scene play out before her before and it was the only solid emotion I had to back up my theory of Terren and I being more of friends.

"What is that look for?" I questioned.

They both quickly composed themselves and she shook her head before helping me stand up and immediately catching me as my weak legs decided to nope the day away. Terren swooped in and picked me up smoothly and carried me through the Institute. The entire building was something out of a movie with its high, fancy ceilings and marbled floors. Statues stood on either side of the walk way before we climbed the massive staircase to the second story which was plagued with doors with numbers.

"Rooms?" I asked.

Terren nodded before turning a corner to another long hallway and approached room number 51. Maria was waiting by the door and her eyes were penetrating both Terren and I as he approached and set me on my feet carefully. I balanced myself and took a deep breath as he opened the door to the room that held myself.

"She couldn't walk?" Maria whispered under breath and I ignored her.

As the door swung open I entered and was appalled as I looked around at the deep pink walls, adorned with pictures and small brass symbols. The queen size, plush bed in the corner of the room was a statement with its millions of pillows and furry, heavy blanket. At the end of the bed folded neatly was an old quilt made of T-shirts and I ran a hand over it as I walked further into the room. A pair of black dressers were across the room and they  held tons of make up, lotion, and hair accessories and I cringed at the thought of me putting in the effort to do any of that, let alone walk around like that.

I began to feel bad, "I have a feeling I wasn't the nicest person on the face of the planet."

Maria sneered and huffed, walking out of the room. This swirled confusion around my mind as I realized Maria didn't like me. 

"What did I do?" I asked softly, hanging my head down in shame.

Terren set me down on my bed and rubbed the back of his neck slowly, "You and Maria were never on the best of terms overall. You don't get along most of the time. Found out the hard way in the beginning that you and her weren't meant to be partners. It was better for everyone when you switched your partnering assignments over to me."

"Why?" I asked curiously. 

"Well," He chuckled, "there were a few fist fights and arguments during training. Nothing that was abnormal, but then you guys started trying to kill each other. Literally."

"Born to hate each other." Haley chimed in.

I yawned and Terren and Haley picked up the queue that it was time for a good nights sleep. I watched them bid me a goodnight and make their way out of the door quickly. As the door shut behind them, I laid in the bed quietly and wondered if I would get my memories back or be stuck hoping for new ones. With these thoughts swirling in my mind it wasn't hard for me to find sleep quickly.