A Fight to Remember

Empty Container

Derek

June 27 2028

Falling. Pain. Wet. Darkness

A low roar. Crackling and snapping. Warmth. The aroma of... food. I was slowly becoming aware of my surroundings. "Mmm." I groaned. I was warm and dry and I relished it until I felt the throbbing pain in my leg. I wiggled my toes and flinched. It must be broken. I reached down and felt it. It was wrapped in a splint of some sort.

I blinked. Through bleary eyes I realized I was in a very small cabin. A worn upholstered chair was beside my bed. Furs and tanned skin lined the walls. Chopped wood stacked neatly beside the door. A wood stove perched the corner, an orange glow eminating from the vents. Beside the stove stood a woman at table chopping something, she hummed softly.

"Where..." I rasped.

She stopped humming and turned her head slightly. A young woman, maybe twenty. Raven black hair, tied behind her in a braid. Golden brown skin, but her eyes were light colored, maybe green. The chopping stopped as she gazed at me. She finished her work on the counter, collecting the items she chopped and scraped them into a large pot which she carried to the stove,then she left, the door banged shut on her way out.

"Wait..." My heart thudded hard in my chest. Where was she going... I needed her.I sighed heavily, I was alone. I could hear rain pouring down the roof, the sound relaxing me. Before I could fall asleep again, the door squeaked open and the woman appeared, carrying a large clear jug of water. She poured some into a cup and and came to me.

"Here," she said softly, she placed the cup under my lips, "drink."

I drank, the refreshing liquid slid down my throat and cooled my hot body. "What- What happened? Where-" I had so many questions, but I was so tired.

"Shhh," the woman said. "Just rest."

I couldn't fight the exhaustion. I licked my lips, took another few sips of water, and was out like a light.

xxx

I woke to the sound of voices. The woman from earlier of course, and a man. Soft hushed voices, as if they were trying not to wake me. I couldn't make out what they were saying though, they were speaking in another language. I opened my eyes. It was dark outside, the light of day gone from earlier, the cabin lit by a single overhead bulb and a couple of lanterns.

In the kitchen area, if you could call it that, the man and woman seemed to be discussing something. Me, I thought. They each had a bowl in front of them and sat on tall stools beside the counter. The man said something and patted her knee and the woman sighed deeply and then looked over at me. When she saw I was awake, she smiled and walked to the stove with a bowl in her hand. When I meet the man's gaze, he simply nods his head at me and continues eating.

A pillow is pushed behind me, and I push myself to sit up a little as a bowl of stew is placed in my hands. "Thanks..." I say. I still have a lot of questions, but my stomach is demanding so I lift the spoon and help myself to the delicious meal.

"I'm Angie," She says, she cocks her head to the man at the counter, "That's Everett. What's your name?"

My name. During my time alone I had thought about what my name was, but I never realized I would have to voice it out loud. "Um... I don't- I don't remember."

Angie looked suddenly concerned, "You don't remember?"

I shrugged, and told her about my last few days alone, waiting for rescue. I start to explain finding the dead body, but the memories of that day cause me to choke up. "So how did you find me anyway?" I ask instead.