Valentine Cole's Journal

Entry #8

March 27, 1893
I barely remembered anything. As we headed in, we saw Pa. He was in a horrid state- feeble, and his voice!-nothing like before. But what was his voice like before? I couldn't remember. He was wearing just his pyjamas- and then he collapsed. I struggled towards him,and then- I put my hand into his chest, and felt his heart. Pa was still alive.
Just. We had to decode the flowers. I told her to get Ma or Linda. But she said that Linda was gone. I shook it off, saying I knew that.
But the thing was, I didn't.
When we went upstairs, everything was gone. The sofa, the furniture.. everything. We walked to Pa's study. But all the books were blank. All the words were gone, the pictures are still there, but no text at all. Pearl found my bag outside the Fernery, she grabbed it and went back inside. She quickly tried to decode the flowers. 'Sweet peas..' she muttered. Sweet pea meant delicate beauty in the flower dictionary. I put a cushion underneath Pa's head, then I heard her mumbling about where the next round will be. The next round of what? I thought, but I didn't realise I had said it. 'The game,' she said. The game? 'This isn't the time for games, Pearl, it's the middle of the night and this poor old man needs our help Pearl lowered the dictionary,seemingly aghast. 'What did you say?' 'What did I say?' I said. 'Can't you remember? You called Pa the poor old man!' 'Well, he is an old man,' I said quickly. 'You know, your old man, your father, Pearl stared. 'Have you forgotten him?' 'I have not!' I said, indignant. 'Yes, you have!' she said. 'The Acrade is Pa, and Pa is the Arcade! And you forgot them!' 'I haven't forgotten,' I retorted, scared. But unfortunately, my voice kind of gave me away. She quizzed me, but I was so confused. Who was she talking about? Where were we? What are we doing? Who... Who was she? 'Have I been here before?' I said. 'You already asked that.' The girl stared. 'There's a man on the floor.' I said again. I stared at him. He looked old. 'Should we help him?' 'We are helping him,' said the girl. 'Do you even remember who I am?' Something hit me. 'Of course I do, Pearl, I said . 'I remember, but where am I? Where have I been? Pearl started to walk away. 'What are you doing?' I said. 'Don't leave without me, I don't know the way home!' I was desperate as to where was home. Where was my family? Pearl suddenly locked the door. The only person I knew, gone. I slid onto the floor. What was I supposed to do? 'What am I meant to do now?
What am I meant to do?
I remembered nothing.