The Extractor

Chapter 2- James

Chapter 2- James

James woke up in the middle of a hallway. He took one look at the burly men carrying him and spilled off the side of the bed in a panic attack.

“Whoooa!”

The men stared at each other for a moment, not sure why the boy had woken up earlier than usual.

“Well, he is a Worthless.” One muttered. The other nodded in agreement.

“Who are you people?” James yelled at them from the floor rubbing his head. “Why don’t I remember anything?”

They don’t answer his question. Instead they pick him up, one holding each arm, and dragged him down the hall.

“Put me down, I can walk.” James protested. They drop him to the floor.

When James tried to stand he realized that one of his legs was stiff. He looked down to find a blue cast with names all around it.

“Huh?” James said before the two men picked him up again, dragging him down the hall once more.

As James was being dragged he noticed something about the rooms he passed. They each had a golden plaque on them that read Name- Number and, usually, Valuable. He scanned the doors for the name that he believed to be his.

 James.

The name bounced around in his head. Finally the two men stopped at a door that had his name on it and once more dropped him to the ground.

The name on the door across from his caught his eye.

Annaliea

3659

Valuable

Where have I heard that name before?

The two men opened the door and threw him inside it. Leaving James with nothing but his thoughts.

James scrambled to the bedpost to try and push himself up into a standing position. It was impossible to see anything from the floor. After he could see around him, James collapsed onto the bed.

The room was cheap at best. James didn’t know what to compare it to, but the term Motel Room came to mind. Squeaky bed. Dirty floors. Unfinished walls.

“Well I guess when you’re a Worthless you don’t get it so good.”

There was a mirror on a dresser with peeling paint. Stuck into the frame of the mirror was a note.

Hello James,

Welcome to The Castle

James didn’t pay any attention to it. All he could think about was the lack of things to think about. Surly he must have some memories to call back.

 He looked at his cast and read the names and signatures on it. Maybe they hinted at his life before and why he couldn’t remember anything.

Get well soon buddie! I don’t want you to lose your brain! :P

-Jason

“What?” he mumbled to himself. “Lose my brain. . . Who is Jason?”

Bye. I’ll miss you when your mind is mush.

-Cassie

“Well she sure cares.” He muttered.

After reading some of the other things people had signed, James noticed a pattern. They all had to do with losing some part of his brain. Probably his memories.

But why would I lose my memories? Was it because I got hurt?

He decided to read a few more.

I really hope you don’t get mind wiped. Then you wouldn’t remember me.

-Annaliea

P.S- Look inside your cast.

“There’s that name again!” James said recognizing the name from the door. “Annaliea.” James took her advice and looked on the inside of his cast. Squished between his knee and his cast was a note.

If you can, meet me at the junkyard tonight at 7:00. I don’t want you to go without me saying goodbye.

“Where would I be going? Maybe here?” James pondered the note for awhile, thinking about this Annaliea and how she was involved in his life before this. “She obviously was a large part of my life before this.” He said.

He sulked back down on the bed. This Annaliea girl flooded his mind, but he still didn’t know who she was. He didn’t know anything about her.

James pressed his palms against his forehead. “Think.” He commanded himself but his brain wouldn’t budge.

A wall between him and his memories. And all he could do was stare at it.