AFTER NEVER (Charlotte's Story)

Chapter 2/74: Unfamiliar Scarf

Please bare with our first few boring chappies! They're just a route to the plot development :)
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"You have actually regained your memory in a remarkable time length, Miss Charlotte!" The doctor smiled kindly at me, but then his expression became grim.

"Unfortunately though there might still be some missing information."

I nodded at him dazedly, and blinked, "Missing?"

I felt Mr. Ellington stiffen before the window upon my inquisition, as he fixed me with his dark and intense stare.

I didn't turn to look at him, but kept my gaze towards the doctor, waiting for his answer.

The doctor nodded at me in an assuring matter, "The information must be new, for it is fresher in your mind, and has not been in your memory for long."

I nodded again, and looked at my hands tied together over my lap.

Bloody hell! A missing memory, and a fresh one at that! Crap, I felt like there's something missing from my mind. A memory, or probably an incident... Yes, I feel like I'm lacking something. Part of me feels... very empty.

No! That's wrong, Charlotte! You just regained your memory for twenty-two years and there's no reason to feel empty. Not in the least! My inner voiced scolded.

"Wh-Where was I before I came here?" I mumbled.

The room went in silence for some seconds, and it did not pass me that some glances were thrown in Mr. Ellington's direction.

The president shifted, and turned towards the exit of the room.

"I had taken you to watch the fireworks of the New Year from the Victoria Embankment." His composed voice was just like I'd remembered it; the only difference was that it was cold, colder than any time I've heard it before.

I fixed him with my soft look, "And? What happened?"

A whole new level.

His eyes darkened, and his orbs turned to the deepest core of frostiness, I felt I might spot Antarctica somewhere there if I stared into them enough.

He reached to fix his wristwatch on his right hand with his left one, and he pressed there for a second.

"Obviously, your memories started flooding back into your conscious, and as a result you lost consciousness." His expression remained bored, and disinterested.

A sudden tingle flushed through my lips as my eyes snapped to his momentarily, and my right hands unconsciously rose up.

I touched my lips. They tingled, and somehow felt like they've been slightly enlarged.

A flush crept to my cheeks, and I lowered my gaze.

The president's gaze felt like it could burn holes through me, and yet I didn't look towards him.

There was something wrong in some place. I knew that much.

Rickard Conway turned, and walked silently out of the room at that.

I frowned softly at his back, "Why... Why does he seem so gloomy?" I muttered gently.

Nobody seemed to have an answer, better yet, I felt that everybody had one answer unspoken: Isn't he always so?

But no. I knew he seemed different, I could feel it in my bones.

Leonard Beards finally stiffened, and raised his right hand to rub the back of his neck, "Err, I don't think it's a personal thing against you, my dear." He spoke with a gentle smile, "He's just late for his family gathering."