MEMORY (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter One

My body was sore from the waist up. I couldn't see or think straight. My mouth dry, hands calloused, throat sore. It felt like I had been asleep for hours; unable to move. The IV in my arm was the only thing I could focus on as monitors beeped around me. My eyes ache too much to try to pry open, so I remain still.

"Clove?" A woman's voice echoes through my ears, "Can you hear me?"

The voice is familiar, but I can't make out who it is.

"Get the oxygen out just in case." she says, then I feel the hands on my forehead, "She's awfully hot."

Am I? I feel numb and cold.

"Clove, try opening your eyes."

I have been trying, but I try again. This time slowly, letting out a small groan. The light that shines throughout the room blinds me, but I can make out the figure looking down at me waving.

"Try speaking," the woman says, feeling my forehead again.

My eyes hurt so bad that I close them again slowly. As I open them again, my vision is less foggy and I am able to see the woman. Her face is slim like mine, black hair pulled back into a pony tail, glasses low on her nose, a bit of aging on her forehead. She looks like my mother, "Mom?" I croak out.

The woman stares at me in disbelief, like I punched in the face almost. She shakes her head, "No. Not your mother."

"Oh." I close my eyes again slowly and take a deep breath.

"You've been asleep for a long time. Can you tell me what hurts?"

I start listing off the obvious; my head, my hands, my throat, my eyes, and lastly my entire body. The last comment makes her chuckle, it sounds like music. It sounds like home.

Home.

"Where am I?" ask, sitting up slowly.

"Woah, woah," the woman rests her palms on my shoulders and lighting forces me to lay backdown, "You're safe. That's all that matters."

I simply nod, not wanting to speak anymore because of how sore my throat has become.

"Would you like some water?"

I nod again, and then the woman disappears. As I glance around the room, I'm shocked by how clean and white everything is. All the machines looks to be the most expensive equipment. There's a giant window in the center of one wall to the left of my bed, but it must be a one-way because I can't see through it.

The doors slide open again and this time a younger woman walks in all white, head shaved clean. Her lips purse when she hands me the cold beverage and I graciously take small sips. The cool water on my throat coaxes me into speaking, "Can you please tell me where I am?"

"Shut up," the woman hisses, "just be glad you're alive."

"What happened then?"

"Did you hear me?" The woman points at me, "I said shut up."

I give her a look then set the cup of water as she walks over. Her cold hands touch my cheeks slowly, "What are you doing?"

The woman quickly moves her hand away then crosses her arms, "You're in the capitol. You were hurt, badly. Luckily, you are here."

"Hurt?" I narrow my eyes at her.

"You don't remember? The Hunger Games? The rock?"

"Not really, no."

"Huh," she taps her chin, "they probably brainwashed you."

"What?"

"Nothing-" the woman waves me off, "I'm Johanna Mason."