Unknown Identity

Chapter One

Where am I?

I felt the soft sheets underneath my palm.  What is this?  Satin?  Silk?  Why couldn't I tell?  Have I gone dumb?  I've decided to open my eyes.

A stunningly handsome young guy stood against a wall at the far side of the room, his hands in his pockets.

"Who are you?" I asked as I tried to sit up, but the sudden pain in my head contradicted my will.

"Don't sit up. I don't want to pay for any extra damages you have."

What an obnoxious tone!  Rude much?

""Damages"?" I echoed.  "What do you mean?  Do I look like such a wreck?  And where am I?"

"You're obviously in a hospital," he said rolling his eyes as though to state the obvious.  "Private wing."  He raised a brow, probably expecting me to be surprised. "Your hospital bill has reached half a million.  But, don't worry.  I'll have it covered."

I ignored his abhorrent character, and instead, I asked, "What happened?"

"Aren't you even going to thank me?"

"What.  Happened." I sounded authoritative, but I didn't act surprised like he did.

"You-you were in an accident," he said, a bit shamefaced.  He can't even look at me.

I felt my face drop, my blood beginning to boil.  "And you're responsible for this?"

He did not answer.  His face remained downcast.  Then, he seemed to pick up his attitude.  "I already paid for the damages!  Isn't that enough?!"

"Are you kidding me?!" I burst, completely outraged.  "I don't remember what happened, I don't know why I'm here, how I got here, much less who I am!"

He seemed to be in utter shock, as if I've punched him in the guts.

But before either of us could break the silence, a male doctor probably in his mid-thirties came in along with 2 nurses.

"Hello,  my name is Doctor Webber," the doctor said before he checked his chart.  He looked up to me.  "Apparently, you don't have a name?"

I shoot Obnoxious Prince Charming a livid look.  He's so dead to me.

The doctor turned to him.  "Uhm, Mr...?"

"Elliot," Obnoxious Prince said bluntly.  "Elliot Stradlin."

Pffft.  What does he expect?  That Doctor Webber would come to his feet like he's some sort of king? Pighead.

"I hope you don't mind my asking, but...is your mother Madam Taylor Stradlin?"

"Yes," he answered coolly.  "Do you have a problem with that?"

"Ah, n-no.  None at all," Doctor Webber stammered, giving off a nervous laugh.

"Excuse me," I interrupted.  "What's going on?"

"Sir Elliot's mother...er, the Stradlins own the hospital," he nervously said.

I rolled my eyes.  "Pathetic.  Why are you so scared of him?  It's not like he's going to eat you."

The doctor swallowed.  He appeared to have come to his senses.  He referred to my chart again.  "So, uh...Ms...uhm..." He turned to Elliot.  "Sir Elliot, pardon me for asking, but...what is her name? Does she have an I.D. or--or..."

Elliot simply shrugged.  "She had nothing with her."

"What do you suggest we call her, Sir Elliot?"

"Brooke," Elliot said after a beat.

"Brooke?" I said, feeling disgusted.  "I bet my real name sounds better than that."

He raised his chin, obviously challenging me.  "What's your name, then?"

I tried to think hard.  My head seemed to feel even worse, but that means I'm beginning to remember, right?  I should try harder.  I'm pretty sure I should be able to remember my own name, right?  Right.  No pain, no gain.

"Uhm, Miss Brooke," Doctor Webber said.  "Don't force yourself-"

"AH!" I screamed involuntarily.

Why is it like this?!  My head feels worse, but I can't seem to remember anything!

"Miss Brooke!" Doctor Webber and the nurses are alarmed.

"Please relax," one of the nurses begged.

"Miss Brooke, please don't force yourself to remember.  It will all come to you naturally," the doctor said.

I stopped trying.  It's pointless.  The pain seemed to subside a bit, but it's still there.

"Fine.  So what if I can't remember my name?" I said, crossing my arms against my chest, not meeting any one of them in the eye.

The doctor cleared his throat.  "I need to give you some tests to see how bad you have hit your head."  He scribbles something in the chart.  "So, you can't remember your name and you have experienced severe headache, if I'm not mistaken?" he glanced at me and I nod.

After writing things down, he finally closed the chart and handed it to one of the nurses.

"Ms. Brooke, you may be discharged anytime you wish," Doctor Webber said.  He turned to Elliot and gave him a brief bow.  "I'll go now, Sir Elliot."

"Mm," Elliot grunted as a yes.

I rolled my eyes as the 3 medical idiots left the room.

Who does he think he is?  Treating people like slaves and giving me a name like I'm his pet.

"I want to go home," I said.

"You can't."

"And why not?"

"If you could remember your real name, maybe I could ask my men to search for your background and have you escorted home."  He walked towards me until we were only 3 feet apart.  "For now, you'll come home with me."