What Memory Remains

Chapter 5

“Did anyone see you?” Zenapharr said, eyes darted about the corridors beyond his concrete barred door.

“No. Do you really think I’d still be here if someone saw me? I have some news for you…Wiliam Ostrand is dead.” The shadowed man at Zenapharr’s door whispered.

“He is….that’s inconvenient.” As sarcastic as he stated it, he was genuinely concerned.Ostrand’s only crime seemed to be working for the wrong company.

“He was shot by a security guard. Pennington’s orders apparently. They were arguing moments before he was killed. Pennington ought to be the one you talk to about your past.”

“Pennington…so you are the one with the secret…What do you know? How far down does my rabbit hole go?”

“It could be endless. How much do you really remember from the Injection? What they did to you, exactly?”

  “I’m not sure...they said the Injection could incur memory loss. I was hoping you could tell me more.”

“I wouldn’t trust them at all at this point.”

“I can make Pennington talk, you know we can,” The Voice spoke in Zenapharr’s head. “We can take our time with him, drag him from his bed and make him pay for his treachery. Then we’ll kill him…that’ll make us feel so good! How long has it been since you’ve last killed? Six months?”

 Zenapharr ignored the voice, focusing on his friend’s words. “I think we should pay Pennington a visit. I could convince him to tell him.

“You can’t.”

“Why? Isn’t this the whole point of being here? To find out what they did to me exactly? To find out the truth?”

“It is, but also realize that it may be too soon. Zenapharr, you are not well. The truth could be more hurtful, and you could end up killing again. Remember…that’s the entire reason you spared me. You broke down, said you had killed a boy. And you couldn’t do it anymore, didn’t want to, not even if you were paid for it. You wanted to get better.”

 “Is that the real reason you talked me into turning myself in?”

 “No, but it is a fact. You’re not a killer anymore, Zenapharr. At least you don’t seem to want to be. Once you have complete control, I say that you get him to tell you.”

 “How?”

“Throw him a curve call by breaking him mentally. Make him vulnerable. Tell him the truth…I think you’ve kept it hidden for long enough.”

“The truth…yes. I should, but, I’m afraid…for the first time in a long time. Afraid to learn what really happened to me…I have such fond memories of Mother despite her untimely death. And Skye...on the cusp of manhood…and his light was snuffed out so suddenly.”

  “I know. As you said, I don’t want you losing control. Something tells me you’ll wish you hadn’t known once you do. This is NOSRAD we’re talking about. There are so many tings that went on that they thought it best for you not to know.”

  "I see. So, is this all you came to tell me?”

“No, not at all. This is the main reason I came here.”

 The mysterious man slipped a small folder between the bars, and Zenapharr took them with great curiosity. He now only wore handcuffs, as the straight jacket had given him a crick in the neck. Due to his peaceful cooperation, they allowed him this one freedom. They already knew it was best not to press their luck.

“This is…all about the Injection…” Zenapharr said, perusing the file. And it stated the following.

Northern Organization for Scientific Research and Development