Forgotten

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

            It was around nine when I returned home. I barely heard my mom as she tried to do our usual routine by talking about tonight’s dinner. I jogged up the stairs and headed to my room.

I slipped off my shoes and headed to bed. A storm of questions and emotions ran through my head before I finally closed my eyes.

That night I dreamed.

            I stood in a field of tall golden grass while the sky was a clear crystal blue. I felt like I’ve been here before and although I had no idea where I was, I felt comfortable here. It was calming.

I heard a giggle. I began to jog and it almost seemed like my body was on autopilot. A head full of long dark hair poked out of the tall grass. The girl was small and the grass was at least a foot taller than her. Her gray eyes met my own and she giggled again. She ran back into the grass and I followed.

I smiled at first; happy to play the child’s game, but I felt my smile disappearing. It seemed like the field was getting longer and the grass was getting taller. I saw a shade of black among the grass and I followed it. I chased after the girl; my arms reached out, ready to catch her. She looked back a ghost of a smile on her face and I stared back in horror.

Her face seemed like a corpse, covered in scars and sears were pieces of her face should have been. Her eyes seemed to be wider and darker. She looked thinner, weaker as if the simplest breeze could easily shatter her.

She looked up. “Rowan, carry me.”

My body still seemed to be on autopilot. I gave her a sad smile and as I picked her up, the grass began to get taller.” Jamie!” I shouted. I could hardly see anything as the growth of the grass covered my field of vision and then it was dark. The weight in my arms seemed to disappear and my dream changed.

A light appeared in the darkness and I found myself surrounded by blazing golden and red flames.

A boy around my age stood beside me with a girl over his shoulders that appeared to be unconscious. He pounded the  metal door using the right side of his shoulder, trying to make an escape for us.

He turned around and faced me. You could see the flames in the reflection of his eyes. “Damn it.  We need to get out of here.”

I heard a series of gunshots. We took cover. It was hot and I took off my jacket to cover my mouth. I looked around the office and spot a fire extinguisher. I quickly grabbed it. My plan etched in my mind.

“Rowan you have to be fucking kidding me.” A chorus of gunshots muffled his voice. “ We have to get out of here and that’s not going to be enough.”

“Shut up for a minute will yah!” I shouted back. I used the butt of the fire extinguisher and repeatedly slammed it against the door hinges.

“Screw that!” he shouted. He took his gun out and handed the girl over to me. He shot the door hinges until they were no longer attached. 

I kicked the door open and he grabbed the girl. We ran out of the door. I coughed. I felt like I couldn’t breathe anymore as if the dead itself had better chance in breathing than I.

“Shit Rowan. I’m not leaving.” He grabbed my jacket. “Get up.”

I finally stood up and we began to run. We made a series of turns before jumping when part of the roof collapsed.

The boy ran ahead of me and finally made it to the exit. I followed behind him when a gunshot was heard.

My body jerked. A pain like a burning fire rose to my leg as blood pooled out. I started to crawl when I heard a series of footsteps behind me. Someone hit the back of my head. and everything went dark.  I heard a familiar giggle before I jolted awake.

Beep, beep, beep! I slammed my fist on the alarm clock. The clock shattered to the floor and I realized I broke it. I sat up and groaned. I found myself sweating. My breathing was in short gasps. I sat there as I waited for myself to breath normally again. When I found myself better in shape, I took a shower.

When I found myself more presentable, I headed downstairs. I made a left turn and headed towards the kitchen.

My mom smiled as if her old son is back. “What would you like for breakfast.”

I ignored her question, “Whose Jamie?”

Her smiling face turned into a look of horror. “I-I don’t know who your talking about.”

“Mom, I-“

She slammed the frying pan on the stove. “I don’t want to hurt you Rowan! You went through a rough life! Maybe losing your memory was for the best! Y-You should just… start over.”

For once I noticed how old she really looked. Her eyes were soft and blue as if they held a secret knowledge from her youth while her gray hair was piled into a bun with strands of it falling to her wrinkled face.

Her back was to me and I surprised myself by gently grasping her hands in my own. This was the first time I made any physical contact with my family since I came out of the hospital. Her hands felt like old leather and I gave her a smile. “I don’t want to let go of the past. I want to know who Jamie is.”

Mom slowly took her hands out on mine and looked down. “S-she was your sister. I became your foster mother almost a year ago. You two looked so alike. Those gray eyes and dark hair. You meant the world to her but then you- but then she-“ Tears formed in her eyes. “I-I can’t do this.”

She walked out of the kitchen, knocking a pot to the floor during the process.

That left only one option for me. Today I’ll be visiting an old friend