Noctura

one

jinwoo

THE RUMBLING of a train is what lulls me out of unconsciousness.

My eyelids feel heavy but I force them open anyway, trying to focus on the blurry setting around me.

I sit up slowly and bump around a bit because of the train. A sharp pain shoots through the left side of my head and I press my left hand against it, willing it to stop, and shut my eyes tight.

It fades away into a dull ache and I'm able to open my eyes again. This time, I'm able to look around and let my vision focus.

The train car is made of wood. It seems to be moderate size, maybe big enough to fit a couple dozen people or so. There's some hay in the corner of the car but it doesn't smell like animal in here. There isn't a strong stench, it just smells like wood and dust.

I slowly get to my feet, using the wall of the train car to help steady me. It's a bit difficult since the train is moving, but eventually, I'm able to stand up.

I move toward the door of the train car and try to pry it open, but I can't. It seems to be locked. That, or I'm too weak.

My whole body aches. I feel exhausted even though I was just unconscious. My hands are a little shaky and I can feel my stomach growling. I'm weak and hungry.

I try to remember what happened to me before this, but I can't.

I can't remember.

What happened?

I try to recall anything from my past but I can't remember anything.

What? I can't remember anything? Have I got amnesia or something?

I slowly fall back down onto the floor of the train car as the train rumbles on.

I sit there and stare down at my hands.

Who even am I?

There is nothing. Nothing to remember. I don't remember a childhood, parents, friends, going to school, having a life. There's just nothing. I don't remember anything.

Suddenly, I remember something. It feels as if someone has opened a door in my mind and now I can finally breathe a little bit of fresh air.

Kim Jinwoo.

My name is Kim Jinwoo.

But that's all I remember.

"Kim Jinwoo..." I test the name out on my tongue. It rolls together nicely. It just feels right.

My parents did a good job of naming me.

But who are they?

Knowing my name gives me some amount of comfort, but not a whole lot. I'm still stuck on this train with no idea how I got here and no idea who I am, besides my name. I don't know where I'm being taken or if I'm even being taken anywhere.

Maybe I was fighting crime. Maybe I'm some kind of superhero and I just defeated a villain and crashed in this train car and then... lost my memory...

I know that's not what happened. But I don't know what actually happened either.

"Who... who am I?" I try out my voice again. It sounds foreign and strange but I can feel the vibrations within my chest when I talk so I know for sure it's my voice. It sounds lighter than I expected it to be.

Let's just go through what I know.

I take a deep breath. "My name is Kim Jinwoo. I'm a male. I woke up in this train car and I have no idea how I got here. I don't know anything else about myself. I think I might have amnesia..."