Replay: Amnesia | BOOK 1

Chapter 5

The day comes to a close and you sit in the openness of Karika's shop, the sun beginning to set behind the buildings. You haven't had any breakthroughs with your memory, but that's fine. Hopefully you will, soon.

"So Chris was telling me you needed somewhere to stay." Karika sits down on the other side of the table, wiping her hands on her dirty red apron. The wall behind her is filled with trinkets and books and other odds and ends. "He thought he'd offer his place but thought it'd be inappropriate, considering he's into you and all."

You're taken off-guard by her words. It may seem that way, but... you two just met.

Karika smiles knowingly. "The heart's such a crazy thing, isn't it? It wants what it wants, even against your better judgement." She places a fist under her chin and looks at you, her bronze skin glowing in the sunset and her brown eyes glistening with mixed emotions you don't understand. She sighs. "I wonder how long you'll stay with us. I wonder if it'll be just a few days or for a long time... and I wonder if you being here means that something needs to change."

You furrow your brow. Karika seems like a really cryptic person.

What she said earlier strikes you.

"Um, you—earlier, you were talking about that butterfly and then said something weird, I—"

She shakes her head. "That story is for another time if I think it's needed. So don't worry. I'm just warning you of a possible wrinkle, is all."

"Wrinkle?"

"Talking about me?"

You fight the tide of irritation as once again, Chris interrupts your conversation with Karika. The things she says are so weird... Will she ever decipher them for you?

The irritation slips away as Chris pulls up a chair at the end of the table, setting the chocolate cake you guys made three times to get perfect between you.

Karika smiles, but you can see the gleam of sadness in her eyes. "As if your ego needs more stroking."

The word ego pulls your mind to the texts in your phone, which is now fully charged. You Know seems to be in trouble, or something... You wonder what he has gotten himself into. What kind of trouble could it be... and does it involve you in any way?

"Let's dig in!" Chris says as he sets plates down in front of you, Karika, and himself. The three of you already tasted the pieces you had to cut off, but having a full slice with icing and the full shebang "gives it a different feel", as Karika insisted. She was right, you realize as you enjoy your piece. Karika and Chris grow comically excited about the cake, but you seem to distance yourself a bit as you retreat into your thoughts. You want to text back, but... You Know said not to. What if you're in eminent danger but you don't know because you lost your memory? That's one reason why you want to press forward and pursue chasing your memory, but... so far, it seems like you're safe, even if you're in the care of complete strangers. And maybe your past isn't all that important, maybe you had a terrible life before you lost your memory. Perhaps it's a blessing you forgot everything, and this is a way out.

When push comes to shove, will you choose to continue chasing the past, or will you work to make a different future?

"Are you alright?"

Chris's voice tugs you out of yourself. You realize you've been pushing the last small piece of your cake around your plate. You look up at him and smile gently, hoping to shove the unease you feel away and focus on the moment. There's nothing you can do about your memory now. It's just a waiting game.

"Yeah, sorry," you say, taking the last bite and chewing it. "I zoned out there."

"Well, I'm going to go clean up," Karika says, standing and grabbing the now empty plates. "Thanks for helping you guys. This new recipe will sell without a hitch tomorrow if I decide to open shop."