Replay: Amnesia | BOOK 1

Chapter 9

Your stomach churns and ice fills your veins. Karika's body is still, lifeless.

"This should be enough, I think," the gruff voice says. Before he walks around the corner, you duck deeper into the bathroom, trying to make as little noise as possible.

"Check the rest of the house. Make sure no one else is here."

Quickly, you hop up onto the counter and slip out the window, praying you won't make too loud of a sound. You stand on shaky legs and sprint into town, hoping you're heading in the right direction, grasping for straws as tears blind you. Somehow... somehow you make it into town, finding Karika's shop. You pull and tug at the doors, trying to get in. Maybe one of the guys are inside, waiting for Karika to return. It looked like that's where she was going to go, right? Where else would she take the eggs but to her kitchen at the shop?

You breathe shallowly, your head pounding. A few doors down is the coffee shop you and Chris had gone into, and you sprint in, your bare feet freezing. You rush in and up to the counter; the person behind the register shaken by your suddenness.

"I need a phone," you tell her, tears swelling in your eyes as Karika's lifeless body replays in your mind. "I need to call the police."

The girl sputters and nods, pulling her phone out of her green apron and hands it to you. Pressing the lock button a few times, the phone automatically routes to an emergency line.

You fill them in on the details as they tell you to calm down and it'll be alright. They ask you the address and you shake your head.

"I'm—I'm not sure. I was staying the night at her apartment. It's... Um... Ugh, I don't remember. The number... it was... seven... oh-three. The apartments are painted green and the doors are white."

"Okay. Police are on their way. Please stay where you are at that coffee shop and the police will be there shortly. It's alright. Would you like to stay on the phone with me until they arrive?"

You look around the café, people watching you with eyes filled with worry.

"No, that's okay. I think I'm safe. I'll be here at the coffee shop. Thank you."

"Alright. Stay put. They'll be there shortly."

You hang up and thank the girl behind the counter.

"Are—are you okay?" she asks. "I'm so sorry about your friend—" she stops herself, unable to say more. You nod and speak nothing as you make your way to a booth and tuck your knees to your chest, everything inside of you stuck. Tears stay present on your lower lid and don't fall, your core shaking. Over and over, the scene plays in your mind. Karika... is she dead? If she isn't... did you leave her without a second thought?

You bury your head in your knees and breathe slowly.

"Here," you hear, the voice gentle. The girl who let your use your phone sets a coffee down in front of you with a gentle smile. "It's on the house."

"Thank you," you whisper, your voice weak. You lower your knees and wrap your fingers around the cup, the warmth making your fingers loosen slightly.

"Is there anything I can do for you? Do you need to use my phone again to call anyone you know?"

You shake your head. Not wanting to get into the spiel about your amnesia, you give her a small reassuring smile.

"That's okay. Thank you though."

She nods, not fully convinced, and walks away. Eyes keep looking your direction and you watch the window, waiting for the police to show up and question you, when a familiar face walks in.