Agent Benjamin Ripley

Chapter 11

Sorry for hitting you in the emotional balls last chapter. 

We pulled up to the gates of a gothic building. The mood in the car was somber, Mike choosing to sit in back with me. Erica had tried to grab my hand, but my reflexes made me jump away. I immediately regretted the movement when her eyes filled with tears again, and she moved to the front seat, biting her lip. 

"Remember that most people don't know that you have amnesia, so just say hi if people greet you." Mike warned me as we climbed out of the car. It was December at the time, so the ground was coated in a white blanket. At least fifty kids were outside in catsuits, trying to make it through an obstacle race. We walked inside. 

I hunched my shoulders and looked down at the ground. Kids in the hallways passing saw me and whispered comments to each other. I saw a mirror that we passed, and it was the first time that I saw myself, at least that I remembered. I looked... normal. Malnourished, of course, but what can you expect after nine months of not exercising. I had dark circles and a pale face, topped with longish brown hair. 

The four of us walked into what I guessed to be the principal's office. A man was sitting at the desk, and the first things I noticed were his bad toupee and the fact that he was playing a game on his phone, giggling. Erica cleared her throat and the man put his feet down, facing us with a serious expression. 

"Ah. Ripley, you're back." He said, folding his hands on the desk. I nodded, looking at the floor. 

"Ben doesn't remember anything, sir, you were supposed to get sent an email." The principal nodded.

"Of-of-of course I got the email!" He was desperately looking through the books on the shelf. When he found the one he was looking for, he flipped to a certain page, and typed something into his computer. 

"Aha. Yes, yes, amnesia..." He muttered, his phone making several beeping noises. He looked over at us, before putting the book on the shelf. I fell backwards, the white light and pain blinding me again. 

In the flashback, a voice that I later recognized as Erica's was speaking in my ear, telling me to make the principal mad. I sassed back at him, the burly boy beside me looking at me in shock as the principal stuttered and turned red, reaching for the book I saw him take a few minutes ago, and typing something into his computer. 

I woke up on the floor, an elderly man wearing a fanny pack, Erica, Zoe and Mike standing over me. I rubbed my forehead. 

"Sorry, I had another memory." I quickly explained what I saw. The older man huffed. 

"Pfft. You wouldn't see me passing out in the middle of a debriefing." 

"Granddad! Ben had amnesia, remember?" Erica warned him. 

"You also wouldn't see me laying around on my butt for nine months and then get amnesia." The older man grumped. 

Another man wearing a suave suit that I estimated to be about 50, walking into the office. 

"Ahhhh, young Ripley finally awakens. Good to see you, young man." He winked at me. 

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" I asked. He grinned in response, winked at Erica who rolled her eyes, and responded with. 

"I'm your father-in-law, of course. Alexander Hale."