The Scientist

Forced Amnesia (6)

I groan as I hear my alarm beeping in my ear. I move to hit the alarm but I fail. 

"What in the..?" I ask softly. I open my eyes but close them again. My head feels like it's going to explode. My whole body aches. I groan again and the door opens. 

"Ryan, you awake?" A familiar, but muffled voice says. I groan as a response and someone rubs my back. 

"I take that as your awake. C'mon, we need to get ready for school." The voice says again.

"Dude, turn your alarm off when you wake up." It adds, the alarm turning off. I sit up and run my fingers through my hair. 

"Where's my arm?" I ask softly. I look at the boy and he shrugs. I sigh and rub my eyes.

"One second," I say simply. I whistle and my arm comes flying into the room. It connects to the shoulder piece with a click and I move it around. 

"What happened to you last night?" I can't feel anything, but everything is sore. I look at the boy. I know this face.

"What's your name?" I ask, looking at the boy. He looks hurt, but it also looks so happy. 

"Kenny. Kenny Johansen." He says softly. Everything hits me like a literal truck. It makes my headache stronger. I groan and lean back, head hitting the pillow. Stupid forced amnesia. 

"What's up with you, Ryan?" Kenny says softly. I rub my face and sit up, with my feet hitting the ground. 

"Mr. Johansen, Ryan has a very rare disease. When he's forced to remember very stressful or horrible things, his brain knocks itself out and forces himself to forget it. Even with medication (one that he found himself), it still happens. Before the meds, he would be knocked out for days at a time, now it usually is just overnight." Maria says simply. Kenny nods and I stand up. I walk to the bathroom and splash water on my face. I wipe it off with a washcloth and look at myself in the mirror. 

"Ryan. Ryan Nathan. Ryan," I trail off and look at myself. I repeat my first name and rub my chin. "Ryan...Marcello?" I ask softly. 

"Ryan Marcello. Better than last time, Ry." Maria says simply. I smile and look at myself.

"Ryan Marcello Nathan," I say simply. I sigh and walk out of the bathroom. I see Kenny and smile softly. I check my watch and groan. 

"Do your morning routine, your bathroom is right next to your closet. I'll make us some breakfast in five minutes." I say simply. He nods and walks out of my room. I walk to my closet and grab jeans and a black hoodie. And, of course, underwear. 

I walk back to the bathroom and take a deep breath. I look at myself in the mirror and sighs. I run my fingers over my scars on my chest and stomach. I shake my head and rub my eyes again. 

After I shower and get dressed, I walk out of my room with my phone and backpack. I walk down the stairs and set my bag at the table. 

"Maria, do a scan on Kenny. What's his food allergies?" I say simply, looking into the fridge. I hear her small printer work and I take out the piece of paper. 

Mild allergy to peanuts, major to mushrooms.

I nod and start making some pancakes. I hope he likes pancakes. 

{~~~~~~}

I park at the school and turn off the car.

"You promised," I say simply, unbuckling my seatbelt. Kenny chuckles and unbuckles as well.

"I promised." He says softly. We step out of my car and I lock it. He hands me my backpack and smiles. I smile back and we walk into the school in silence. 

I immediately walk to my locker and put in the combination. Opening the locker, I feel something brush through my hair. I relax at the feeling, but tense at the touch. I look back and see the crowd of people walking and talking. I tilt my head and shrug.

I grab a book and look at the cover. The Dead Lands. I read the back of the book and walk to History.