The Evil Inside

4. First Contact

     John had been experimenting with his food for the last few days. He couldn't remember what foods he liked or didn't like, making everything he tasted a first time. It was something he would have to discover all over again, and one food at a time. There was also an issue with allergies so when it came time to try something like peanut butter or shell fish for the first time, John had to have a nurse present to make sure he didn't go into anaphylactic shock. John had no reactions to any of those foods yet, so he considered himself quite lucky so far. After a few days since he woke up his mind was still as blank as the day he opened his eyes. It was like someone had reformatted his brain, leaving it in the same state it was in when it first came out of the womb. It was quite frustrating but John had to remember what the doctor told him: he was alive. When he got better, he would be able to leave the hospital and make a life for himself. That couldn't be said for the other driver from what he overheard according to the officers stationed at his door.

     John was eating a cup of jello when there was a knock on his door. He paused for a moment, and then there was another knock.

     "The door's open." he called out.

     The door slowly creaked open and a moment later a man close to his own age strolled into the room. His shirt was a little flashy but he couldn't remember if he liked that or not so John couldn't comment on it just yet.

     "Can I help you?" John asked.

     "Hi, there John." The young man said as he extended his hand to him. "My name is Max Sheppard."

     "Hey Max," John said as he shook his hand.

     "Before we start." Max said as he pulled up a chair and sat down beside the patient's bed. "Were you informed of why I'm here?"

     "I'm afraid not." John answered.

     "Alright, then let's start with that." Max said, as he took a deep breath. "I'm your court appointed attorney."

     "You are?" John asked.

     "For the time being, at least." Max honestly answered.

     "Do you know who I am?" John then asked, hoping this was someone from his past.

     "I'm afraid not, sorry." Max said, taking out a pad and a pen from his briefcase. "I'm a public defender. I've been assigned your case to represent your best interests. Everyone is guaranteed a lawyer; that's your right as an American."

     "Do I need a lawyer?" John inquired. "I mean the accident wasn't my fault. Why would I need a lawyer?"

     Max paused for a moment. "After the accident, the police found something in your car."

     "What kind of something?" John asked.

     "Something I'm fairly confident isn't legal." Max answered.

     "What am I going to be charged with?" John asked.

     "Nothing at the moment," Max answered, "Because of our inability to identify you, and the fact that there's no one home in there..." Max took a moment to pretend to knock on his own skull. "It means you don't meet the state's requirement to stand trail, at least that's what I think. The fact that the state hasn't charged you with anything seems to confirm that they agree with me on that one."

     "This is confusing." John said as he tried to process it.

     "I've been practicing law for close to ten years and I've never seen a situation like this before." Max said with a smile. "Trust me John; this situation is confusing even the more experienced law minds."