Alone in the Dark - A Dark Ghost Sequel

THREE

So I found the wrong Charles. Which is why I found myself sitting in a coffee shop, waiting for Dr Charles Meriwether III (not to be confused with Charles Meriwether IV), his dad, to arrive. I sat at the back, not wanting to draw attention to myself since the only clothes I could find before leaving was a moth-eaten tank top and a pair of jeans that were more holes than jeans.

"Hi. I'm Charles Meriwether, could you tell me why you wanted to meet me?" The man, a look-alike of his son— except for the slightly scruffy beard and lack of hair— sat down in front of me, sipping his coffee.

"I need to speak to your son, it's urgent," I whispered, no idea why there was any need for me to keep my voice down.

"Why would that be?"

"I'm..." I struggled for the right words to say. "I'm an old friend... I think. "

"I really don't think I can do this, I'm sorry. I have to go." He stood up to leave and I felt my chances diminishing with every step he took towards the door.

I knocked my drink over as I stood up, catching up to him just as he walked out the door. "Please," I grabbed his arm. "I think he's the only one who can help me."

~

That is how I ended up waiting in Charles' parents' living room. It was quite awkward, but I sat there and waited while his dad made phone calls, and his mum offered me food. When he came back, he barely said anything other than an awkward, "Two hours. He'll be here."

I practically jumped for joy. I had a strong feeling that Charles would know more about me than I currently do. I didn't remember being with him, but I just knew that he knew me. Him and Suzume, whose whereabouts are currently unknown. This Meriwether kid is officially my best bet.

It was very awkward to spend time in his parents' house. While I was waiting, his mom kept offering me more food and snacks and I had to politely decline since for the last seven years all my food had been liquidised and there was only so many biscuits and sandwiches I'd be able to handle before I chucked. And I really didn't want to do that in their pristine living room. I was almost counting down the seconds before the front door opened. His parents saw the car in the driveway and nodded to me, putting down their newspaper and laptop respectively and going to get the door.

He came in, hugs to both of them, about to sit down on the couch. "So what was it you wanted me to—" he trailed off, staring dead at me. Charles took a cautious step forward, and then another until he was standing opposite me. "You can't be here... Y-You just can't. You're..." I reached out to grab his arm, an instinct, as he had turned an odd grey colour and started swaying on his feet.

"Charles?" The contact made him realise I was real, and his eyes widened. I stood up to grab hold of his other arm and he promptly passed out against me, my support the only reason his head didn't hit the glass coffee table. "Shit." I stood there, not sure what to do. "You're the doctor, do something!" 

His dad took him from me and laid him down on the couch. He loosened his son's belt while I undid the top of his button-down collar. This shirt looked a lot like the one I vaguely remembered crying on at the Ranch at some point. My hand was still closed around his wrist, not wanting to let go. He must hate me. For seven years he thought I was dead. At least, that's what I'd gathered from his reaction to seeing me. 

When he finally woke, less than a minute later, he looked at me in some sort of daze. "Y-You're real?" He put his hand on top of mine, squeezing it as I nodded. "You're here?" I nodded again.

"I'm sorry. I—" He cut me off, standing up and throwing his arms around me. It was hard to breathe he was hugging me so tightly, but I let him because even though I couldn't remember why... I missed him. I hugged him back, not knowing what to say.

"How?"

"I don't know."

He motioned for his parents to give us some space, and we sat back down on his couch. "Why? Why now? And why'd you call me Charles?"

So I told him my story, at least— what I knew of it. The being brought into emergency care, the amnesia, the going back to the Ranch and looking up him and Suzume. "I don't know who I am. I don't remember anything." Tears rolled down my face as I leant against him, his arm around me. 

"Even though it used to annoy me, I'm not having you call me anything other than Chubs. It's too weird. Aria, look. I have an idea, but you have to come with me."

7: My name is Aria.

8: I had a friend called Charles. No, not Charles— Chubs. 

I trusted him, so I got in his car, and let him drive me to his apartment. I marvelled at the space. He had a large living room with a white U-shaped sofa in the middle, in front of a TV. There was a master bedroom and two guest rooms, one of which he told me was mine for as long as I wanted it. There were four bathrooms, he motioned to each as he tossed me a drink from the fridge.

"Right, we have about three hours until she gets back, so let's get to it."

"Until who gets back?"

"Vida. Did I not mention that? We... uh... we live together. Here."

I whistled, and he shook his head at me, laughing. "I don't want to remind you that I don't remember her, but still... Damn, Chubs. How long?"

"Just over seven years, right before you... right before you left, actually."

And just like that, the conversation was brought to an abrupt stop. It was a struggle to not break down into tears at how much I'd missed. I couldn't remember who Vida was, but there was something there. They'd been together for seven years... what if they'd gotten married? What if I'd missed that? Breathe, Aria. Aria. You are stronger than this. He opened up a silver laptop and handed it to me with a USB stick. 

"Do you want me here for this? You left it for us... when you thought you were going to die."

I shook my head. "No, I think I have to do this one myself." He nodded in reply and disappeared for a few minutes to let me watch it. I thought I was going to die?

With my hands shaking, somehow I managed to open the video titled 'ARIA' and press the start button.

I almost didn't recognise my own voice. "Hey, guys. Right, if you're watching this... I'm dead."

"It's been a long time coming, actually. Right now, I'm going to tell you the whole story. When I've finished, I'm going to log off and I'm going to find Liam and Cole—" I had to replay the video several times. I'm going to find Liam and Cole. Liam and Cole. Cole. 

Shooting upright, I banged my head into Chubs' jaw. He had been leaning over me watching as he heard me start the video again. His eyes were rubbed raw and a new bruise was blossoming on his lower jaw. "Shit! Sorry!" Cole. Cole. Cole. I still couldn't remember anything about him. I just— I just knew, I felt something strong towards him. 

"No, it's my fault. I shouldn't have been standing there, I couldn't help myself."

And at that moment, the key turned in the lock. Vida backed into the room as she closed the door behind her. There was no warning as I soared through the room, hitting the back wall. Her arm was outstretched the moment she saw me, pinning me there.

"Fucking hell, Vi!"

At a stern look from Chubs, she dropped me, taking a step back and making her way towards the door she had just entered from. Without moving, Chubs had already pushed the door in place, keeping her from leaving. Vida turned around, leant against the door and sank to the ground, tears already forming. He ran to her, pulling her upright and moving her to the couch. I stretched my wrist, flexing it where it had hit the wall— nothing was broken, thankfully. 

"You were dead. I saw the blood. How could you— How did you—"

Slowly, I walked towards her, before sitting down on the coffee table opposite. "It's a long story, but I can explain. Sort of."