Searching For Time (book 2) ✔

Space Between

He didn't know how long he'd been out, a few hours maybe? The sun was slowly setting so that was his best bet.

The last thing he could remember was waking up to a room full of strangers who were staring at him with wide eyes. He felt like prey surrounded by vicious predators waiting to attack. He could see their tense positions and hidden weapons...

How could he see them if they were hidden?

He shook his head and pushed himself up into a sitting position with a loud groan. His head was banging and every limb was aching badly. He felt an emptiness inside, beneath all of the pain. A space. Empty, void of, well, anything.

Where was he? Who were those mysterious people? He felt like he knew them but didn't understand why or how. How could he know people he hadn't met before?

He looked around the room and then down at his bed. It was a hospital, that was for sure, but then again, he couldn't remember being in a hospital before in his life...

But then again he couldn't remember anything about his life. He closed his eyes and strained his mind for something, anything, to help him remember.

Slowly a tear escaped and rolled down his face. He gingerly lifted his hand to touch it and reality sank in. He couldn't remember anything.

Who was he? What was going on?

Trying his best to stay calm, he took in a great breath when the door opened with a single click.

Inside came a man dressed in the same sickening white as everything else he saw. White jacket, white shoes, white top, white trousers. Who was he?

"Hello Carlos. How are you feeling?" the stranger asked tentatively.

"Who?" the boy replied, confused.

"You. Your name is Carlos, Carlos de Vil-"

A sharp pain pierced his skull and he clutched his head whilst letting out a moan. A sudden rush of visions appeared through his mind, he tried to grasp ahold of one, but couldn't.

All he could remember were the vicious colours of black, red and white.

"Are you alright?" the man asked whilst handing over a glass of water.

"You're a doctor, right?" he asked once the pain subsided; ignoring the water offered to him. The words left his mouth before he even realised.

"Indeed I am, Dr. Doc." he introduced whilst offering his hand warmly. With an annoying calmness he placed the glass on the bedside.

All he got in return was a confused and suspicious stare. There was no way he was going to shake hands with a complete stranger.

"Head down, don't stare." a voice echoed in his head. He didn't know who. It was a deep voice, warning but kind. His forehead creased in concentration and frustration.

"Why can't I remember anything?!" he demanded.

"Oh!" the doctor exclaimed, shocked by his sudden outburst, "It will be too much to tell you at once. And there are things you must uncover for yourself. You have severe amnesia and it will take time for you to return your memories."

"Why would I take time to return my own memories?" he asked questioningly.

"The mind is a strange thing Carlos, it has power beyond our knowledge. Anywho, once your injuries have healed you'll be able to leave the hospital, with checkups now and then. Your friends will be visiting soon: one by one so you're not overwhelmed."

He stood up to leave, tucking his clipboard under his arm. He opened up the door to go when the boy called out.

"Wait! What was my name again?" he asked unwillingly (how could he have forgotten already?) with a blush forming on his freckled cheeks.

"Carlos de Vil." the doctor readily replied with a gentle smile before closing the door softly behind him.

With a great sigh, 'Carlos', sat back against the stiff pillows on the headboard.

"Carlos. Carlos. Carlos de Vil." he repeated several times out loud. For some reason the name felt foreign on his tongue. Why was his own name such a mystery? It didn't seem right to him...

Why was nobody giving him any answers?!