Behind Familiar Faces

Chapter Nine

I woke up groggy. My eyes were blurry causing me to rub them aggressively. The room was pitch black, I wondered why I had turned my lamp off. I usually kept it on at bedtime. The room was oddly still. My head pounded and I felt my t shirt clinging to my body with damp sweat. I sat up slowly and leaned against my headboard, rubbing at my aching temples. All I was focused on was changing into a fresh shirt. I threw the warm covers off me and swung my legs to hang off the side of the bed. That's when it all came back to me.

When did I get home? When did we leave the science building? Where is Harrison? What happened last night?

I hopped quickly off the bed and began frantically searching for my phone. I felt myself beginning to panic. I had to talk to Harrison. I searched all over my bed and it wasn't there. I emptied my whole bag, checked my desk and even on the windowsill but came up empty.

"Fuck" I cursed when I realized it wasn't here.

I take my shirt off gingerly and slipped on a big hoodie from my closet in its place.

Didn't I get hit on the head? Somebody hit me and I passed out, right? How did I end up at home in bed?

I rubbed my hands over my head gently, feeling for a tender spot or a lump but nothing was there. I had to figure out what was happening. Quickly I shoved the essentials into my bag and tossed it on my back. I pulled my hood up over my head and left my room into fluorescent hallway. I walked quickly and with my head down. The walk wasn't going to be too bad, I just wish I had some music. Leaving the familiar front doors I wrapped my jacket tight and. braced myself against the wind. The bright sun made me wince. I started off on the sidewalk heading towards Harrison's.

I knocked rapidly on his front door and pushed my ear against it, "Harrison?" I asked.

It took a few moments before I heard some shuffling on the other side of the apartment. I stepped back and the door opened. Harrison had messy hair and his eyes were droopy. He was in a pair of dark sweat pants and a band tee.

"Oh Harper, sorry I just woke up"

"Are you okay?" I asked him stepping closer to the doorway.

"What? What do you mean?"

"Last night!? Something happened." I felt shocked by his casual manner.

"Look" He squinted at the bright sun, "Do you want to just come inside?"

I sighed and followed him inside, closing the door behind me. All the shades were drawn leaving the apartment dim. He gestured for me to sit sown in the living room and we both did.

"I'm freaking out" I admitted.

Harrison didn't say anything.

"I mean who were those guys, did you get a good look at any of their faces?" I ranted on.

"Harper" He stopped me.

"I don't remember anything" He said.

"Yeah, I didn't see much either" I sighed.

"No. Harper. I don't remember anything"

"What?"

"I remember us pulling up to the science building but that's it. It goes blank"

I didn't know what to say after that. Had his memory been wiped? Why didn't they wipe my memory? How would they even do that?

"But you remember everything else? Like, you know who you are and what year it is?"

"Yes Harp" He laughed a little.

"A man hit you over the head with something. I saw you go down" I whispered.

There was a long silence between us.

"Something bad is happening here" I say.

"What happened after that?" He asked.

"Uhm" I shook my head trying to remember, "I went down just after" I said.

"And then?"

"And then...I woke up in my bed"

There was silence again in the dark room.

"How did we get home?" He whispered, I knew he didn't expect me to answer.

I stood up quickly with realization. "Do you have my phone?" I asked.

"Uh no, you don't have it?" He asked standing up too.

I shook my head no and he disappeared into his bedroom. He walked back out digging through the pockets of a jacket.

"I was wearing this last night" He held it up, "Nothings in here"

"Fuck" I cursed.

"Hey" he said gently placing his arm on my shoulder as he came to stand by me.

"I'm screwed" I said.

"Everything is going to be fine" He said, "I know that probably doesn't make you feel any better" He added.

I sighed and walked to the kitchen. Opening the door to the fridge I browsed around for a moment.

"Quit with that, let's go out to eat" He said.

I closed the refrigerator and turned to him.

"We'll figure this out I promise, Let's just forget it for an hour and go get some food. We'll talk about something else"

I couldn't tell if I wanted to talk about it or not. All I knew is that I had to tell someone else.

Shorter chapter than I was planning but i'll have another up soon! thank you all.