Nameless

Chapter Seven-Amnesia

I woke up, tucked into my bed. I wore the silk slip that was under my dress last night. I slowly sat up. My dress was draped over the desk chair, and my heels rested on the wooden seat. I glanced at my clock. My eyes widened. Its 2:23.I slept for over nine hours! For me, that’s unheard of. Since Jace died, it’s a miracle if I can sleep longer than 5 hours. I stumbled out of bed and looked at myself in the mirror.My face was clear of any remaining makeup, and someone had pulled my hair into a ponytail, so the knots weren’t that bad.

                My attention was drawn to a little yellow sticky note on the glass; It was from Jason.

Arin,

                I am downstairs. I spent the night to make sure you were okay. Dru let me borrow his keys to get in. Don’t worry, I saw nothing. Take a shower, and I’ll have pancakes ready once you come down.

                Jason J

I grinned. After all these years, he still remembers that pancakes are my favorite. After a brief shower, put on blue skinnies and my favorite PTV shirt and slipped down the stairs in my sock feet. I shyly peeked around the corner. Jason stood with his back to me, with what I recognized to be Merlyn’s pink “I use the smoke detector as a timer” apron. He was singing “Caraphernelia” quietly.

…honestly it's harder breathing next to you, I shake.

I brought a gun and as the preacher tried to stop me.

Hold my heart it's beating for you anyway.

What if I can't forget you?

I'll burn your name into my throat.

I'll be the fire that'll catch you.

What's so good about picking up the pieces?

None of the colors ever light up anymore in this hole.

Nobody prays for the heartless.

Nobody gives another penny for the selfish.

You're learning how to taste what you kill now.

Don't mind me; I'm just reaching for your necklace.

Talking to my mom about this little girl from Texas…

He turned to place the pancake he was cooking on a plate already laden with them. He caught me in my hiding spot, and grinned. He turned off the oven and walked to me. I straightened up as he grabbed my hand. Tingles shot up my arm and made my brain go fuzzy. “I made enough pancakes for the both of us!” He said cheerily.”I have maple syrup and powdered sugar and strawberries and—“

“Okay!”I laughed, placing my hand over his mouth. “I get it! You went to the store and decided to go on a sugar high.”

He chuckled.”Well, shall we?” We sat down and ate until I was completely stuffed. I finally let myself think. “What about Merl?” I asked. He sighed.

“Well, I called her parents at about 9 am this morning, and explained the situation…Over voicemail. I hope you don’t mind that I used your phone. And this morning Dru called to say she was attacked, but they aren’t sure how. She hasn’t woken up due to a drug induced coma, because they operated on her left arm. The attacker had splintered the arm completely… She might need prosthesis.”

I sighed. Who could hate Merlyn? The only thing I could think of was someone might be jealous of her good background, but why would they try to knock her off? I stood up abruptly. The pretty, metal chair hit the tile with a loud clang that disturbed my cold coffee. I ran out the back door, to discover it was raining. I stripped off my socks and threw them on the porch before running. I didn’t know where I was going, but it was clearing my mind.

I suddenly felt a stabbing pain in my left foot. I went down like a sack of bricks. I used my hands to break my fall, then drew them close to me as they were cut to shreds. I looked around. I was in some sort of alley, with broken beer bottles all around. I looked at my hands and foot. Thin streams of blood flowed freely from the cuts. Blood…

The world took a spin as I tried not to hurl my big breakfast. Running plus blood equals about to empty the contents of my stomach. I heaved.

When I was done, I limped back to the sidewalk, carefully avoiding the rest of the glass. I must look like a homeless person, I thought. I sat down below the eaves of a closed restaurant and cried. Cried for Dad, Jace, Merlyn, even my godforsaken mother. I cried for myself, mostly. I usually don’t have pity parties, but now is an exception.

“Arinda Marie Greg. Why are you crying?”

I looked up. Jason, as inhumanly gorgeous as usual, was standing there with a huge umbrella. I propelled myself up with my good foot, and threw my arms around his neck. I started crying even harder. He hugged me tightly. I’ve missed him so much. I’ve forgotten about the fantastic hugs he gives, with the sweet smell of honeysuckle coming off of his skin.

Once I stopped crying, he released me. Momentarily forgetting about my foot, I put my full weight on it, and promptly fell down with a pained cry.

“You’re hurt!”He exclaimed. He took a look at my hands and foot, and shook his head. He turned and crouched in front of me. “Get on,” He commanded. I gingerly climbed on, and he handed me the umbrella, which I took with the least-lacerated hand. He carried me for quite a few blocks. I hadn’t realized how far I had run. We finally arrived at the house. He unlocked the door, and dropped me in the seats by the countertop. I noticed my phone lying on the counter. I picked it up. I had several voicemails, one from Mummy dearest, which I promptly deleted. The rest were from Dru. I was listening to the last one as Jason came back with the first aid kit. I listened with growing horror.

“Jason!” I cried. His head snapped up. He was finished cleaning my wounds, and was applying a light bandage. “What?” He asked.

“Someone poisoned Merlyn. It was more than one person, because someone put rat poison in her drink, then someone else called her phone from the bathroom, and then beat her. God, why didn’t I go with her?” I dropped my head to my hands, ignoring the small sting.

“And then,” I continued, “They hit her upside the head. She suffered a concussion and amnesia. She remembers most everything…But me. She doesn’t even remember me…” I trailed off, sobbing.

                After that, I became inconsolable. Jason gave me some medicine, and carried me to bed. I begged him to stay with me, and he did. I curled up against his chest and sobbed myself to sleep.