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“Oh, Matt. I’m so sorry. Do you want me to cancel with Mom?”
The words have barely left my mouth, when my brows pucker in confusion.
Why is the house so dark? And where’s Mom’s car?
My car grinds to a halt in the pitch-black gravel driveway in front of a house that is usually lit up like a Christmas tree, thanks to Mom’s obsession with fairy lights. But there’s not a shred of light to be found.
The entire house and surrounding space in our secluded driveway are obscured in tenebrous shadows that don’t exactly beckon me closer.
I kill the ignition, and the sound of Matt’s voice renders the silence.
“Umm, maybe. I—”
“Stop talking.”
My words are sharper than necessary as a prickle of fear runs up my spine, and I strain to hear any kind of noise. Our weekly movie night isnevercanceled. Never re-arranged.
This is weird.
“Matt, I’ll call you back.” My words are a mere whisper before I end the call as he tries to ask what’s wrong. I take a deep, steadying breath and open the door of my car.
As I step out onto the gravel, the sound of my feet crunching over the stones is almost as loud as the sound of my heart pounding in my ears.
My cell phone starts to ring in the car, and I silently curse Matt for calling back as I crack open the front door of my house as quietly as possible.
There’s movement to my left, but before I can twist about to see who’s there, I feel a blow to my temple, and the world fades to black.
* * *
The sound of papers shuffling is the first thing I become aware of. Followed by a pager going off and muffled voices speaking words that make no sense to me.
“Miss Caputo?”
Slowly, I force myself to open my eyes, blinking several times before the bright room around me comes into focus. My heart palpitates when I realize I have no idea where I am.
A young woman, who couldn’t be much older than me, is standing to my right. My eyes move past her, haltingly taking in my surroundings.
I’m clearly in a hospital room, and judging by the skyscrapers outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, I’m somewhere in the city. With absolutely zero recollection of how I came to be here.
My breathing becomes labored, and my ears fill with a buzzing noise as my brain tries to make sense of everything.
“Miss Caputo, my name is Dr. Tessa Marshall.”
I nod as my suddenly tear-filled eyes find hers once more, panic filling me from head to toe.
“You are a patient at Brant Hamilton Memorial Hospital.” Her green orbs soften as she pauses before she gently questions, “Do you remember how you got here?”
“N—” My answer seizes in my dry throat, and she’s quick to raise a glass to my dry lips. Once I’ve taken a sip, I try again. “N-no. I…I don’t remember.”
She nods in understanding. “What’s the last thing that youdoremember?”
My eyes flicker between hers before I allow my lashes to fall shut as my last memory replays in the depths of my mind.
“I was in the car, driving home from work.” My brain works to catch up. “I—I was talking to Matty…”
I trail off and open my eyes. “And then…there’s nothing.” My brows crease in frustrated annoyance. “Why can’t I remember?”
The kind doctor places her hand on my forearm. “You had a severe concussion, Miss Caputo. Itappearsthat you sustained an extreme blow to the head during the events that took place at your home. Some memory loss is common.”
