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"At our humble abode. You are safe here."
I frowned as I looked out the window. I could see the city of Los Angeles beyond and the sun starting to rise, highlighting the changing colors of the trees.
It was autumn already?
"What day is it?"
"October 5th. You've been asleep for quite some time. Here." He got off the bed and retrieved a remote, pointing it at the huge television that adorned the wall in front of me. He turned on the TV and snuggled in beside me on the bed. "Don't worry, I won't bite… much." He grinned.
He flicked the channel to the morning news where reporters were showing a large building fire with smoke billowing out if it's windows. The writing at the bottom said, 'Five confirmed dead. Feared more inside yet to be found.' The corner of the screen had the date and time displaying.
I shook my head. "I don't understand. What happened? What am I doing here?"
"All will be explained in good time, Catalina."
"C-Catalina?" I rubbed my forehead where a headache had started and was getting worse by the second. "I-, I… that name does not sound familiar."
Nico, who had been avidly watching the news report with a smile, muted the TV and turned his attention my way with a look of worry on his face.
"You can't remember your own name? What can you remember?"
"I remember… I remember…. I-, I don't know. I can't remember anything. I…"
Why can't I remember anything? What is going on? Who am I?
Just then, a knock on the door interrupted my thoughts and Nico jumped off the bed to answer it.
"Doc. You're just in time. Meet Catalina. She's having some difficulty remembering."
The doctor was an older man, grey haired and with a friendly smile. Approaching the bed, he held out his hand.
"I'm doctor Thomas Lawrence, but you can call me Tom." He had a heavy southern accent as he spoke. I shook his hand. "How are you feeling, Catalina?"
"Like my head is going to explode."
"Hmm, not good for us. Messy business. Lots to clean up." He grinned as he placed his case on the bedside table and pulled out some aspirin. "Take these."
I smiled at his joke and immediately decided I liked him.
"May I do a few checks, Catalina?"
I nodded, and followed his instructions as he checked my heartbeat, blood pressure, checked my eyes and ears and in my mouth. Finally, he nodded to Nico, who put his arm around me and helped me to sit up off the pillows again. Tom then proceeded to touch the back of my head.
"What are you checking fo-. Ouch!" I flinched as he poked a tender spot on my head.
"My apologies, Catalina." He nodded at Nico, who gently laid me against the pillows again. I reached up to feel the back of my head. There was a patch of hair missing, and from what I could feel, a bumpy wound that had stitches in it.
What the hell happened to me?
"Your stitches have come out, but it will still be tender for some time. You are healing nicely though and you'll be perfect again in no time." He smiled as he packed away his various implements before turning back to me. "Now, Nico says you are having difficulty remembering?"
I nodded.
"Can you remember anything at all? Who you are? Where you live?"
I tried to think, but the pain in my head was getting too much. I shook my head.
"Never you mind about it, Catalina. You just need some rest. It's normal not to remember anything when you first wake up. It will come back to you. For now, get some rest. I'll come back to check on you tomorrow.”
I nodded and closed my eyes, the pain getting unbearable. I felt disoriented and the urge to sleep was slowly overwhelming me. I could hear Tom as he packed the rest of his things and exchanged indiscernible whispers with Nico in low tones by the door.
After the doc left, the last thing I remember before sleep consumed me, was Nico stroking my hair.
"Rest now Angel. You're safe with us."
For some reason, something deep inside me sensed that couldn't be further from the truth…
