The Masked Hero

Chapter 3

Tristan's POV

A small groan slid past my lips as I slowly got up. My head throbbed, almost like it was being set on fire, but I knew that if I stayed laying down, then the chances that it was only going to get worse were as high as the roof.

I didn't want to get up, at least not now. I wasn't a weakling that a little headache would hold me down, but the pain I felt couldn't be compared to anything I had felt in a long time. It was strange, almost new, but deadly at the same time, and if I didn't act fast, then I wouldn't be surprised if God decided to take away my chance at a second life.

I blinked back a couple of times, silently praying that it would help with the pain. After a couple of minutes though, I felt the pain slowly starting to ease away. Relief flooded my system, but apparently, it wasn't for long. I wasn't always lucky, but I had hoped that this would be one of my lucky moments. All I had to do was take a quick glance at my environment..

I squinted as I took it all in, trying to figure out where the hell I was. However, the more I tried, the more confused I got. The light pink walls surrounding me didn't paint or jog up anything from my memory and a small frown made its way to my face. Even the huge windows letting in rays of sunlight did nothing to help. Call me crazy or whatever, but the lights were only aggravating me all the more.

I snuck another glance at the place before pressing my eyes shut. None of the pictures that were hung on the wall, nor the knick knacks and others that decorated the room were familiar.

Where exactly was I?

Slowly, I swung my legs to the ground before getting up. A small pile of clothes sat at the edge of the bed, and I had no idea why, but I couldn't help but feel like they were mine, even though I was wearing something else.

My thoughts were cut short by a small ruffling from the bed. I turned just to see a lady, rousing up from what looked to be slumber.

Who was she?

Even with her wide eyes and the little confusion in her eyes, she was the most beautiful blonde I'd ever seen. Her lips were a faint shade of pink, and I watched her gasp for a couple of seconds. Either she was shocked that I was up and standing in front of her, or it had something to do with her falling asleep.

Whatever it was, I definitely didn't mind staring at her face all over again.I could even say that quick glance had cured me a bit.

“You're awake.” Her voice was tiny, angelic even and if it were to be turned into a tune of some sort, then be rest assured that I would be the first to listen. Over and over again too. “Fully this time. I hope you're not going to collapse again.”

I found that funny, but I held back my smirk. I was still new to what was happening , but it definitely sounded like what I could do, judging from the incident that led up to this moment. A wave of silence settled between us, and it stretched on longer until she broke it by asking.

“Who are you?” Even in a million years, I hadn't seen that question coming and for some strange reason, it made my heart race. It was a pretty easy and straight to the point kind of question, so tell me why I suddenly felt scared.

Because I had no idea who I was. Up until now, I'd never had a valid reason to believe amnesia was real. Confusion snaked up my spine as I figured out what this meant.

I'd lost my memory.

“What?” I chorused.

“Did you hear me?” She got out of bed in no time. “I just want to know who you are. The fact that I rescued you from the sea, doesn't give out a lot of details.”

“The sea?” I echoed her words, like it was going to help. I pressed my eyes shut, but only slightly as I pressured my brain to remember. There was no way I would just wake up without my memories. It just wasn't right.

A flicker of hope spread in my chest as my brain became responsive after some seconds. Flashing images of bodies of soldiers floating around me, dying comrades calling out my name replayed in my ears and eyes almost instantly. They were nothing short of hazy blurs and the more I recalled, the more my head throbbed. .

“Do you know who you are?” Her gentle voice broke into my thoughts. I stared at her, and after a couple of seconds, I shook my head. “What about your name?”

“I don't know.” The sad look that crept up her face wasn't hard to miss. Not only was she disheartened, she looked disappointed as well. “I don't know. I don't remember.”

“Oh.” She muttered underneath her breath. Her gaze fixed on my face and I watched

She paused, and just as she was about to say something else, a gasp slid past her lips. “Hold on, I think I know something that can help.”

Without so much as a second glance in my direction, I watched her pull out the drawer just next to the bedside table. After rummaging through it for a while, she pulled out a small red and wooden pendant, its colors catching the light.

“This.” She waved it in front of me. “Does this ring a bell? Maybe it'll help you remember?”

My face must have said it all because after a couple of minutes, she sighed, her shoulders falling slightly.

“I know what to do.’ she announced, before dropping off the pendant. “ I'll just have to take you to the hospital. There, and once you've recovered and remembered, I'm sure it'll be easier to locate your family.”

I said nothing. Why? Because a million and one things raced through my mind all at once. How did I end up here? Where and how did she find me? Why didn't I remember anything?

As I stared at her, I only hoped that somehow, I would be able to get my memories back.

**************

The TV in the living room stood tall, as it executed its duty of entertaining us. Valentina had offered that we watch some TV since there was nothing else to do. After we'd stood in a somewhat awkward silence, she told me her name, before leading me to the living room and I obliged.

If I had known what would have happened when she suggested it, I would have brought up the suggestion myself.

Barely minutes after the TV had been switched on, the news came on and if someone had told me that was all I needed since I regained consciousness, I would have laughed at their faces. Hard.

The moment the newscaster read out more news concerning Tristan Steele, something tugged at mm memory.

It was me. I was Tristan Steele.

My head swirled as more and more fragmented memories raced to my mind. I remembered being the world's top military commander, whom everyone revered. While more and more memories rushed at me, one of them stood out the most.

The memory of my fiancee poisoning me during a crucial battle, and that was the only reason why I had fallen into the sea in the first place.

I scrunched up my face in confusion as I tried to make sense of it all. Why did she poison me? Did she really want me dead to that extent?

The more I thought about it, the more it didn't make any sense. I loved her, she was my fiancee and we were about to get married, so why did she do that to me? Was she really going to use her influence to cover up my death.

An idea made its way to my mind immediately. Sitting down on this couch and pondering wasn't going to give me the answers I was looking for. If I wanted to know more and the reason behind what she did, then I needed a plan.

As I tuned out of the newscasters voice, I made up my mind to lay low, pretending to have amnesia while staying with Valentin. Only then would I be able to uncover and find out the answers to all of my questions. And the fact that Valentina had believed my amnesiac story, and that I had been reported dead by the nation made it all the more easier.

Yes, that's what I was going to do.