Rise of the fallen

Chapter Seven

*POV Nameless Woman*

"Wake up.

Wake up, girl!

Wake up.."

My eyes shoot open, gasping for air.

"It's ok! Hey. Hey! It's ok!" Someone says, trying to calm me down as I thrash around, yanking on each tube coming out of me. "You're ok; calm down."

Still trying to catch my breath, I hoarsely manage to mutter, "Where am I? What happened?"

"You were struck by what looks like lightning, though it's now almost completely healed? Do you remember anything? How are you healing so fast?" I can now tell the voice belongs to an orderly. Her voice is exceptionally high-pitched.

"I don't remember anything" My throat throbs as the vibrations of my voice irritate my airway. Clearing my throat is rough; my hands cant help but hold it like a thousand knives just made their way down my throat.

"Ok, what's your name then?" Although she was a nurse, I couldn't take her seriously when she sounded like a tiny mouse.

"I..." pausing for a minute to think, and finally admitting to myself, "don't... know..."

"Okaaay, can you tell me how you got struck by lightning on a clear day in the middle of the forest?"

"I don't know!" frustrated, I throw my hands in the air.

Suddenly I can see clouds all around me soaring through the air. Is this me? I cant be. I cant fly... can I? My head looks back at my wings as I fly through the air; brilliant light shines as swirling magic moves through them. I'm excited yet fearful as each cloud passes by me. My hands are gently flowing through the clouds, coming up like I dipped my hands into a lake, dripping from the vapor of the cloud.

A voice from down the hall brings me back to reality, "Where is she?!" It shrieks, getting closer and closer with each thud of their shoes on the tiles in the hallway. When the door finally flies open, an old white-haired man comes storming in. His lips curl in where his teeth should be as he spits on the nurse, "why wasn't I notified?" He orders.

"Calm down, sir; who are you?" The nurse responds sternly.

"What kind of hospital are you running around here?" The old man says, effectively spitting on the orderly.

Wiping the spit from her face, the used-to-be mouselike orderly no longer sounded mouselike. "CALM DOWN, SIR! I haven't even gotten to ask her anything! She just woke up! NOW if you would kindly tell me who you are and what your relation to this young woman is, maybe we can get somewhere!" Her voice is that of a lion as she roars her commands at the now sitting old man who's 50 years her senior.

Closing the door behind them, the orderly ushers the old man into the hallway. Tiny mumbles seep through the door as I try to unplug myself from the different machines to get closer. I yank on the wires connected to my chest, accidentally pulling over the monitor too. Nurse lion mouse comes running back into the room, fussing at me to get back into the bed.

"You shouldn't be walking around! Here let me help you," she says as I push her hand off.

"I'm fine; I was trying to hear what yall were saying.. Who is that man?"

"You don't know?" she says, hiding a look of worry. "Do you know your name? What about the date?"

"No, and no."

She leaves for a moment and returns with the old man.

"Hey, kid." The old man spittles a little on his lip. "So, nurse rachet over there tells me you don't know who I am or who you are?"

The nurse glares at him but lets him continue.

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

"Well, kid, my name is frank. I've been caring for you since you were a baby. I don't know your name and told you that you could make your own when you learned to talk. You liked kid, so it stuck. I found you at a year old in a barn after responding to a house fire, where your parents perished. I don't know what you were doing in the barn, but lucky you were, or you would have been gone with them. You've been living above my shop since you were 18; you're now 25. You wanted more independence, so we made a deal that you'd look after the shop since I'm too old to do any of the heavy liftings anymore. You went out with your boyfriend exploring like you do every weekend, and I haven't heard from you since yesterday. I called every hospital in town till I found out you were here and rushed right over. Where is Matt?"

"Who is Matt?" I ask, trying to soak up the information he just threw at me.

"Matt is your boyfriend? So you're telling me you don't remember anything about what happened?"

"No, I don't. I don't remember who any of you are.."

"That's ok. The nurse says you should regain your memories with time. So try not to push yourself. Let's get you home, ok?"

Packing my things, the nurse tells him how to care for me for the next few days. She still looks at me suspiciously for being healed as fast as I am but only insists on following up with her and allowing her to come to the house to ask questions at a later date.

The tiny efficiency apartment above the card shop is rather cute. It has a little kitchen in the same room as the bedroom and living room with only a small closet and a small bathroom big enough for a shower, sink and toilet. The fragrance of vanilla wafts to my nose as I run my hand across the smooth vinal countertops. A single futon is set up in front of a small tv with leftover cup noodles sitting on the table. The sun from the windows peers in, making the dingy, tiny apartment a little cozier. In the window sill is a medium-sized iguana sunbathing.

"What's that?" Gesturing toward the iguana.

"That is Lizzie. You've had her for about ten years now. She creeps me out, but she is super attached to you. I'm shocked you didn't take her with you on your adventure. You have a little collar for her and everything. Usually, she goes everywhere with you. Although, now that I think about it, it's probably a good thing you didn't. I wish I knew what yall were doing or at least where yall went so we could find Matt." Frank opens the curtains some more and shoos Lizzie away.

Lizzie slithers up to me and waits at my feet; I'm assuming for me to pick her up. The urge to pick her up dictates my want to get used to my surroundings. As I lean down, she climbs up my arm and resting on my shoulder. I can't resist stroking her scaly skin as she nestles into the crook of my neck. s

"This is all so weird... Lizzie feels natural, but I don't have any memories of her. I don't even remember getting her. Who gave her to me? Did I pick her out?"

"Lizzie was a gift from Matt's parents when you turned 15. They said it was a tradition in their family. Matt got a snake, and you got a lizard." Frank says matter of factly.

"I've been with Matt since I was 15???" I cant even hide the shock in my voice. "That's a long time to be with someone. He must have been someone special to me.."

"Relax for a while, kid. I'll be back later to check on you." Frank says when he hears the bell to the shop ring downstairs.

Closing the door behind him, I can hear him muttering to himself as he walks down the stairs. The aroma of the cup noodles draws me to the couch. I didn't even realize how hungry I was until I got closer when my stomach started growling like it had a mind of its own. Only a few bites in, I sit back with my head on the back of the futon. Lizzie climbs off my shoulder and onto the bed as we both drift asleep.