Page 129 of Amnesia

Before I raced onto Tom’s boat, I’d called 9-1-1 and gave a very basic rundown of what was transpiring—no details, just enough to get them the hell out here.

“She was trying to kidnap me,” Am answered, drawing everyone’s stare. “She knows who I am and where I’ve been all these years.”

Her teeth started chattering again and her legs gave out. I scooped her up the second she started to sink, holding her close against my chest.

“Let’s get you guys to the hospital,” the officer said, abandoning his inquiries. “Ambulance is right over there.” He pointed.

I left the cops to deal with the old woman as I trudged through the grass toward the waiting EMTs.

I knew this was likely the only reprieve we were going to get from the questions. There were going to be so many. I just hoped, for Amnesia’s sake, there were some answers, too.

We both had a concussion and were admitted for the night. Thankfully, the staff here knew us well enough they didn’t even bother putting us in separate rooms. There were two beds in the one they put us in, but only one was going to be used.

Eddie had stitches in his head behind his ear. They had to shave off a patch of his dark curls to stitch the gash the witch had put there. The fact he was able to get up off the floor, with a split head and a concussion, steal a boat, and find in me in the center of the lake was a marvel to the police and the hospital staff.

He saved my life… I’d lost count how many times it was now. After tonight, there were more questions than answers, but I knew something that would never change. I would always be able to count on Eddie. And maybe the circumstances in which we met and fell in love were totally odd and a little unbelievable, but the love was real.

I didn’t have any stitches, but I had a knot on my head, various cuts and bruises, and my hand in a cast. One of the bones cracked when the widow crushed my hand with the oar.

The second we arrived at the hospital, everything was a blur. The doctors and nurses bustled around, took us both for CT scans, and made it a priority to get us warm. By the time we were moved into the private room, I was so tired I was dizzy. Or maybe that was just the head injury. Either way, I wanted to sleep.

We weren’t allowed of course. So instead, I lay in the bed with Eddie, beneath itchy hospital blankets, and relived the horrors that just occurred over and over again.

We hadn’t talked about it yet; there hadn’t been any time, and I felt so raw I wasn’t sure I was ready. Or if I ever would be.

“You remembered more, didn’t you?” Eddie murmured, holding me tight against his chest.

I nodded, tears instantly flooding my eyes. “Something she said triggered it,” I whispered. “It was horrible,” I rasped, hugging him more fiercely.

“I can’t believe old Widow West was behind this all these years,” he said, his voice flat and lifeless. “All this time… you were right here.”

“It wasn’t just her.” I began, pulling back to look into his face. There was a bruise on the side of his head where I figured she’d hit him the second time. On impulse, I leaned up, brushing my lips over the area.

He made a soft sound, covering my lips with his. I let myself sink right into his warmth and the softness of his kiss.

The door opened. Eddie drew back first, glancing up to see who was coming in. I was still watching him, his full lips, strong jaw…

“We have a lot of questions,” a man said, drawing my attention away. Glancing around, I saw several police officers, Dr. Beck, and Dr. Kline.

“Do we really need to do this now?” Eddie asked, surly. “She’s been through enough.”

“I’m afraid so,” the officer said, stepping forward. “We need all the information you can recall. The sooner the better.”

I sat up, still keeping my body against Eddie’s, and looked at the people in the room. “I remembered my name,” I announced. “It’s Sadie. I’m the girl who went missing eleven years ago. I didn’t drown. I was kidnapped.”

There were low gasps in the room, the ruffling of papers, and a concerned look on Dr. Kline’s face.

“Are you absolutely certain about this?” the officer asked.

I frowned. “Not absolutely, but it all makes sense.”

“And it was Mrs. West who kidnapped you all those years ago, and she’s been holding you hostage against your will ever since?” He went on.

“Yes,” I said. Then I faltered. “Well, I can’t remember.”

“Which is it, miss?” the officer asked, his pen pausing over the pad of paper.

“Watch your tone,” Eddie growled from beside me. “She’s been through enough.”

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