Page 37 of Amnesia

“Whoa,” he said, holding up his hand in surrender. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“I’m sorry. I…” I glanced around again. All I saw was plants and shrubs. There was no one here.I am losing what little I have left of my mind.

“What’s wrong?” His voice changed, grew deeper, and his body seemed to grow even taller.

“Nothing,” I said, brushing off the feeling. “I just thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye.” I lied.

Eddie’s eyes narrowed.

To distract him, I hooked my arm through his and started strolling toward the fountain. “So tell me about the Loch Ness.”

It took a moment to register what I said because he seemed a little lost in focus the minute I entwined our arms. I admit the momentary hum of electricity between us had been distracting.

“What?” he said, amused.

“There has to be a legend here, right? I mean why else the Loch Ness on the back of the shirts? And the lake is called Lochlain… which everyone just calls Loch.”

“You want to know about the Loch Ness Monster.” He cackled.

I shrugged. “It’s a mystery of the lake. Just like me.”

Eddie stopped walking, gently tugging me around so we were facing one another. “Amnesia,” he said, regret in his eyes.

“It’s okay,” I said. “Maybe I’m better off.”

His eyes darkened. I could tell he didn’t agree. His lips parted, and I waited to hear what he would say. But from the entrance of the garden, someone called his name.

Both of us turned to see Mary Beth waving her arms, signaling for him to come over.

Eddie sighed. “Let’s see what she wants.”

“You go,” I said, “I’ll meet you by the fountain.”

His eyes swept over my face in what felt like a caress. It made me long for more. I just wasn’t sure of what. “I’ll be right back.”

I nodded and took another bite of my apple. He walked backward, eyes still on me until I laughed and turned away, toward the fountain.

A cool breeze kicked up the trees and fallen leaves. The scent of earth rose around me. Looking beyond the fountain toward the edge of the garden where fully mature trees were giving up their multicolored sprinkles to the air and grass beneath them, something moved.

I blinked and stared again. Someone was definitely there, just on the other side of the hedge between the trees and the hospital grounds.

I started toward them, sure the feeling I had of being watched wasn’t just a feeling. I kept my eyes glued to the spot, hoping the person would reveal themselves. The wind picked up again, my hair blew into my eyes, and I struggled to push it away. Something touched the top of my foot, and I screeched, jumping back.

I laughed when I saw it was just leaves being blown over my shoe by the wind.

“Get a grip, Amnesia,” I muttered and then started forward again.

Just as soon as I started walking again, I halted.

Maybe my low scream had drawn attention, or maybe they’d just gotten careless, but I saw them.

Someone crouched just on the other side of the thick shrub. I could see a pair of gloved hands reaching through the branches, parting them for just enough space to glance through.

I was being watched. Stalked.

“Hey!” I yelled impulsively and dashed forward. The branches snapped closed and the bush jiggled with movement. “Stop!” I yelled again, picking up my pace.

When I got to the shrub, there was no one behind it, but lying on the ground were a few snapped branches.

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