Page 56 of Amnesty

“Here,” I said, unzipping my hoodie and putting it around her shoulders. “It’s cold out.”

She looked down at the shirt, then pushed her arms through. “Thank you.”

It seemed to take less time to get to the dock. I thanked God for that. I was never coming back to this island of hell ever again.

Everyone was quiet as we made our way to the pristine white boat. Sadie was definitely weak and malnourished. She tired out halfway to the dock and began to stumble.

It didn’t help she was barefoot and the sunlight seemed to blind her.

I picked her up and carried her the rest of the way. She sighed in relief and practically went limp in my arms.

“Be careful.” I gently reminded Amnesia as she walked down the dock toward the boat. It made me nervous to watch her because so much of the wood was rotted out.

She didn’t look back at me when we made it across, instead just jumping into the boat and moving toward the back where she’d sat on the way here.

I was worried about her. Unfortunately, my worry had to wait.

Once Sadie and I were in, I sat her down beside Amnesia and fired up the boat.

I didn’t spare a single glance back at the island as I jetted over the water, but the creepy, unstable feelings it possessed definitely followed us home.

The hospital was chaos.

The second Eddie pushed through the doors, carrying a newly found Sadie, me trailing along behind them, completely shell-shocked, everything seemed to snowball into an avalanche of activity.

There was some yelling. Some crying. Possibly even some fainting. I sort of felt I was walking through fog, in danger of being lost. I knew what was happening around me, yet it was like I wasn’t participating.

Sadie was swept into a private room, and Eddie followed along. The next thing I knew, he was taking my hand, pulling me out of the chair I was in and leading me into the room with Sadie.

She looked like me. Or maybe I looked like her.

My hair was lighter than hers, and I had more freckles. Both of us had brown eyes. Both of us were too skinny, and we had the same shape face. I understood now why everyone was shocked when I first showed up.

I knew by the look on her face she was completely overwhelmed and scared. I didn’t know quite how she felt, but I thought it might be similar to how I felt when I woke up from my coma. Except she knew these people. Or most of them.

Eddie stayed at her bedside, holding her hand. She kept her eyes on him most of the time, even when trying to answer any question directed at her. Eddie spoke more than she did. I saw his mouth moving, but I didn’t hear his words.

I didn’t need to. I knew what was going on.

A soft touch on my arm made me jump, startled. The world came back into focus. Mary Beth smiled down at me. “Why don’t you come with me. Let us check you out?”

“I’m fine, thank you,” I replied.

“You don’t look fine,” she said gently.

“I’m sure I don’t.”

“Go with her, Am. Just to be sure,” Eddie said.

I glanced at him glancing at me. He was still holding Sadie’s hand. I looked away, over at Sadie. She felt my eyes and turned her head. We connected for long moments; there was recognition there, but I didn’t know how much or why.

There was also something else. Something I didn’t understand.

Something I didn’t particularly like.

“I’ll come with you,” I said to Mary Beth and stood from the chair.

“I’ll be right there to check on you,” Eddie called behind me.

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