Anarchy Novel "Will" Chapter 44
Chapter 44
A couple of gloomy days passed by. It was the rainy season and gray had overtaken the environment as well as the mood in Ray and Sophia’s house. This was especially true in the heart and mind of Vintage. He felt confused. He felt utterly angry as well. Marcos had given him treatment to unblock his memories. Things were beginning to clear up a little. He saw a woman and a child in his mind but wasn’t sure who they were. They were images with no names and no meaning, just faces. Marcos told him to be patient. Easy for him to say. The events of the past few days had taken a lot out of him, too. His head felt like swiss cheese. He felt weak and out of sync, ten times worse than when Ray had found him all that time ago.
A sudden jolt came through his mind and pain was all he could know. He buried his head in his pillow and started sweating cold bullets. Distorted flashes of images went through his mind like a tv set with a bad signal. He rolled around in anguish and gasped desperately for air. He tore at his curly hair. Pain seems like an eternity until it stops. It stopped moments later and the pictures became clear. The woman, the child, his family! It was a wife, a child! His wife, his child! Names? Hold on, it’s coming. Focus. 0777 and 2001! How revolting to be called a number, now that he had learned so much! He felt better, like a new man. He was whole again, he could remember!
He sprang out of bed and ran out to find Ray and Sophia. He burst into the kitchen to find them chatting and making coffee. “I remember! The woman, the child! My family! My wife, my child!”
Ray and Sophia were caught off guard and a bit confused at first, but then came to the logical conclusion that the people from his dreams had finally become clear conscious memories. “The woman and child from your dreams, are you wife and child, do I understand correctly?” Ray asked for confirmation. “Yes!,” came the shout of joy. He grabbed both his friends and gave a hearty embrace.
He let go and with fire in his eyes asked, “Oh my God, oh my God, what am I going to do?” Sophia and Ray didn’t respond. They wanted emotions to settle before any strategy was approached. Vintage started pacing and rubbing his hands together. It was the most anxious they had ever seen him. “I’ve got to speak with Luz first,” he decided. Sophia took a deep breath and sobbed, “Yeah, that’s what I’d do if I were you.” Ray grabbed Vintage on the shoulder and looked him in the eye, “You’re going back. I can tell. Is that right?”
Vintage nodded and with great conviction in his voice affirmed, “I have to. All things considered, I have to.” “To what end?” Ray pushed as he gulped back his emotions. “Multiple ends, I imagine, but one is certain at the moment. I must see my family. As to other objectives, I’m not sure yet. After I talk to Luz, I’d like to speak with the whole crew, Jovius, Tai, everyone. I’m going to need advice and support, but first things first. I must see Luz at once.”
He rushed out to his silver ‘mini-beast’ to take off for Mari’s place. Ray and Sophia followed him out and they wished him luck. He jumped in and took off through the sky. No time to drive, sometimes you had to fly. This most definitely was one of those times. His flight pod raced nearly as fast as his mind. How was he going to break this to Luz? They loved each other and he was actually thinking to take the next step and move in together, then this happened. It was more than complicated, it was a complete clusterfuck.
“Control your emotions,” he thought to himself. Easier said than done. A tear rolled down his cheek. His mind moved to the boy, 2001, his son. What would he be like? Would his son remember him? How would his wife feel? He tried to remember the circumstances of his departure. Did she know where he was? What he was doing? Wait, why had he left? He puzzled and strained to remember. Some things were still foggy.
“Ah, yes! I volunteered! Volunteered? Why would I volunteer to leave my family? He breathed heavy as memories rushed back. Simultaneously, he pushed the mini-beast’s accelerator to the max and cut through the sloggy mist in the air. Weather be damned, I’m on a mission. Wait, volunteered for what? A mission. A vague mission, to save the Free State. Mission to the other side of the world. First time in history of the nation! More importantly, his family would be well taken care of. That’s why he volunteered. He was offered riches. He had to take care of his family. This was the best way. No more struggling with finances. His family deserved better. But wait. How did he cross the wall? Flight didn’t exist in his world. Come on, think, think. A pilot. A pilot? Must have been from Luz’s side of the world. Couldn’t have been a Free Stater, or could it? Don’t remember actual flight. Only being told plan by my trainer. Who was my trainer? A woman, attractive woman, and a cold-looking crusty old man. Who was he? Who was she? Why don’t I remember the flight? Maybe drugged before flight. Why do I remember pilot? I got on craft with pilot, then everything is blank. Next memory is waking up, looking at Ray and Sophia. Big blank spot in between. Psychological tests. Yes, too many tests to count, I remember. They chose me, must have passed.” He banked hard to the right to avoid a quickly approaching lightning storm. Bad weather to fly in. Oh well.
He landed his pod a couple hours later and ran out into a downpour. He ran to the front door and banged as if his life depended on it. Luz opened the door and gasped, “You’re soaked! Come in, come in! What a surprise!” She kissed him on the cheek and told him to wait. She’d grab some towels and fresh clothes for him. The place was quiet. Mari was sitting in her usual spot by the fire. She smiled and waved. She looked sleepy. Luz came back and gave a stack of fresh fabric to her man. “Everyone’s napping, one of those days, ya know?” She had no idea, and he definitely didn’t feel like sleeping. “I’ll get changed and then we can talk, ok?” She smiled and nodded, “Yep. I’m puzzled about the surprise visit, especially in weather like this. Everything ok?” He did a terrible job of hiding his motley blend of emotions, attempted to smile, and turned out to be a creepy grimace. “Maybe we can talk in your room?” he asked. She agreed and he went off to get changed.
He came into her bedroom and found her leaning back on one elbow on the bed. He hair hung gently over her soft shoulders. She was too beautiful to describe. “Why didn’t you wear your waterproof stuff, or at least some smart clothes?” “I didn’t have time. Let me explain,” he responded as he sat next to her on the bed and hunched over a bit. The look on his face gave her concern. She promptly sat up next to him and took his hand.
First, he relayed everything that had happened over the past few days. The headaches, the implants, the brush with death. She interrupted his monologue with a good fist on the shoulder, “And you’re just now telling me?” she screamed in disbelief and despair. Her face drooped and she began to sob deeply. “I should have told you, or Ray or Sophia should have, but it all happened so fast. I’m sorry. Please, let me continue. I’ve regained my memories. That is what I really need to talk to you about.” She perked up a hair at the good news. “You remember? That’s great!” He shrugged and looked away from her, “In some ways yes, in other ways no. I won’t mince words. Do you remember the woman and child from my dreams?” “Of course, I remember you telling me about those dreams. They happened infrequently and always made you upset.” “Yes, and for good reason. The woman, I now remember, is my wife, and the boy is my son.” He paused and waited for her reaction. She looked away from him and started sulking uncontrollably.
“I’m so sorry, Luz, I didn’t know, you know that,” he pleaded. She gulped air and wiped her tears as she continued facing the wall. “Please, Luz, look at me. I need to look at you.” She turned slowly and faced the man she loved and was now, in her mind, sure to lose. They got lost in each other’s eyes for a moment. She asked softly, “So what now?” He sobbed and with cracked voice said, “I have to go, I think you know that. I don’t know for how long, or what will happen, but I have to at least try, and for maybe more than just personal reasons.” She tried her best to compose herself and asked, “What are you getting at? What other reasons? Just be honest, please, I deserve that much.” He nodded in agreement, “I’d like to meet with you and my closest friends, the whole crew. I need everyone’s thoughts.” She didn’t ask anymore questions. She decided she knew enough for now.
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