So, I'm not going to moan though. I'm going to spend tomorrow and a couple of days catching up with my Morganville. It should be interesting. I'm going to reread the first book. Just to process everything before going to the second book and so on. There's eight, and I read the first one in a couple of hours. I should be able to do most of them by Friday. Hopefully. I'm not planning on doing much in my few days of freedom in any case.
So here's chapter 9 of Do You Remember Me?
Chapter 9
‘Daniel Smith Found’ covered the lower half of the screen on the large television. I didn’t know what to think. It wasn’t the shock that people had found out about me ‘coming back’, that surprised me. It was that people cared, surprised me.
“We’re just getting reports that the young Daniel Smith, the boy who was taken from his school campsite nearly a year ago as been found and is safe and home with his family…” The lady on the screen kept babbling on about stuff I didn’t care about. I turned to look at my parents.
“Is this bad?” I asked. They didn’t answer. I looked back to the screen.
“Daniel Smith, preferably Danny, was reportedly seen being taken to hospital in a police car. This morning, merely an hour or two ago, he was seen exiting the hospital with his family in tow.” I now noticed that she was standing in front of the hospital I’d just spent the night in. “No news has come through about the state that he came back in, or any of the medical checks run on him. We have this statement by Inspector Malcolm who’s been close to the case from the very beginning.” The screen changed and on came the inspector that had interviewed me yesterday. I hadn’t seen his since.
“I cannot disclose medical information with you, but judging from what I saw, and what I can tell you, it looks like it’s been some kind of torture going on. He’s lost his memories and it’s a very hard time for him and the family now.” The screen switched back to the woman.
“No word yet on the two friends that were captured with him. They are yet to be found. Police forces have commentated that they will start their investigation thoroughly again and look over old evidence and see what news might come to light.” The lady on the screen plastered on a smile, the screen began to fade back to the news desk where two new reporters sat.
“There you have it. We’ll keep you up to date on the situation as we find out more information.” Jamie turned of the voice before the dark skinned man could continue.
“What should we do?” Jamie asked, her eyes never leaving the now blank screen.
“It’s a bit sooner than we expected, but we figured people would find out eventually. We have nothing to hide. It’s just, families is what I’m worried about.” Maggie replied. I didn’t know what she was talking about. I guessed I’d find out soon though.
“I’m going to my room.” I announced and left the room. I knew they were looking at me, which is why I didn’t look back to them. I didn’t want to deal with them. I had other things to do.
“What’re we gonna do, Mom?” Jamie asked as soon as Danny closed the door to his room. She was worried about him. He was not only really resigned now, he was going to have to deal with all of this too.
“I guess we’ll just have to take every day as it comes. We’ve done that before, when Danny first went missing. We’ll cope.” Maggie replied.
“Yeah, and with Danny with us. The doctor said his memories would come back eventually. We can look for Hayley and Jesse when he gets his memories back, it’ll be a sinch.” Jim replied, always carrying the positive attitude of the family. Even in their darkest hours had he not been able to lighten the mood slightly and install hope in the place of darkness.
“How are we going to deal with the other parents? You know Hayley’s parents blame Danny for her disappearance.” Jamie said.
“I know they do, sweetie. We can’t really do much from here.” Maggie sighed dejectedly. She didn’t know more about the situation than the rest of her family. It came down to her on a regular basis to be the thinker of the family. It’s just that sometimes, not even the thinker had the answer.
I listened in on most of their conversation. I didn’t like it. Walking around to my window to look out to the view, I noticed that there was an easy escape rout down the wall. Did I do that before? Thoughts of my past plagued me as I walked up here. What kind of person was I? Was I strong? Intimidating? Or was I puny? Weak? Defenceless in the eyes of the public? I’d been thinking a lot about my past. Ever since Jamie mentioned the wizard thing. I wasn’t going to think about it. It was impossible.
So why did the thought keep coming back to me? It was like a strange nagging at my mind. Like there was something I knew I should know. The answer should be second nature to me, yet, I couldn’t think of the answer now.
It was frustrating.
I climbed down the wall of the house. I didn’t know where I was going. I just walked. Ovid was nice. Alicia had told me the name of the city before. Last night. When we were talking. That was a nice name. She had said Ovid was named after some Roman poet. I’d have to look his poetry up. Not that I’d probably understand it.
Before I knew where my feet were taking me, I was back at the docks. Where the Porter came. I sat down and waited for him. I knew what he’d have that I’d need.
“Jeff. It’s good to see you here. But, judging from the TV I was watching just a few moments ago, your not really Jeff, are you?” the Porter had snuck up on me, apparently. I did not hear him come.
“Apparently so. Have you got any stuff?” I asked quickly.
“To the point. I like that. You got any money?” he asked. I scampered around my pockets. There was a spare ten dollar bill there. I did not know where it came from. I was just glad that maybe some part of me had thought to get money. I’d had a look around my room and found a small pot of money. I didn’t remember taking any of the money out though.
“Okay. It won’t give you much. But I’ll be nice and pay for the rest. You look like you need a lot.” The Porter said.
“Thanks. You heard of John?” I asked.
“Not really. I only dealt with him through people like you and Mac. I’ve had no one besides you come to me of his lot.” I didn’t know if I was happy or sad to hear that. Maybe word travelled and he’d fled. I hoped he’d fled.
“Okay.” I replied. “Thanks for this.” I took the packet from him. The Porter had thought to stick in a lighter too. He was always strange like that.
I stooped behind a tree in some part. I knew I had to get back quick before they noticed I wasn’t there. I lit and smoked. I was now ready to go back home and face them.
Luckily, I got home before they thought about checking up on me. Luckily, most of the effects of the joint had worn off too, before they checked on me. Luckily, my bedroom nicely had a bathroom attached to I could check my reflection in the mirror and brush my teeth before going back downstairs. I couldn’t let them find out.
Walking back into my room. I hid the rest of the pot safely under the drawer. I’d noticed a loose floorboard when I’d first came in here. They’d never think to check in there, hopefully. I walked down stairs. I’d wished I hadn’t through.
As soon as I’d reached the bottom step, the front door slammed open. Revealing a horde of reporters and two very unhappy looking people. I saw loads of flashes before the door was hastily shut.
I knew I was in for it just by looking at them. They were pissed. Pissed beyond belief.
I was going to put what happened at the end of this chapter, and use that for the entire chapter. But I think the whole pot thing needed to be more prioritized. That'll be a good thing for next chapter then.
So I've been thinking about posting this on fictionpress. You know, as a first draft kind of thing. See what people think about it. Of course, I'd have to tell them it's just a first draft and things were definitely going to change for the finished product. But, just to get some feedback on what people think of it.
I might start doing that. No one really pays attention to my fictionpress stuff, and I haven't written anything for it in a while. So. Hurrah, right? I won't stop posting it here though. Posting random chapters on my blogger account is fun. I don't really have to type much substance for my blog then...
So I'm going to bed. I'm hopefully going to finish this one fanfiction I've been reading it's really good. I'll tell you about it tomorrow. When I've finished it. Hopefully.
Night!
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