Chapter 1

Bump Bump

He scratches at the unfamiliar headband the is seemly locked around his head, it was not bothering the man but it felt to him it was not supposed to be there either. It was dark nearly everywhere but, in the distance, there was a light that made him feel safe

How did I get here?

Walking slowly toward the light the man had trouble thinking about anything else to do, was there any other sounds he heard besides the buzzing? The constant buzzing that focused him to keep walking forward.

I-am-a-good-person

The man was somewhat startled at this own thought but kept walking towards the ever-glowing light. Why did he think that? That thought felt different, it was starting to confuse them but remembering the thought made him feel good. Turning his attention to the now clear light he could make out what was in front of him. Three men dressed in armor next to torches staring straight at him, two flanked either side of the open gate with spears while the third a sword at this waist. He had short mostly brown hair with some gray mixed in.

“Halt, what is your business here?”

the guard to the left of the door spoke out while moving from where he was and in front of the man

“Ugh”

 The man was having a hard time speaking, the buzzing was louder in his head now making it harder to answer

“Ugh? Your going to have come up with something better than that or else we are going to have an issue, now tell me who you are!”

Now the questioning guard stepped back slightly and pointed the spear at the confused man. The other guard who was standing on the opposite side of the door moved from his position to surround the confused man. The man crouched and brought his arms up to shield to head

“GET AWAY. GET AWAY. GET AWAY”

The man screamed while closing his eyes, he was now extremely stressed out about not being able to answer the scary man questions. He could no longer even think, all he heard in his mind was the buzzing.

The guard was had been questing the man was about to speak again but the guard with the sword placed his hand on the other guard’s shoulder

“We talked about this Gorn” He said while looking down at him

Gorn’s face immediately was splashed with a mix of guilt of anger

“I am sorry Watch Captain” Gorn immediately returned to his original stance and shortly after the other guard did also

After that the Watch Captain did nothing but stand and wait while he watched the confused man slowly calm himself down. The two other guards after a wave from the Captain walked away leaving just the two of them there. The man was not sure how much time had passed but eventually the buzzing went back to its original level.

“Feeling better?” the Watch Captain asked while still not trying to get closer

“…Yes” Words now became more easily to say to the man

“Glad to hear that, may I ask who the letter is for?” The Watch Captain’s asked while pointing at the man’s right hand

Confused the man looked at his hand to just now realize something was actually in it. The letter was as plain as could be, complexly white with no writing what so ever on it, the top of it not even sealed. The man could see another folded paper inside.

“I don’t… know” The man tried to reach in his mind for something about the letter that he held in his hand but nothing came up

The Watch Captain seemed puzzled at this turn of events; he made a face as if thinking how best to proceed. After a moment his eyes widened after he seemed to notice something.

“Do you know who you are?” almost seemly worried about the answer he expected to get

Opening his mouth as if the man was about to say his name but nothing came out, just like with the letter the spot in his mind was blank, it was all blank. He started to get worried again about what was happening.

“I don’t know… why don’t I know?”

Seeing the man starting to lose control the Watch Captain finally moved, he moved next to the confused man and put his hands on his shoulders.

“That’s alright, hey how about we look at that letter in your hand. It could be just what you need” The Watch Captain said with a small smile

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The man nodded his head in agreement, he slowly and with a slightly shaking hand gave the letter up. The Watch Captain thanked the man and took out the folded letter from the pristinely white envelope. He unfolded it and started to read. The man watched him read it, his eyes at one point becoming huge but never saying anything. When he was finally done reading the Watch Captain the shook his head and put the letter back in the envelope.

 “What… did it say?” The man asked worried about the answer

“You don’t… well I suppose that is not unexpected. Well it said a number of things but there is something that I am sure you would really like to know” He said while taking a step back and reaching out with his free hand

“What’s that?” The man asked questionably

“Your name is James, and mine is Rick, its nice to meet you” Rick said with a grin

James slowly reached out his hand and shook Ricks

“Am I… A good person?” The thought James had? From before bubbling up to the surface, the thought becoming very important to hear the answer to

Rick put his other hand over James

“Of course you are James, how about the two of us head inside. There is a place where you can sleep I know about with a friend of mine. Does that sound like something you would like to do?”

When James look at Rick he felt a warmth that calmed him

“I trust you Rick” To James even if speaking was becoming easier, he felt that was all that needed to be said

Rick let go of James hand and laughed while patting his back

“Wow what a guy! Haha making me tear up. You know I am supposed to be the tough guy right now but you remind me of my kid so I can’t help it. Come with me, Mick and Gorn you both stay here. I will be bringing him To the Monk”

The two Guards raised their spears in salute and resumed their duties while Rick and James went inside the Wooden walled town.

 “Gorn you need to cool it, you remember why you had this bottom of the barrel shift anyway right?” Mick pointed out in an ‘I told you so’ way

Gorn just clicked his tongue and waved him off

That was the last James heard of the two before he was to far away while also thinking over what just happened

My name is James?

It did not feel right or wrong but since it seemed to come from the letter he had been carrying it had to be right…right?

As the two of them walked down the street a few people were looking outside their windows, clearly what had happened outside the gates had woken them up. Rick when he noticed someone who simply smile and wave or say “everything’s fine” to get the people back to bed. Within minutes they seemed to be at the intended location

The building appeared to be around three stories, it was a mix of gothic and just a normal building that had been converted. With only the front of the building with a slopping stone leading to a stained-glass window in the shape of as circle

“James let me do the talking okay?” Rick quietly asked as the stood in front of the double wooden doors

James nodded so Rick nocked on the doors. The waited… and waited and still there was no response to no surprise of Rick. Next he started slamming his fist into the door, and yet the only response was the wind.

“You made me do this” Rick said to himself as he seemed to be focusing on his fist for a moment then spoke out in a firm voice

“[Bash]!” Ricks fist lightly glowed and this time when his fist connected to the door not only did it by far make the loudest noise yet it actually left a dent

A scream came from the top level of the building scaring James but to Rick he had a small smile on his face. Soon enough heavy footsteps come be heard on the other side of the door and with a quick pull the two of them were introduced to the Monk. He seemed to be in plain robes that could not hide is fairly large belly.

“Do you know how long it has been since I have not had anything or anyone to take care of during the night, why do you rob this holy man of his sleep!” He said fuming and face becoming red

“Yes that is a sad tale indeed, but here is the thing. Last time you started going on about this and that I had to listen to 17 tales before I told you to stop so let’s save some time and stop at one. Besides a holy man like yourself surely was not the person I keep seeing hunting out in the woods Because, and correct me if I am wrong, holy men are not allowed to do that”

That had the intended effect on the Monk, his mouth shutting tightly and quickly found himself in a tight spot.

“well yes.. I mean NO! no that was not me at all! Please come in my dear Watch Captain what seems to be the issue?” The Monk quickly showed the two of them in and closed the door but not before shaking his head at the new indent in his door

“This man is named James but besides that he does not know anything else about himself. I would like to speak with you privately if you don’t mind” Rick presented James to the Monk before pointing to an open door leading to another room

“Not at all please” The Monk leas Rick into the room and partly closed the door

James not sat alone with only the buzzing to keep him company. He wanted to know what they were saying but he was just to tried to make any serious effort to find out. James reached up and once again belt the Band on his head. IT was mid-way on his forehead and about an inch wide, he tried to peel it off but it seemed like it was fused to his skin. Next he looked down at what he was wearing, he wore simple brown plants, shirt, and even shoes, nothing that really seemed to give him any clues about himself.

Eventually The Monk and Rick exited the back room, it seemed Rick had handed over the letter to him

“I know who to send this too, as for him I will look after for now”

“Thank you, I will arrange the payment. Be sure to update me in the next few days on his condition” Rick responded then sat next to James

“James you will be staying here for now. Brother Francis will look after you and hopefully help you remember. I know you confused right now so just take it one step at a time okay?”

“I will try, Thank you… for everything you done for me” James managed to get out to say and just looked down at the floor

Rick got up from the table said his thanks to The Monk again and walked out. Now Brother Francis walked over to James.

“Come Child, it is time for you to rest, this night has been far too long already”

The two of them went over to the other side of the room where a series of beds were lined up. Upon Brother Francis direction James laid down. The lights were blown out and Brother Francis went back upstairs. Now the only light came through the window from the moonlight, James could now tell the blood that had long since dried on the side of the frame. He stared at the stain until he feel asleep, he just wanted to rest and get away from the things had happened to him tonight, he wanted to get away from everything.

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