Terranovus

I was in a room I did not recognise. Everything was clinical white and had a slight stench of disinfectant. There was a couch, a coffee table and a large mirror that took up the entire wall opposite me. I knew I was in a hospital, but it felt more like an interrogation room.

When I awoke in a hospital bed that morning, my memory was fuzzy and I felt disorientated. For the life of me, I couldn’t remember how I got there ... where I was ... or even why I was there. I asked the doctors and nurses but they weren’t able to explain either. Instead, they fed me, dressed me in clothes that weren’t mine then put me in this room.

I waited five minutes, pacing back and forth until the door opened again and a man I did not know walked in. He was perhaps in his fifties, tall and wore an Army uniform.

“Miss Tabitha McKinley,” he said, “it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He held out his hand and I shook it. His lips were smiling but his eyes were not. He motioned to the couch.

“Please, take a seat,” he said. I didn’t want to take a seat. I wanted answers. Nonetheless, I sat down.

“Where I am? Where are my parents?” I asked. The man smiled again.

“You don’t recognise me, do you?” he asked. I shook my head, confused. Was I supposed to know him? He patted the back of my hand sympathetically and I recoiled from his touch. “I’m Major Volkov, the Mayor of Primus, the Capital city of Terranovus.”

“Terranovus?” I asked. He cocked his head and looked at me curiously.

“What do you last remember?” I went to open my mouth to answer but stopped when I realised I didn’t know. I woke up this morning in hospital, but yesterday? Why was everything a blur?

“Yesterday,” I started and I strained my memory, “was the Army’s Annual Ball.” I examined Volkov’s face and tried to decipher his expression.

“Tabitha, the Annual Ball took place several months ago.”

“What?” I asked. Was this a joke?

“A few days ago you were involved in an accident with a driverless vehicle. The vehicle glitched and didn’t stop when you crossed the road. It hit you, and when you fell you hit your head on the pavement. The doctors have diagnosed you with amnesia.” My head started to spin and I felt a headache coming on. Diagnosed with amnesia? But I haven’t even spoken with a doctor yet. How could I have been diagnosed?

“Where’re my parents?” I asked.

“Unfortunately they left Primus a few days ago on a business trip and won’t be back for another fortnight.”

“Primus?” I asked.

“Er, yes,” said Volkov, and he hesitated, “that is where you are now. In Terranovus. You see, after the ball, the lottery chose your family. Your parents and yourself moved here a month ago.” A stared dumbstruck at the man.

“We’re in Terranovus?” I asked incredulously. The Major nodded and I started to realised I didn’t trust him one bit. My mum always told me to not trust strangers.

“I want to speak with my parents,” I said.

“Unfortunately they don’t have any signal. They’re uncontactable.”

“Where are they exactly?” I demanded.

“In Ziller,” the man said calmly, “in the second city of Terranovus. Their communication towers are still under construction.” I shook my head frustrated.

“Then let me join them. I want to be with them,” I argued. My growing headache was now a migraine and I felt it pounding on all sides of my head.

“Unfortunately we can’t do that. The doctors have ordered you to rest.” My heart dropped further into my stomach. This couldn’t be happening.

“Will I recover?” I asked distraught. Two months of my life I had forgotten, ironically what must have been the two most exciting months of my life. I thought of Tommy, Simon and Jack and wondered what they were doing right now and if they missed me. Volkov shook his head sadly and I wanted to cry.

“In the meantime though,” he said, “my son and I would like to invite you to stay at ours. We have plenty of room and a very lovely garden for you to enjoy until your parents come back.” I looked across at the mirror and wondered if doctors were on the other side taking notes and analysing me.

“Thank you,” I said defeatedly. It wasn’t as though I had much choice. Volkov smiled satisfied.

“Lovely,” he said and stood up from the couch. “Unfortunately, I have other business to attend to but my son is waiting outside this room and will accompany you home instead.” I nodded, slowly taking everything in. Volkov opened the door and poked his head around the corner.

“Philon!” he called.

My head snapped up at that name. Where had I heard that name before?

“Here, father,” responded a voice I recognised. I stood up and watched the boy I danced with at the ball walk in. He looked surprised to see me.

“Tilly?” he laughed incredulously.

“Philon,” I said and ran forward and embraced him. An overwhelming need to cry hit me and I found myself tightening my grip around his torso. My cheeks blushed red with embarrassment. I didn’t even like him that much at the ball. Why was I acting like this? I let go humiliated and stared down at my shoes.

“Do you two know each other?” Volkov asked surprised.

“Yes,” said Philon and he stepped closer to me.

“We met at the ball,” I explained.

“How lovely,” said Volkov with a grin on his face.

Philon wrapped an arm around my shoulders and guided me out of the room. We didn’t say goodbye to Volkov.

“I’m sorry,” I said, “I don’t know why I hugged you like that. I barely know you.” Philon didn’t respond, instead, he guided me down a corridor and down another. Once we were a good distance away from his father, he stopped and turned me around to face him.

“What’s your last memory?” he asked, concerned. I looked away and thought back. I remembered the ball, dancing with him, and walking home with my parents ... but that was it. Everything else was just black.

“The ball,” I said to him, “just the ball.” A sense of disappointment and sadness washed over him and he pulled me in for another hug.

“It’s okay,” he said and gently rubbed my back. “It’s okay. I’ve got you. You’re safe now.

And I knew it. I believed him. I felt it. I was safe now. As long as I was with him, I was safe.