Chapter 5 Bloodshot Eyes

Henry's POV

I was already having cold sweats on my forehead. My whole body was trembling. Who knows what the doctor has to say about the diagnosis.

"Hrggmmm!" The doctor cleared his throat while adjusting the knot on his tie. " From the results of the diagnosis we had last time, coupled with the facts mentioned by Bryan himself, the patient is having a partial memory loss a term medically called Amnesia, which is an inability of a patient to recall past events. In your case Bryan, you have a retrograde amnesia due to the injury in your brain". Ramos and I looked at each other and my head and heart, everything stopped working at the same time. It can't be Amnesia, I can remember things from my life, I am Henry and not Bryan. I need someone to give me a perfect explanation for what is happening to me.

"Doctor ! For how long would it take for him to recover please?" Ramos said looking frightened. "Recovery actually depends on the strong will of an individual and the underlying condition that leads to the Amnesia".

The doctor replied" It could take weeks, months and sometimes years!" The doctor added. "What the f**k!" I shouted with my two hands on my head. I think I am screwed. "Thanks doctor" Ramos said and held my hand up. Ramos was filled with pity for me..

I am confused right now. I don't know what to think of. I need to gain clarity so that I can go and look for my family. We stepped out of the hospital and went back home. Ramos suggested we go to a local bar to clear our heads with some drinks which I thought wasn't a bad idea. We arrived at the bar and sat on the plastic chairs in the bar. A beautiful,young lady with blonde curly hair falling on her waist came running to us, she is so young and full of life. She reminded me of Lola my daughter. She was about Lola's age. "How may I help you Sirs?" She said with a charming smile on her face. "What's your name beautiful!?" I asked her and Ramos glared at me as if I was flirting with the kid. Chill man, I am an old man full of integrity. As if what I said ran an electric shock into his brain and he raised his eyebrows at me and said sternly "Really! Now you are begging to be old too" he muttered. "My name is Alicia" "Alicia!" I said and she nodded her head. "That's a powerful name you know". Ramos interrupted "Serve us some really good beer!" He said and dismissed her with his hands. "You are impossible!" I shook my head.

We chatted along while having our beers. Ramos settled the bill and we left. On our way home I saw a strange woman in her mid forties appear on our path she was wearing a long gown with multiple colors. On her neck was an amulet like stone and a necklace made with cowries. On her wrist were layers of hand beads with different colors. She looked weird. When she walked pass me it was as if she stared into my soul and I had a feeling of coldness in my body. I was cold inside but sweating all over my body. Ramos was busy with his phone that he didn't notice her. "What's up with you, why are you soaked in sweat!" He said looking surprised. "Did you see any lady pass in front of us right now?" I asked him curiously. " No I didn't see anyone and I hope you are not already day dreaming about the girl at the bar?" He said as he raised his head to look at me.

"Arghhhhh! Whatever" I said as We hopped into his truck and I kept wondering who this woman was, to have given me these looks that froze my soul! Where can I find her? I sighed deeply and snapped out of the thought. In a few minutes we were already at home. I slide out of the truck and bid farewell to Ramos. I went into the house and there she is waiting for me...

"Oh! You are back?" Bianca ran to me and hugged me. This is almost two months now since I found myself in this City. It was already late and I told her I want to have some rest in the room. "I am exhausted and need to rest dear" I was looking so exhausted. I went into the room and jumped into the bed without taking of my clothes. My heart and head were filled up with different thoughts. I slept of and found myself in the middle of nowhere. It was a thick forest with trees everywhere.

I was walking in between the both sides of the forest and suddenly someone appeared in front of me some miles away with his back against me. "Who's there?" I shouted. " Help! Help!! Help!!!" I screamed as the person was walking away from me. I knelt down on my knees with my head facing the ground while my heart was panting. The place was dark and lonely with sounds of wild animals resonating from every angle of the forest. I raised my head and almost fainted seeing that woman from this afternoon. I leaned back and said "who are you?"

She smiled and was stretching out her black tongue and weirdly playing with it like a witch . "Come with me" she said and held my hand. I followed her without protesting and we kept walking, on our way I saw Bryan wanting to attack me and I immediately got up from my sleep.." Thank God it's a dream!" I whispered to myself.. I was so soaked as if a bucket of water was poured unto my body. Even when I woke up it was still dark and that increased the intensity of my fear. I cuddled myself into a dough. I became so scared and was anticipating dawn.

I was still on bed when I felt someone slide into the bed. "Hey!" It was Bianca, she spooned me with her body and I really enjoyed tge warmth. "You were screaming last night? Were you having a nightmare?" She said massaging my head and cuddled me as if she was protecting me from something. "Really! I never knew something like that happened. It must have been a really bad dream" I lifted my head and turned towards her. I held her face in my hands and said "Everything is going to be okay!". I need to find this strange woman, seeing her in my sleep wasn't a coincidence. I went out of bed to go get some shower.

I stepped out the bathroom and headed to the closet in Bryan's room, I picked up a black shirt and a cargo pant and headed out. "Breakfast is ready!" Bianca said raising her gaze at me while I was already at the door. I turned around and stared her "I need to see Ramos, it's important!" She nodded with her pretty worried face. I really feel sad for her. I don't know how she would react if she found out I am not Bryan.

Hmmm! I stepped out and went straight to Ramos' house. I was about to knock when he called out my name

"Bryan!" I turned and saw him coming out from his mini garden at his backyard. We shook hands and he saw the stress on my face. "Why are you in my house this early?" He asked curiously staring at me. "I need your help Ramos! I had a nightmare it was so terrifying. I saw that last from yesterday " Ramos was heading to a bench outside his house while I followed him. We sat down and he turned his head and looked at me "what lady?" He asked.

"The lady I saw outside the bar yesterday. Please Ramos I want you to take me to the bar again today. Who knows? I might be lucky.". Ramos looked at me and shrugged his shoulder "okay!". He went into his house to get dressed and we headed to the bar. I was scanning my eyes through the vicinity as we walked down the bar. I just hope I can find her. "What kind of woman are you looking for?" He asked as we both dragged out seats to sit at the bar. I gave him the description of the woman and the nightmares I had.

He sighed deeply and said "Follow me!" He streched out of the chair and I followed him. "Where are you taking me?" I asked curiously. "Just shut up and come with!" He replied sternly. We walked very far as if we were leaving the city. The houses along the way were very scanty. As we kept walking I saw a house standing alone on a highland. I was very sure that was the house we were going to because Ramos' direction was aptly in the same line as the house.

I was panting as we climbed the Hilly surrounding not too high but high enough to make an old soul stressed out. I stood beside him and turned to see how far we have walked while Ramos was knocking at the door. The door mysteriously opened itself with no one at the door. I became scared and a chilling fear left me in bewilderment and confusion. Immediately the door opened, A strong breezy air powerful enough to take us down blew out on our faces so hard that our chin shifted position while the breeze was still subsisting.

A strange voice said in a loud hoarse tone" come in or go back to where you are coming from". I was looking around to see if I can see the person speaking. I stared at Ramos but he seemed normal. It was like a shrine or place of sorcery. I followed Ramos behind as he entered the house. The interior was crazily decorated with accessories like human skulls, animal skins on the wall, big red candles on the tables, mirrors hanging on the walls.

Darkness hovered around me as I gaze at all these weird things.

There was still no one in the room we entered. A strange laugh now followed and I got startled by it. I was soaked in sweat. My legs were trembling and I almost ran out of the house but again, the door was mysteriously closed. I almost peed in my pants.

"Wise one! We are here to pay homepage and make consultation" Ramos said as he bowed his head and gestured to me to do the same thing which I did. Before we could raise our heads a figure appeared before us, wearing a crazy outlook. Her style was eclectic and mystical in nature. She was wearing a dress that has a combination of purple, good and red. Her neck was adorned with layers of necklaces that carried talisman and charms likewise her hands.

The gown she was wearing was flowing and was sweeping the floor in the room. The body of the gown was also decorated with astrological symbols and cowries. Her hair was very long that it almost touched her lower back but was plated with beads and cowries. She was quite beautiful I must confess. She had a weird makeup on her eyebrows and under her eye bag. She exudes a sense of enigma and intrigue with her intimidating appearance. Immediately she locked eyes with me my eyes grew cold and my soul froze. I couldn't breathe nor move my body even though I wanted to. As she came closer my bloodshot eyes were brimming with fear. She stood in front of me and stared into my soul. My soul became restless.

Immediately she took off the light veil covering her face my eyes became wide open like an elastic band. "She was the woman in my dreams" I said in head. "Hahahahaha! Hahahaha!" She let out a deadly and vicious laughter which made me pass out.