CL

I wanted to help and know their plan, but Gianna said she wouldn’t put me on the front lines as I was one of the main targets of the enemy.
“I’ll send you to an island. You’ll be safe there. It’s quiet, and I don’t think the enemy will find you. Just think of it as my way of protecting you, even if I don’t want to.”
“Where?” I asked her.
“Minnesota. You’ll stay there while we deal with Marion.”
She lowered her head and faced me. “But I won’t promise that my brother won’t find you. I won’t disclose your exact location, but you know him. He has a keen sense when it comes to you. He’s not himself yet, but when he returns to his former self, he’ll probably find you with a snap of his fingers.”
Gianna sent me to Minnesota, entrusting me to a married couple she knew. I didn’t bother asking how she met them. They settled me into a house where I lived alone, though they assured me that if I ever needed anything, the couple next door would be there to assist.
Minnesota was a small place, but it was abundant in marine resources. The primary livelihood here was fishing, followed by the beautiful beaches that attracted tourists.
I found myself with a lot of free time since I didn’t know anyone, and my shyness didn’t make me any friendlier. Aurora, the woman taking care of me while I was here, offered to let me help in her shop whenever I had spare time. They sold various handicrafts made from marine resources and some accessories.
I met three women who also had stalls there: Laura, Ida, and Amy. Ida and Amy were a few years older than me and already married, while Laura was two years younger. I introduced myself as Tasha to them, for some reason, instead of using my real name. They were friendly and chatty, and I enjoyed their company.
One day, I decided to take a walk by the beach on my own. The water was breathtakingly clear and the environment was pristine, showcasing the natural beauty of the place.
During my walk, a group of unfamiliar men blocked my path. They clearly weren’t locals, judging by their attire. One of them mentioned my full name, “Amelie Locatelli,” which caught me off guard because I had introduced myself as Tasha to everyone here. “Come with us; someone wants to talk to you,” one of them said.
They grabbed me quickly. I tried to resist, but they were too many. I screamed for help, but there was no one around. Weren’t I supposed to be safe here?
They forced me into a vehicle. It started briefly but then came to a halt. “Who are you, and what do you want?” I asked in a panic.
“Millie.”
I stopped my struggle when a man in front of the vehicle looked at me. It took me a moment to realize who he was.
“You’re alive,” a strange smile crept onto his face when he saw me. I didn’t like that.
Marion. I screamed his name in my mind.
“Who are you?” I stammered, shocked to see Marion.
“Do you not recognize me?” he asked, adjusting himself. There were some changes in his appearance because we hadn’t seen each other for a long time. His way of smiling was different, as if he was completely out of it.
I shook my head. “I don’t know you. And Millie? That’s not my name.”
I knew that unless I devised a plan, I would be in danger. I was outnumbered, and they were armed. I wasn’t a superhero who could defeat them. I saw the change in Marion’s expression, and amusement was evident on his face, as if he couldn’t believe what I said.
Lightbulb!
“Sorry. I had an accident and lost my memory. Could it be that you know me?” That was my solution to the situation. While it offered no guarantees, it was worth a try.
Marion remained in awe of what he had learned. It took a moment for it to sink in.
“Millie.” His expression suddenly changed, and he seemed to pity me. “I heard about your accident. How tragic. So you’ve had amnesia.”
He was so insincere. His insincerity was palpable in his words.
“But don’t worry. I’m your friend. I’ll help you remember. My name is Marion, Millie.”
“Tasha,” I corrected, pretending. “I’ve gotten used to that name.”
I saw a ghost of a smile on his lips, but it quickly returned to his feigned sympathy for my situation.
“Can you really help me remember? How? Do I have a family? Where am I from?” I asked many questions that someone with amnesia would typically ask. Even though it wasn’t part of my plan, it seemed to be having an effect. I had to make the most of it.
“Take it slowly; it might be hard on you. We’ve been looking for you for months, and it’s good that I found you. There are people who want to harm you.”
My eyebrow raised, but I didn’t let it show.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll explain it to you another day.”
“If you’re taking me with you, I need to say goodbye to the people who’ve been helping me. I want to see my family and get to know them. I might remember something!” My tone was eager, as if I had truly lost my memory.
Marion paused for a moment and shook his head. “I can’t take you to where I am now, Millie. My life is also in danger. It’s better if we’re not together in one place because there’s someone who wants to harm both of us.”
“Who?” I asked, my voice filled with anger.
“It’s Gio Locatelli, your husband. You wanted to escape from him, and as your friend, I helped you. He’s hurting you, Millie. He’s a madman!”
“I have a husband?” I pretended to be curious.
“Yes, and he wants to kill me while you… who knows what he’ll do to you when you meet.”
If I truly had amnesia, he might have convinced me, but sorry, Marion, I knew you were lying. He told me a bunch of lies about Gio, all contradicting who Gio really was to me. Who would believe him?
I pretended to believe him, acting angry and not wanting to see him.
“You stay here for now, Millie. I’ll figure out a way to stop your husband. I’m really sorry that I can’t take you to where I am. But don’t worry, my people will come to you when we need to talk.”
I didn’t push further; I might get caught. For now, I needed to gain Marion’s trust so we could locate him and learn all his plans. The Locatelli could work on eliminating him externally, while I worked internally to gather essential information from Marion. He would be the one to destroy himself.
That’s when I thought of pretending to have amnesia. Who would have thought I could use my accident to defeat my enemy?