DEREK’S POV
He went out for a walk as it was part of his therapeutic exercise. Walking and looking around to see if he would remember anything.
He walked out of the hospital into the street as he basked in the warmth of the evening sun. Despite how he tried, he could not remember anything or anyone. He thought himself to be a walking corpse with no identity; past present or future. The hell! He wouldn’t even recognize his own family members.
He walked for sometime and decided to head back to the hospital. He was close to the hospital gate when he saw someone in a hoodie, presumably a boy.
Hoodie? He felt flashes as he tried to remember where he saw that hoodie. And then, the hoodie shifted a bit and revealed a part of the boy’s hair. Derek felt flashes again. The hair? He has seen it somewhere.
The boy suddenly turned and their eyes met, immediately Derek winced and closed his eyes. He hurriedly walked into the hospital compound, his hands on his head. The security at the gate quickly helped him inside and he was attended to by a nurse.
After he was calm, Doctor Finland was called to attend to him.
“Can you tell me what you remembered, Derek?” Doctor Finland.
“Hoodie, his hair, I…I saw his face. Oh, no. I can’t remember where, but I know him.” Derek said, sounding incoherent.
“You saw someone? How is the person connected to your memory loss?” Doctor Finland asked, scribbling things down.
“I don’t know how to explain the feeling, but he seemed like someone from my past.” Derek said.
“Okay. Don’t stress yourself about it. Take a nap for a while.” Doctor Finland said before walking out.
Derek lay awake feeling tense and a bit scared. He couldn’t place the feeling, but he was sure he had seen that hoodie, hair and face somewhere.
He sighed in frustration as no matter how hard he tried, the picture was still not clear.
He was fast asleep later that night when he felt himself choking. His eyes snapped open immediately and he saw someone with a nose mask and the hospital staff uniform trying to choke him with their hands.
He immediately began to struggle as he saw his life flash before his eyes. The person tightened their grip on his neck and he felt his breath slowly ebbing away. Then he remembered the patient hospital call bell remote on the table beside his bed
He gently reached for it and pressed it, before his attacker could realize it, sounds of running footsteps were heard in the corridor.
“Shit!” His attacker cussed and let go of him.
Derek watched weakly as his attacker ran the room in a circle looking for a way to escape. And just as the door went open he dived through the window, and noise it shattered glasses was heared.
An alarm was immediately raised to alert the security guards that an imposter was in the hospital.
And then Derek lost consciousness.
“Hey! How are you doing?” He heard a voice ask as his eyes went open.
“Water. I want water.” He said, as his eyes got accustomed to their environment.
“Here.” The doctor Finland said and offered him water.
“I’m glad you are awake, Derek.” Detective Copler said, and that was when he turned to see the detective sitting beside him.
“We informed Detective Copler of your attack last night.” Doctor Finland explained.
“Last night? What time is it?” Derek asked.
“It’s 4pm in the evening. You have been unconscious since last night.” Doctor Finland said.
“Was he caught?” Derek asked optimistically.
“I’m sorry, but no. And that is why I’m here to ask you a few questions that can aid our investigation.” Detective Copler said
“Do you remember anything, Derek?” Doctor Finland asked.
“I woke up to a choking feeling and then I saw someone in the hospital staff uniform with a nose mask pressing my neck so hard. We struggled for sometime before I pressed the patient hospital call bell remote to alert the staff. He panicked and jumped out the window when he noticed people were coming.” Derek explained.
“Did you recognize any of his features?” Detective Copler asked, scribbling things on his jotter.
“Yes.” Derek replied.
“What did you recognize?” Detective Copler probed further.
“The hair.”
TIFFANY’S POV
She sat at the spot patiently waiting for Oscar. It was unlike him, he barely arrived that late. She was about to leave in anger when she saw him walking towards her.
“What the hell took you so long?” She yelled but stopped when she saw the fresh bruises on his face. “What happened to you?”
“An accident. It’s nothing, actually. Sorry I kept you waiting.” He apologized and sat beside her.
“And you still want to learn in this condition? Why are the wounds open? You haven’t received medical attention, have you?” Tiffany asked.
“Can we just start?” He asked.
“No, we can’t. You are following me to the school clinic to get these wounds greeted and covered. Look at your face, you look a mess.” Tiffany said and dragged him up.
“You are not my mum. Can you quit acting like you are?” Oscar yelled, looking pissed.
“I hate to do this, but I have to save you from yourself. I can’t teach while you are looking like this, and if you don’t agree on seeing the school nurse I will have to tell the principal. So, are you going to the clinic with me?” Tiffany asked.
“Fine. Just don’t involve the principal, okay?” Oscar said and followed her.
They got to the school’s clinic and as usual, Mrs Mia was available to attend to them.
“Oh my God! How did you sustain this amount of injury?” Mrs Mia yelled immediately when she saw them.
“It was an accident, Ma.” Oscar replied.
“What form of accident was that?” Mrs Mia asked going into the small room to bring out the first aid box.
“I fell off my bike.” Oscar replied.
“I’m sorry, dear. You have to brace yourself because gotta hurt.” Mrs Mya said as she got ready to start treating the wounds.
After a few minutes, they were done and headed back to class. They were almost close when Tiffany saw Timothy and Freya running towards them.
“Where have to been, Tiff?” Freya asked.
“Ummm…I escorted, no, I practically dragged him to the school clinic to get his wounds treated.” Tiffany explained.
“Well, hurry up. All the students have been asked to assemble at the assembly hall by the principal.” Timothy said.
“Really? Why is that?” Tiffany asked, surprised.
“I don’t know, but she is there with Detective Copler.” Freya replied.
“Ummm… Tiffany, I think I forgot my drugs at the clinic. Let me hurriedly get it. You can wait for me.” Oscar suddenly said.
“No, she won’t wait. Hey the drugs and meet us at the assembly hall. Tiff, come on.” Freya said and pulled Tiffany along.
Tiffany made to protest but Oscar stopped her. “Don’t worry, go with them.” He said and walked away.
Tiffany sighed and followed her friends. They got into the hall, and met Detective Copler and his men checking each student’s hair meticulously.
They got into the line and waited for their turn. After a while, every Student’s hair had been checked.
“Are you sure every student is here?” Detective Copler asked Mrs Campbell.
“Yes. I think so.” She replied.
“Do you know if any of you are not here?” Detective Copler asked, raising his voice.
“Yes!” All the students chorused.
Detective Copler nodded his head and then beckoned on his men. He whispered something into their ears and they nodded.
“In the absence of any student not being here today, of course aside from those that skipped school for one reason or the other, this gathering is dismissed.” Detective Copler said.
The students were about to disperse when Freya suddenly yelled “Wait!”
“Yes?” Detective Copler asked, his interest piqued.
“Actually, there is a student who is not here.” Freya said and everyone turned to look at her.
“Okay…” Detective Copler probed.
“His name is Oscar. He is at the school clinic….”