I looked closely into the top corners of the cell and the roof space. There were no obvious cameras, so i didn't bother looking any further.
If they were using hidden cameras, it was highly unlikely i would be able to find them without going over the walls inch by inch. Cameras these days can be so small. And with optical light fibres, they could be the size of a pinhead.
Now, how did i know that? Was i some sort of spy?
Pain erupted in my head as the damned mental conditioning kicked in. If i was going to learn anything about myself, i would have to approach the issue from the side...
Or perhaps use other people's memories? Maybe the person who did the conditioning hadn't thought of that.
The new girl had withdrawn into the corner, obviously terrified.
Number 50 was trying to talk to her, but i could only hear brief snatches of what he was saying. He seemed to be trying to lift her spirits, but i couldn't be sure.
There was nothing i could really do until the rain stopped, so i laid back against the damp wall of the cell and waited.
About 15 minutes later, the rain stopped as suddenly as it started.
People started talking, but i shouted over the top of them: "Listen. This is important. Does anyone recognise me?"
There was silence, which i took as a negative. But at least i had their attention.
"What about this big guy? Surely you remember him."
I hear a faint voice from the opposite corner--the new girl--who said, "He's some sort of monster."
"What do you mean?" i asked.
Number 50 interrupted. "Listen. I think someone's coming."
I cocked my head to one side and heard the sound of many feet splashing through water, and then a dog barked just outside the door.
A command was issued, in what i assumed was Spanish, and then i heard someone at the door, unlocking it.
I turned to look in that direction and was partly blinded when it was opened and the daylight, what there was of it, shone in.
Several men carrying batons and wearing what looked like soaking wet, military-style uniforms hurried in, their boots splashing in the puddled water.
I blinked and tried to take in details as they coverged on the large black man.
Then someone wearing a peaked cap stepped into the doorway and spoke in English with a thick Spanish accent: "Good afternoon senors and senoritas. Welcome to Camp Amnesia. My name is Capitan Rico, and don't worry, I won't be upset if you can't remember me."
It sounded like it was an old joke for him, which chilled me to the core.
I watched as the captain's men dragged the big black man out of the cell and away, his passage upsetting the pair of dogs outside so that they both barked and whined in equal measure.
Alone now in the cell, the captain moved back to the doorway so he could see us all.
"For those of you who can't remember, i will explain things to you again."
He smiled again before continuing in casual tone.
"Your basic needs will be seen to, and no harm will be done to you, as long as you don't cause trouble."
His voice then turned stern and he added, "If you do cause trouble, then we have a variety of ways of making you regret that decision."
At this point, he pulled what could have been a smartphone out of his pocket and tapped on screen a few times.
I felt the band around my neck begin to tighten and saw the others in the room react as though their throats were being constricted as well.
"This is just the most immediate," he said and then reversed the process relieving the pressure.
"Stealing your memories is reserved for more... special occasions."
"Why not just kill us?" i asked while locking my eyes on him.
Captain Rico just smiled back at me and said, "I have no idea, and i don't really care."
"For some reason, someone wants to keep you alive, but without your memories. That's fine by me. That's what this camp is here for."
He then turned to take in the entire room.
"My men and i are paid to keep you here. We would lose financially if we were to kill you. But that doesn't mean we can't make your life unpleasant."
He then turned back to me and said, "For example, this cell is used to isolate prisoners who ask too many questions."
He rapped out an order in Spanish and a guard hurried in from outside and began releasing the manacles of the other prisoners using a large pair of bolt cutters.
While this was happening, Captain Rico continued to speak to the others, while pointing at me.
"Let this be a lesson to all of you. This prisoner will be held here without food or--", at this point he looked down at the puddle he was standing in, "--clean water for 24 hours."
Turning back to me, he finished by saying, "Now do you have any more questions?"
"That's good," said Captain Rico when i shook my head. He then turned away to supervise the other prisoners being led out of the cell.
As they passed through the door, i finally got a look at my fellow prisoners.
Number 50 had blond stubble on his cheeks and was definitely Australian; he had a tattoo on his bicep that read 'Australia: Love it or leave it'.
He hadn't said anything, but i noticed that he shrugged off the hands of the guard who tried to touch him.
Number 49 was a girl, barely 16, if that. There were tears tracks down her cheeks and she looked terrified. What on Earth was she doing here?
Number 47 spared me a compassionate glance before she hurried out the door to be with the girl. She seemed to be very much in control of herself, which was good, because the young girl would need someone to help her.
Then it was just me and Captain Rico in the cell.
"Learn this lesson well, Number 46," he said and then walked out the door only to return moments later.
"A present for you," he said, dropping an old empty metal drum on the puddle on the floor. "I don't care what you use it for."
He then left the building and the door was closed and locked behind him.