Chapter 4 - AKIMA

NEW ENVIRONMENT 

I don't know how much time has passed since I lay on my bed. I don't know if it has been an hour, some hours, or days even if I doubt the latter. I couldn't see a clock around and a look at the environment I doubt I would find any in this room. It's like civilization was blocked from here. 

My head kept on spinning. All these things were happening too fast for me to fathom. 




A while ago I was Dr. Leonardo Dante. A renounced Surgeon. In as much as I wouldn't render so much praise to myself I could say I would be the top two doctors in Italy and I wasn't the second• I had a wonderful life. A wife, a daughter, workers, maids,  3 'state of the art' hospitals, estates, and other establishments. I was the former 3-term Director General of the W.H.O. What went wrong? How did I get here and how do I get out? I didn't have answers to these questions and to make matters worse, I didn't even know who I was or who I am. 

I couldn't remember anything that had happened before this moment. I had no memories of Leonardo Dante or Edmund. All I could remember was my previous look. That of a middle-aged man. 

 I felt like my head was about to explode. I couldn't think straight. I could get flashes of my previous self but I could also see two women with me. I didn't know who they were or why they were in my head. 




"Argghh…. My head…" Edmund said, placing both hands on his head. Culbert and Yetty noticed this instantly. 




"I think we need to leave him to take rest," Culbert said to his wife after which he pulled her out of the room. 




Edmund didn't do as they thought, whatever rest they thought he needed, it couldn't be now. Not with what is happening to him. He needed answers to his questions. He returned his gaze and was drawn to the environment. His room had no doors and was covered with a long material in place of a curtain. He walked back to his window and peeped to see the outside. The grass was quite dry and was scanty, meaning it was the dry season. He also saw how the other houses were built. They were separated from one another and a walkway could be seen in between the houses. 




"Ed!" A voice called from behind. He turned to see who it was, pausing as he looked closely. It was the same man who had come into his room an hour ago with a bowl of water and a towel. The person rushed to him and landed a warm embrace. He was still in shock at the scene when the person began speaking. 

"Oh Ed, I'm so glad you are awake I was missing you. I didn't know what I would have done if you ….died. I would have been so lonely." The person said. His voice was a bit shaking as if he was crying. 




"Thank you. Thank you very much my friend for saving me." He ended his embrace and turned to Edmund who seemed clueless about what had just taken place.




"Why are you looking at me like that? Do you know how long I have had to wash your body?, how many times I came in to clean you up?." He said giggling at it, he noticed Edmund didn't flinch at the joke. There just stood a shocked Edmund. 




He couldn't remember anything about his past life nor did he know anything about this life. In short, all he could remember were the things that happened after he woke up an hour ago.  




Ayan looked at what his friend had wrapped around his body. 

It was a red silk robe with a top made of animal fur. 




"What did u put on?" 




Edmund brought his brows closer indicating that he didn't understand what he had just said. 




"I mean…, your mum didn't see you putting on this robe. She would have been furious. You know how much that cost right? A whooping 20 silver coins." 

Edmund still stood despite hearing his friend's words. 




"What are you looking at? Come on, be quick!!" Ayan said removing the robe from his body. 




Edmund moved back a bit and raised his head. 

"Please leave so I can put on some clothes." 




Ayan was surprised to hear those words. For a moment he stood still not understanding what his friend just said. 

Edmund wasn't the shy type. He was too naughty to be worried about being seen naked by someone not to talk of Ayan. Ayan wasn't his only cousin but he was the closest of them all. They were just like brothers, best friends, or whatever could fit into their closeness. 




"Edmund, are you alright?" He paused for a minute before adding. 

"I mean… " He paused and took a keen look at his friend. "But, I understand. I will be waiting outside, I have a lot to tell you, my friend." He said leaving the room excitedly. 




Edmund removed his clothes and put on a pair of red plain trousers and a white shirt. The shirt looked dull and had little spots on the side. He stepped out of his room to meet Ayan waiting patiently by the door.




"This should do," Ayan said on seeing his friend's attire. 

"Come on let us sit by the tree. We should be able to talk there." He said pointing towards a large tree. 




Edmund looked around at the houses. They were far more apart than he thought and were uglier than they looked from the inside. Some people could be seen approaching. They were about 10, he could see an older man in the middle. 




"Oh, the patron is coming," Ayan said pointing toward the people coming their way. 




"Patron?" Edmund repeated and it seemed to piss Ayan off as he looked at his friend with his eyes crossed sideways. 




Soon the group got there. It consisted of about 7 men and 2 women. The men all seemed to be above age 50. 




"Oh my boy, I'm really happy to see you alive and well." A voice said, the man seemed to be the oldest among them probably around 80 years of age. The hair on his head was all grey, he had blue eyes and he seemed to be around 5'9 in height. 




"We all thought that you wouldn't make it especially after the physician said that the poison was just too strong. Your parents kept on crying. Well, we are all glad" Another voice said, the man seemed younger than the former, he had dark eyes and was around 5'8. One distinctive thing about him was his hair colour. He had silver hair, unlike the rest. 




"When did he wake up?" A man asked. He seemed to be younger than the man with the silver hair. 




"This morning sir," Ayan responded. 




"Take him inside and allow him to rest. He needs it. Is that clear?" The first man spoke, this time with so much authority. He seems to be the leader of the group. 




"Yes sir!" Ayan responded once more.




"Good," He said and they left. 




Ayan was about to turn to the room when Edmund suddenly asked him not to. 




"I think I will feel better if we take a walk"




"That's my man!" Ayan yelled out with joy and dragged his friend as they walked away. 




Edmund stared around for a bit before going with his friend.