Exhausted and yawning, I stretch out on the bed in the lab garden, and slept for what seem like an eternity.
The sun woke me up when the angle of its rays reached the corner where the bed lay.
Except, I found myself on a bare wet ground.
I woke up slowly, fearing I might have a hangover that will turn into one of those rare migraines I dreaded so much.
Nothing happen though; only a yawn escaped my mouth, blocking out all sound.
But as the yawn recedes, I heard birds singing and chipping away melodies I know so well in a monotone.
'I wish I was Solomon,' I heard myself murmur as my eyes strain to open.
I maybe dreaming for I saw a colorful butterfly; another familiar sight I know well.
Wait a minute, what is happening here, I stood up at once, fully awake.
I found myself standing in my garden in my condo at Dowenya. I began to walk to the east just to confirm the reality of where I was.
There lay the creek, shimmering in the morning sun. I turned and looked at the house, it looks the same.
Where is the ship? Nebulous, Mika, Dragon-fist and the others? what exactly is happening? Panic seizes me, and I run towards the house, the back door was unlocked.
I open the door and walked in, "anybody here?" I shouted, but heard nothing. The smell of Coffee emanates from the kitchen as I took in the hall area, my chest pounding abnormally.
My teeth, "what on earth…" I hissed under my breath as my tongue felt an alien presence in my mouth, wanting to be certain, I rampage my mouth with my fingers. I found no missing incisors.
'what the....'
The coffee pot started whistling bringing my mind back to the now.
I rushed into the kitchen to put it off, before heading straight up stairs. The bed room door was open, I heard water splashing.
There was someone in the shower. Who could it be.
I was so scared, I nearly run out of the house and never come back.
I slide into the chamber. my own bed chamber like a thief. And a seductive solo music welcomed me.
Whoever was in the shower, sense a presence in the room. "is someone there? who is there?", Ruby's voice echoes a little fearfully as she closes the tab, and wrapped a towel around her body, for I could see her movement through the foggy glass door.
When she stepped out and saw me, the shrill that escaped her mouth was terrifying indeed.
She collapses and was falling to the floor but I recovered my wits on time to cover the few steps between us.
I carried her to the bed and lowed her on it gently not to startled her.
her pulse felt faint, but she was breathing. This is real, how?
Carefully, I study myself. I was wearing the same clothes I was wearing in the lab garden, smoking with Nebulous.
In the bath room I viewed my image in the mirror. Is me, same old me, but the man starring back at me, looked different, with the new set of teeth and all.
I need my toothless mouth back. I tried removing the makeshift tooth, but found it wasn't artificial.
This is real. How is that even possible?
I was looking for all possible reasons to explain this mystery. there is always a reason...
Maybe Ruby will be of help when she wakes up. I turned on the shower, and had a long bath; my ears ever ready to sense any movement from the chamber.
What is the woman doing here? And her reaction on seeing me, indicates I am the last person she expects to see in this place, how is that?
how did I end up in the garden?
Caught in my reverie, far gone in thoughts under the assault of the freezing shower, I didn't hear the movement of the woman or the cocking of the .38 revolver in her hands when she opens the glass door.
"who the hell are you?" she asked in terror.
Her voice brought my mind back to reality.
Perhaps it's the long hair or beard that cover over eighty percent of head, or my full set of teeth.
"Rubyy, it's me?", I replied stepping into the room, a towel strap to my waist. She steps back in fear when I approached her, still pointing the gun at me.
"And how do you know my name?", she asked hysterically. I was alarmed by her reaction; this woman will pull the trigger in her paranoia.
"what did they do to you Rudy, who planted this kind of fear in you? it is me spooky, Yakim, kuga, any of these names ring a bell?
"spooky is dead, and I am going to ask you for the last time; who are you?" she asked, and I started walking towards her, but the woman was so frighten, I knew if I took another step she will shoot.
"stay right there?", she shouted, and the gun went off. In one big leap I cover the distance between us, holding her hands, trapping her against the wall, as she struggled and fought me with the strength of a cage tiggeress.
I freed the gun from her hand before I felt the sticky wetness beneath my feet.
"you are bleeding," she moans and rushed into the washroom and I staggered to the bed.
when came back out here fear was replaced by confusion and remorse.
"it's just a graze on my thigh, nothing serious," I said as she put the first aid kit on the bed, and got to work.
"do you remember three years ago you attended to my wound in the same fashion in your room, Rudy," I said, raising my toe up for the woman to see the scar.
"I still can believe it. whoever you are, you don't look like spooky."
"okay, do you mind giving me a hair cut in the garden, just like the one you gave me the last time we part ways at my place on the mountain."
"stop it! stop it! please," she cried and her tears flows freely. At this point I was more confused than her.
It was her alright, but whoever she was now, either she has been brain wash, or the memories we shared together are lost to her in the advent of my said demise.
"what happened to you, Ruby?".
"I don't know, I just can't remember, the past is vague, all I know is the one you are referring to is dead" she said innocently, stood up and added self-consciously;
"let me get you some clothes to wear." She rampages through the wardrobe, then brought out a green t-shirt and loose cotton trousers.
"okay, you believe the one I am referring to is dead, but what was he to you?". "we were colleagues at work, we seem to be good friends, he used to live here, his grave is in the garden."
"grave in the garden?" I stood up and put the revolver in my pocket, testing my feet on the ground, hoping to loosen up the tightness in the fresh wound.
I walked out of the room and started descending the stairs, the revolver pressing on my thighs in every step I take.
This clothes aren't mine, whoever it belongs to must be living with ruby. I sensed her walking behind me.
It's a nightmare, I keep telling myself. But then its real also, and my time in the ship had been real.
They moved me here for a reason. And why fake my death and wipe the memory of this woman.
In the garden I look around, looking for a grave. Ruby stepped behind me with a tray of coffee and cookies.
"it's on the west side of the garden," she said as she set the table, before leading me to the exact location of the grave stone.
My name was written on it. "how did he die?". "he died in a yacht bombing. I know because I was there. I left there ten minutes earlier before the bomb went off," she replied in a shudder.
"what happens afterwards? After the bombing?".
"the last thing I remembered was going into a coma, which lasted for almost a year. When I woke up, most of my past was gone, the doctor diagnosed amnesia.
I know this person was important to me, so when the real estate company put up this house for sale, I bought it and moved in with my husband.
but he doesn't spend most of his time here, he only joined me here once every now and then, mostly during vacations."
"D'mick?".
"yeah, Dominick is my husband. how do you know?". "never mind Rudy. Let's take it one step at a time. Perhaps it will come back to you in due time. Where do you work now?"
"I am the director of Wodmax."
"then you know Diana?" she glanced at her. wrist watch, "she is my partner at Wodmax. She will be coming here at eleven for a business discussion. Please join me at the table."
"sorry I scared you earlier." "you looked like the last cave man. At first I thought you are a madman. Tell me, who you are really, and what are you doing here?"
"let your partner come, maybe she will be of help. Have you called the police?".
"no, but I called Diana. She is on her way here as we speak..... she said something about being sorry for not warning me about something before hanging up...."
"where is your sister, kate?".
"she lives at the family mansion with her husband and papa."
My siren started blurring at the mere thought of Nka. Why is he doing this "when will your husband becoming here."
"he has travelled out of the country." "how long have you two been married, Ruby?"
"two years ago,". "what about your papa , how often do you meet with him?"
"he comes by mostly on weekends, sometimes with kate."
the woman looked broke and traumatized in a way that made her seem like a child that shouldn't be left alone.
and there is a look in her yellow eyes, that send my mind back to the groves at the back of my house in the mountains. she looks like she may flip anytime.
"today is a week end. Which means your papa, may be coming here?" I asked and she nodded innocently.
Seeing this once vibrant, beautiful woman, looking this sick and pitiful, nearly brought tears into my eyes. actually, I was crying inside, my heart burning....
I now understand why Nka did ask me to ask any question but this. He didn't want me to know her condition.
She has loss many pounds, looking ten years older. I wonder whether it's really true she is the director of Wodmax.
She can't possibly handle that kind of post in this state of mind.
"you look sad, Mr?". on hearing this, my soul starts to whale....
"call me spooky, I know he is dead, but I am also called spooky."
"okay, spooky; you look as though you want to cry. Is your leg causing you pain?" she asked, looking concern and I nodded in acquiescence to throw her off the fact that she was the cause of my whirling emotional pain.
The main gate to the condo was opening, and a car drove in to the driveway in the front and parked in front of the house.
"they are here, or maybe is only Diana?".
"you mean they have access to this place?" I asked and she nodded in a smile.
I heard the front door opened, and I drew the revolver from my pocket and held it under the table.
Thinking about how they jeopardize her life by living a revolver with her in this demented state filled me with a raw painful anger.
What if she killed herself with it?
Diana came into the garden; with another young man I didn't know. She removed her shades and stared at me tearfully, before rushing into my arms and I stood up to embraced her, and she heaves in sobs.
"oh, how I did wish to do this the last time we met in the ship," she said in tears.
"it's okay Diana. I am here, alive. Feeling very strong and healthy. And who do we have here?" I asked, looking at the other man.
"oh, that's the barber. He is here to give you a haircut. We have a long day, and so many things to talk about. I don't think one day wouldn't be enough."
"and how is my sweet girl doing?" Diana asked Rudy, but she averted her eyes, stood up and walked into the house in utter silence and
Diana murmured "that's some progress."
"what is going on here Diana?". "I guess by now you probably figured it out. You have that haircut; I am going in to prepare lunch. After that; then we have a long conversation."
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