The Journal of Memories

My mind was rushing with millions of thoughts and images flashing through my head. My whole life was flashing through my eyes making my head ache with pressure. There was a bright light that was pulling me in and felt myself walking towards it. When I reached it everything was too bright causing me to close my eyes. My eyes opened again when the light tamed down:

I was sitting in the backseat of a car driving on the freeway. I looked in the front seat and saw my grandma driving.

Oh god, not this! Please no! Why are you making me go through this again!

My grandma looked back, “We are almost home sweetie, I know you hate being in cars. I will make you a fresh batch of cookies when we get home to make up for it though.”

Yeah but we aren’t going to make it home...

I looked out the window to see the stop light coming up.

Blackburn St.

“I love you grandma.”

She smiled, “I love you too.”

I felt a tear rolled down my check.

Why is this happening again?

We drove into the intersection and we were met with the headlights of a car coming towards us. It slammed into my grandma’s door causing us to roll over onto the side of the car. I felt the scar on my head reopen from years ago. The pain was all too familiar as I sat back watching everything play out the exact same way as five years ago.

My grandma was hanging in her seat belt as the window broke and glass was embedded into her skin. Blood was leaking out of her ears and nose into a stream that ran down her face and onto her white blouse. I was laying in my seat belt on the cracked glass window just watching the blood from my head drip down.

The driver of the car that hit us climbed up onto the side of the car and looked in, “Oh my god. Somebody help! Call 911!”

Minutes later there was the distant sound of sirens speeding down the road.

They are already too late.

The sirens stopped and a fireman appeared looking down into the car. He first noticed my grandma and yelled back to his partners, “We have a critical patient! We need to get her out of here now!”

A couple of medics cut her seat belt and lifted her out.

The fireman then noticed me, “Holy shit there is a kid in here too!”

“Hey are you still with me?”

I looked up at him but didn’t say anything.

He reached in and shook my shoulder, “We are going to get you out of here. You are going to be okay now.”

No I am not. My grandma is dead and I am going to be too scared to drive in a car for two years. Also, the year of therapy and nightmares.

He cut my seat belt with a knife and lifted me up.

When I was out they wrapped a blanket around me and walked me to an ambulance. I locked eyes with the driver that hit us while he was casually sitting by his car and drinking coffee.

He just killed my grandma and doesn’t seem phased by it.

I sat down in the ambulance and watched the chaotic scene unfold in front of me. I got a giant pain in my head and everything flashed bright again. All my thoughts rushed through my head and then I was out of this nightmare.

I felt the cold air against my skin. My eyelids felt heavy and were hard to open. My breathing was fast and heavy but, began to slow down. My ears were still ringing. My eyes finally flickered open and I studied everything around me.

Where am I?

My mind was blank and I couldn’t remember anything.

Who am I?

There was a black shadow casting over me coming from this huge rectangle thing. My body even coward back in fear. My brain got what seemed like a shock.

It’s my house.

I feel so stupid now.

I mental slapped myself.

I stood up and heard a jingling noise. I constantly tensed up.

What was that?!

Another shock to in my brain.

The keys to my motorcycle.

Wait. What is a motorcycle again?

Another shock.

That thing with two wheels parked in front of my house, that I can drive around on.

Wait. What is driving? And wheels?

Another shock to my brain.

Ouch, these shocks are starting to hurt. I am done asking questions.

What even are shocks?

Ugh... shut up brain!

There were people walking around and they looked really confused. Some were still laying on the ground.

I will talk to them later. For now I will go inside and find out where my... are.

Shocked again.

My parents.

I guess I will just have to get used to that.

I began to walk towards my house and passed my motorcycle.

I will probably be using that later.

I walked into my house and immediately was hit with a headache. I closed my eyes and putting my hands on my head.

My mom was in the kitchen baking cookies. My dad talking to her, “I am telling you Jenny these people are scary. It’s like they are preparing for something. They have been hiring chemists and government officials and agents have been seen meeting with them each day.”

She grabbed a tray of cookies out of the oven, “I just want you to be careful. I know you like helping society and trying to figure out their secrets but... just think of your son.”

He leaned over and kissed her, “Don’t worry. I will see you in the morning, okay?”

He picked up his journal and walked to the door. My mom yelled back to him, “Okay, be safe.”

I opened my eyes again as the headache went away. I rubbed my nose and saw dark, red blood on my hand.

A bloody nose? That is strange.

I walked upstairs and stood looking at a door.

My head shocked me again.

My room.

I opened the door.

Once again another headache. I closed my eyes as ringing filled my ears.

My name is Ben Foster. My mom is Jenny Foster. My dad is Thomas Foster. My friend is H-

The headache went away once again and I got a bloody nose, which I wiped away with my shirt.

Why do I kept getting headaches and shocks?

At least I remember my name now.

My stomach grumbled.

I need...

Shock.

... food.

This sucks.

I looked around my room some more. I didn’t know what I was looking for, but something just seemed off. This place seemed so familiar but not. It’s like I have lived here for years but never knew it.

I grabbed...

Shock.

My backpack.

All of a sudden, a wave of panic washed over me. I had no idea where it came from but, my mind filled with millions of thoughts. I threw my closet open and began filling my backpack with clothes.

I need answers.

Something is seriously wrong. I have no idea what it is but things are not supposed to be like this. I am not supposed to be getting shocked when I think about certain things. Hell, I don’t even remember the past few days.

My breathing and heart rate began to pick up.

Calm down Ben. We can get through this. I can just go ask some people outside what’s going on. Yeah... that’s a plan. Let’s start with that.

I placed my backpack down for now and made my way down stairs. When I opened the door I was hit with the cold wind of the afternoon. There were still a few people walking around the street.

You can do this. Just go talk to someone. Start off with just saying “hi”.

I walked up the first person I saw. He had short blonde hair and wore glasses. He looked about my age too.

What even is my age?

Another shock.

18.

Jesus! Can we stop with the shocking!?

Whatever back to the point. Talk to him.

“H-hey.”

Nice going loner.

The guy just stared like he was looking through me.

“Hello?”

He still stared like I wasn’t even there. Even his eyes were empty and emotionless. I reached out and touched his arm but suddenly he looked at me and backed away. He looked terrified and ran off.

“Wait, I didn’t mean to scare you! Do you know what is happening?”

A woman wondered passed me.

“Do you know what is happening?”

Again, she just stared at me looking confused.

“Can you talk?”

She let out what seemed like a whimper and continued walking.

What is happening? Why is everyone acting so weird?

I ran back into my house and locked the door.

There is definitely something wrong. Everyone are like zombies out there.

My stomach grumbled.

Oh yeah, I needed food.

I walked in the kitchen and got hit with another headache.

“Hey sweetie, I am almost done with your tea.”

My mom was standing by the kettle with two mugs in hand. The kettle began to whistle as it reached its boiling point. She poured out the tea into each mug and turned placing one on the table.

“Come sit honey. Your tea will get cold if you let it sit too long.”

She walked closer, “What’s wrong? You look like you have seen a ghost.”

Then, it all went away and I saw blood drip from my nose to the floor leaving little spots of red on the white tile.

Mom... Where are you? I hope you are okay and safe somewhere.

I looked out the window and saw it was getting dark.

I will settle for making tea then go to sleep.

Yeah, I will wake up and everything will be fine.

I pulled the kettle down and I somehow remembered each step, just like my mom makes it. The kettle whistled a few minutes later and grabbed mug, poured out the tea, and walked up to my bedroom.

I sat on the window sill, looking up at the stars, and drinking my tea.

What happened to the city?

Everything was dead silent outside. Normally, it would be comforting for me but, tonight is was the scariest thing I have ever experienced.