Separation and Isolation

Sarah?

She sees you. "Karen! Run!" With that she continues to run past you. Then you hear something else coming through the woods after her. You follow her.

As you and Sarah race through the woods, weaving around trees and dodging rocks, you shout to her, "What is it?"

"One of the men from the camp!" she says. "I lost most of them in the woods a long time ago, but later one of them found me. They must have scouts searching the forest."

"Why don't you just fight him?" you ask.

"I had my sword drawn while they were pursuing me, just in case they caught up with me, but then I fell, and dropped it, and I didn't have time to get it."

You stop and turn, readying your sword. He emerges from the darkness, running. When he nears you, you swing and strike him, and he falls to the ground, dead.

It's over. You call to Sarah, who has continued running. She stops and returns. You both sink to the ground, gasping.

When you've caught your breath, you turn to Sarah. "Have you seen Aaron?"

"No," she says, solemnly shaking her head.

Your stomach sinks. You hope that he didn't... you think not to think about it. After a while you say, "Come on. We'd better return to the camp."

She nods. Then she says, "Do you remember where it was?"

"No, but I think we might be able to find it. I know it's to the east."

The two of you stand and start walking in silence.

An hour later, Aaron hasn't returned. You're beginning to lose hope. Meanwhile, Sarah has grown restless. "Come on, Karen," she says softly. "We need to leave. If he hasn't returned by now, he won't."

"No," you say, "he'll come back. Just wait another hour."

Sarah stares at you. "You've changed," she says. She sounds thoughtful rather than bitter.

"What do you mean?" you ask.

"The last time I saw you you never would have been this concerned about anyone," she says. "You would have been the one telling me that we need to catch up with the group, that I need to move on. It's almost like... almost like you're aa different person..."

You have a sudden, fleeting revelation. What she just said triggers a memory of some sort. Before you know what it is, though, it vanishes, and you can't remember what it was. You're left with a cold, sick feeling.

You know she's right, though. Since you lost your memory, you've felt... different. You feel like this isn't your life, like... like you're supposed to be someone else. You feel no emotions toward Alyssa or Sarah or your father or... Mark... other than those you've formed since you woke up after the battle. You realize that this is the haunting feeling that's plagued you since then, the strange disembodied sensation. You tell yourelf it's just the amnesia, but... something tells you it's more.

"Come on," Sarah says firmly, interrupting your reverie. "I understand that you're concerned about your friend, but if he hasn't returned by now... he won't. But we have to catch up with the others."

You feel sick. You know you have to leave, but don't have the energy or the enthusiasm to stand. You feel weak and sick. You shake your head.

"Well, I'm leaving," she says. "You can stay behind if you want, but don't expect me to come with you." From her tone, you know that while she doesn't want to say this, she means it.

1. You stay behind. You tell yourself that he will come. You don't want to abandon him. Besides, you don't feel like you belong with the New Amazons anymore.

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