by E A Lake
“Don’t take it so hard,” Sara said beside me on the couch. “Doesn’t really matter anymore. You’re a decent person, he ain’t. That should count for something.”
“I let him swindle me out of millions of dollars,” I said for about the tenth time. “How did something like that happen?”
“I don’t know the details,” Sara replied with a soft smile. “I think only you and him knew.”
“And Lester,” Sasha added, wiping sweat from her brow. It was still mighty hot both inside and out.
“How would Lester know?” I asked. “Was he part of the company?”
“He was,” Morgan replied, pulling her t-shirt off of her stomach, exposing her thin, sweaty waist. “But all he knows is that you left and signed the company over to Shaklin. There wasn’t even a fight about it from what he says.”
“Most likely then I’m here to get even with Shaklin,” I murmured. That made sense to me.
Morgan slapped my bare shoulder. “Not even close. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
I shook my head and allowed it to fall forward. Not only was my mind still blank, none of the clues made any sense. I was beginning to wonder if I would have to live the rest of my life in a perpetually lost state.
“No baths tonight, I guess,” Liv said, changing the subject. “Probably a good thing. Heating up the water would fry us all, I’m afraid.”
“That’s alright,” Sara responded. “We’d be all sweaty in no time anyway. Maybe the heat will break in the next couple of days and we can get a proper bath then.”
I noticed Morgan glance at Liv. “Warm up some water so we can clean up a little before bed. At least we can knock the stink back a layer or two.”
That was my cue to leave. I was tired anyway. “I’ll just go crawl in bed. My head’s killing me. I don’t think I can take any more talking tonight.”
As I rose, so did Morgan, blocking my path. “First, you get cleaned up a little. There’s no sense in us being sorta clean and you still stinking like you do.”
Once I’d gotten used to the smell, it wasn’t so bad. To be more precise, it hadn’t bothered me at all to that point. But the collective nods and grins told me my housemates felt differently.
Liv filled the sink with tepid water and handed me a dull brownish wash rag. I did my pits and chest, turning away as I modestly washed my crotch.
“Don’t make me come over there and check you,” Morgan joked from the couch. I needed to keep an eye on her. Hopefully her lewd comments were all talk with no action behind them.
When I’d cleaned enough for my liking, I made my way to the bedroom. But before I got there, Sara cut me off, giving me a goodnight hug and peck on the cheek. She too was near the top of my needed-to-be-watched-carefully list. She knew, or felt, something I didn’t. I got the feeling that nothing but trouble would come from her or Morgan.
Liv called out goodnight as she walked into the kitchen, peeling her top off. I diverted my eyes, mostly out of politeness I suppose, and noticed Morgan and Sasha staring at me.
“See you in bed, Quinn,” Morgan called out as she turned away. Sasha smiled and nodded, finally looking away.
I suppose a normal man would have been thrilled to share a house, much less a bed, with such a group of attractive women. Since I wasn’t normal yet, I feared something else was going on. Something I couldn’t put my finger on. Something that would surprise me.
I shook it off and crawled into bed and kicked the covers to the end board. Wouldn’t be needing them. It had to have been 120 degrees in that room, even with the window opened. If only a breeze would find us, even a warm breeze, it would be sweet relief.
I drifted off into a restful slumber, getting myself comfortable in the center of the bed, hoping the next day would bring more answers to my pressing questions.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
I awoke to late dawn light streaming into our east-facing window. The sun wasn’t quite up at that point. If I laid in the same spot, staring out the window over Morgan’s head, sunlight would greet me within five, 10 minutes tops.
I glanced at Sasha and smiled. There she was, her and her tiny frame, wrapped in a sheet from head to toe, facing away with small snorts and snores sneaking out every once in a while. I stroked her shoulder softly, happy that she was so comfortable.
I felt a strange attraction to the young woman hit me and then, just as quickly, the feeling vanished. What was it about her that I felt? Perhaps a fatherly feeling for a woman I had, assumedly, known for years? Or was there something more?
I had felt the same thing when Sara bid me goodnight the evening before. There was something familiar about those two, something that made me feel warm inside. Hopefully the warmth was a kindred friendship and not something less acceptable.
I glanced back and watched the first sliver of the new day’s sun rising ever so slowly. It was going to be a good day; I just knew it. Another day alone with my four friends, real or not, and a chance to learn more of my past — also real or not. Maybe something would finally trip my memory back into gear.
And it was going to be another cloudless scorcher. I’d woken up once during the night, coated in sweat. I’d considered using the chamber pot, but decided against it, afraid to wake my more soundly sleeping companions. Since the heat nor humidity had relinquished their grip on us during the night, it made sense the new day would be just as uncomfortable as the last.
Adjusting myself to watch the sunrise on my right side, I cocked an arm under the pillow to prop my head up. Outside, I heard the first calls of the chickens and cows, along with a few birds spreading the news of another day for all to hear. Come and get up, people. A whole new day awaits.
I stared at the back of Morgan’s head, knowing she was the solution to most of my problems. She held the answers, it seemed, that could help me realize who I was, why I was here and what I was after. Unfortunately, she was also the problem: the gatekeeper of my secrets. To that point, she hadn’t been willing to open up the knowledge vault I needed to hear, much less show me the keys to said vault.
She was a problem, alright; a bigger problem than I even knew.
Something made her stir and slowly turn over onto her back. Stretching her willowy arms over her head, her nose twitched as some loose hairs scraped against it. When I allowed my gaze to continue down her thin body, I received a shock that made me leap up in bed.
“Holy shit, Morgan,” I seethed, albeit quietly. “Where the hell are your sleeping clothes?”
Her eyes opened slowly and a confused expression greeted me. “What?”
I hopped out of bed as carefully as possible, pointing at her naked form. Not just the top half either. No, Morgan had slept next to me au naturel, with nothing but her skin on display.
“Where the hell are your clothes?” I demanded. “You didn’t sleep like that all night, did you?”
She sat up on her elbows, putting her smallish breasts on full display. She shook away my concern.
“Of course I slept like this all night,” she answered, her voice still full of sleep. “It was too damned hot for clothes. Last summer, we walked around naked most of the time when we were in the house. It was so oppressive.”
I searched for something to cover her with. Of all the times for her and Sasha to become neat freaks, they’d chosen that Saturday evening to do so.
“Cover yourself up,” I said. “You shouldn’t be exposing yourself to a stranger like you are.”
“I see someone doesn’t really mind.” It was then that I noticed her eyes on my crotch. She could easily see the outline of something no longer flaccid.
“Why don’t you crawl back into bed…” she purred, patting the spot next to herself, “…and we can talk about it. Or any other hard subjects that might come up.”
I had to do something to put the fire out. But of course, nothing worked. She even parted her thin thighs slightly and caught me looking before my eyes fixed back to hers.
“Sasha
is right there!” I scolded, pointing at the other sleeping woman.
Morgan grinned away my concern. “She won’t wake up.” Her grin broadened. “And if she does, she’ll just have to wait her turn.”
“No!” I waved a finger at her. “Absolutely not!” Another violent, spastic finger wave. “We are not getting involved in any of that.”
I noticed Sasha stir, turn over and sit up from the corner of my eye. “Any of what?” she asked lazily.
When I glanced at her, I noticed the covers had fallen away from her chest. And there she was, on full display for me as well.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“Why aren’t you people wearing any clothes?” I asked excitedly. “There’s a man in the house. Someone you’ve probably not exposed yourself to previously.”
The naked pair in front of me shrugged in unison and stared back at me like I was the crazy one.
“Because it’s a hundred degrees in here,” Morgan replied, still on full display. “And this is the way we live. Whether you like it or not.”
“They’re just boobs,” Sasha added, as if that helped. “You’ve seen plenty of boobs in your life I’m sure.”
I turned and smacked my head against the wall.
“What’s going on in here?” Sara cried as she entered the room, pulling on a pair of small athletic shorts. And of course, she was completely bare on top. Before I could look way, I noticed her assets were a lot larger than Morgan’s and just a little fuller than her sister’s. Not that I should have been keeping score.
“Is someone hurt?” Liv called out as she dashed into the doorway. Thank God she had enough sense to cover herself with a sheet. Well, kind of a thin, translucent sheet.
“We need to wear clothing here, people!” I shouted. “I think that needs to be a rule.” Two topless sisters stared at one another, failing to hide anything from my view. A completely nude woman glared at me as though I’d claimed she was the crazy one, which I suppose I had. Liv pulled her hair in front of her body, hoping — I assumed— to hide something that sheet couldn’t. It barely helped.
“But it’s so hot,” Sasha whined.
“I don’t care,” I commented, trying to sound a little more reasonable. “It just seems proper.”
“We can put it to a vote,” Morgan replied, sounding mischievous. “All in favor of remaining clothing optional, at least at night, raise their hands.”
Three hands shot up instantly. Only Liv saw things my way. But that changed when she slowly raised her right hand, re-gripping the sheet with her left so as to make sure she remained somewhat covered.
“I’d ask for those against,” Morgan snarked, “but we already have enough votes to carry the motion. We won’t walk around naked all day when it’s so hot, but we can sleep that way at night.”
I nodded, letting my defeat sink in. “I think I’m going to sleep on the couch from now on.”
“Suit yourself,” Morgan said, picking up a pair of panties from the floor and slipping them on.
“Everyone get dressed and let’s eat,” I added, leaving the room. “I’ve got a lot of questions lined up for today and you four are going to provide me with the answers. Got it?”
Morgan saluted as I left. The others were quiet, still in various forms of being partially dressed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
We ate quietly. No one seemed embarrassed by the morning’s over-exposure of skin. No one, that was, besides me. I may not have remembered much at that point, but I knew I’d remember their bodies for a long time to come.
“Shaklin will come down just before noon with our weekly meat ration,” Liv said, chasing the last of the scrambled eggs around her plate. “We all have to go out for that. Except you, Quinn.”
That was good. It gave me another chance to hear and see my old buddy and business partner, Tony. Not that I remembered a single thing about him from before.
“I want to hear about your collective lives,” I continued, alternating my gaze from woman to woman. “Just the stuff I should remember. I don’t care what you had for lunch when you were six. I want to hear what I should be remembering.”
I paused and finished my flatbread smothered in some kind of red jam. My word, that Liv was quite a cook. And according to what Sara or Sasha had mentioned a day back, she had even helped make the tasty sweet preserves that I was growing so fond of.
“I married William Long at 21,” Sara began sadly. “Do you remember William? You knew him from back in Terre Haute.”
I shook my head. The name didn’t bring a face to mind.
“His dad had some big lumber business,” Morgan added, staring at me strangely. Still it meant nothing to me.
“Anyway, you were at my wedding.” Sara paused and shot a quick look at her sister. “Sasha got married two months later. You were there also.”
“But sober that time,” Morgan quipped with a cute grin.
“Who’d she marry?” I asked. “Anyone I knew?”
“Your nephew,” Sasha stated sadly. “Barry Fager.”
Barry who? I thought they had all claimed my last name was Reynolds. How could I have a nephew named Fager? My sister’s husband maybe.
“Someone related to Belinda’s husband?” I asked. Sasha looked away. Sara shrugged and quickly did the same. Morgan stared at me intently.
“Belinda was engaged when the old world ended,” Morgan claimed. “And her fiancé was Todd Rivulet. He was a friend of yours.”
It was my turn to shrug. “Don’t know the guy.”
“And…” Morgan rose from her spot, angry about something. “Your sister’s husband’s nephew isn’t related to you, you idiot. It was your wife’s nephew.”
Time stopped for a moment as I let her words sink deep into my mind. I noticed Sasha and Sara still looked away. Liv stared at me with a pale face, her expression blank.
“So, you’re claiming…” I tried to begin.
“That you’re a moron,” Morgan ranted. “You don’t remember us, you don’t remember Shaklin, you don’t remember your own sister. Hell, you don’t even remember you were ever married!”
Sara rose from her seat and knelt beside me. “That’s enough, Morgan. Leave it be.” She stroked my arm for a moment before leaning closely and kissing my cheek. “He doesn’t remember right now, so it doesn’t matter. Just drop it.”
Morgan was on her quickly, poking a finger into her chest. “This is all screwed up. This is all so screwed up. We are so screwed here that I can’t figure a way out. He’s got to get his damned memory back. Until then, we’re just a bunch of sitting ducks. And we all know it, Sara. Even you!”
Tears pooled in Sara’s eyes as she managed a smile at me, patting my cheeks. “It’ll come back soon. I know it will. He’s gonna remember everything. Every last bit of it.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
I was confused when I came to on a couch a few days prior. I was still confused when I found out my new friends were workers — okay, they called themselves slaves — for an old business partner of mine. I was super confused when I met my own sister, Belinda. At least she claimed to be my sister. I was still doubting that revelation.
To find out I was married was comforting in a way, shocking in another. It was nice to know I’d been cared for and loved at one point in my life. To have someone to hold and share my time with seemed special; it made me happy. But why couldn’t I remember the former Mrs. Reynolds?
“How long was I married?” I asked Sara.
She gave me a non-comital look. “Ten years, I think. Maybe a little longer.”
“Was I happy?” That seemed like the next logical question.
Sara smiled sadly and nodded, resting her head on one of my arms. “Yes,” she whispered. “You were very happy.”
Well, I finally had a decent bit of information about my past life that didn’t confuse me…sort of.
“Did she die?” I asked. Sara shook her head minutely. “Is she waiting for me somewhere, maybe when I get back
to Terre Haute?” Again, her head shook slightly.
That wasn’t good news. What it meant was that I’d been married but no longer was.
“But we were happy?” I asked, trying to get Sara to look at me.
“Oh for the love of God!” Morgan shouted. “She’s not dead; she left you. And trust me. You were never happy. Not with that evil bitch. She ran your life so tightly you had to ask permission to go to the bathroom.”
Sara began to shake. Morgan circled in front of me and poked a finger damn near in my face.
“You’re missing the point, Quinn,” Morgan continued. “You being married, you being miserable, you being lonely, you having an affair…all of that has nothing to do with our current situation. It’s all bull shit that needs to be swept away. You need to remember who you are now; what you are now.”
I stood and faced the angry woman directly. “What am I, Morgan? Tell me what I am. Tell me why I’m here.”
She smirked and looked away for a second. When she looked back, she delivered a mighty slap to the left side of my face.
“You’re a moron!” she shrieked. “I thought you could help. I thought you could make a difference. I guess that makes me just as big a moron as you are.”
I rubbed my stunned cheek, trying my hardest not to defend myself…physically at least.
“What am I?” I demanded. “WHO am I?”
With a trite expression, she shook her head at me. Gently, she placed both hands on either side of my face and smiled genuinely, though I expected another strike at any time.
“You’ll have to ask the people of Pimento,” she replied. “All we’ve heard is rumors.”
What the hell!? What was Pimento?
“And Pimento is…”
“Where you’re from now,” Morgan replied, still clutching my face.
“Did you and I have an affair? Is that why you’re always so pissed at me?”
She howled with laughter and dropped her hands to her belly. Something I’d said was funny.
