by L. J. Suarez
Table of Contents
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Aaron was losing his mind.
It was the only explanation for what was happening inside of him. In reality, he should have been ecstatic, or at the very least apprehensive for what he was about to do. Yet he felt none of those things. In fact, he didn’t feel much of anything. He stared lethargically into nothingness with no care of his surroundings. He was a prisoner trapped inside his own body, an empty canvas void of all thought and feeling.
The only thing that shook him from his apathy was a soothing, familiar voice. “Beautiful day, huh?” said his girlfriend Sarah.
The strange sensation suddenly dissipated, releasing him from his mental prison. Aaron was starting to feel like his old self again. “It sure is,” he finally said in his southern drawl.
The smell of seaweed filled his nostrils as he took in a breath. He gazed at the waves crashing against the shoreline as the afternoon sunlight glinted off the ocean’s surface. A twenty-foot sailboat was anchored offshore, its fiberglass hull riding the coming tides. The sandy shores of Fort Tilden were deserted except for a flock of rowdy seagulls nearby.
Aaron couldn’t help but be troubled by what he had just experienced. It felt like he had an evil spell cast over him. He decided to brush it off. Whatever it was, he wasn’t about to let it spoil his day. Fort Tilden Beach was one of Queen’s best-kept secrets. It was for that reason Aaron picked this spot for a low-key, romantic picnic to commemorate their eighth anniversary.
Eight years. He couldn’t believe how much time had passed since that fateful night they’d first met. Aaron and Sarah sat on a white blanket facing the beachfront. Behind them lay an open picnic basket he’d prepared himself with some input from his best friend and self-proclaimed ‘love guru’ Jason. Their unfinished plates of crab salad and bite-sized strawberries were pushed to the blanket’s edge along with a half a bottle of champagne chilled in an ice bucket. Aaron couldn’t have planned this day any better.
He turned to Sarah. She sighed, watching the restless sea. One of the lace straps of her silky summer dress slid off her smooth, tanned shoulders, and her long, straight brunette hair swayed whenever a breeze blew in from the water.
Aaron gripped the little black box tucked inside his front pants pocket. He opened his mouth, then quickly shut his lips. Come on, you fool, just do it! He’d rehearsed this exact moment a thousand times in his head, but now the words refused to come out. The three glasses of champagne had failed to give him the liquid courage he’d hoped for. He sighed. I should’ve done this a long time ago.
Sarah never pressured him to take their relationship any further. She always said, “As long as we’re together, that’s good enough for me.”
But Aaron knew better. He couldn’t imagine spending the rest of his life with anyone else. He was certain of that. Since moving to New York, between their crazy work schedules and apartment hunting, the timing just never seemed right. These were merely excuses, he admitted. When they both graduated from the University of Florida, Sarah was offered a job as an interior designer at a well-known architecture firm in Manhattan. Aaron wasn’t too keen on leaving his family behind in Gainesville, being a small-town boy and all. It was a great opportunity for Sarah and he wasn’t about to let his girl leave for the big city by herself.
They stayed at one of Sarah’s sorority sister’s apartments in the Upper West Side for the first few months. The only job Aaron could land at the time was as an entry-level writer at The New York Post. They only recently settled into their new studio in Midtown East. The rent was a bit over their budget, but they knew living in the center of the universe wouldn’t come cheap. The 750-square-foot apartment was modest at best but came with a breathtaking view of the Manhattan skyline. It was their first home together and they were determined to make it work. Aaron took this trip to the beach as an opportunity for them to escape from their chaotic lives for the afternoon.
Noticing Aaron’s stare, Sarah turned to him. Her enchanting, green eyes locked on his. She smiled with angel-white teeth. God she’s beautiful.
“What's wrong, babe?” she asked.
Aaron mustered the courage to smirk. “Nothing’s wrong.”
“Come on, what's going on in there?” She playfully pointed her finger at his forehead. “Are you still with me?”
His grin widened. “Where else would I be?” Aaron leaned in to her face and stole a kiss. He caressed her lower back.
It’s now or never. After a long pause, he cleared his throat. “Hey, I wanna ask you something.”
“What?” she asked.
Aaron drew the box from his pocket and held it out in the palm of his hand. “It's a yes or no kind of question.” He opened the box with his free hand to reveal the ring inside. He tried but failed to control the slight tremble of his hand. The glitter from the 1-karat yellow diamond shone at the center of the plain, smooth silver band. Not bad on a writer’s salary.
Sarah looked at the ring, then at Aaron. Within a split second, her facial expression changed from puzzlement to sheer joy. Tears rolled down her cheeks like a waterfall.
“Look whatcha did to my mascara. Thanks, jerk!” Sarah wiped the tears from her eyes.
Aaron let out a nervous snort. “Don’t leave me hanging here.”
“Hold on, give me a minute.” She fanned her face with her hands, letting her breathing become shallow. Then, she took in a deep breath. “Okay, I’m good. I think.”
The poor thing was a nervous wreck. So was Aaron. At the same time, he felt a weight had just been lifted off his shoulders. Finally, he popped the big question he’d held inside for far too long. A monumental feat. He now eagerly awaited her answer.
Sarah looked straight into Aaron’s eyes. Smiling from ear to ear, she opened her mouth.
***
What the hell just happened?
Submerged in a blue liquid, a man floated nude inside a vertical glass tube. He felt dazed and weak, as though he had awakened from a dream he could barely remember. He had the strangest feeling of being someplace else just moments ago, but he couldn’t remember where he was or who he was with. It was all a complete blur.
Two tall figures standing outside the tank peered at him, but his fuzzy vision meant he couldn't make out either of their faces. He breathed beneath the liquid with unexpected ease, like being back in the womb.
What’s happening to me?
Hundreds of bubbles floated toward the top of the tank as he pressed his hand against the glass. The silhouettes of other figures moved back and forth alongside the tube. There had to be a dozen of them.
The man panicked. He extended out his arms and pressed both hands against the tube, wanting desperately to be let out. The two figures before him looked at each other. They said something to one another but he couldn’t make it out as the tube muffled all exterior noises. Then the man felt a calmness take hold of him, and his eyes kept getting heavier until he was enveloped in utter darkness.
• •
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Day gave way to night across the Big Apple.
One by one the twinkling lights from the surrounding skyscrapers came to life as the orange glow of dust settled over the west side of Manhattan. Balloons and flowers decorated the rooftop terrace of Aaron and Sarah’s apartment building. Their close friends and family members were all in attendance, eating light appetizers and sharing a few laughs.
The DJ killed the music with his controller and the guests turned to a red-haired man tapping a champagne glass with a spoon. He wore a long-sleeved, button-down blue shirt with a black vest and tie. “Can I have everybody�
�s attention? For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Jason, and I just want to say a few words to those two lovebirds over there.” He pointed to the young couple standing across from him.
“Here we go,” Aaron whispered.
“I think I speak for all of us here when I say, it’s about goddamn time!”
Everyone burst into laughter.
“It took ya eight years to propose to this beautiful woman?”
“I was picking my moment,” Aaron said.
“Well at least you picked this decade to pop the question. Sarah, you really are an angel for waiting this long. You must really dig the guy.”
“Well, let’s just say he came pretty close to getting a different answer back at Fort Tilden.” Sarah let out a devilish grin.
“Ouch!” said Jason, his freckled cheeks pronounced as he laughed along with the other guests. “Aaron and I have been best friends since our college days at UF.” He made the motion with his arms of a jaw opening and closing. “Go Gators! Man, those were good times, weren’t they, bud?”
Aaron smiled and nodded.
“A lot of fond memories,” he continued. “We partied like rock stars. And the girls... Oh my goodness, the girls.” He rolled his eyes back in a suggestive manner.
Aaron gave him a throat cutting gesture.
“What about those girls?” Sarah asked, elbowing Aaron’s shoulder.
His cheeks turned red. “I’m having second thoughts about you being the best man, hoss.”
The guests giggled hysterically.
“Don’t worry, Sarah,” Jason responded. “None of them ever came close to your level of beauty and intelligence.”
“Nice save,” she said.
“Thanks!” Jason wiped his hand across his forehead in mock relief.
More laughter erupted.
“I remember the night they first met at a party my frat was throwing. When Aaron spotted her from across the room, I knew right then and there he was head over heels. He almost didn’t go up to talk to her, can you believe that? He was so shy; it really was adorable. I had to literally shove him over to ya, Sarah.”
“I don’t think it happened quite like that,” Aaron said with a nervous look.
Sarah chimed in. “Oh, I beg to differ.”
Aaron raised an eyebrow at her. “I didn’t know tonight was ‘let’s roast Aaron night’.”
The guests snickered in unison.
“If it weren’t for your wingman here, we wouldn’t be here tonight at your engagement party.” Jason lifted his champagne glass. “You’re welcome.” He waved his hand in the air once everyone’s laughter ceased. “In all seriousness, you guys really are made for each other and it’s my honor to be the best man.” He lifted his glass again. “Here’s to you crazy kids having a kick-ass wedding and a kick-ass marriage. I wish you much love and happiness together, in this life and in the next.”
The guests all lifted their glasses, exchanged congratulatory remarks to the couple and took sips of their champagne. Aaron reached out and planted his lips on his bride-to-be.
“Life as you know it will soon end, buddy!” Jason added.
The guests cackled again as Jason joined his blonde-haired date by her side.
“Speech!” he shouted over his shoulder. “Speech!”
Everyone else joined in the chant. Aaron grabbed Sarah’s soft hand and moved to the center of the terrace. Clutching his glass, he looked around at all the faces of his guests, and caught a glimpse of his parents and Sarah’s parents standing together off to the right of the terrace. He smiled warmly at them. Aaron’s folks were dressed very conservatively, while Sarah’s wore snappier attire, making them blend in more with the other guests.
Aaron opened his mouth to say something but stopped short. A strange feeling came over him, distracting his train of thought. He had the distinct impression that something wasn’t right about his guests. Despite the fact they were all standing around him, Aaron felt they weren’t there at all. It was as if he were staring into the eyes of soulless puppets, and it made him uneasy. Aaron thought maybe the pre-wedding jitters were already starting to kick in.
He caught Sarah staring at him from the corner of his eye. She looked worried for her fiancé. Aaron couldn’t shake off the feeling that everything around him was in some way wrong. Sarah squeezed his hand lightly, trying to get him to snap out of his daze. But he was frozen in place. The words failed to come out.
Sarah then turned to the guests and a smile returned to her face. “Aaron and I just want to thank you guys for coming here tonight. It really means a lot to us.”
Aaron didn’t hear the rest of her speech, as he was distracted by a brilliant flash that lit up the sky above. It seemed as though he was the only one at the party that noticed. Aaron raised his hand to shield his eyes. He couldn’t tell where the light was coming from. A helicopter flying overhead? Or maybe it was something else altogether.
Before Aaron could react, the light had engulfed him.
***
The man awoke, squinting at a radiant white light shining on his face.
His vision was blurred, though it was difficult to keep his eyes open. He lay on top of what looked like a medical exam table, the cold metal surface chilling his back. He craned his neck struggling to figure out where he was. Looking toward his toes he saw that he was clothed by a thin, two-piece white gown. Two metal restraints were around both his arms and legs.
The man surveyed the surrounding room. It was oval-shaped, and wrapped around the length of the room was a long, narrow glass window. A sterile smell in the air hinted he was inside an operating room. He was startled by a hovering, sphere-shaped object the size of a volleyball, three purple lights emanating from its center. It made a few beeping sounds before it floated out of sight. The man could hear a conversation taking place close by and, turning his head to the side, he saw three towering figures standing at the opposite end of the room. They huddled in front of a computer terminal of some kind.
Looking up from the terminal, one of the figures noticed the man had awakened and walked toward him. Even through his blurred vision he surmised the approaching figure stood well over six-feet tall and wore some type of white hazmat suit. Covered with a face-obscuring mask, the figure paused next to the table. Its eyes were barely visible through the tinted visor at the center of the mask. A sense of dread came over the man.
Suddenly, the being spoke in a language he wasn’t familiar with, though the voice sounded male. He spoke again, more gibberish. The dialect the figure used sounded like a mish-mash of more than one language, some of the words vaguely familiar while the rest were foreign.
Recognizing the confusion on the man’s face, the figure looked up toward his colleagues by the terminal, also wearing matching hazmat suits. He spoke to them in the same bizarre language. Both nodded in acknowledgment and turned to face the terminal. The figure returned his attention to the man lying on the exam table. More gibberish was spoken.
The man felt a high-pitched ringing build up inside his ears. It intensified. He winced in pain as the ringing became unbearable. But just as quickly as the ringing started, it was gone.
“Can you understand me?” the figure asked.
The man was relieved to finally understand what the hazmat suit-wearing figure was saying.
The figure repeated the question.
He attempted to reply, but he felt too weak to even speak. He gathered the very little strength he had to get out a single word. “Yes.”
“What is your name?” the figure asked.
“My name?”
The figure nodded his head.
The man opened his mouth. Nothing came out. He thought about the question for a moment. For whatever reason, he was having difficulty in remembering his own name. “I ... I don’t know.”
“What do you remember?”
The man had a blank stare on his face.
“Do you know where you are? Do you know where you come from?”
/> The man feverishly searched his mind to come up with something. He vaguely recalled being encased in a glass tube with blue liquid. Prior to that, nothing.
“Anything at all?” the figured pressed on.
The man sadly shook his head.
The figure placed his gloved hand on the man’s shoulder. “It's alright. It is perfectly normal.”
How is memory loss normal? The man noticed that when the figure spoke, he had an accent that would switch from one intonation then slip into another. His voice would drop midway when pronouncing a word and then rise at the end.
The figure looked up again toward his peers. “Translator implant is now functioning. Six has gained full cognitive functions and is responding to verbal questioning.” The sudden high-pitch of the figure’s voice revealed a sense of excitement. He placed his hand on the man’s chin and gently tilted his head from one side to another. “As suspected, Six is experiencing amnesia. It is yet to be determined whether memory impairment is permanent.”
One of the figure’s colleagues walked over from the terminal and stood on the opposite side of the exam table.
The figure inched his head close to the man’s eyes. “Six’s pupils and retina appear normal,” he stated.
Why does he keep saying Six? the man thought. Is he talking about me? Is my name Six?
He removed his hand from Six’s chin but continued to stare at him, tilting his head to the side. “Vital readings?”
“Heart rate is at 60bpm,” the figure’s colleague responded. The second being’s voice was female but with the same peculiar accent. “Six is approximately thirty-two years of age. His core body temperature remains at 36.5 degrees Celsius. Height is five feet eleven inches, weight, 192 pounds. Blood pressure has risen since the last examination to 120 over 87. Respiratory rate is normal. These readings appear to be typical for an adult male of his age.” The female figure paused before continuing. “I am not detecting any genetic disorders or any other types of congenital deformities. His immune system does look quite promising.”
