Janet and Jane: The Case of the Amnesiacs: Part Two

      "What do you mean, 'Who's Janet'?" the Korbat asked. "You are, of course."

      "I am?" I asked back. "Are you sure about that?"

      "Is Janet alright?" the Aisha said to the Bori.

      The Bori just shrugged and replied with, "I don't know, Natia. Let me try something." He walked closer to me. "Janet, do you remember us? Do you remember this place? Do you remember anything?"

      I looked around us, then at the three Neopets. I still couldn't figure out who they were or where we were. No matter how hard I tried, I didn't remember anything presented to me.

      "No, not really," I answered. "Am I supposed to?"

      The Aisha's ears drooped and she frowned. She wasn't happy with my answer. She asked, "Why doesn't she remember anything?"

      "She probably has amnesia," the Korbat replied. She turned to me. "One thing I don't know is how. Janet, do you remember getting hit on the head or something like that?"

      I shook my head (which only made the bump hurt worse). "I don't remember getting hit, but I do have this bump on the back of my head." I held the bump, hoping that it would hurt less if I did that. "Still hurts a little, too."

      "Jane, has this ever happened to you guys before?" the Bori asked.

      The Korbat shook her head. I assumed her name was Jane. She said, "This is definitely a first, and I'm hoping this won't happen again."

      "Well then what do we do?"

      Jane looked at me, then at the Bori. "I remember reading that showing someone familiar sights may help bring back memories sooner. Otherwise, we don't have much control over how fast she gets her memory back."

      "Are you sure that might work?" I asked. "I'm not entirely sure if-"

      "Come on, Janet," the Korbat interrupted. "It can't hurt to try, right?"

      "I guess it won't."

      We decided that I'd be following the Korbat today (I already forgot her name). She led me out of this building and into what looked like a forest. I looked around. Why on Neopia would there be a building in a forest.

      "Why are we in a forest?" I asked.

      "So J² won't be spotted very easily," the Korbat answered.

      "What's that?"

      "It's our detective business. You know, Janet and Jane? You and me?"

      "And which one am I? Janet or Jane?"

      The Korbat frowned. "You're Janet. I'm Jane. How hard did you hit your head?"

      I shook my head. "I don't know. It's been hurting since I got up, so I think it was pretty hard. I don't even think I hit my head."

      "What do you mean?"

      "Well, I don't think I would get this bump by accident. It doesn't feel like it's from a fall or anything like that."

      Jane (I think that's her name, anyway) looked more concerned than sad after I said that. She said, "So what you're saying is that someone may have done this to you?"

      I nodded. "Yeah, I think I am."

      "Why would anyone do that to you?"

      I shrugged. "Don't ask me. I don't even remember my own name."

      We exited the forest and ended up in Neopian Bazaar. Somehow, I knew where we were. Then again, everyone pretty much knew their way around this place. It was common sense if you lived in the area. If I remembered this place, then maybe I lived close by.

      "So tell me," I began. "What am I like?"

      The Korbat looked at me and said, "What do you mean?"

      I shrugged. "I mean, tell me about myself. What was I like before I got amnesia?"

      "Oh, I get it now." She looked up. I believed she was thinking. "Janet, you were very smart, a bit rude, and very determined."

      I was rude? "Was I really rude?"

      "Well, yeah, but you can't really help it. It's fine, really." The Korbat smiled. "I'm rather calm in tough situations while you get aggressive."

      "Oh, that's cool." I snapped my fingers. "What about... Uhmm... The Aisha and Bori. What about them? What are they like?"

      The Korbat nodded. "Ah, Natia and James. Natia's rather... flighty. She's always happy, always curious, always a bit destructive-"

      "Is there something she isn't always?"

      The Korbat laughed and said, "Well, she pretty much remains the same during whatever happens." She crossed her arms. "She really isn't a detective, but she's a friend of ours. She helps us out on occasion."

      I nodded. "And what about the Bori?"

      "James isn't a detective, either. He's an intern. You know, working for knowledge."

      "How long has he been working with us?"

      "A few months now, actually."

      The Korbat grabbed my hand and dragged me to the Food Shop. It was around lunch time, so I guessed we were getting something to eat. That was fine with me, since I couldn't remember the last time I ate (you know, I could have worded that better).

      We sat at a table and thought at what we would like to eat. I looked at the menu to see what they had. The Soba Noodles sounded good, but I didn't know if I liked it or not. I thought I did. If not, I would know.

      "Are the Soba Noodles good here?" I asked.

      "They're okay," the Korbat said. "You prefer the Meatball Toasty."

      "I do?"

      "Yeah. I'll go order." The Korbat got up and walked away. As she was walking, she said, "Don't go anywhere."

      "No problem."

      I stared out the window. Neopets were having fun outside. Kids were playing games, adults were on their lunch break, the weather was nice, seemed like a perfect day. If only I could truly enjoy it. Not remembering who I was could be a real damper on my mood. My memory would come back eventually (hopefully soon), but until then, I would have to live with my amnesia.

      "Uhmm. Excuse me."

      I turned around. A pastel Xweetok was standing by the table. The Xweetok had ash blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail and a pastel green dress. She smiled meekly. She was most likely nervous. One thing I didn't know was why she was here. Was she a friend of mine like that Korbat?

      "Sorry to bother you, but the Food Shop seems to be out of open tables," she said quietly. "Is it okay if I sit with you?"

      "Well, I'm here with a friend, but I don't think she'll mind you sitting here. Go ahead," I answered.

      "Thank you." The Xweetok sat down. "Where's your friend?"

      I looked at the line where you got food. The Korbat was almost to the front. I said, "She's getting our food."

      "Ah, I see." She drummed her fingers on the tabletop. "So what's your name?"

      I froze when that question was asked. I forgot my name already. I knew that Korbat told me it a few times. Maybe when she came back, she could tell her what my name was.

      "I'm sorry, but I don't know," I said simply. "I have amnesia, so-"

      "You do?" the Xweetok interjected. "What happened?"

      I shook my head and shrugged. "I really don't know." I hung my head.

      The Xweetok stopped drumming her fingers on the table and said, "If it helps you feel better, I can't remember much, either."

      "How would that make me feel better?"

      "I don't know. I just thought it'd be nice for you to know that you're not alone." She frowned. "Unfortunately, that means I don't remember my name, either."

      The Korbat came back with a tray of food. She placed it on the table when she noticed the Xweetok sitting in one of the seats. As confused as she was, she still sat down.

      "Janet, who's this?" the Korbat asked.

      Janet. So that was my name. "There were no free tables and she asked if she could sit here. She doesn't remember her name, so I didn't get that," I answered.

      "Really?" The Korbat faced the Xweetok. "My name's Jane. If you don't know your own name, what do we call you?"

      The Xweetok looked at the ceiling as if her name was written up there. She said, "You can call me Dee until I remember my real name."

      "Okay, Dee." Jane took a bite of her food. After she got that down, she asked, "So Dee, if you don't remember anything, why are you walking around Neopia Central all by yourself?"

      Dee shrugged. "I don't know. I just thought that walking around this place would help me jog my memory." She shook her head. "Not working that much, though."

      "Do you remember how you lost your memory?"

      "No, not really." She rubbed the back of her head. "I have this bump on the back of my head. I think I was hit there."

      Jane frowned. Something was wrong, I could tell. She seemed a little upset to hear about that.

      "Hey, what's wrong, Jane?" I asked.

      "Well, I don't know if this is right, and I really hope it isn't, but I think you guys didn't get amnesia by accident."

      That idea made me think. I didn't remember much, but I was sure that I didn't get that bump on the back of my head from a little accident. I think I mentioned that earlier. Did I? Anyway, someone must have done it. Two Neopets having amnesia, that would be a little more than a coincidence.

      I tried my best to remember something. Anything. My history with Jane, what my job was like, even what I had for dinner last night would please me. I just wanted to remember. The only thing I remembered, though, was my dream. That was a little strange, since Neopets usually forget dreams a few minutes after waking up.

      Maybe it wasn't a dream.

      "Janet, are you okay?" Jane asked. "What's on your mind?"

      I sighed heavily and said, "I think I remembered something."

      To Be Continued…