“Please, Please tell me now, Is there something I should know, is there something I should say?” -Duran Duran

Jonathon peered at a man with tired eyes, dark lines circled deep cracks and crow's feet.

They were his eyes, though he did not recognize them.

Doctor Smith had brought in a small mirror for their session today.

“If you are to regain your memory, you must first see the man you are today.” He had said with a smile.

Jonathon was surprised by his own face. His hair, which was once a dark brown was now deep black, with hundreds of white hairs giving him a peppered look.

His green eyes, which were always bright, had now turned into a deeper olive.

They had kept him clean-shaven, as well as keeping the sides and back of his head shaved.

His square jaw had firmly set, giving him a permanent brooding face.

Finally and most startling of all, a long scar from the top of his left eyebrow down to his right nostril marked his face, giving him an intimidating visage.

He learned he had received the scar in the crash nine years ago. Doctor Smith had brought some newspaper clippings of the crash for Johnathon.

He requested to be left alone when he learned his parents hadn't survived. He refused food for two days after.

————————

“Which hospital is this doctor?” I asked, putting the mirror down.

“Ah! My most favorite question!” The Doctor answered enthusiastically.

“There is much history in this old building! Actually, it never used to be a hosptial, no! Not until World War One, when the east wing was used as a field hospital. No, it is called Rathbone Manor, the Rathbones owned it for centuries, centuries! Oh, if these old walls could, imagine the stories it could tell!

In fact the west wing, almost, survived the Blitz Krieg in World War 2. A few rooms burned down and they decided to have it entirely redone!” The doctor oozed excitement has he continued.

“Finally, in the late 80’s the youngest of the Rathbone family, Amelia Rathbone, was kidnapped, she was only two years old, unfortunately, after the ransom was paid, they killed the girl.

The family had fallen on hard times and gave all the money they had to get the girl back! Alas, the kidnappers were never found, and the entire Family, and their servants all committed suicide. Can you imagine?” The doctor spoke solemnly.

“Ah, my apologies, here.” He said, handing me a tissue as he saw me rub my eye with my wrist.

“After that, the Manor remained abandoned for years, the locals, extremely superstitious, refused to enter the grounds and refused to allow the government to take possession of the Manor, that is until 5 years ago, when a very wealthy Doctor, purchased the Manor and the surrounding grounds with the blessing of the townspeople, and renovated it.

After just five short years, The Manor has now become the top institution in the world! We have the best and most talented Doctors in their field, and we take only the most impossible cases, we have 250 rooms, and each case is fully paid for by a very wealthy benefactor.”

“Amazing, I wondered why I had received my own room. I doubt if my insurance could pay for such luxury.” I said with a chuckle.

Dr. Smith merely responded with a wave of his hand.

“I like to think, that perhaps God is balancing out the scales of this old place, there is so much **** here, it seems only right that there should be some life too, Ja?” He said misty eyed.

I stayed quiet for a moment, thinking over his words.

“Rathbone is not an American name, what state are we in, Doctor? How did I get here?”

The doctor blinked at me.

“I had assumed you knew already, or that someone else had told you. This complicates things.”

“Doctor?” I raised my eyebrows at him.

“Now, what I am about to tell you may come as a shock. Please take a breath and prepare yourself.”

“As you have aptly guessed, we are not in America, we are in a small but great country called Mornica-”

“Mornica?” I interrupted in disbelief. “Surely, you jest?”

“Nein, nein”

“What’s beneath us? The bay of rum?” I said sardonically.

“Oh, your memory is perhaps returning?” The Doctor asked hopefully.

“You don't mean to tell me there really is a bay called the Bay Of Rum around here?” I asked, shocked.

“Morinica is a monarchy, I think the King was a fan of the old shorts, “The Three Stooges.”” The Doctor answered with a shy smile.

“Amazing,” I said simply with a laugh.

———————————————————

“Well, that concludes our session today, you seem to be healing well Herr Johnathon, any further inquiries?

“Yes, Dr. Smith, do you know if my sister will be coming to see me?”

“Sister, hmm, your file said nothing about any family Herr Johnathon.”

“It has been nine years, I suppose she could be working somewhere in America, I don't even now where to begin searching for her, she might have married and changed her name.” I said with a worried nod.

“My advice Herr Johnathon, is to rest, return to full health then worry about your family.”

“Still.”- He continued. “Please give me her name, I have contacts in America and I could, as they say, pull a few strings.”

“That's very kind of you doctor, I suppose they didn't find a phone of any kind on me when they brought me in?” I said as I scribbled my sister's name down on a piece of paper.

“Not that I know of, but I will look into that as well.”

“I could have a phone brought in for you if need to make a call?”

“No thank you, Doctor, after my family, there is no one important, besides after nine years I’m sure any phone numbers I could even remember would have been turned off or changed by now.” I said grimly.

The doctor merely nodded at me as he placed the mirror and my sisters name in his black leather attache case.

Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you, Doctor Jodha has cleared you to walk, your muscles have deteriorated from the koma over the past nine months so they are issuing a walker and then a cane when you are able, we will be like twins, yes? Doctor Smith said with a smile.

I softly chuckled back to the older man.

“The nurse will be in shortly to remove your catheter and bedpan, I’m sure you're anxious to use your own private restroom, no?” He said jovially.

“Thank you for everything, Doctor.”

“You will never need to thank me for anything mein heir.” He said warmly as he left the room.

———————————————————————

A soft knocking on my door interrupted my thoughts.

“Come in.” I said clearing my throat.

The door opened to a lovely woman, with a lovely face, and a beautiful figure, dark stockings adorned her legs with short one-inch heels on her feet. She was very voluptuous, just perhaps a pound or two what could be considered overweight. An ample bosom beneath a deep open cleavage in her dress.

I had found it odd that all nurses wore the typical dress and hat of the nurses from the 1950s but after learning the origin of the name of the country I decided to ignore it.

The nurse came up to me with a sweet smile and I noticed dark rose-colored lips.

“Good afternoon, Sir, I’ve come to get you up and about, my name is Miranda.” She said warmly.

The way she looked at me made me uneasy, she seemed like a cat looking at a bowl of milk. Whatever foolishness came over me, I ignored it.

“Thank you.” I said weakly.

The Nurse came over to the left side of the bed, gently removed the bedsheets from over me, and unbuttoned the bottom of my gown with gloved hands.

She professionally removed the bed pan from beneath me, disposed of it, and quickly and wiped me down before removing the catheter.

Her hands had lingered on me a little too long I thought, after the catheter was removed.

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

“Pardon me, I need to use the restroom.”

“Of course, Sir, let me help you up.” She said, eyes never leaving my groin.

My gown fell over me, covering my growing embarrassment as she assisted me in standing upright.

My body screamed in pain as I stood for the first time in months, my strength failing, I quickly sat again, almost pulling the nurse to the floor in the process.

The nurse pouted at me.

“Mister Johnathon, you must stand!” She said exasperated.

She then leaned in close, “How about an incentive, if you can get the restroom, nurse Miranda will give you a nice wet kiss?” Her breath smelled of honey and lilacs.

I was tempted, for a moment. However rational thought won over me.

Something wasn't right!

“May I have a different nurse to assist me please?” I asked as flatly as possible.

Her face contorted with confusion.

“Why would you want another ditzy nurse when I’m letting you have a piece of this?” She said incredulously.

“I have no intention of defiling myself with common whore.” I responded.

SLAP

The sound echoed through the room, my face stinging red, I turned to the woman before she surprised me by grabbing my collar and pulling me into her, kissing me.

This was no loving, seductive kiss, I had seen divorced couples give each other warmer embraces than this kiss, no this was a kiss of pure hatred.

I should have known.

I felt something immediately, dizziness, a headache began to start and my blood heated up. This didn't feel like hormones. This felt chemical.

I pushed her away from me.

Her face was unrecognizable, gone was the sweet innocent face of a pretty young nurse, and gone was the warm smile, in its place, a grotesque grimace, as she gnashed her teeth at me.

“Why won't you just die?” She screamed as she grabbed a nearby object, a heavy wooden clock, she heaved it at me nearly hitting me in the head. The clock landed with a loud crash behind me and I tried to defend myself.

I was beginning to lose consciousness, I could feel it. Large black spots began to form in my eyes.

Still, with what little strength I had, I bent down, and pulled her dress up and over her head, then pushed her to the floor, immobilizing her, I quickly went for the emergency aid button by my bed as the Nurse screamed and flailed maniacally.

Just as I had hit the button, I heard the door fly open, two nurses, a tall blond male, and a short brunette peered in, evidently they had heard the crash of the clock and had assumed the worst.

“Help me!” I yelled weakly.

I didn't see what happened afterward, I collapsed forward onto the floor, next to the writhing nurse Miranda.