III.

It had happened again. And again, and again, and again. For a few moments he would feel alright, perhaps even normal, and then out of nowhere he would be struck by an overwhelming feeling of... well, forgetfulness that lasted hours at a time. So needless to say when he awoke to find himself inside of a crashed helicopter in the middle of a jungle he wasn't exactly sure if it was real or not.

Waves. Salt. Sea. A boat. Cruise ship? No. Freighter? Yes, a freighter. Was I on it? Why was I on a freighter?

He didn't even try to make sense of things anymore as he discovered it was rather useless. He just had to let things take their course and hope that in the end everything was the way it should be. It's not like he'd remember the events that brought him into his current situation... only the frustration and confusion would remain.

"What the hell happened."

A man's voice came out from inside the wreckage somewhere behind him. Apparently he was not alone on this mysterious voyage.

"I... I don't know. Where are we?" Dan knew he knew this person but didn't how how or from where. He figured it was probably in his best interest to answer him.

"Course, you never do. I don't know what they all see in you. Where's Frank?"

Pilot. Hawaiian shirt. Frank. He remembered Frank.

"He's not here... think he's alright?"

The rather impatient man rolled his eyes and elbowed his way past Dan in order to look in the cockpit. "Uh, yeah I think he's fine. Look down."

He unbuckled the flimsy strap that still held him in place and peered out the front window along with the familiar man. The helicopter had landed in a tree about five feet from the ground. The pilot lay a few feet away from them and was now managing to sit up and examine his surroundings. It was dark and damp with showers that came and went faster than anything they had ever seen before. He didn't have to remember in order to tell that this place was indeed very strange.

"Hey Frank, you alright?" The man was attempting to open the large steel door to get out.

"Miles! I've been better. How about you?"

Miles! Right. He remembered now. They hadn't gotten along so well back on the freighter.

"Good, I'm fine. Dan's still kickin' up here too. Is Charlotte down there with you?"

Silence. "No."

"Shit."

"Charlotte..." Dan says out loud to himself. Miles just stares and for a minute thinks he's going somewhere with the thought before finally unlatching the door and jumping out.

"Come on Dan, you can't just sit there. Charlotte and Naomi are out here somewhere."

He remembered the name and the accent but not the face or the person. There was something else there but he just couldn't grasp it. He felt anxious, scared and worried all at once but didn't know exactly why. He felt like he should because it was, after all, how he felt.

"Dan seriously, she's going to kick your ass when she finds out you didn't wanna join the rescue party. Get outta there."

He felt that bit was true too.