Chapter 4 - Ana

"How is it possible that we can't remember anything?"

Ana bowed her head and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Next to her, Christian took long strides with his hands shoved into the pockets of his black pants. The demanding enforcer he portrayed back in the diner had casually left. Now, he kept his eyes and ears open as she asked the questions they were both thinking out loud.

Leaving the diner and their cars behind them, they walked down the middle of the four-lane street in the middle of the night. Only the light from lamps above illuminated their path bringing out the eerie feeling of being alone from the towering buildings that surrounded them. So small in such a large space, it could swallow you whole.

With no destination in mind, they aimlessly strolled side by side trying to wrap their minds around the possibilities of what ifs.

A soft chuckle escaped the reserved man that accompanied her and she peered at him not finding the humor in her question.

"Says the girl dressed in hospital scrubs." He teased and continued to look straight ahead. "You'd think you know a thing or two about memory loss."

"You'd think." She smirked seeing the irony in the situation.

Even if she worked in hospital judging by her attire, any knowledge that came along with the position was lost with the rest of her memory. How was it possible though to wake up one day and not remember a damn thing? The vulnerability that tagged along with it was terrifying.

Was this how a baby felt after it entered the world? Only alert to what was around he or she, but clueless about everything else?

Ana bit her lip and continued to travel down the path of long of the unknown and the curious.

"And where the hell is everyone?" Her haunting observation made her shiver. "It's like they all just disappeared." Ana remarked and her stomach sank at the next thought. "Or they don't exist."

The way the city remained so still and quiet like it was hiding a secret made the hairs on her arms stand up. Around every corner and behind every door lurked the possibility of maybe another soul or a clue. But would they find what they were looking for? Something told her this was it. Life as she once knew it, that is if she would ever remember the life she had before this, was gone.

"Why us?" He asked the real question that they both had been thinking. Why them?

Out of all the curiosity that filled her scattered brained head, she wanted to know why her? Why Christian? Life had seemed to fall off the face of the Earth, and yet here they were just the two of them.

Her gaze slowly shifted from her feet to his and climbed up his muscular body as he proceeded on his silent quest with her. There was nothing subtle about his beauty. He was the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on. In fact, he was the only man she had ever laid her eyes on that she could remember.

The street light caught the reflection of his silver watch on his left wrist and sparkled under the moonlight. His once unkempt appearance was now polished and cleaner. Impeccably dressed from head to toe, she felt like she was wearing a garbage bag next to him. She needed out of these dirty clothes.

As he continued to make his strides look effortless with each step, she noticed how he carried himself well keeping his chin held high. She wondered if his demeanor came naturally to him or if he was fulfilling the role he felt he needed to portray. Was he the man he appeared to be in the flesh or was there something more deep beneath the surface?

Unable to complete her mental observations, Ana winced as the pain from hitting her head throbbed. The intensity halted her in her tracks and she bent over clutching her hair and applying pressure to the knot.

"Are you okay?" He asked. Strong hands touched her shoulders and she glanced up through the loose strands of hair that fell in front of her eyes.

"It just hurts." She replied in a small voice through clenched teeth. Damn her and her clumsy attempts that now left her feeling incapable of functioning right.

"Maybe walking wasn't a good idea." Christian helped her stand up straight.

With his hands glued to her shoulders, she shook her head and squirmed beneath his touch. As he looked around for a place to sit, she watched him unknowingly.

The bump on her head wasn't the only part of her that was pulsing. Her heart rattled in her chest to a new, yet familiar sensation that nearly took her breath away. So close to him like this memorizing every inch of his face and getting lost in the mess of his copper hair made her feel even more weak.

"Whoa, steady." His finger curled around her frame and prevented her from tumbling down.

Ana parted her lips as his grey stare found hers. Embarrassed by her gawking, she lowered her head and said, "I think I like to sit down."

"This will have to do. Can you walk?" Christian motioned toward a building that did not rise as high as the rest. She nodded her head as he willingly did not let go. His hands supported and guided her off the street and threw an unlocked door. Inside she was met with utter darkness and the overpowering smell of bleach and alcohol.

"Wait here," he ordered and she obeyed. A minute later the place came to life.

The intensity of the ceiling lights mixed with colors of yellow, white, and blue made her dizzy. She shut her eyes to shield them and felt a hand on her shoulder guiding her to move again.

"Come. Sit." Christian's voice smoothly met her ear and she kept her head low.

After a few short steps, she found a stool and took a seat. Daring to open her eyes all the way, she managed to make out a rectangular bar decorated with bottles stacking five stories high behind it. A long mirror sat below the shelves and she saw her reflection in the glass. Ana winced again at her appearance. Give the poor girl a brush, she thought as she saw her out of place hair.

Behind the bar Christian rummaged through things looking for something. She watched him amused with the way his face tensed and scrunched as he focused on the matter at hand, whatever that was. His shoulders relaxed as he popped open a cooler and the sound of hard objects shuffling filled the room. He retrieved a towel from the back bar and scooped a handful of ice cubes into it. Twisting the towel and knotting it, he handed it to her.

"Put that on your head where it is sore."

Boy, he sure was bossy when he wanted to be. If he wasn't ordering her around and demanding to know something, his lips were sealed.

"Thank you." She smirked and took the makeshift ice pack and placed it on her head. At first the icy cool sensation stung, but soon it began to work it's magic.

Ana sighed as she scanned the empty bar. Dark wood covered the floors that looked like it had seen betters day judging by the amount of faded spots from where drinks and possibly bodily functions had been spilled. Cozy wooden booths padded with black cushions lined the walls, while high top tables were scattered throughout filling in dead space. She wondered if her former self would go here for a drink.

Shifting her gaze back to the massive bar, Christian climbed a ladder at the far end reaching for a dark bottle on the top shelf. He smirked to himself and grabbed two glasses from a rack below.

"Do you drink?" He asked shaking the bottle.

"Sure," she shrugged. "You?"

"I do now." Humor laced his voice. He screwed off the cap and poured what looked to be a brown liquor. Something told her she wouldn't like it.

Handing her a glass, he clinked his to hers. Ana hesitantly watched him down his portion in one gulp and mirrored his action. Warm, bitter, and sending her taste buds on overdrive, she puckered her lips and shook her head. "No. Definitely, no." She spat and felt the rush of alcohol go straight to her head.

"What would you like then?" Christian smirked and placed his hands on the bar leaning toward her.

"Anything, but that."

He spun around staring up at the shelves once more before spotting his new drink of choice, or hers to be exact. The ladder rolled down to the middle of the bar and he took two steps up. Ana admired her view of his tight and perfectly formed ass as he reached up to grab a clear bottle with a beautiful label. The way he moved and pretended to play bartender was far too amusing and she laughed to herself.

"Find something funny?" He chimed not turning around. Had he heard her snicker?

"You're a natural." Ana joked.

"I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or be concerned." He furrowed his brows and mixed her a drink. This time the color was just perfect. A pale red colored liquid filled her cup and she knew this time to take it slow.

Ana raised the cup to her lips and let the delicious concoction tingle her taste buds just right. Sweet and savory, she wanted more. Licking her lips, his grey eyes watched her and she smacked them together placing her cup down on the bar. A sudden rush of warmth rose to her cheeks flushing her skin. Maybe it was the alcohol or the fact that he was staring at her in a way that made her shift in her seat.

"Tell me about yourself." Christian leaned up against the back bar swirling his drink in his hand.

"How can I tell you about myself when I don't even know anything." Her voice was small again. He was kidding right?

"Humor me," he shrugged. "Make something up. We have a long night ahead of us."

"Make something up?"

"Oh come on, Ana." Christian rolled his eyes. "Look you and I both know we are a walking blank slate here. And for whatever reason we are stuck in this God foresaken place, we might as well make the most it."

"You think we're stuck?" She asked.

"I don't see us going anywhere anytime soon. Unless a flashing sign tells us otherwise, we're stuck." He sighed hearing how depressing the idea was. Ana reach for her cup again as he pushed off the edge of the back bar and walked toward her.

"Maybe this a second chance. Maybe we're supposed to redeem ourselves or maybe we're absolutely fucked." Christian cursed. He placed his hands back on the bar and leaned in toward her. "But we don't know shit, so let's make shit up. If you could create a life for yourself, what would it be? Who would you be?"

For a man who didn't say much, he was saying everything now. Ana pondered his train of thought. This was her chance to be whoever she wanted to be. It was her moment to define herself, but it didn't come that easy. It was loaded question. The possibilities were endless.

Picking up her girly drink, she drank it fast and pushed the cup toward him. The top of her head was becoming uncomfortable numb, so she removed it and placed it on the bar letting the melting ice cubes soak the towel.

"I think I'm going to need a lot more inspiration to have this conversation." She nodded toward the clear bottle. With a little alcohol in her system, she knew she could get the ideas flowing.

"I think you're right." Christian's eyes flared with excitement and poured them both another strong drink.