Chapter 27 (Joe)
I eventually found Cassie's place – somehow. They'd promised me that they would be here from five until eight every evening until I found them. I should have come earlier, to let them know I was all right. It was just after five now. Taking a deep breath I walked towards the barn.
Not knowing whether I should just barge straight in, I paused for a second and then knocked. The talk from inside hushed and Cassie's face peered around the door. Her expression seemed to droop when she saw me. "Hi. Can I help you?" She didn't recognise me. Why? Then I realised; they hadn't seen me like this yet had they? They didn't know what I would look like.
I decided to try something. "Is Joe around?"
Trying not to give away that she knew anything, Cassie said, "You mean that kid who's gone missing? No. Why? Who are you?"
A bit of fast thinking helped me out. "Richard. I'm Joe's older brother."
"What makes you think he'd be here?"
"We got a call at home a little while ago saying he would be."
Cassie's face paled a couple of shades. But she managed to keep herself from total panic. "No," she muttered, "he's not here." She proceeded to slam the door in my face.
Why had I just done that? The answer was simple, I just didn't really want to think about it. I really wasn't Joe anymore. Although, that was the name my new parents had chosen out for me when I insisted I couldn't remember my own. But Cassie's actions had just proved it. So I was still called Joe, but I wasn't really Joe at all was I? Not the same Joe I had been a few days ago. Not really.
In my frustration, I kicked the barn wall and swore at myself angrily.
They either heard me swearing, or they were just a little slow at figuring it out. "Joe?"
I turned back to the door. Cassie was smiling at me. "Hi Cassie." I smiled slightly and gave her a little wave, even though I was standing just feet away from her.
"Tobias just flew over your head. Sorry." Tobias had flown overhead and recognised me. Then he'd chewed them all out for slamming the door in my face. Not like I was going to be chewing anybody out myself for a long time. She beckoned to me, and I went in to talk to the only seven people who really knew who I was.
I certainly wasn't about to count myself as knowing who I was anymore.