Thank you to my reviewers: xBadxRomancesx, freakyfriday13, M. Cullen Hightopp, I LOVE JACK ATLAS and Severen18.

Chapter Six

As my eyes slowly flickered open, the first thing I felt was pain.

Hissing, I clutched my head. Damn, it hurt. I knew that, from somewhere, I had experienced this kind of pain before.

Somewhere…

Frowning, I looked around. The room I was in…it was posh…I hadn't been in here before…

White…I remembered white…

'Ok, deary, just calm down…'

Another stab of pain seared through my head, making me curse. Why did I feel like this?

Frowning again, I propped myself up onto my elbows warily, scared I would do more damage should I get up too abruptly.

Happy I wasn't going to experience yet more pain, I sat up completely.

Where was I?

That, amongst millions of others, question rolled through my mind several times, repeating itself over and over again.

Where was I?

How did I get there?

Why was I there?

Who was I?

It sounded odd, but I simply could not recollect anything about myself. I couldn't conjure any memories to my mind, hear any familiar voices, act in a way I had always acted.

I didn't even know my name.

Frustration took over me. How could I not know?

Why did I not know?

'Johanna…'

I jumped, mildly surprised, and stared around myself anxiously. No, I was alone in the room.

The door opening made my anxious glances cease, and I looked up to see my visitor.

It was a man. Tall and thin, with grey hair and a beak like nose. His dark eyes surveyed me, studying me with such intensity I felt uncomfortable, and his thin lips became a tight smile.

"Ah, Johanna, you are awake." He said in a smooth, deep voice.

I glanced around again and then back at him, a blank expression on my face. His smile became tighter, and I instantly knew I had done something wrong.

"I'm sorry, sir, but are you talking to me?" I asked curiously.

"What?" He asked. "What was that?"

"Me, sir. Was it I you were talking to?" I asked again.

His grey brows rose a few inches and his smile faded slightly, but he quickly composed himself to cross the room and take a seat next to my bed.

"Johanna, do you not remember?" He asked, his eyes concerned.

"I'm afraid not, sir," I answered. "And is that my name? Johanna?"

"Yes, my dear, your name is Johanna. Johanna Barker."

Johanna Barker…

It was a pretty name. Quite simple, but still pretty. I couldn't help but smile at the sound of it.

"Johanna Barker…" I tested, enjoying the way it came off my tongue. "And, if I may be so rude as to ask, who are you, sir?"

"Me? I am your guardian, Judge Turpin."

"Oh!"

I couldn't help but blush as I realised I was still sat in bed with nothing but a nightgown on. I was indecent in front of both my guardian and a Judge!

"Do not fret, Johanna, I have looked after you ever since you were a child." He told me kindly.

"Why, sir?" I asked.

He sighed sadly, shaking his head. I frowned anxiously. Had I done something wrong?

"Dear girl, your father was a bad man. He was sent away to Australia to serve his time, and to make him an honourable man."

"How awful." I murmured sadly.

"Do not be upset, Johanna." He said, his eyes boring into mine. I nodded.

"And what about my mother, sir?"

"Your mother…your mother could not cope with the idea of raising a child on her own, and so took her own life with arsenic."

I was unable to speak. Arsenic? How horrible…she must have been so upset…

'NO, JOEY, YOU CAN'T! WE'RE GONNA GET THROUGH THIS!'

I gasped, clutching at my head again.

"Johanna? Are you well?" Judge Turpin demanded.

"Y-yes, sir…I just have a headache…"

"Oh, Johanna, he hurt you more than I imagined."

"Who hurt me?"

"The sailor boy."

"A sailor boy?"

Judge Turpin nodded grimly. "Johanna, you have been missing for many years. You ran away when you were only fifteen years of age. The young sailor boy told you he loved you, and together you eloped."

"Oh, how romantic!" I whispered with a smile. How did I, Johanna Barker, manage to find true love?

"I'm afraid not. While on your travels, the sailor turned sinful and began drinking. The vile liquid made him angry, and he hit you."

My smile disappeared. "He…hit me?"

"Yes, many times. Even when you were with child."

"I have a child!"

"You were due to have three."

"Three children? What are their names?"

Judge Turpin shook his head. "I said you were due to. Each of them died during labour because of the sailor's cruel treatment towards you."

"My children died…" I whispered, a tear trickling down my cheek.

Without warning, Judge Turpin reached out and gently brushed the tear off my cheek with his thumb, and then rested his hand on my cheek.

"Johanna, my dear, do not fret about the past."

"But it is so horrible!" I cried. "My father is a convict, my mother is dead, my so called lover hurt me and my children are dead! I have neither family nor friends! Why should I not fret about the past when it has been so cruel?"

Judge Turpin frowned, and I instantly calmed down.

"I am sorry, sir. I do not usually cry out like that, but this is all so much to take in. I fear I have…" My voice trailed off, and I swallowed. "I fear I may have lost my memory."

"You have suffered a terrible bump to the head, Johanna." He explained. My hand instinctively moved up to my head where, as promised, a large bump was forming on the side of.

"Does that explain the loss?" Judge Turpin asked softly.

"Yes, sir, it does." I murmured meekly, my cheeks turning red. How dare I cry out at a Judge like that, especially one who is my guardian?

"Sir…if I may inquire…how do you know about the sailor and me?"

"Oh Johanna, you often wrote to me in fits of desperation. If it were not for me, you too would be joining your mother."

Oh, that explained everything.

I smiled at my guardian, suddenly feeling quite happy.

"Thank you, sir. You have been most helpful."

He smiled back. "It has been my pleasure. Now, I shall leave you with Mildred and Anna. They shall get you washed and properly clothed."

"Yes, sir."

As he left the room, I couldn't help but smile contently.

I was Johanna Barker.