Grecian Urn...

She could feel, as the moments go by, her memory eroding slowly. Little things, here and there were just slipping away.... and she knew she couldn't possibly have long. That, coupled with the niggling feel of the call from assistance had her swallowing down a growing feeling of franticness. She needed to go see about setting things in motion, to make sure they'd be ok once she was useless to most of Olympus again... but she wanted, more than anything, to stay with Morph until she had to go. it just wasn't, wasn't fair.

"I... I need to go do something. And you need to do this, and figure out if your realm is ok. I shouldn't be log, and I will try to come back. And if I can't, well... You need to know. No, I need you to know I loved you. I love you now. And ... I'm going to try." She smiled at Morpheus, leaning in to offer a lingering kiss before she disappeared, arriving on her sister's door step.

With a knock that was hesitant at first, then growing towards demanding, she finally pushed the door open and stepped inside, calling out to the sister she knew was here.

"Ate? ATE."

The lights had gone dark so suddenly, she had expected everything to go out with it...  the party, Olympus, memories... him. His arms around her had startled her, and at first the fact that she didn't forget everything was more shocking then the rest. When she finally opened her eyes, she saw lights illuminating the garden once more (though not to the same extent,  thankfully, and everyone milling around as if nothing had just fundamentally changed... And really, she supposed it hadn't.

Stepping back a bit, her hand reached for Morpheus', and she walked him over a bit closer towards a hedge, away from the others, looking up at him for a long moment before speaking, her words as soft as her smile.

"You can feel it again, can't you? Your home."

Awhile after he watched Thanatos stagger away, Neikos left his ennui inflicted brother Hori to raid the food table.

They had cake! Cake! He was going to kiss Ate next time he saw her, give her a big slippery wet one on the cheek because he couldn't remember the last time he was at any social function on Olympus and they had cake!

He wished the Ate and Styx punch-out thing would have kept going, at least until someone scored a TKO! Watching his sister punch another chick? Even if it was his aunt Styx? Was awesome! But then grand-dad had the "bright" idea to go stepping into the thick of the girlfight and whatever he said sent Styx one way and Ate another. He'd really bugged him because it didn't seem like anything interesting was really going to happen at this party.

Next to watching Ate hit Styx, the most interesting thing in his opinion was watching Thanatos getting plastered which he thought was kind of funny.

Strife decided he would have to ask Kia how she managed to get him that way because Neikos thought Thanatos was too uptight to really enjoy himself to the point of drunken intoxication. And that? That was kind of unfortunate he guessed because Death had an awesome job. Strife thought Death should enjoy it. In fact Strife wished he was Death, or rather he wished he had Death's job because he thought it was the most kickass job a god could have...being the redeemer; the reaper of souls.

He bet Thanatos enjoyed the perks of the job too. Like Blue Oyster Cult, "Don't fear the Reaper," perks...

Riiight! Who was he kidding? Thanatos was too uptight to take full advantage of any potential perks like seducing maidens.

Strife was actually kind of surprised he didn't have to run to Thanatos' rescue actually, rescue him from Kia---Hahaha. That sister of his was a pouncer. It was not that he really liked the spooky bastard that much, to keep him from falling into horny sisterly clutches, he just kind of felt oddly responsible for him after the peacock thing. Okay, he'd felt sorry for him too. Thanatos had reminded him of a lost puppy. Big soulful dark brown eyes...

Strife passed by Morpheus and Lethe who were dancing awfully close and he gave them a perplexed stare, almost walked into Limos while he was staring...

"Hey, sorry Twig---gonna get some foodage..."

And he completely lost his train of thought upon almost collision.

Now he as wondering what was up with Cousin Dream? Strife had never known of Morpheus as being into...Well anyone, or at least he'd never been known as a ladies man. So why would Morpheus be dancing with his sister? That was really weird.

He came upon the table and was making himself a plate, said a casual and abrupt hello to Kia, Nom and his grandparents when....

All the lights went out!

"Whoa! Who turned out ALL the lights?"

"Not at all. Not at all, niece."

She sniffed and looked down her nose at Ate.

"Simply that as a spawn of my sister, I doubt you know how to properly prepare anything, let alone how to wash your hands."

Oh, that felt good. Very, very good.

Girl? Did he seriously just refer to her as girl? She just smirked and offered a bit of a shrug.

"I do clean up nice every couple of years, I suppose. I trust you're finding everything ok?"

She was tempted to introduce herself, but didn't think it really worth the effort...

    All in all, She was rather dubious about the idea of family dinner. It wasn't that she didn't want to see people... She was rather fond of everyone she was related to. Her grandparents were quite lovely, so far as she was concerned, and she did have things she needed to discuss with certain  siblings.

    On the other hand... she had a finite, short amount of time with Morpheus, before everything got all messed up again. She wanted to be irrational, and think up all sorts of ways to avoid what was going to happen... but she voiced none of them. She wasn't even sure he'd want that, if it was possible... and wasting time on theories and ideas seemed... well, a waste.

    She paused in front of her mothers house and listened, hearing the sounds from the back, and turned to face him, offering a smile.

    "It sounds like everyone's in the back. Sure you want to go? We don't have to..."

She was in the kitchen, finishing a few final touches on dinner as she heard the door swing open.

"I know I'm not dressed yet..."

She looked up, a grin forming a she saw it was Kia, and not Eris as expected.

"Ahh... it's you. Disregard that. You early?"

“I was hoping for a nice sit down dinner…”

“Well, Eris, You are rather certifiable.”

“Cheeky. That's no way to talk to your mother."

Ate laughed, and looked at Eris. “Oh, right… like any sane person would want to figure out the seating arrangements for this dinner, if they were hoping to avoid bloodshed? We’re doing a buffet. Listen to your caterer.”

“Caterer?”

“Mmm. You’ll get my bill. You’re sure you want to unleash this sort of crazy?”

“I just want everyone to get along.”

“You invited the wrong family for that.”

Eris lifted a brow at her daughter’s retort, and shook her head. “You're a horrible daughter. So, here in the garden, you think?”

Ate glanced around her mother’s garden, and smirked as she nodded. “You’ve got what... Venus fly traps, yellow trumpets, cobra lilies, hemlock, belladonna, fox glove, white oleander… I don’t see why anyone wouldn’t want to dine amidst the carnivorous and poisonous, but it’s not like you can uninvite the family now, is it?”

“You’re in a foul mood.”

“Gee. Considering I’ve been shanghaied into cooking for a dinner I don’t want to be at for people I don’t want to see in a place where I’ve been officially banned… and the easiest bit since it all has been convincing Hori that Curry with Sprinkles really wasn’t the thing to make… Yeah. I’m in a mood.”

“Bah. Away with you.”

Eris shoo’ed Ate toward the kitchen, and surveyed the garden. Ate did have a point… there was a lot less that needed doing if they were going to have it out here. She manifested some bistro chairs in various groupies around the garden paths, as well as some wrought iron chairs, and watched contently as a string of Chinese paper lanterns hung themselves along the privacy hedges and over the garden. Rather then candles, each one produced an orb of darkness – her parents would be bright enough for anyone.

Along the side of the temple near the kitchens she conjured a long buffet table, then moved it toward the pool, Thwarting any plan Ate might have of hiding in the kitchen all night. If forcing your child to mingle with relatives at a family party wasn’t part of parenting, she didn’t know what was. Pleased with the way the garden looked, she moved toward the kitchen, watching as Ate did her thing.

“Need help?”

“I’m good.”

“What have you made?”

“Fried chicken, baked ziti, potato salad, ceasar salad, pasta salad, Shish kebab… plus crudités and an olive tray for starters, and for dessert, svinghi and kataifi.”

“Impressive.”

“Eh. You taught me how to make most of it…”

“Ahh.. and that school in France had nothing to do with it?” Eris smiled as she saw the look on Ate’s face. “You didn’t think I knew about that.”

“Didn’t think you’d care.”

“I pay more attention than you think.”

“Any attention is generally more than I think.”

“Am I really that horrid?”

“Eris… I have a lot of stuff to do. Won’t people be here any minute?”

“So that’s a yes.”

“No, it’s… no. You weren’t. We don’t have time for this conversation right now.”

“Your sister thinks this is a good time to bury the hatchet.”

“There is no hatchet. We’re never going to have some deep mother/daughter bond you seem to want lately.”

“But we could be friendlier. We could both probably benefit from that.”

“Probably. You’re beating around the bush about something… spit it out.”

“I’ll spit it out if you tell me why you’re in such a bitchy mood.”

“Will it get you to leave my kitchen? Fine.”

“My kitchen… but yes. Very well… Apollo’s asked me to marry him. I told him we needed to talk to family first.. especially Elpis. But I’d like it if the rest of you were ok with it.” She canted her head as she watched her eldest’s reaction, a bit surprised at the total lack of response. “ Your turn.”

“The only thing bothering me currently is the fact that I’m going to have very little time to get changed.”

Eris frowned, a bit perturbed at the reaction, or lack there of, and was about to argue it a bit when she heard something in the front of the temple, indicating someone had actually arrived on time.

“Yes.. do change first. I’m going to see who’s here. Yell if you need anything…”

She swept out of the kitchen, leaving Ate to finish whatever it was she was doing with various bowls and trays, making her way to the main hall, a smirk growing slowly across her lips. Oh, her parents were going to just love this… she knew it.

"Well, I'd be honored for any visit... just tell me to write myself a note, and I remember better that way..."

She looked up as Andy noted his sister, and smiled in her direction, expression freezing a bit as she saw who Harmonia was with...

Morpheus. The idea that he'd be on the mountain hadn't even occured to her. It was good to see him... but weird. And she felt a sudden rise of guilt and trepidation as memories, fresh like they were just last week thanks to Mnemosyne, all came rushing to the surface.

"Oh."

She couldn't imagine she was top on his list of people to run into, considering how horrid she'd been to him. Not that it had been her fault, or really a choice. She looked back at Hedy and Andy, and smiled again.

"Your sister may have a better idea of what's going on. You may want to talk to her."

He couldn't believe Hedylogos hadn't went this long before, the course of a few days, without copulating. Really.

Lethe on the other hand was going in the other direction. Months or years? Really. There were ways of getting around that. Maybe she just didn't remember?

It wasn't fair that she wouldn't remember the conversation."But why? Why do you have to forget? How do you ever love someone if you don't remember their face or name?"

Because everyone in his opinion deserved the chance to fall in love, even if it was just puppy love.

She shot Ate and Limos a last glare... They were going to do something stupid. It wasn't even so much a hunch, as an unavoidable fact. If one could convey the idea of "stay out of my business, or I'll glare at you some more!" into a look, Lethe did her bst to do so. Still... it was pretty much a lost cost, and so she gave Elpis her full attention, sliding one hand out of her sister's and slipping it around her waist, leaning in as she started walking down the mountain. It'd be nice to get to know her better... futile, perhaps, in the long run... but who knew when things would be fixed?

"So... What is it you want to know?"

She didn't pause before she made it outside, figuring if people wanted to stay, that was their own decision... she cared mostly about getting Limos out of there. Once out of the temple, she took a deep breath, and turned to face the others.

"I, for one, am getting off this mountain..."

Apollo pushed past him, his arms around Eris as he laughed at Hermes. They all left him in the entry way alone, Dite's voice in his head as he tried to make sense...

Everything felt wrong. His hands were shaking as he reached out for the the door, only to pull back a moment later and look away.

It is all wrong Dite, he said softly, Apollo...

He drifted, stumbling back as groaned. It was wrong. It was all wrong. He moved from the entry way, and through Dite's more private quarters. A servant came running toward him, and Hermes jerked away, surprised and startled as he pushed her away.

"I know you were behind it, just fix it all." The girl hissed it at him as he back away, "Die...Die....Poor little Hermes."

"Get away from me!"

She stopped looking at him Maliciously (or that was what he saw) before she turned an ran out of the room, Hermes falling to the floor and crawling into a corner where he hide, curled into a ball and rockin'.

Its all wrong...I didn't do it....I...

Only he wasn't so sure anymore.

Chin up and full of confidence, she walked out of her salon into the main audience chamber, escorted by Deimos. She paused once inside, taking a quick inventory of those there... some were expected of course, and others posed quite the surprise. She pat Deimos arm lightly and released it with a smile.

"I'm going to make the rounds... if you'd like to rejoin your brother, that'd be fine."

If he wished to go with her he was of course welcome, but she doubted he was really in the mood. Seeing as how she already felt a pang of guilt for what she'd asked of him, she saw no need to torture him further. She decided to start at the back, moving to each group of individuals quickly, greeting each deity in turn, offering each a welcome of some sort, stopping only for a moment with each.

"Iris, thank you for coming."

"Anteros, please stop scowling... it's hardly flattering."

"...Flidais. What a surprise.. welcome to my home."

"Artemis. It's good to see you. Thank you for getting the ball rolling with the refreshments... There may have been riots. It's appreciated."

"Hephaestus..." To him she said nothing, just smiled as patted his cheek lightly, thumbing away the lipstick mark left by Artemis' kiss.

She moved closer to where the bulk of her children were gathered, and a small stand off seemed to be happening.

"Harmonia.. Do sit up straight, please.:

"Strife" She offered him a wink. "You're still here and sitting still? Wonders may never cease."

"Ate - It's been a very long time since you've graced my temple."

"Elpis. Welcome."

"Zelos... You already know I'm glad to see you."

"Limos.... my, you've grown up quite handsome, haven't you?"

"Lethe, a pleasure."

She bent down to kiss Phobos,the only one of her children present she'd not seen recently, on the cheek lightly. "You're plotting something, darling... I hope it waits till we're done here."

She straightened and smiled at everyone again, surprised at hose she noticed were missing.. Hermes, most obviously, and Thanatos - though she expected he'd return. Hermes, though - one could never be sure about. He could be dealt with later, though.

"Thank you all for coming. I do appreciate your patience. I wanted to say first that I realize everyone is being affected by this... and I kno no one is very happy. I do not know what has happened - but I plan on working hard to find out what it is, and restore everyone to their rightful selves. I know we're all anxious for answers, and while I can't promise any today, I do hope that maybe collectively we can perhaps pool our knowledge, and see if together we might be able to discover anything."

Limos didn’t leave his mother’s home, not when the other’s had. Instead he read, and ate. Mostly read, though. Lethe’s world tumbled out before him, with the eloquence that could have only come from the tongue of a muse, the emotional drive to give the emotion backing to her words. As though she would forget again.

But then, he supposed she would, much like he would stop sprouting trees and flowers. Much like any of their siblings would return to normal. (Such as Hori-Boy, who had returned from his trip and promptly tumbled over into his bed, as though nothing in the world could bother him.) Only the idea of her forgetting brought the idea of her being abused by themselves all over again. And they had, hadn’t they?

He looked at the page again forlornly, wondering when they had all become so selfish that they didn’t treat Lethe as a sister any longer, but rather as a quirk in nature that none wanted to deal with. Except Hori, it seemed, who dealt with all their siblings (save Lies and Falsehood) with equal pleasure.

And so he read more, engrossed and then…

It took every fiber in his body to hold the journal steady, though rage began to build. He had taken the news of Elpis with grace, having no real care either way. But this…this was worse than any hatred a sibling could have for another. This was a crime against his blood…a repeated crime!

Ate…. he almost screamed for her, but did not. Instead he stood in one flood motion. The book closed and politely stashed to out of the way of anyone who could stumble upon it and read. No one else needed to know. He and Ate could deal with the crimes…

Would.

Eyes narrowing, Limos left his mother’s home and stalked across the greens to Aphrodite’s palace. No scenes. That would be what Ate would say…

When he entered Love’s Temple, though, he ignored the glances of his sister’s, his eyes searching out the two beings he loathed the most in that moment, surpassing his hatred for Demeter herself.

He didn’t even wonder about what he could really do to them. He didn’t care. Son’s of war or not, the would pay.

As they sat, she could hear something in the hallway just outside the chamber, and frowned in the general direction, only lifting a brow as an attendant approached her.

"We are unable to locate Lady Aphrodite... and she has many guests."

"So... you're going to make them wait in the hall? My mother will be back eventually.. Let them all in already... "

Gods... sure they were cute, but they weren't all always very bright... She waved a hand dismissing the cabana-boy-esque doorman, and offered a somewat forced smile to the three gods already there.

"And... it looks like it's about to begin. I'm offering 5-2 odds there's a fight somewhere before Mother comes back... do I have any takers?"

She glanced from them to the door was opening, rather surprised atthe number of people now entering the room.

Putting aside the deepfelt dislike she had for the plan at hand, Ate draped an arm around each of her siblings' shoulders, pulling them in just tight enough that they wouldn't be able to escape her loving grip. She offered Anteros and Flidais a smirk, matched with a light bow of her head.

"I hate to break up this little party we've got going on here, enjoyable as it is, But I think we need to go drop in on Casa de la Discord... and I'm really not nearly inebriated enough to do so in good spirit. So I'm kidnapping both my siblings here so we can get it over with... I'm sure we'll see you both at the meeting. With any luck, it'll be a good time."

Witout offering Limos or Elpis the chance to argue, she snapepd a finger, depositing all three of them in the entrance way to Eris' temple, leaving behind trees and diners and such. Not that what they saw was anything less strange... There was no sign of Eris, but Lethe sat curled on a sofa, a journal like book on her lap that she was writing in.

"You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead - your next stop, the Twilight Zone..."

Lethe was quiet as Eris spoke to Iris... so quiet that Eris was startled to see her still there when the messenger goddess left.

"Eavesdropping?"

"No... seems you just forgot about me. I'm used to it."

"Used to being on the other end of the forgetting, I suppose."

"Usually, yes. Right now though... I remember everything."

"So you knew about this switch up? Delicious idea... wish I thought of it. Anything happen that's even worth remembering since this happened?"

"No, mother... I mean I remember everything."

"You say that like it should mean something."

Lethe shrugged, just watching Eris with wide eyes. "It means something to me, I guess. If Iris is right, and it's because everything's all messed up... I'll probably forget it all again in the future. I just don't think some things should be forgotten."

"Lethe... do you have a point with all this?"

"Look.. I know we're not close, right? And... I get it. Most of my siblings probably forget I'm part of the family, those who stick together... and the ones who do remember me assume I'm kinda dumb. It's ok.. it's just who I am, right? So not having any real bond with people? It's ok. And the fact that people assume they can take advantage of me and use me...that's ok too. They sort of can. But... not everyone's like me. Some of us need that bond, Eris. Or need something. And you should probably work on that."

"So.. what, you think while I'm apparently in charge of all that's balanced and harmonious in the world, I should set about turning us into the brady bunch?"

"No. It's just... I know why you did what you did, OK? And... I think maybe you owe her an explanation."

"... Oh. That."

Lethe nodded, moving closer to Eris, and took in the aloof visage her mother held, the facade she wore even in her own home. "We all lost something, then. And most of us are ok with it... because we had what we needed when we needed it. And when we lost it, we had each other... or, most of us did. I'm just saying... if it's something you want... it might be time for it, you know?"

Eris watched her as she spoke, one brow creeping increasingly northward. The girl made sense. It wasn't sense she liked, or sense she wished to admit to, but it made sense all the same. "You're not nearly as dumb as you look, are you?"

"My momma didn't raise no fool."

"Have you met some of your siblings?"

Lethe just smiled at her mother, then reached to hug her. The older goddess stood stiff in her arms for a long moment before patting Lethe lightly on the back.

"Are we done bonding now?"

After parting ways with Hermes, Iris wandered off to start the task of locating everyone to have them head over to Dite's temple. Deciding it would be easiest to start with those on the Mount she transports herself to her first target's home.

Walking toward Eris' front door she hopes that she'll get a lucky break and find some of the Goddess' children here as well. Upon reaching the door she knocks twice and then waits, hoping that all inside will be willing to go meet with Dite so that they can attempt to get a handle on the situation.

Lethe sat on the strangely shaped sofa in one of her mother's sitting rooms, starring at the trashy romance novel that sat closed on her lap. the book obviously hadn't come from any library had, if Eris had libraries.. .she was sure she remembered one somewhere, maybe, but was also rather sure Eris didn't read anything published by Harlequin or their ilk. They were her favorite type of novel (a fact she occasionally remembered to try to hide, but often forgot) - not only did they offer a glimpse at the sort of relationship she'd never had (Or remembered ever having) It also pleased her to pieces that there was an entire literary genre out there that was so formulaic, so identical that it never mattered if she remembered anything from a chapter ago, there was no doubt what had happened or would happen. it was always the same, and saved quite a bit of time which she appreciated.

The book she'd just read, however - She remembered all of it. From the ill fated meeting in the victorian ballroom, to the reintroduction of the Rake to the Maiden, to the unchaperoned trip through the park, to the eventual loss of virtue and declarations of love. She remembered the entire story, and didn't think she had ever remembered the beginning of a story by the time she got to the end, before.

She was rather delighted.

Eris had been pacing restlessly when the tremors first traveled across Olympus, and it was only with a bit of luck she managed to keep her balance in anyway. Idle thoughts made her wonder what had annoyed Poseidon so that he sent earthquakes to Olympus, the thought instantly dashed with the sobering memory that Poseidon was no longer the one to make the earth shake. She was on her way out the door to look over the Mountain when three of her children burst in her door, Lethe looking particularly alert, Horkos looking decidedly less so, and Ate, of all people - who had not entered her mother's home in eons.

"Ate... what's this?"

"Did you feel it?"

"Yes, but what is this?"

"We were with Memory. Something happened... Hori hit his head, and Helios went all crazy, and i hate this fucking mountain."

"Something happened to the sun?" Helios was connected to Apollo, and if something was wrong... Eris moved towrd the door again, to be stopped by Ate's grip on her arm. "Ate."

"No, Eris. This is your first concern."

Discord's eyes blazed bright for a moment, and she looked at her daughter, then her two younger children, before sighing with a smile, She shook off Ate's grip, and stepped closer to Hori, lifting his chin with her fingers.

"Hey there, baby... what's wrong?"

Melpomene heard the knock at the door and gave her mother one last look, silently pleading with her to not go all... Mnemosyne like on the visitors, and stood, smiling at Helios and squeezing his hand lightly as she passed him. She opened the door to the temple silently, and offered a smile to the trio standing there, mentally chastising herself for not warning Horkos about her mother's preference for traditional garb. It'd be fine. She waved a hand, letting them enter,and closed the door behind them once more - some thigns just weren't open-door-policy friendly.

"My mother's expecting you."

Ate looked at the muse and nodded respectfully, fully aware of the favor being done. She glanced around the temple, hiding her awe quite well so far as she figured. Lethe, on the other hand, seemed distressed here, and tugged lightly on Ate's hand, whispering quietly.

"Why are we here? And why did you call me Princess? Is our mother a Queen?"

"No, hon.. she just sleeps with one. Just... stand still, ok? we're fixing things."

She stepped forward, with Lethe in tow.

"Lady Mnemosyne... thank you for seeing us."

"As I told my daughter... I've been expecting you."

It was right, nothing was right. He needed, he just needed to…to, put everything right! He had to make it all ordered and perfect and…

He stopped in front of Ate and stared, jaw lax as he gawked a little. He was going mad maybe, but there was something wrong in the way Ate looked back at him expectantly…

“I think I’m going crazy….” He blurted out, lip trembling a little, “I just yelled at Helios and Mel because they didn’t ‘get us’ and, and…Te…Everything’s all wrong.” He whined a little, flopping onto the ground and pouting into the grass as he looked at Lethe. Why couldn’t he just forget what he was?

And then the whole Mel and Helios thing, the way they were just so…couply.

“Ate…Whats wrong with us?”

Lethe frowned as she looked at the body on the bed, and nudged it again with her arm. The body, as it had for the past few hours, refused to move. It wouldn’t be quite so upsetting if it was a one time occurrence, but this was the third time this month she had fallen asleep beside someone who seemed to just… forget to wake up. It made no sense to her. It was starting to feel strange that no one she knew remembered anything… it felt wrong, but she didn’t know why. Or at least, not very right. And it wasn’t just the forgetting to wake up part that seemed strange… people weren’t doing other things they did, even when she first found the town… like sleeping or eating…

On the other hand, it seemed so normal to her. But she didn’t know why that was, either.

Aerepoli (AP) - Medical professionals in southern Greece are expressing puzzlement at the number of complaints they have been receiving for forgetfulness. Rare in and of itself, amnesia, or the symptoms of amnesia, are typically caused by some form of trauma, either physical or psychological. Yet cases of amnesia or its symptoms have been widespread in this area of Greece over the past few months, and doctors can’t explain it.

“If there had been some sort of event or disaster, there may be an explanation somewhere” states of professional in a local hospital, but nothing of the sort has occurred. More often than not, the sufferers of forgetfulness have no common ties. Symptoms range from forgetting blocks of time as short as four hours all the way to no longer remembering their own names. It is not rare anymore to find someone wandering about, clueless to their own identity, a local constable reports.

Local health officials state that they will continue to monitor these new cases, while investigating what may be causing the issues. they urge anyone who may feel a friend or relative is experiencing symptoms to get them medical attention.


Absently, she put the paper down. It didn't seem odd to her at all.

I stumbled out of bed

It was a strange place she was in.. or at least, it felt strange. She wasn't exactly sure why it felt that way... or how it *should* feel.. but the strangeness had actually started feeling pretty normal, so perhaps it really wasn't all that strange at all.

I got ready for the struggle

It was sunny where she was, and warm. Lots of greens and golds and oranges and blues and greens. And people... People who seemed as lost as she was... at least all the ones she passed seemed that way. No one seemed to know anything, and they all walked around in the same sort of absentminded fugue that she did...apparently, this is where she belonged. Where others were like her.

I smoked a cigarette

She ambled into a building, and a man stood behind a bar, cleaning the same glass over and over. As she approached, his face got that same look of confusion so many seemed to have, before fading into a look of contentment... all worries the man had gone... or at least forgotten.

And I tightened up my gut

"What can I get you?"

"What do you have?"

"I don't remember..."

I said this can't be me

She smiled then... Everyone knew things that were really important couldn't be truly forgotten... could they?

"What's your name, pretty lady?"

"It's umimportant."

Must be my double

She slid off the stool she'd sat on, and wandered back out of the building, motioning for the man to follow, which he did. they walked in silence to the edges of the city, where the ruined remains ofsomething stood... something that should be familiar to both of them, but wasn't.

And I can't forget, I can't forget

"Have you been here before?"

"I don't remember. Should I have?"

"You look natural here. Is it strange that you don't remember? That I don't remember things?"

I can't forget but I don't remember what

"It's all I really know. Maybe there's just nothing to remember."