Clarke sat on a chair in the reception waiting for the nurse. His brain calculating how he would convince the nurses to make him stay. He fiddled with his fingers lost in his own thoughts while the nurses had their discussion.
He remembered clearly what his father told him...
*Flashback*
"Hey Lomi boy."
"Yes, Dad"
"If anything were to happen to us before you clock twenty, make sure you keep hiding."
"But why dad, why do I keep hiding. Nobody knows who I am, my real name, they don't even know who my parents are. Why is that so?"
Sam smiled and tapped Clarke's head. "When you're twenty you will understand why we're doing this"
"Hmm…okay. But where do I hide Dad?" Clarke asked curiously.
"You hide in a very obvious place where nobody will except to find you."
"If it's an obvious place, won't I be found easily?" Clarke was confused.
"Ha ha ha.. Sam laughed. I always tell you that you're smarter than kids your age… The most obvious place …my boy, is the one they never look."
"Oh… now I get it Dad"
"Don't forget son. You must clock twenty before anyone knows who you are.
*End of Flashback *
Clarke had seen this psychiatric hospital just days ago on his way home from his nanny's. That was the only place he went to apart from his parents house. A boy around his age sat motionless under a tree in a hospital gown. The boy had looked entirely detached from his surroundings and at that moment Clarke's mind flashed to his father's words about hiding in an obvious place. He realized then that his place was going to be the ultimate hiding spot and that was why he came here.
While he was lost in thought, the nurse had a conversation with another nurse.
"Where did you find him, Clara?" An elderly nurse asked with worry written all over her face.
Clara, the nurse who took Clarke replied "I didn't. Chris did. He was standing right outside the gate staring vacantly."
"We tried to talk to him but he didn't respond. He suddenly declared that he needed treatment," Clara stated in confusion glancing at Clarke.
The elderly nurse stood up from her seat,walked up to Clarke and wrapped him up with a blanket.
"What's your name little one," she asked him while she was wrapping the blanket around him.
"Lomi" Clarke said, with a blank expression.
"Lomi?" The nurse asked in confusion.
Clarke shot her a glare. She cleared her throat questioning him further.
"So Lomi, what are you doing here without your parents and also without clothes?"
"It's the only place I remember"
"What? This is the only place you remember? But you've never been here!" The nurse exclaimed
"You know what? Tell me everything you remember. Clara bring a paper and pen, note it down," the nurse said in panic.
"I remember someone calling me Lomi and I remember standing in front of this building twice," said Clarke.
"What else"
"I came out of a sewer. The stench made me remove my clothes. I walked here."
"A sewer? And nobody stopped you?"
"They did. I just told them my clothes got wet and that I was heading home."
"Home? You think this is your home?" The nurse asked, bewildered.
"It's the only place I remember. So it's my home." Clarke replied adamantly.
"Okay…" the nurse said hesitantly. "But why did you say you needed treatment when that young nurse met you outside. Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I don't know. I just said it."
The nurse was taken aback for she knew this was the aftermath of a traumatic experience. She could only imagine the ordeal he had endured. The thought alone sent a cold shiver down her spine.
She signaled to Clara to call the police, picked Clarke up and took him to a ward. She placed him on a bed and said to him.
"Don't worry dear. You're safe now. A nurse will attend to you soon, Okay?" she said with a forced smile on her face, then she left the room.
As soon as the nurse left, Clarke's expression changed. He had successfully manipulated their sympathy to mask his true origin. He had also infiltrated the one place no one would think to look for him.
•••
The police arrived few minutes after the nurse called. A muscular black man stepped out of a SUV. His uniform was crisp navy with a badge shining through the morning light. His expression was professionally neutral and his strides were heavy and deliberate. He didn't wait for the security to give him directions as he was familiar with the institution.
He crossed the lobby, heading straight for the reception desk where Clara was waiting.
"Evening Clara, you called" He said when he got to her.
"Yes Kai, we have a situation... Come with me please, I'll talk about it on the way," Clara said to him as she stretched her arms leading the way.
"A boy came this morning… he should be around eight. Apparently he doesn't remember anything."
"Really?" Kai the policeman asked.
"Yeah. He only remember this building. He seemed to have passed here before."
"You don't think he might have been here before?"
"Not at all. If it were an adult, I'd have to check the patient register but as you know we rarely see kids here so they're easy to remember. I've definitely never seen him before."
"Right.. where's he?"
"Errr…see Kate first, she'll tell you more." Clara announced as the elder nurse appeared.
"Hi Kate," Kai greeted
"Hey Kai. Clara's told you of the situation right?" Kate asked him.
"Yes," He said slightly nodding his head.
Where's he?" Kai asked.
"I placed him in a ward. He should be asleep by now."
Kai sighed. He then asked more questions from Kate.
"What's his name?"
"Lomi. He said his name is Lomi."
"Sounds like a nickname." Kai stated.
"I thought so too but that's the only name he can remember," Kate retorted.
"If we don't know his name, identification might be impossible," Kai muttered. "Where did he say he came from?"
"He said he came out of a sewer."
"A sewer? Kai's brow furrowed in disbelief. How in the world did he end up here then?"
"He claimed he walked unassisted. I suspect it's muscle memory." Kate added.
Kai grew quiet trying to piece all the information together. After a quick deliberation, he came to a conclusion:
"When he's awake take a picture of him. We should be able to identify him with that but he has to stay the night," Kai declared.
"Yeah, sure. He can stay. He already considers this place his home," Kate said sadly.
"What if we can't find his parents. What then?" Clara butted in.
"Then he might have to stay here. I really hope that's not the case," Kai answered disquietingly.
"Anyways, call me when he's awake. I'll talk to him myself. Bye Kate, Bye Clara," Kai said leaving.
"Thanks Kai. We'll call you immediately he wakes up," Kate responded.
She sighed watching Kai's retreating figure. Her heart was filled with worry and she hoped his parents would be found.
•••
Clarke woke up around eight in the evening. He sat up on the bed and looked outside the window, which was positioned beside him.
I have to survive. He thought to himself.
No. I will survive. I must survive. All those training and hiding must be for a reason. Mom, Dad… I won't forget. I will never forget.
"I miss you," He said out loud. Tears forming in his eyes.
"Oh you're awake," Kate interrupted his thoughts.
Clarke didn't look at her. He didn't say anything either. He just kept looking outside the window. He wasn't interested in answering any questions again.
Kate knelt in front of him and held his hands. She gave him an assuring smile and said.
"A nice man will come to talk to you. You don't have to be scared, he's a policeman."
"I'm not scared," Clarke said bluntly looking down at her.
"Right… you wouldn't be scared," she said knowingly.
"Anyways, you will have to answer his questions. He'll surely find your parents,"
"He can't find my parents,"
"Uh?" Kate uttered in disbelief.
"I don't know who they are, so how can he find them?"
"Oh," Kate smiled. She's seen this countless times.
"He's a policeman, Lomi. That's his job,"
"Okay. If you say so," Clarke said nonchalantly.
Kate stared at him for a moment as if his eyes could just reveal something but Clarke's eyes showed nothing. It was just blank. She has been a nurse in this hospital for years and she hasn't seen someone that young act so brazenly.
"Why are you looking at me?" Clarke asked startling her.
She composed herself and smiled. "Nothing. Would you like to go for a walk?"
"No, thank you. I'm fine here," Clarke answered adamantly.
"Okay. If you need anything, press that button," she pointed to a button beside the bed.
"Okay."
She stood up to leave. Observed him for a moment and left the room. She walked up to Clara at the reception desk.
"Call Kai. He's awake."
Clara took the phone to call Kai. It rang for a while before the other person picked up.
"Hey Kai. The boy's up."
"Something unexpected happened, Clara. You know what? Take his picture and forward it to me. I'll get back to you." Kai said sounding busy.
"Okay Kai. I hope it's nothing serious?" Clara asked.
"I'll talk about it when I come tomorrow. Tell Kate."
"Sure Kai."
Clara dropped the phone and turned to Kate.
"Looks like he has an emergency. He said to take his picture and send it to him."
"Alright, I'll trust you with that," she said with a weary smile. "I want to get some rest, this old lady is exhausted."
•••••
Morning came with Kai storming in to the reception desk. He walked with urgency, his legs almost walking faster than his body.
"Kai? You're here early…" Clara noted, her voice trailing off as she caught his expression.
"Morning Clara. Is Kate in?"
"Yes she is. Everything ok–?"
"Come with me," Kai interrupted. "This is very important."
They reached the office, and Kai threw the door open without knocking.
"Oh my God Kai, you're here this early? Kate said as she looked at the clock in disbelief.
Kai didn't acknowledge her question. He immediately announced: "That boy…His information is classified."
"What?!" Clara and Kate cried out in unison.