Blank Canvas

Chapter One: Date Unknown

Liam Baker that has the date 11/20/99 underneath it was scribbled onto my inner right bicep read Liam Baker with the date that I assume is a birth date. As I look around, I am in a dark alley all alone beside a giant green dumpster with nothing but ripped, black leggings and a plain, navy blue t-shirt. I was freezing that I could not feel my bare hands or arms. As I searched my body, I found bruises, caking me in a dark blue and black haze. My body ached everywhere and it felt like I was hit repeatedly until I couldn't move.

    As I glanced to my left, there was a dead end, but to my right, was an opening to a sidewalk. I watched as a man walked by the entrance of the alleyway and scrambled to my feet.

    "Can you please help me?" I asked, begging for help. He scoffed and continued down the sidewalk.

    I don't know what to do as I began to cry, looking around at the dark stores that surrounded me. The street was bare and no store seemed to be open. I decided to make my way down the sidewalk to find anything that can help me. It was hard to walk when my legs and feet were numb from the cold that I could barely walk straight. I continued to walk until I found a liquor store with their lights on with a red and blue open sign flashing in the window. I dashed towards the entrance of the store and made my way inside. A man with dark hair and a long beard was behind the counter. His worn name tag stated the name, Ronald.

    "Sir, can you please help me?" I cried to the cashier.

    "No, I can not give you any money for drugs. Now, get out of here!" He scoffed and pointed towards the door.

    "No! I do not need money. I just need help. Can you please call someone? I have no idea where I am at or who I am." I pleaded with him as my eyes fill with tears that are threatening to spill.

    "Ma'am, I will call the police if you do not leave," he stated with a deep voice as he stared down at me. I can feel his judgmental eyes on me as if he is thinking I am just another crackpot on the street with a strong addiction.

    "Yes! Yes! Please call them! I just need someone! Anyone!"

    The man stared at me strangely, confused on why I would want the police called on me, but I had a feeling deep down that they will help me. I was feeling hopeful for once that I am one step closer to figuring out how I made it into the alley and possibly who I am. He grabbed the landline that was to his right and pressed four buttons before putting the phone to his ear. He stared at me, making sure I do not leave his sight as if I am going to do something.

    "Yeah, hi. This is Ronald at Neighborhood's Liquor. I have a woman here that is requesting the police to come and help. She states she has no idea where she is at or who she is. Alright. Thank you." He hung up the phone and placed the landline back on its stand. "They will be here in a few minutes, but for now, please sit outside. I do not want you in my store."

    "Thank you so much! I really really appreciate it!" I gave him a small smile, feeling very hopeful as I skipped to the entrance and outside.

    Once outside, I sat on the rough curb as the coldness seeped through my thin leggings. I forgot how cold it was outside as I folded my arms to my chest to keep warm while my teeth chattered. Who am I? Why can I not think of my name? Why did I end up in that alley with a man's name on my arm that is not in the least bit recognizable to me? I sighed as I thought hard to resurface any memory that I ever had in my life, but I drew a blank.

    Red and blue flashing lights pulled me out of my trance and I immediately stood up. Two police cars pulled up in front of me. Two men came out of each car. The car on the right, the man was bald, overweight that made his uniform tight fitting, and appeared to be in his fifties. While the car on the left, this man appeared to be younger, maybe in his thirties, with brown hair and a lanky build that made his uniform baggy.

    The man on the left was flashing his flashlight into my eyes as the man on the right spoke up, "hello ma'am. What is going on tonight? What is your name?"

    "I have no idea." I squinted, tears falling down my face due to the bright light. I tried to place my hand over my eyes to dim the brightness.

    "Do you have an ID?"

    I shook my head. " I do not have anything. I woke up in an alley and I do not remember anything."

    "Ma'am, have you been drinking tonight?" The man on the left spoke up this time.

    I turned towards him and shook my head again."No. I woke up in an alley and I do not know who I am."

    "How about drugs?" The man on the right questioned me with a look on his face that made me feel like he did not believe a word I was telling him.

    "No! Please listen to me. I need help. I do not know who I am or where I am. Please just help me," I begged as I glanced back and forth between the two men.

    The men looked at each other briefly before turning back to me. The man on the right stepped forward and grabbed my arm. I flinched in pain and jerked my arm away from his grasp. He snatched at my arm again and held on tighter.

    "Please let go! It hurts!" I screamed in pain as I tried my hardest to pull away from the man.

    "Ma'am, we are taking you down to the station." His grasp got suddenly tighter.

    "I did not do anything! Please just help me!" I fought back to get out of his hold.

    "Ma'am. Do not fight back or I am going to handcuff you," he warned me.

    I nodded and quivered in pain as he dragged me to his police car. He placed me into the back of his police car and slammed the door. I sighed and leaned back into the leather seat, enjoying the warmth as it seeped through my skin. I hope they listen to me. I stared at the name on my bicep and traced it. I hope to find this Liam Baker and he will know what happened to me.