As they neared the door on the left, Nobody noticed that it was adorned with an assortment of little stickers. These stickers were well-worn, their colors faded with time, bearing the marks of a child's interests and whims. She couldn't help but deduce that the person they were about to awaken was likely a child, judging by the stickers' wear and tear.

  The little girl seemed to confirm her suspicion with a joyful nod. Then, with a slight twist of the doorknob, which emitted a chorus of squeaks and creaks as if protesting the intrusion, the old and dusty door slowly swung open. Beyond the door lay darkness so impenetrable that not a single glimmer of light or sound emanated from within.

  “H-hello? We won't keep you; I assure you," Nobody called out into the oppressive darkness. Her voice trembled with nervousness as she continued: "We just wanted to invite you to dinner. It's going to be quite the feast, and I'm eager to make your acquaintance once again."

  She remained in the well-lit hallway, her feet glued to the boundary between light and darkness. The contrast between the brightness behind her and the inky blackness of the room ahead was unsettling.

  "My, it's so dark in here,” she pondered. "I would love to enter, but without their permission, I find it rude, so I do not mind staying out here while you wake them up!" Nobody added, her anxiety evident in her fidgeting hands.

  The silence that lingered within the room was unnerving, sending shivers down her spine. Turning to the young girl standing nervously behind her, she asked, "So, whose room is this exactly?" Her curiosity about the mysterious occupant of the room grew with each passing moment.

  As Nobody cautiously ventured a few steps into the oppressive darkness, an eerie silence enveloped her. Not a single creak or peep filled the void, intensifying the unease that crawled over her skin. Despite her trepidation, she couldn't bring herself to stray far from the doorway. Her body remained caught between the darkness of the room and the faint, flickering lights of the hallway.

  Suddenly, cold hands seized her, yanking her deeper into the abyss. The door groaned ominously; slamming shut behind her with a finality that sent her heart into a frenzied race. Panic bubbled within her as she stammered, "Little girl? Are you in here as well?" Her voice echoed in the empty room, an unsettling chorus of solitude.

  She anxiously awaited a response, but only a hollow silence pressed in on her from all sides. A growing sense of unease gnawed at her as she wondered where the child might have disappeared to and what could have led her into this eerie darkness all alone.

  In the deafening silence, with no sign or sound of the little girl, Nobody summoned her courage to speak up, her voice quivering. "Hello? Wake up! It's time to rise and shine, as they say! Perhaps some fresh air and natural light could do wonders for you?" Feeling her way through the darkness, she searched for a wall, hoping to find a light switch or a window. Her quest led her to a wall, and with a sigh of relief, she found the switch and flicked it on, bathing the room in a sudden, welcoming glow.

  Her apprehension transformed into determination as she continued: "Mind you, I am a guest here and I might not be the epitome of etiquette, but this behavior is rather impolite. Especially considering I've heard that you're a friend of mine! It's hardly kind to terrify a guest or a potential friend who simply wishes to invite you to a warm, cozy dinner!" Her voice, once a timid whisper, now resonated with a newfound confidence, akin to a mouse transforming into a lion.

  The room's lights illuminated a charming and quaint child's bedroom. At the heart of it all, perched on a slightly rusted white metal-framed bed with gray-blue bedding, was the little girl herself. The room had an unassuming quality, perfectly suited for a child. Its walls, painted in a soft periwinkle hue, were sparsely decorated, adorned mainly with the child's drawings and a handful of photographs. While there were some smudges and signs of wear, it was by far the most well-kept part of the house Nobody had seen thus far.

  As Nobody contemplated the sudden shift from darkness to this welcoming room, she couldn't help but express her bewilderment. "Is this your room? But just a moment ago, you were behind me," she remarked, her confusion apparent. "Do you perhaps have a twin?" The little girl shook her head, denying the possibility. "Could it be that you have a mischievous friend playing a prank on me?" The girl giggled and shook her head again. Nobody inched closer to the little girl, her tone taking a playful turn. "Or perhaps, are you actually a ghost haunting this home?" The girl stared at Nobody, utterly perplexed by the suggestion.

  Nobody couldn't resist adding a bit of melodrama to the situation, given the unusual and peculiar nature of everything thus far. With a touch of theatricality, she pondered the dinner and the state of the home. "Oh no, am I to be the main course at dinner? Is that why I’m invited because the true guest of honor is myself?" she exclaimed, her voice dripping with dramatic flair. The situation was indeed peculiar, and who knew what other mysteries she might uncover in this enigmatic home?

  However, the child interrupted Nobody's dramatic musings by leaning forward from the bed and putting a finger to her lips while shaking her head. Clearly unimpressed with Nobody's theatrics, the child crossed her arms in an X motion, indicating that this was strike one for melodrama.

  Nobody observed the little girl's movements carefully as she continued to communicate, her gestures becoming more expressive. "Ah, I see." Nobody finally understood. "You want me to learn more about you."

  The child nodded with a smile and began to use her hands to convey her interests and hobbies, pointing to her favorite toys, books, and the photos on the walls. Nobody listened intently, taking mental notes of the little girl's preferences and surroundings. It was a heartwarming moment, and despite the strangeness of it all, she couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia, even though she couldn't quite put her finger on why.

  "So, what are we doing here? Don't we have guests to invite? After all, you invited me. Am I to invite you in return?" Nobody's curiosity was piqued, and she couldn't help but wonder about the purpose of their visit.

  The young girl shook her head, pointing to herself and then tapping her own forehead before gesturing back to Nobody. She also tapped her finger on her wrist, indicating that all would be revealed in due time. Nobody understood the gestures and nodded, focusing her attention back on the girl and the room.

  "Ah, charades, shall we play?" Nobody suggested it with a smile. "A good game while we wait to see the others doesn't sound like a bad idea at all! I must say, I'm getting quite good at deciphering your gestures. I must be remembering you slowly but surely!"

  The girl sighed deeply and continued to point to herself, prompting Nobody to ramble on. "I assume you're trying to tell me more about yourself, right? Because if this is a game of charades, I already know that when you point to yourself, it means you. Or perhaps I'm just exceptionally skilled at this game, and you're struggling a bit?" She realized her words might come across as unintentionally rude, so she hurriedly added, "I mean no offense, of course. You know, you can't improve at something if you don't identify the areas where you need improvement. Not that I would call this an issue, maybe just a slight misunderstanding of the game?"

  The young girl appeared to be growing frustrated, slumping forward in exasperation as they continued their nonverbal communication.

  "I sure hope I'm not coming off as rude, but do you mind if I ask something?" Nobody inquired, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Obviously, you can't tell me your name, but that's what I'd like to ask. Is there a reason you can't speak? Did something happen to you? Maybe you got such a fright that your voice decided to take a vacation? Or perhaps the cat got your tongue, as they say!"

  The little girl responded by playfully bobbing her head around before shaking it to indicate no. She used her hands to express herself to the best of her ability, given her limited means of communication.

  "Ah, so you've been like this since birth!" Nobody remarked, trying to be sensitive to the topic. "I hope I didn't come across as rude." She then pondered how she could find out the girl's name. "So, how can I discover your name? There must be a clue somewhere here. Or perhaps you can write it down?"

  The girl brought her finger to her head and began tapping, signaling Nobody to think and remember. "I do know you, don't I? If I know everyone in this home, that means I know you too, right?" Nobody inquired thoughtfully, her thumb resting under her chin as her index finger gently rubbed it. The little girl enthusiastically nodded her head in agreement, occasionally tapping on her head as if to prompt Nobody's memory. She then gestured for Nobody to explore the room to her heart's content.

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "Hmm, so the answer is here. This is turning into quite a fun game; now I get to play detective!" Nobody mused. "I wonder if I read many good mystery stories before I became Nobody. Well, I better start looking for these clues." With newfound enthusiasm, she began examining the room more closely, searching for any hint that might reveal the little girl's name.

  With a dramatic display of exaggerated body language, Nobody wholeheartedly embraced her inner Sherlock Holmes as she methodically traversed the room. Her inquisitive gaze momentarily rested upon the neatly made bed where the child was seated, revealing nothing out of the ordinary—just a pristine and well-kept bed. Her detective instincts then guided her toward the photos on the wall. "Ah, precisely!" she exclaimed with an emphatic flair. "An excellent place to commence our investigation!"

  She gracefully approached the wall adorned with a collection of drawings and photos, all appearing to have been whimsically hung by a child. The charmingly uneven arrangement hinted at the work of small, inexperienced hands. Nobody attentively scrutinized the drawings, revealing depictions of a little girl joyfully cradling a white-gray bunny stuffed animal and a brownish-colored blurred entity. The innocence and happiness radiated from the illustrations. However, as her scrutiny shifted to the photos, a perplexing enigma began to unfurl.

  The photographs, aged and tattered, presented a confounding puzzle. Some were torn, and it seemed as though a few had deliberately suffered the snip of scissors. The visages captured within were blurry, obscured, and frustratingly indistinct, rendering identification nearly impossible. "Who might these individuals in the photos be? I find myself unable to discern any faces. It's as if they conspired to evade the camera's gaze!" Nobody mused aloud.

  The little girl, her eyes fixed on the photos, responded with a vehement shake of her head while clutching her beloved rabbit stuffed animal. It was becoming increasingly evident that an enigmatic riddle lay at the heart of this room, and her actions provided subtle clues that beckoned to be deciphered.

  "Oh, my apologies if I've upset you," Nobody said, her tone laced with sincerity. She observed the child's reaction to the old photographs and couldn't help but empathize with her. "These photos are quite old, and I understand that it's challenging to see who's in them. But don't fret, we can find a way to make them better. How about we take some new photos together and hang them on the wall? Would you like that?" Nobody's heart warmed as she noticed the girl's face light up at the prospect, relieved that she had managed to brighten the atmosphere.

  Her gaze then shifted toward the dresser, positioned just a short distance from the nightstand beside the bed. There, partially concealed by various knick-knacks, she spotted a white rabbit stuffed animal nestled in a corner on the top shelf. She reached for the toy and brought it over to the little girl, who was still shaking her head. "Maybe this will cheer you up," Nobody suggested, hoping to alleviate the child's distress, which she suspected might not be solely related to their shared memory loss.

  "I hope… my memory loss and not recalling who you are isn't what's troubling you," Nobody continued, her voice gentle and reassuring. "While I may not be thrilled about my current predicament as a 'nobody,' I understand that it is something I need to resolve. I am grateful for the chance to attend a banquet with our mutual friends. I am certain that better days are ahead. Please don't worry about me." She offered these words of comfort, genuinely concerned for her young friend's well-being.

  With great tenderness, Nobody gently pressed the white doll against the little girl's bunny mask and uttered in a soft, friendly tone, "Hello there, I'm your friend!" She then brought the bunny back to her face and whispered, "I wonder what your name is. Oh, mine? I am Nobody! I know you're friends with this little girl, so I suppose that makes us friends too! Now, who are you?"

  She continued her roleplay, altering her voice to distinguish between the different characters. "I am…" She paused, scrutinizing the bunny in her hands, searching for a name tag or some identifier. On the feet, in faded cursive letters, she found it: "CECILY!" Nobody declared with a chuckle, causing the girl to jump up and down on her bed with delight, pointing to herself to confirm her name. "Are you trying to say your name?" Nobody inquired playfully, but the child ceased her bouncing and hopped off the bed.

  "Cecily, huh? What a lovely name!" Nobody complimented her with a warm smile, though inwardly, she pondered the name's familiarity. "It really does ring a bell… Where have I heard that name before?" she wondered. Gazing down at the rabbit stuffed animal, she squeezed it a bit tighter. "This rabbit feels nostalgic to me. I can't, for the life of me, figure out why. But anything that might jog my memory is a reason to be happy. I've got to stay optimistic; it will all come back to me!" She held onto the hope that her lost memories would eventually return, and this encounter with Cecily seemed like a promising step in that direction. Upon learning the child's name, Cecily, Nobody couldn't help but feel a subtle sense of familiarity that eluded her understanding. How could she remember this little girl's stuffed animal as if it were her own? Had she perhaps given it to her at some point? Or was it just a curious coincidence? These questions danced on the periphery of her consciousness, like fragments of a forgotten dream, waiting for the missing pieces to fall into place. However, she refrained from asking, as the inexplicable familiarity made no sense at that moment. Instead, she held onto the hope that, with time, the pieces of this puzzling puzzle would come together and reveal their hidden connections.

  With a wide grin, she handed the stuffed bunny to Cecily, the little girl. A peculiar thought crossed her mind as she observed Cecily's mask, which bore a striking resemblance to the stuffed animal's appearance. "It seems like you really adore her; perhaps she's like a mascot for you?" Nobody wondered aloud. Cecily stood there, her expression a mix of curiosity and contemplation. After a brief silence, she let out a small, exaggerated sigh, dropping her head in a dramatic gesture.

  Cecily then directed Nobody's attention toward a small, well-worn rug on the floor. Despite its flattened fibers and signs of wear and tear, a book rested atop it, seemingly a diary. Had it been there all along, unnoticed by Nobody? She realized that she hadn't spotted the diary before. Kneeling beside it, she examined the diary's aged cover, noting the thick layer of dust that coated it. "It looks like it hasn't been used in quite some time. Is this your diary?" Nobody inquired, but Cecily remained silent, offering no motion or response.

  Nobody carefully picked up the diary, using the bottom of her skirt to gently dust off its cover. The diary itself was petite, charmingly light green, and showed signs of frequent use with its scuff marks. A small sticker featuring a cat and a bunny adorned the cover, adding a playful touch to its appearance.

  "Now, we both know that reading someone's diary is akin to committing a grave sin, isn't it? A major taboo," Nobody mused, her tone a mix of curiosity and caution. "This had better be yours. But even then, why do I feel so guilty about this? What if there are embarrassing secrets inside? Aren't you even the slightest bit concerned?" She paused, a hint of amusement in her voice. "You see, I adore a good read, I love books, but once I start, it's hard to pry them from my hands!" Her words were followed by a chuckle, though it was quickly interrupted by a sneeze as the liberated dust particles wafted through the air.

  Cecily, however, seemed unfazed by the prospect of potential embarrassment. She shook her head vigorously to convey her lack of concern, using hand gestures to emphasize her point. She pointed at Nobody, then at the diary, repeating this gesture a couple of times. "Are you telling me to read it? Do you think I'm inside it?" Nobody inquired with a quirked eyebrow. The young child then hushed her with a delicate hand and let out a soft laugh, directing her attention toward the diary once more, as if urging her to explore its contents.

  "I'll read it, but there's no need to rush me. I was just trying to ease my conscience about peeking into someone's personal life," Nobody remarked, addressing the young girl's eagerness. She observed the child's movements, which seemed to confirm that this diary did not belong to her.

  "Wait, you mean we're about to embark on an adventure into someone else's life? And it's not even yours?" Nobody queried, her expression a mix of disbelief and intrigue. The child nodded vigorously and pointed to the diary, encouraging Nobody to go on.

  Despite her initial reluctance, Nobody decided to open the diary. She held it at arm's length, almost as if it were a cursed object. Her hesitation was evident as she flipped through the pages. Cecily assisted her in turning to the first page, indicating that she was mentioned inside or that the diary might be hers.

  "So, you're suggesting this might be mine… Well, if it mentions me, I suppose we'll have an excuse. I mean, can they really blame me for wanting my memory back if we get caught, and this isn't even mine?" Nobody reasoned, gazing at the diary with a mixture of curiosity and guilt.

  "Understandably, no one could blame you!" a lady's voice suddenly chimed in, causing Nobody to jump in surprise.

  "Absolutely agreed, my friend. This diary might just hold the key to transforming Nobody into a Somebody," Nobody replied, her gaze fixed on the first page, where some words appeared to be blurred, as if water had damaged the page. "I dare say that if there is an answer to be found in these pages, it could be of great help to me. So, I shouldn't feel too guilty, right? After all, it's not like I know anything. Isn't there a saying that goes, 'ignorance is bliss'?"

  "Oh, that sounds lovely, dear. I genuinely hope you find some answers here," the sweet voice encouraged. "I wholeheartedly believe you'll discover something that can assist you."

  "Ah, thank you so much. Despite the loss, I'm quite confident that with the right amount of optimism, we can achieve this go—" Nobody paused and turned to face the young girl, who was now looking up at her with curious eyes. "Y-you spoke! I thought you said you couldn't speak!" Nobody was taken aback, staring at the young girl in sheer astonishment.

  "What a miracle we have here!" Cecily nodded vigorously, making it clear that she wasn't referring to herself. She pointed emphatically at the book, trying to draw Nobody's attention to it.