Chapter 9 - The Encounter

As Charlotte walked outside the street, she looked down on her wristwatch.

It's as it was a couple of minutes and it's near to strike midnight.

Charlotte looked around, she was anxious that the old man might show up once more and that there might be some bad people with him to arrest her.

"This is Jayla's fault! It's not a good time, I shouldn't come here now?" Charlotte said to herself, feeling scared. And as she walked, she looked away at the coffee shop, it was still distant from where she was walking. She hurried to walk, and then she passed the bench where she met the old man earlier, she briefly stopped and glanced at it.

And when she saw it, she suddenly looked around, and when she glanced at her wristwatch, she saw that it was as it were some seconds to strike midnight. Charlotte waited a while. Though she was afraid, she wouldn't leave at once, speculating the old man's saying might be true. But she was still perplexed that Candy's suspicion could be also true. A couple of seconds afterward, midnight struck, but no Jack or van came to seize her. Charlotte shook her head and shrugged, and she thought of hurrying away to seek for Jayla.

She rushed to walk towards the coffee shop, but it still a little bit far. And as she walked, she abruptly stumbled, she didn't noticed that there's a small rock blocking her way, she did not notice it. Charlotte tripped and she fell down on the ground, she couldn't move since her right foot was hurt.

"Ouch, the torment, gracious no!" Charlotte cried, as she held her foot. She was apprehensive that the old man might have planned to take her.

Charlotte was hysterical with fear and attempted to stand up, but she couldn't do anything due of the extreme pain she was feeling.

Charlotte was in tears with fear that she felt in that moment.

Suddenly, she was stunned when abruptly somebody grabbed her shoulder.

"Miss, are you alright?" Said a profound voice.

And when she turned her head, she was stunned by what she saw.

She saw a youthful man, and when she looked at the man's face, she felt unusual. It looks like Jack Armstrong, but he looks so pale and it's body is so thin, and its clothes are filthy. "Who are you?" Charlotte exclaimed as she looked up with him.

"My name is Jack," he grinned.

"Jack? Jack Armstrong!" she exclaimed,

And when Charlotte said this, she suddenly fainted. Fortunately, Jack held her.

"Miss, wake up!" The young man said, and he tapped her on the face.

Moments afterward, Charlotte's eyes widened.

And she felt Jack's hand holding her shoulders. And she seems to see Jack's tantalizing eyes.

"This is impossible!" said Charlotte in bewilderment.

"What do you mean?" Jack furrowed.

"I'm befuddled, but you're not Jack, aren't you?"

"What do you mean I'm not Jack, that's my name," Said Jack as he somewhat chuckled.

Charlotte looked at his face again, she couldn't be wrong, they had the same eyes, nose and lips, her only ponder was, why his clothes were messy and out of fashion, while he was always dressed properly. And he was very thin and look pale. Charlotte ponders what she sees.

"Do you know Jack Armstrong?" she asked.

"That's my name," Jack replied.

"I mean, you have the same name of the most famous singer in the world, but he is not you, right?" Charlotte said, bewildered.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm complimented that I have a famous name!" Jack said with a slight laughed.

Charlotte was indeed more confused by what was happening.

"It couldn't be! This is crazy, but he looks like you! Gee, but only a little bit," Charlotte said.

"Are you alright miss?" Jack said, as he is trying to help her up.

"Can you offer assistance me out to sit on the bench," Charlotte said.

And Jack helped her back to stand up.

Charlotte grabbed Jack's shoulders as he held her.

And while it was supporting her, she was just looking into Jack's eyes.

And she can't be wrong that they have the same eyes.

And as she sat on the bench, Charlotte leaned over.

"Are you still hurt?" Jack asked her.

"I think I'm okay," Charlotte said.

"Good," Jack said. She looked again to his face.

"Thank you, but if you don't mind, please tell me, who are you?" Charlotte asked as she gaped.

"As I told you, my name is Jack, and I'm lost!"

"What do you mean, lost?"

"I don't know where I am," Jack said.

"The real Jack was also missing, so you are Jack Armstrong?" Charlotte said in disbelief

"Well, the truth is, Its not my real name,"

Jack said with a slight smile.

"What? I'm telling you, you're just fooling me, you indeed imitated the name of the famous singer, how dare you to do that!" Charlotte said feeling very disappointed.

"I don't know that name, I just saw it somewhere so I used it, because I didn't remember anything even my own name," he said. Charlotte was confused on what he said.

"You mean, you didn't know the famous singer, but you even imitated the name, are you fooling me?" Charlotte asked hesitantly,

And she was surprised by his answer.

"Who's that famous singer, what he looks like?"

"You mean you don't know Jack Armstrong, so why are you using his name?"

"I don't know that,"

Charlotte grabbed her head.

And she immediately took out her cell phone where Jack Armstrong was on its screen, and she showed it to Jack.

"Who is that?"

"That's him, he is the most popular singer in the world, and by chance you even used his name, then at that point, you don't know him?" Said Charlotte in disappointment.

"Oh, but that guy in the picture is very handsome, and he looks so rich, while I have a rough face and skinny body," Jack sighed as he scoffed.

"Yeah, I know, it's impossible that he will be you, so why do you look like that? What happened to you?" Charlotte asked in wonder.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, why your face is so rough, there are scars on your face and you look thin, where have you been?" she asked.