Jake and Mia sat at the dimly lit bar, nursing drinks that tasted more like regret than whiskey. The settlement's only bar was a ramshackle building at the edge of town, where the air smelled of wood smoke and old secrets. The usual crowd was there the settlers who had long forgotten the world outside the canyon, their faces worn by time and the endless loop.
A man slid onto the stool beside Jake. He was tall, with sharp features and eyes that darted around the room as if searching for danger. His voice was low, almost conspiratorial.
"You're police, aren't you?" he asked, his gaze fixed on Jake.
Jake frowned. "What?"
"Police," the man repeated. "Undercover. Like me."
Mia leaned forward, her brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"
The man sighed, as if frustrated by their confusion. "I'm Officer Jeremiah. I was sent here to investigate the disappearances. I've been undercover for months."
Jake and Mia exchanged glances. The name "Jeremiah" echoed in Jake's mind, but it didn't feel right. He opened his mouth to correct the man, but the words caught in his throat. Who was he? Jake? Or was he Jeremiah? The lines blurred, and for a moment, he couldn't remember.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Mia said, her voice edged with suspicion. "We're not police. We're just settlers."
The man 'Jeremiah' shook his head. "You're lying. I know who you are. Or at least, who you were."
Jake felt a chill run down his spine. He had no memory of being sent here, of being undercover. All he knew was the settlement, the endless cycle of days, and the feeling that something was deeply wrong.
The conversation spiraled into confusion. Jeremiah spoke of cases, of investigations, of a world outside the canyon that none of them could remember. Jake and Mia tried to make sense of it, but the more he talked, the less they understood.
Finally, Mia stood up. "We have to go," she said, pulling Jake away from the bar.
They rushed out into the night, the cold air sharp against their skin. The settlement was quiet, the only sound the distant howl of the wind through the canyon.
"What was that about?" Mia asked, her voice trembling. "Who is he? Why does he think we're police?"
Jake shook his head. "I don't know. But it scared me. I almost believed him."
They hurried to the small hut they were building near the lake. It was their sanctuary, a place where they could talk freely, away from prying eyes.
Inside, Mia paced back and forth, her hands clenched into fists. "This is bad, Jake. If there's a police officer here, what does that mean? Are we in danger?"
Jake sat on the rough wooden floor, his mind racing. "We need to be careful. We should tell the others. Warn them to be on the lookout."
Mia nodded. "We'll make it an agenda for the weekend village meeting. Everyone needs to know."
As they sat in silence, the weight of the stranger's words hung heavy in the air. The settlement, the memories that slipped away like sand through their fingers - none of it made sense.