Chapter 5%
I woke up to silence. Cold, sterile, suffocating silence
There were tubes in my nose, needles in my arms, and machines quietly beeping my side. My body felt like it had been shattered and glued back together–all wrong, all stiff. Every breath came with effort. Every inch of movement brought pain.
I tried to tum my head but couldn’t!!
It took a moment to realize where I was.
of the
estate’s central air. I was back in
The estate. I knew the scent of the sheets, the view outside the t tall windows, the quiet humming of the place I had fought so desperately to escape.
I was alive. But why? Why had I survived?
My memory came in broken flashes–the edge of the tower, the wind biting at my skin, my final whisper before letting go: Goodbye, Cameron
And then… the branches.!!
I remembered the sudden impact of sharp, splintering wood. Something catching my fall. Not enough to save me fully, but just enough to keep me from hitting the river like stone. There had been something soft, maybe the brush or moss or wet soil, I couldn’t be sure. After that nothing.
I didn’t want to wake up.
I didn’t want another chance.
I had begged the world for an end, and now, here I was–alive, broken, and breathing.
Tears slipped down the sides of my face, disappearing into the pillow
Why? Why me?
What purpose could I possibly have now? No, I don’t want to die. I don’t want any of this, I just want the pain to be gone, so why? couldn’t understand and I wasn’t even sure if this was a good thing… or not? And if I am alive, then that would mean..!
The door creaked before I could process my thoughts.
I froze
Footsteps Familiac measured, confidentİ
Every pan of me tensed, instinctively bracing for pain. I knew it all too well
Cameron. He was the only one who could make me crawl in fear even without seeing his face.
His voice reached me before his shadow did.
“How is she?” he asked–quietly. Gently
I didn’t recognize that tone. Not from him. Why is the sudden change??
“She’s stable,” a nurse answered from somewhere near the machines. “We’re monitoring her vitals round–the–clock. We managed to stop her bleeding and we’re still running tests to make sure all her organs are intact. But her spine-”
“Do whatever it takes,” Cameron cut in. “Make sure she has everything she needs. Don’t let her feel even a second of pain… and I want her
My heart stopped.
What? He wanted me alive. No, I don’t want to. I was pretty sure he just wanted me alive to torture me… to prove that even death wouldn’t allow me to escape him.
I kept my eyes shut. I didn’t know why–maybe fear. Maybe curiosity. Maybe I just couldn’t face him. I was so scared for my life that I had to pretend that I was still sleeping
The nurse left after a moment, and the door clicked shut. Now it was
was just us.!!
I felt him before i heard him. His presence loomed beside the bed, heavy, silent. I held my breath, waiting.
Then
something warm.
His lips brushed my forehead–soft, lingering.!!
I nearly flinched |
Then his voice–close and cracked
“Alicia” he whispered, “I’m sorry
ath. “It’s my fault. Everything I don’t expect forgiveness but please just stay alive.”
leaned closer pressing his forehead against mine like I was something fragile, precious.
aid softly “Please just live
hot from pain. Not from fea but from disbelief
wanted to laugh. Of course he was sorty–now. Of course he wanted
change–now
had done the one thing he never thought Id have the courage to do
11:26 AM c d
But I wasn’t stupid.
I knew what this was
Guilt Regret. Control
Maybe even love–but if it was, it was the twisted kind, the kind hom too late to matter
I let the tears fall silently, not moving. Not breathing too loudly.
I knew this moment was important.
I could feel it.
This wasn’t the time to cry and scream and ask why now?!
This was the time to think.).
To remember
To plan
If he was really changing… even just for now.. then maybe I could use it.
Maybe I could finally get free–not by running, not by jumping–but by making him open the door himself.
And when he did, I wouldn’t hesitate.
Not again.
He kissed my cheek one more time before standing up:
His footsteps moved toward the door.
And just before he left. I heard him say. “Take care of her. She’s everything now.
The door shut behind him.
Tlay there tears drying on my cheeks, the machines beeping steadily beside me.
Everything hurt
But for the first time I had a weapon.
His guilt
His sudden change.
His unexpected need to keep me alive.
And I would use it!!
Because if I had to survive in this hell a little longer to finally escape it for good-
So be it.
