Note: Gory and slightly disturbing Chapter ahead.
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"Darling, you’re up," A voice said and Islinda blinked, dazed. Her vision was blurry and she could not recognize the face hovering over her. Nor was she acquainted with the owner of the voice. It sounded foreign to her ear, but she was not plunged with the need to run away. She strangely felt safe.
Islinda still pushed up from the... bed? She continued blinking until things came into focus and found herself in a strange room. Her brows furrowed together in a frown, what was going on here? Where was she? The last thing she remembered was trying to... huh? What was the last thing she remembered?
"Darling," The voice that had been talking all this while finally came into view and she stared at him with a puzzled expression. A shadow crossed the man’s features as he somewhat sensed her confusion.
He tilted his head unsure, "Are you okay, darling? You seem a little bit out of place, "The stranger tried to touch her but Islinda jerked away from him as if he was poison.
Islinda slowly eased away from him, suspicion in her eyes, "Who are you? Where am I?"
"Tell me you’re pulling my leg right now, my darling wife,"
Islinda went rigid. Her mouth fell open and she stammered, "W–wife?" She was married? To him?
The man finally got off the bed, running his hand through his hair in frustration before he explained to her, his voice strained with emotion,
"We have been married for over seven years now, Islinda, "He shook his head, "I should have known not to leave you alone when you said the nightmares were returning. Look what’s going on now, your mind’s muddled, you can’t even remember things anymore, Islinda. You need treatment."
"I need treatment," Islinda just kept repeating the words after him like a fool. It just did not feel convincing enough –
That very moment, images assaulted her mind and she grunted, rubbing at the side of her head. As if to corroborate this man’s story, his face appeared in her mind and there she was too in the memory. They looked happy together and then there was the laughter of their children as they chased each other in the field.
"Thomas?" Islinda mentioned the name that came to her mind and watched as the man’s stern face eased just a little bit.
"Thank the lord," Thomas threw his head back in relief, wiping his palm down his face.
So this was her husband?
Looking around the room now, she was able to recognize her bedroom. But even as the images seemed true in her head, there was just this emptiness in her chest. Something was not right here.
"Mama!"
Islinda jerked up at the sound of that voice and had her breath knocked out when a small child bearing an uncanny resemblance to her stormed into her room with tears in her eyes and complaints on her lips.
To be honest, Islinda had no idea what the child was talking about because she was busy staring at her like a moron. She had always dreamed of having a family and to think she already had a lovely child simply stole the breath out of her lungs.
"Come closer, baby girl," Islinda felt this desperate need to touch and confirm this was real and not a dream.
The girl did as she instructed, lifting those beautiful-looking teary eyes and they collided with hers. Joy filled her chest and Islinda palmed her face with trembling hands, wiping the tears away.
"What’s wrong, baby girl?"
The little girl turned and pointed at the door, pouting, "It’s Jacob again, he pulled my hair and it was painful." She recounted the incident.
"Jacob?" Islinda whispered the name tentatively.
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