Four: RAINA

I woke up by an indistinct chatter from a distance. Not too far, it’s like we’re just in the same room. I don’t know where I am but it reeks of alcohol in here. It smells like flu, or some kind of an air-borne sickness that you can smell and taste when you breathe it in with your mouth. I hate it.

As I slowly open my eyes, I realized right away that I’m in a Hospital. A bit confused, I look around and see three guys standing and staring at me, like I’m some kind of a ghost. Clearly, I don’t know them, but I can see that they’re just around my age. I'm not sure if I heard it right, but they're saying things like being a ghosts or something.

I felt very hot, winded and I started feeling dizzy, so I closed my eyes again. I can feel the pulsing of my head.

“Call the Doctor! Hurry!” One of them shouted and one of them run off through the door.

I tried to remember what happened to me. All I can recall is the night at the bridge, enjoying the wind. Felt free. I put my hand on my head and the rhythm of blood throbbing in my temple as I keep trying to remember. Then it flashed through my mind: The incoming storm, enjoying it while crying my heart out. Then jumping off the bridge. I even remember how I felt back there. Lost. Wasted. What I did was the only option I had, but it failed. I didn't die. Unfortunately, I have to continue living this horrible life.

"You alright?" the guy in a black hoodie asked. I had a hunch that they're the people who saw me. They all seemed suspicious. Especially this hoodie guy, he stares at me as though he's about to cry. He looks very anxious.

The Doctor came in and went straight to me. He touched my head to where I placed my hand and asked, "Does it hurt here?"

I nodded yes. He's so calm and it felt like I don't need anything to worry about.

"What's your name, honey?"

"Rai, Raina." my voice is croaky because my throat hurts.

"Do you remember what happened to you?" He asked.

I nodded again and said, "Yeah, just now."

"Alright, Raina. I'm Doc Adams, you have nothing to worry about. You just have to relax, okay?"

"Is she okay, Doc?" again, hoodie guy asked.

Doctor explained to him that my head ache was caused by trying to remember what happened to me, and that I unconsciously tensing the muscles in my head and neck.

"But luckily," he faced me again "You didn't have any lung infections. Thanks to these guys! They saved you." he said.

I'm not sure about being lucky though, because I really didn't need saving. So I ignored what the Doctor said, as well as these three weird guys that saved my life. All I'm worried about is how am I going to pay for my hospital bills. I can't even pay my rent. I can't believe I made my situation even worst. How long will this world is going to keep me? I'm sick of it.

When the Doctor walked out of the room, I immediately sit up and put my feet on the ground. I'm still dizzy. The boys are just watching me like I'm some kind of a horror movie. They express so much horror in their faces, I don't understand why. I stood up, removed the cannula in my hand, then started to walk away from this place.

"Hey, hey! Wait! Where do you think your going?" a guy in a red shirt, who appeared to be the most normal among them, blocked me.

"Get out of my way." I muttered.

"You're still not fine!" he said.

"I said get out of my way! I shouldn't be here in the first place, It's all your fault!"

"What? What in the world are you talking about?" He replied. He looked very confused. Well, I don't expect them to understand, as if they know me.

But I'm losing my temper. I hate people who meddle with someone else's life. I'm so used of being alone, so concern people makes me feel uncomfortable.

Red shirt guy grab my arm and pulled me back gently. I can't fight back, I'm so weak.

"Get off!" I yelled. He was startled, I can see it in his face. "Don't touch me" I said with a gentle voice because I kind of felt bad for shouting at him, he looks so innocent. But no, looks can be deceiving. I can't trust them.

"I paid your bills, don't worry about it!" Hoodie guy suddenly said.

"What do you mean?" Red shirt guy asked him. But hoodie guy's still looking straight at me.

"The eviction notice. It's in your Jacket. I thought it was your money and I want to dry it but," he sighed and shake his head, "Yeah."

I hate him even more. Not because he touched my stuff, but because I felt pitied. I don't need any sympathy from them. I don't want them to make me trust them. I felt small and bad about myself, I wanted to just magically vanish in front of them.

I felt a heat running through my body and my palms are getting sweaty. I can feel an uncomfortable sensation in the pit of my stomach and it felt as though I'm gonna throw up. They're waiting for me to say something but I can't seem to find words.

"Why, you—" I didn't finish what I'm going to say. I fainted.

9:35AM

I woke up again in the hospital bed. I felt so much better than last night. I kind of like it here. Air-conditioned, soft bed and nice curtains.

I thought the three guys have left but, suddenly, hoodie guy opened the door and came in.

"You?" I said. My voice is so much better now too.

"Oh, hey! You're awake!" He handed me a plastic bag, "I bought you some breakfast, in case you don't want the food here. I know, of all people, how bad hospital food tastes."

I was hesistant, but I still took the plastic bag.

"Why are you still here?" I asked.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't know you want us to leave." He replied. I just gave him a steely gaze. I doubt that he's just concern for me.

"Fine, honestly, I want to ask you something." he said. My anxiety instantly went up.

I replied with a cold shoulder, "I have nothing to say to you."

"Do you know me, Raina?" he asked. My heart races as if I'm going to have a heart attack and my hands are fidgeting.

"Wha–what do you mean?" I asked.

"I mean," he let out a sigh "Do you happen to be in an accident fifteen years ago?"

My eyes widened. If he's not so stupid, he could sense an intense fear coming out of me. My body trembles but I try to conceal it so he wouldn't notice. How did he know that? It's impossible if he just remembers me because he saw me on the news 15 years ago. He must've been keeping an eye on me for years.

He continues, "By any chance, can you recognize me?"

My eyes adjust to look for something that I can protect myself with. A syringe maybe, but I found nothing. I'm thinking of what will happen if I scream. I can't hide my fear anymore. I'm sweating and started breathing heavily.

"Hey, are you okay?" He stood up and walk towards me, reaching my forehead. I immediately threw him the plastic bag he gave me and ran through the door. He chases me.

"Wait! Raina!" he shouted.

We're running through the hallway, bumping into some patients and nurses. Some of them are yelling for us to stop. I don't know what to do or where to go, I just need to run away from here. From him.

When I found the main exit of the building, I finally got out. He's still chasing me. I look around for a place to hide, but then I saw a Police Officer standing beside the police car, talking to someone on his walkie talkie.

"Help! Help me! Please help me!" I shouted as I run towards him. He instantly notice me.

"Hey hey hey! What, what happened?" he asked as he held my arms and trying to calm me down.

I catch my breath as I said, "Someone's trying to kill me!"

"Okay, calm down Ma'am, you're safe with me, okay? Tell me what's happening." He said.

I don't know what to say, though. He didn't really threatened me with something, nor say that he's gonna kill me. How am I going to explain this?

Then I finally saw hoodie guy, searching around. I pointed at him.

"That's him! He's trying to kill me!" I said.

He looked at him very carefully and then he shouted, "Kyle!"

Hoodie guy turn to us as if he was the one being called. But when he run towards us, I realized he is that Kyle and that they know each other. I wanna run but the officer is holding my arms tightly.

"Dad!" Hoodie guy said. He slouches, trying to catch his breath, "What are you doing here!"

He's his father? I'm so terrified right now. I don't know who this people are and I can't seem to remember them from my past because my memories are getting weak as I age. But it's impossible for them to know me 15 years ago, the fact that I'm already grown up and I totally look different from before. So the only thing I can think of is these people are the one my Dad warned me about. They're watching me over the years, threatening to kill me.

"Before that, this girl right here is telling me that you're trying to kill her. Can you explain this to me, Kyle?" Officer said.

"What? Me trying to kill her?" He replied.

I unintentionally clutch to the officers arm out of fear. I can feel my body shaking.

"Stop screaming, Kyle! You're scaring her!" his dad feels warm and I felt safe but I fight that feeling. I can't trust anyone.

"Dad, I don't know what she's talking about. We're just talking and then she suddenly ran away. I chased her because I'm worried!" Kyle explained.

"How did you know her?" His Dad asked.

"I –" he sighed, "Last night, I saw her drowning and I saved her."

"You did what!?" the officer went a bit furious.

"Dad let's just talk about this some other time, okay?" said Kyle.

The officer took at deep breath.

He's still holding me.

"What's your name, hun?" he asked me. I shake my head, I don't want to tell them.

"She's Rai–"

"Just let me talk to her, Kyle! She's afraid of you! Just what did you do to her?" he said irritably.

Kyle just shook his head, I can almost see that his reactions are genuine, and that he has really no idea what was going on. But I can't risk trusting them. I'm willing to die but not in their hands.

"I just want to go home." I said.

"Okay, hun, where do you live? I can take you there."

"No," I pulled my arms from him and he lets it. "I can go alone." I immediately left. They just watch me as I walk away from them, they didn't follow me anymore.

The beautiful cocktail-blue shade of sky was beginning to darken into gravel-grey. It's gonna rain again, yet I don't know where I'm going. I have no money for transportation, nor food. The adrenaline made my blood sugar drop and I can't walk anymore because my knees are already weak.

"Raina!"

I heard someone calling my name. I look behind me and there, I see, a red car being drive by the guy in a red shirt from last night. He stopped and got out of the car. An anxious countenance appeared in his face.

"Where are you going? You're so pale!" He said.

I don't want to talk to him because he is Kyle's friend, but this guy really doesn't scare me at all. I've never trusted anyone for years, so I lost my ability to trust my own judgements too. He come a little close to me and hand me over his wallet. I got confused.

"All my ID is here inside, you can check it if you want." He said. Part of me wants to take it, open it and see it for myself but I didn't. I'm in the middle of the dilemma about trusting him or not, so I'm just staring at him.

"I'm Allen, by the way" he added. Then he pulled up his shirt, he turns as though he's trying to show me that there's nothing in his pockets. "I'm not gonna hurt you, Raina."

"Here," he handed me his phone. "If you feel like I'm going to hurt you, you can just press the emergency call." For me, that was a good deal so I took it. A relief shows in his face.

"Do you want to go back to the hospital?" He asked. I shook my head.

"How 'bout I take you home?" I hesitantly nodded. He smiled, runs to his car and open the door for me. I grip to his phone – as though I'm not going to let go of it because it's my only assurance of safety – as I walked to his car.