SebastianThe cottage sits in a clearing, its weathered wooden exterior blending into the dense background. The air is cool, and heavy with the scent of damp earth and pine. I sit on the old porch steps, nursing a tumbler of coffee in one hand, my phone in the other. Eric leans against the railing, his sharp features drawn tight with frustration, while James, broad and rough around the edges, paces the dirt path in front of us, the gravel crunching beneath his boots. "What did they find?" James bellows, his Southern drawl thicker than usual, a clear sign he’s losing his patience. Eric sighs, running a hand through his hair. "The men went to the location where the video was taken," he begins. "Elizabeth was there. Witnesses say she was taken by two men. They work for some asylum. Beyond that, I don’t have many details." I interrupt, the weight of my own thoughts pressing against my chest. "Celeste knows I was sleeping with Elizabeth." Both men stop what they’re doing and star
Elizabeth“Who knew Seattle had so many psychiatric hospitals?” Eric’s voice cuts through the tense silence as he thumbs through the list on his phone, the light from the screen illuminating his face in the dim confines of my car. I glance at him from the driver’s seat, exhaustion weighing heavily on both of us. The rain streaks down the windshield, the rhythmic tapping a sharp contrast to the frustration brewing between us. “I’m starting to think that we might not find her, I mean what if they moved her somewhere else?” I mutter, gripping the steering wheel tighter. My knuckles are white, and my patience is nonexistent. Eric exhales loudly, his head dropping back against the seat. “None of the hospitals have confirmed or denied her presence. It's the same rehearsed answers every time: ‘We can’t share patient information. Privacy laws. Blah, blah, blah.’” “What the hell are we going to do?” I snap, my frustration boiling over. Eric doesn’t answer immediately, his mind churn
Elizabeth The common room hums with a low murmur of voices, the occasional scrape of a chair against the tile floor, the shuffle of slippers as patients wander aimlessly.I sit in the corner, book in hand, though I haven't turned a page in the last ten minutes. My eyes skim over the words, but I don’t absorb them. I’ve learned to pretend—pretend to be cooperative, pretend to trust Dr. Maggie, pretend I’m nothing more than ‘Jane,’ a quiet, submissive patient who no longer questions why she’s here. But I’m not Jane. And I’ll never be. The moment I let my guard down, the moment I stop pretending, they’ll make sure I never leave this place. So I wait. I watch. I listen. Then, something changes. A commotion stirs outside the common room. Footsteps—urgent, heavy. Voices, low but firm. I lift my head. Across the room, Dr. Maggie storms in, her face pale, eyes darting around like she’s expecting someone to jump out and grab her. “Come with me, Jane. Now.” Her voice is sharp,
ElizabethThe rain pounds against the thin metal roof, a steady, hollow drumming that fills the silence of my tiny prison. I sit on the edge of the creaky cot, rubbing my swollen stomach, tracing slow, absentminded circles over the taut skin. My body aches in ways I never thought possible, my back throbbing, my ankles swollen, my ribs feeling like they are being pried apart from the inside. Eight months—no, almost nine—I’ve spent locked away, hidden from the world, and the weight of my confinement presses down on me like a stone. Have I ever done this before.. I don’t know anything… Is anyone still searching for me? Is anyone still thinking of me at all?I used to believe that if I held on if I obeyed, someone would come. But time has stretched thin, my hope unraveling with each passing day. No one has come. No one has saved me. And now, I wonder if my child—this innocent life inside me—will ever know anything other than this cold, empty room.A girl or a boy? I don’t know. Dr. M
ElizabethPain.That’s the first thing I feel when I wake up. A deep, gnawing ache radiates through my body, searing, unbearable. My eyelids feel too heavy, my limbs like lead. My head throbs, my throat is dry. The sterile scent of antiseptic and something faintly metallic lingers in the air.Where am I?My breath comes in shallow gasps. I try to move, but the agony shoots through me, pinning me down. A shadow looms above me, a man in scrubs. He’s speaking, but the words are muffled, floating just beyond my comprehension.“Miss? Can you hear me?”I try to focus, blinking against the harsh hospital lights. The room is full of people, doctors, nurses. I hear the steady beep of a monitor beside me. Another voice, softer but urgent.“Miss, do you know your name? Do you know where you are?”My name? My mind is blank, empty. It’s like grasping at smoke.I don’t answer. Instead, I reach down, my trembling hand brushing over my stomach. A sudden wave of terror grips me.“My baby,” I choke out
ElizabethThe sun is just beginning to set, casting warm golden light through the hospital window when Michael walks in. His smile is easy and genuine, the kind that could put anyone at ease. I look up at him from where I sit, cradling my son in my arms, and offer a small, hesitant smile in return."Jane," he says, his voice soft. "I spoke to the doctors. They're ready to discharge you and the baby."I tense at his words. I should be happy, relieved even. Instead, I feel an overwhelming sense of dread. I have nowhere to go, no idea who I am or what waits for me outside these sterile white walls. I look down at my son, his tiny fingers curled into fists, his chest rising and falling with each small breath."That's good news," I murmur, but my voice lacks conviction. "I just... I don’t know where to go."Michael steps closer, lowering himself to sit on the chair beside my bed. He reaches out, hesitating for a moment before taking my hand in his. His touch is warm, and grounding."That’s
ElizabethI'm sitting in Michael’s office, my fingers flying over the keyboard as I type out the last of the emails for the day. The soft hum of the air conditioning fills the room, and for the first time in months, I feel a sense of normalcy. Three months have passed since I gave birth to my son, two months since I took Michael up on his offer to work at his company. Now, I go by Jane, a name that doesn’t feel like mine but has become my reality.Michael is sitting across from me, a pleased smile on his face. “Jane, I have to say, you’re a natural at this. I wouldn’t be surprised if you ended up running this company one day.”I let out a small laugh. “Maybe I was a CEO in my past life.”Michael chuckles, shaking his head. “You joke, but I mean it. You’ve adapted so well, and I’m proud of you. You’re not letting fear hold you back.”I meet his gaze and offer a small nod. “I have to create a better life for my son. I won’t let my past—or my lack of memory—define me.”Before Michael can
Elizabeth BellI watch myself pressing the makeup sponge to my bruised cheek. The mirror is unforgiving, reflecting back a face I barely recognise, hidden beneath layers of foundation. My black eye stands out despite everything I try to mask it with.How did I get here?How did I let things go so wrong?"Elizabeth," Christopher’s voice cuts through the silence, sharp and angry.“Hurry the fuck up in there. Don’t make me wait. And make sure you look presentable. I don’t need people asking questions.”I swallow hard, forcing down the anger that rises every time he talks to me like that. I answer him quietly, "I’m done."Standing up, I smooth the glittering black dress clinging to my body, its sequins catching the light.My hair is a glossy sheet of black that falls to my shoulders, and my hazel eyes—once full of life—look dull now. I swipe a finger over my red lips, fixing the lipstick. I know, objectively, I look beautiful. But right now, it feels like a mask.I step out of the room an
ElizabethI'm sitting in Michael’s office, my fingers flying over the keyboard as I type out the last of the emails for the day. The soft hum of the air conditioning fills the room, and for the first time in months, I feel a sense of normalcy. Three months have passed since I gave birth to my son, two months since I took Michael up on his offer to work at his company. Now, I go by Jane, a name that doesn’t feel like mine but has become my reality.Michael is sitting across from me, a pleased smile on his face. “Jane, I have to say, you’re a natural at this. I wouldn’t be surprised if you ended up running this company one day.”I let out a small laugh. “Maybe I was a CEO in my past life.”Michael chuckles, shaking his head. “You joke, but I mean it. You’ve adapted so well, and I’m proud of you. You’re not letting fear hold you back.”I meet his gaze and offer a small nod. “I have to create a better life for my son. I won’t let my past—or my lack of memory—define me.”Before Michael can
ElizabethThe sun is just beginning to set, casting warm golden light through the hospital window when Michael walks in. His smile is easy and genuine, the kind that could put anyone at ease. I look up at him from where I sit, cradling my son in my arms, and offer a small, hesitant smile in return."Jane," he says, his voice soft. "I spoke to the doctors. They're ready to discharge you and the baby."I tense at his words. I should be happy, relieved even. Instead, I feel an overwhelming sense of dread. I have nowhere to go, no idea who I am or what waits for me outside these sterile white walls. I look down at my son, his tiny fingers curled into fists, his chest rising and falling with each small breath."That's good news," I murmur, but my voice lacks conviction. "I just... I don’t know where to go."Michael steps closer, lowering himself to sit on the chair beside my bed. He reaches out, hesitating for a moment before taking my hand in his. His touch is warm, and grounding."That’s
ElizabethPain.That’s the first thing I feel when I wake up. A deep, gnawing ache radiates through my body, searing, unbearable. My eyelids feel too heavy, my limbs like lead. My head throbs, my throat is dry. The sterile scent of antiseptic and something faintly metallic lingers in the air.Where am I?My breath comes in shallow gasps. I try to move, but the agony shoots through me, pinning me down. A shadow looms above me, a man in scrubs. He’s speaking, but the words are muffled, floating just beyond my comprehension.“Miss? Can you hear me?”I try to focus, blinking against the harsh hospital lights. The room is full of people, doctors, nurses. I hear the steady beep of a monitor beside me. Another voice, softer but urgent.“Miss, do you know your name? Do you know where you are?”My name? My mind is blank, empty. It’s like grasping at smoke.I don’t answer. Instead, I reach down, my trembling hand brushing over my stomach. A sudden wave of terror grips me.“My baby,” I choke out
ElizabethThe rain pounds against the thin metal roof, a steady, hollow drumming that fills the silence of my tiny prison. I sit on the edge of the creaky cot, rubbing my swollen stomach, tracing slow, absentminded circles over the taut skin. My body aches in ways I never thought possible, my back throbbing, my ankles swollen, my ribs feeling like they are being pried apart from the inside. Eight months—no, almost nine—I’ve spent locked away, hidden from the world, and the weight of my confinement presses down on me like a stone. Have I ever done this before.. I don’t know anything… Is anyone still searching for me? Is anyone still thinking of me at all?I used to believe that if I held on if I obeyed, someone would come. But time has stretched thin, my hope unraveling with each passing day. No one has come. No one has saved me. And now, I wonder if my child—this innocent life inside me—will ever know anything other than this cold, empty room.A girl or a boy? I don’t know. Dr. M
Elizabeth The common room hums with a low murmur of voices, the occasional scrape of a chair against the tile floor, the shuffle of slippers as patients wander aimlessly.I sit in the corner, book in hand, though I haven't turned a page in the last ten minutes. My eyes skim over the words, but I don’t absorb them. I’ve learned to pretend—pretend to be cooperative, pretend to trust Dr. Maggie, pretend I’m nothing more than ‘Jane,’ a quiet, submissive patient who no longer questions why she’s here. But I’m not Jane. And I’ll never be. The moment I let my guard down, the moment I stop pretending, they’ll make sure I never leave this place. So I wait. I watch. I listen. Then, something changes. A commotion stirs outside the common room. Footsteps—urgent, heavy. Voices, low but firm. I lift my head. Across the room, Dr. Maggie storms in, her face pale, eyes darting around like she’s expecting someone to jump out and grab her. “Come with me, Jane. Now.” Her voice is sharp,
Elizabeth“Who knew Seattle had so many psychiatric hospitals?” Eric’s voice cuts through the tense silence as he thumbs through the list on his phone, the light from the screen illuminating his face in the dim confines of my car. I glance at him from the driver’s seat, exhaustion weighing heavily on both of us. The rain streaks down the windshield, the rhythmic tapping a sharp contrast to the frustration brewing between us. “I’m starting to think that we might not find her, I mean what if they moved her somewhere else?” I mutter, gripping the steering wheel tighter. My knuckles are white, and my patience is nonexistent. Eric exhales loudly, his head dropping back against the seat. “None of the hospitals have confirmed or denied her presence. It's the same rehearsed answers every time: ‘We can’t share patient information. Privacy laws. Blah, blah, blah.’” “What the hell are we going to do?” I snap, my frustration boiling over. Eric doesn’t answer immediately, his mind churn
SebastianThe cottage sits in a clearing, its weathered wooden exterior blending into the dense background. The air is cool, and heavy with the scent of damp earth and pine. I sit on the old porch steps, nursing a tumbler of coffee in one hand, my phone in the other. Eric leans against the railing, his sharp features drawn tight with frustration, while James, broad and rough around the edges, paces the dirt path in front of us, the gravel crunching beneath his boots. "What did they find?" James bellows, his Southern drawl thicker than usual, a clear sign he’s losing his patience. Eric sighs, running a hand through his hair. "The men went to the location where the video was taken," he begins. "Elizabeth was there. Witnesses say she was taken by two men. They work for some asylum. Beyond that, I don’t have many details." I interrupt, the weight of my own thoughts pressing against my chest. "Celeste knows I was sleeping with Elizabeth." Both men stop what they’re doing and star
ChristopherI storm into the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me. My coat slips from my shoulders, falling to the floor in a heap, but I don't care. My mind is too clouded with rage, and frustration gnawing at every fiber of my being. My chest tightens with every breath I take, and my hands are trembling—whether from anger or exhaustion, I don’t know anymore. Sebastian Valdez. That name alone makes my blood boil. He has taken everything from me—my company, my goddamn legacy. Bell Energies was my birthright, my family's empire, and now it's rotting in his filthy hands. I want to rip him apart, piece by piece, watch him suffer like I have these past few months. The thought consumes me, fuels my every waking moment. I stop in my tracks, my pulse pounding in my ears. A flash of red catches my eye. I freeze. The figure stands near the window, facing away from me, bathed in the soft glow of the city lights spilling through the curtains. Long, flowing red hair cascades dow
ElizabethI turn around slowly, her soft voice still playing in my ears. She stands there—tall, striking. Her red hair cascades over her pale shoulders, framing a face that feels oddly familiar. Her green eyes, bright yet holding something deeper, meet mine with a mix of curiosity and warmth. "Hey," I say, my voice unsure, testing the word on my tongue. "Hi," she replies with a friendly smile. "I'm Sarah." Sarah. The name hits me like a wave, crashing into my chest and leaving me breathless. I don’t know why, but it feels... significant. Familiar in a way that makes no sense. The connection is instant and electric, and I don't understand it. Sarah sits across from me, her movements light, almost too graceful for a place like this. "What’s your name?" she asks, her voice laced with an innocent curiosity like she’s eager to know me. I hesitate, a lump forming in my throat. "I... I don't remember," I admit, forcing a small, awkward smile. "They call me Jane here." Sa