Chapter Five

Lyla's POV:

My heart shattered as the last of the mask slipped off, revealing the unmistakable features of my own sister.

Marielle stood there, her expression cold and unreadable. For a moment, time seemed to stretch. The world around me disappeared, the reality of the situation was impossible to comprehend. 

How could it be her? 

I have always known how envious Marielle is of me, but I never expected her to do something so evil.

"Why?" My voice cracked as the question escaped my lips, but Marielle didn’t respond. Instead, she just stood there, her eyes cold and distant, as if she couldn't hear me at all.

Suddenly I felt the current of the water pull me in. The water was thick with debris, the fish—no, the piranhas—already closing in. I felt them, sharp teeth gnawing at my skin, tearing at her flesh.

Every inch of my body screamed in pain as the creatures latched on, ripping into my skin. My body went numb, but it didn’t stop the agony. Blood clouded the water, mingling with the seaweed around her. My lungs screamed for air, but I couldn't catch a breath. 

This is it. I’m not going to make it.

The blackness started to take over, the world around me fading. My body sank deeper, the fish continuing their assault. 

My vision blurred. My senses dulled.

And then… nothing.

—

When I woke up, the sterile smell of a hospital hit my nose. I blinked rapidly, as I took in my surroundings. Soft white lights above me, the faint beeping of machines—I am alive. But that didn’t make sense.

I looked around, the room spinning as my eyes adjusted. Several equipments surrounded me, IV drips, heart monitors—I was in a hospital. But why? How?

I stared at the drip attached to my arm, my throat tightened. And then it hit me. My face—my body—I felt the bandages, the rough gauze that covered her skin. My hands trembled as I reached up to feel my face, my fingers brushed over the tight fabric that wrapped around her like a cocoon. 

I let out a choked sob, tears falling freely.

No. No, this can’t be happening.

I cried louder, the weight of everything came crashing down on me. I gripped the side of the bed, trying to push myself up, but the effort made me dizzy. One of the machines beeped louder, the sound broke the silence. I slid off the bed, falling onto the floor.

My hands scrambled across the cold tiles, reaching for something—anything—when suddenly the door burst open. A nurse and a doctor rushed in.

"Miss, you need to stay in bed." The nurse said, gently trying to lift me.

I fought against their touch, my mind spinning. "Who brought me here? Who saved me?"

The doctor’s voice was calm, yet there was something in his eyes that made me pause. "I did." He said softly. "My colleagues and I were camping nearby. We heard strange sounds and came to check. We found you… floating in the river."

My breath caught in her throat. “You saved me? You didn't leave me?”

The doctor shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips. “I couldn't. The others wanted to, but I couldn't. I'm sorry it took so long but I am glad we found you.”

My mind was a blur, but I knew one thing for sure. “But… my face? My body? Why all the bandages?” I asked, my voice breaking.

“The fishes in the River...” The doctor began softly. “They ate away at your skin, I had to perform plastic surgery to repair all the damages done to your face.” 

I tried to sit up but my body was too weak. “I don't have any money.” I whispered, panic rising in her chest. “How can I pay for all this?” 

The doctor's voice was kind. “I will never take money from you, Lyla.” 

My eyes widened in confusion . “How… How do you know me?” I stuttered.

He paused, his gaze softening. “We know each other quite well, Lyla.” He hesitated then spoke again. “I am glad we are meeting again after all these years.”

“What… wh..what do you mean—.” I began.

And then it hit me.

My child?

My hand shot to my stomach instinctively, but there was nothing there. Nothing. I stared at my empty hands, trying to feel something—anything—that would tell me my baby was still with me.

My heart hammered in my chest as I looked up at the doctor, my voice trembling, barely more than a whisper. "Where’s my baby?" I asked, the words feeling foreign as they left my mouth. "What happened to my baby?"

The doctor’s face tightened. He sighed, his eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite read. Pity? Sympathy?

"I’m so sorry, Lyla.” He said quietly. "You lost the baby."

The moment the words left his mouth, I felt the world shift beneath me. I blinked, trying to process it, but it felt like the earth had just opened up beneath me and swallowed me whole. Lost the baby?

"No." I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief. I didn’t want to hear it. I couldn’t hear it. "No, that can’t be true." But the doctor didn’t say anything else. His silence was a confirmation I didn’t want to accept. My fingers dug into my stomach, searching for some sign that it was all a mistake. 

But there was nothing.

Nothing.

A sharp, piercing ache bloomed in my chest, radiating out until it consumed me entirely. It wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. My baby... my baby was supposed to be my reason to survive. My reason to fight.

But now, nothing.

The pain hit me so hard I couldn’t breathe. I opened my mouth to scream, but nothing came out at first. When it finally did, it was a guttural, heart-wrenching cry that tore from deep inside me. I wasn’t sure if it was from my chest or my soul—it was just pure, raw agony.

I reached up in a daze and yanked the IV drip from my arm, the sting barely registering. Blood dripped down my wrist, but I didn’t care. Nothing mattered. I pushed everything away from me—everything around me—shoving the equipment to the floor with a crash. I didn’t care. I didn’t care about the mess or the pain.

I just... lost my baby.

The sound of the nurse’s voice barely reached me. "Dr. Justin, should I sedate her?"

Justin?

Could he be my Justin Frost?