Chapter 1

The car sped down the highway, its tires screeching in protest as it was now out of control. I was trapped, unable to do anything as the world around me became a blur. Tears streamed down my face as I frantically tried to search for an escape but it was no use. My phone suddenly rang and Kenneth's name flashed on the screen. I hesitated for a bit, my heart racing, before answering. "Kenneth.. Kenneth.. please help us. The brakes.. they're not working.”

"Aubrey, my love.” His voice came out gentle yet cold, sending shivers down my spine. “I'm afraid I had to take drastic measures.”

"What.. what do you mean?" I stammered, my mind racing with different thoughts. I knew what he was capable of, but he wouldn't go this far, right? ..I did not want to believe that my own husband.. no.

But his next words immediately shattered me. "I cut the brakes Aubrey, I had to ensure our little problem went away. You understand, don't you?" He paused, his tone dripping with malice. "You were going to go behind back, Aubrey. You were going to expose my secrets. I couldn't let that happen."

My phone slowly slipped from my trembling hand, my eyes now filled with tears.

"Aubrey, what did Kenneth say?” Victoria who was in the driver's seat, still trying to handle the steering asked.

But I'm frozen, unable to speak, unable to breathe.

"Aubrey, what is it?" Victoria asks again, her voice laced with concern. I turn to her, tears streaming down my face, my voice barely a whisper. "Kenneth.. he cut the breaks. He wants me dead."

Victoria's eyes immediately widen in shock. “Kenneth cut the breaks?!”

I slowly nodded, breaking into uncontrollable sobs. Suddenly, a shrill, ear piercing sound comes from nowhere, filling the car. I turn to my left and see that it was Victoria who had screamed, her eyes wide in horror as she gazed ahead. I followed her gaze and noticed that we were about to run off a bridge. I slowly shut my teary eyes, accepting my fate and knowing that there were no escapes. My husband who had claimed to love me had planned my death with his very own hands, but what pained me most was that, Victoria who had no involvement was also going to die.

Soon, a deafening and disorienting noise filled the air and then, everything went pitch dark.

••

~Aubrey

The haze of unconsciousness slowly lifted, like a veil being pulled away from my eyes. I blinked, and the blurry room gradually came into focus. The beeping sound of machines and the faint smell of antiseptics made me realise that I was in a hospital and with IV drips plunged deep into my veins.

As I struggled to sit up, a gentle voice suddenly broke the silence.“Oh my goodness, you're finally awake Mrs. Blackwood!"

Mrs. Blackwood?

I tried to speak, but my voice came out barely as a whisper. The nurse helped me sit up and handed me a glass of water. I sipped gratefully, feeling the cool liquid soothe my parched throat.

Soon memories began to resurface as I sipped the water, disoriented images of a car crash, a scream, and a lifeless body flashed through my mind but why couldn't I remember anything clearly? The more I tried to recall, the more my head spun.

"Can you help me to the toilet?" I asked, my voice still weak. The nurse nodded and assisted me out of bed, my legs trembling beneath me, unaccustomed to bearing my weight after such a long time of bederiding. Every step felt like a struggle, as if I was learning to walk again.

Once in the bathroom, I stared at the mirror, expecting to see my own reflection but the face staring back at me was unfamiliar, younger and prettier. A jolt of fear immediately coursed through me. Who was this person?

“Mrs. Victoria Blackwood?” The nurse called from behind and it finally dawned one me.. that name, it didn't belong to me, it belonged to Alexander Blackwood's wife, my husband's uncle.

A wave of panic instantly washed over me. What was happening? Why was I in her body? I stumbled backward and the nurse caught me by my waist. "Steady Mrs. Blackwood. You're still recovering."

But I wasn't recovering. I was lost. Trapped in someone else's life. I felt like a ghost possessing a body that was not mine.

The nurse guided me back to bed, her expression concerned. "Do you want me to call in any family member of yours? They've been waiting outside.”

My heart skipped a beat, not in anticipation but in fear. Unfortunately, before I could respond, the nurse stepped out and informed my so called family about my consciousness and soon, the door to the hospital room flung open with a loud bang.