004: Rebirth

MAYA

My brain struggled hard to comprehend it— whatever the fuck was going on.

First, Elenore pushed me. Then, I hit my head when I fell, and that was why I was seeing things that weren't real.

Like this beautifully developed room, Valtaria wouldn't be like this in two years. Those thoughts about Semtle must be messing with me.

But the image stirred, and the gorgeous pair of blue eyes staring at me had a face and could move. Now, he was reaching for my hand sympathetically. I shrank into myself, trying to contain brewing questions in my mind space.

“Where am I?!” I asked again, my tone more aggressive and defined as I tried to sit up.

The headache I felt was more aggressive than my emotions, as if I took a spanner to the head, and it knocked me back onto the soft bedding.

“It's okay, sweetheart,” he pacified. He was tall, nothing short of six feet three, and was now prancing the entrance, concerned with framing his toned features. “It's okay; the doctor will be here soon.”

What? “I don't need a doctor!” I leaped up. My head hurts like a bitch! “I need to get back home now! I want to go home!”

The man in question rushed to me and snatched me into a hug that almost stole away the little life I had managed.

“Please, just stay still, Mara! It will be over soon, I promise!”

I jerked away, disgusted, angry, confused, and conflicted. The emotions hit me in shades. And I saw terror take over his expression.

“Let go of me! I'm not Mara!” I grunted. “My name is Maya, and I'm from Valtaria. Elenore pushed me off the damned stairs. She found out!”

He looked at me like I was hysterical, the same expression one would have if a loved one had gone cuckoo. Luckily, I didn't know him or gave a fuck what he thought of me.

I waved a dismissive hand. “You know what? Call the Alpha! Just call him, and he'll know who I am, this isn't—”

I lifted my head to see tears welling in his eyes. That gave me more headaches.

“What the hell is going on? Who even are you? Why are you—” I tore the drip out of my hand. “What am I even doing here?!”

“I am your husband!” he declared, frantically searching my eyes for a hint of recognition. His shoulder slumped when he could find one. “You don't remember me, honeybunch? It's me, Atlas. I am…your husband, baby. I am your love. Atlas.”

My lips fell open and stayed ajar. I wasn't the crazy one here, certainly. I eyed him. “What hospital is this? Are you supposed to be in a ward, too?”

“No, Mara—”

He stepped closer, and I backed into the wall. My head was killing me, and I just realized the tightness I felt was from bandages wrapped around it.

I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry, Mara. I should have been home sooner! I'm sorry I left you all by yourself! I am your husband. I swear!”

The door swung open just then, and some lab coat officials waltzed in. I was forced back into bed, and no one was listening to me in no time! No one.

I was pumped full of injections that had me limp but not strong enough to kill my brain and have it stop screeching. I had lights in my eyes and pins in my body.

The man— Atlas, was present throughout every process, loosening his tie a little more till they were done.

“I swear, I'm not the person you're trying to find! I'm…not Mara, I swear…” I groaned, feeling an ache in my joints. “I'm not…her.”

“Just focus on getting better,” the doctor told me while his nurse scribbled on her notepad.

“Mr Atlas. Can we talk?” The doctor asked.

“Tell me right here, I'm not leaving her,” He responded firmly. “Please. Will it be detrimental to her!”

“No, not at all.” The doctor threw me a passing glance. “I'm afraid Mara's fall in the bathroom had resulted in more than just the physical injuries.”

“Elenore pushed me…” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. Whatever they pumped into me had my consciousness waning by the second.

The room spun on its own.

He continued. “She suffered a significant blow to the head, causing temporary memory loss. Mara's memory of the past few years including your marriage and life together are…fragmented, so she may not recall you or other significant events.”

The room held its breath, and I still couldn't move a muscle. My brain screamed the words at them, but my lips dared not convey them. I remembered every damn detail.

Atlas's eyes widened. “How could this happen? Will she…ever remember me? Will she—”

The doctor nodded sympathetically. “We'll do all we can, but it is essential to recognize that recovery is unpredictable.”

“Oh…” Atlas seemed stunned. I just wanted to go home! Valtaria was where my home was. Where the hell was I?!

“One more thing, test results show she's two weeks pregnant. Congratulations,” he said to Atlas, and relief washed over me amidst the confusion.

My baby was fine. That was all I heard before giving in to the force and slamming my eyes shut.

***

I woke up to nature's call; my bladder might burst. My body still felt limp, and my throat was dry from all that screaming.

I didn't wake up in my basement or a coffin. It was not a dream. My chest heaved, and goosebumps rose on my skin.

The man named Atlas had fallen asleep on a couch in this vast hospital room. Great.

I snuck up as quietly as possible, carefully detangling the wires connected to my arms. They hurt. And I needed to get out of here, out of this clusterfuck, and find my way home.

Did I even have a home? I just needed to get the hell out of here! Fuck Arzhel! Fuck Elenore! I had no idea what was happening, and it gnawed at my soul. Who was the Mara they talked about!?

Without hesitation, I found my way out of the room and walked down the corridor noiselessly. It was big and exquisite! I'd never seen anything like this in Valtaria, ever.

This wasn't a dream. I crossed the barrier, and I was in Seattle! This had to it— that glorious place we were never allowed to talk about, or dream of!

The council would have me burnt, just like my father! I quickened my pace and marched down the long path. I had to be strong from my child and find an answer to all these questions.

Semtle. How did I get here? Was this Elenore's genius plan to get me away from Arzhel completely? I found myself at an intersection. This building was endless, accompanied by questioning gazes from nurses buzzing by.

Hurriedly, I turned left, and my eyes hit my reflection on a glass window.

Time paused, and I choked out, venturing closer, completely owned by blistering shock! “My scar…” I whispered, my fingers crawling to that side of my face.

It was gone completely. Like it never even existed.

WHAT. THE. HECK?

And that wasn't all. As Identical as this face was, it…wasn't mine. I had brown eyes, not the alluring blue that stared back at me. My face was toned an advanced version of all my past features.

I…was beautiful.

That was a word I never associated with myself, a word I'd only hoped to be, but it livened in manifestation right before me.

Who was I? Where has Maya gone!?