005: Mara Of Semtle

MAYA

I backed away from the mirror in a frenzy, my finger pulling on my skin, pinching to see if I'd wake up. I didn't.

I wasn't Maya. This wasn't my face. Or my body. This wasn't Valtaria. What was going on?

“Okay, calm down…” I muttered breathlessly. “Calm down and think, Maya. Think.”

Like it happened an hour ago, I remembered everything. I was with Elenore; she snatched the letter and pushed me and—

Was I dead? Was this the afterlife? This place was too pretty to be hell.

No. No. This was Semtle, and I'd…woken up in a body that wasn't mine. To a life I didn't understand and a husband I most definitely didn't marry, but my child. I am still pregnant.

My sanity was withering like flowers in the winter, then I burst into a run and found myself at the door, the main exit, it seemed. I didn't look like I should be allowed to walk around, especially not the bandage wrapped around my head like a mummy.

“Ma'am, are you supposed to be here?” One of the security asked me as I tried to get past the door.

The walls were closing in on me. My chest tightened, and breathing was a chore.

“Tell me exactly where I am right,” I cried to him

“Please.”

His brows pulled up in concern, and the more he pulled closer, the faster I restarted, sandwiched to the glass door.

“Bane's Private Hospital,” he mentioned in a questioning tone as if I should know. “Let me get you back to your ward, please.”

“Bane's general hospital,” I echoed. “In where? Where is this place!”

“Semtle, Mrs Bane. You're in Semtle. Look, let me—”

Mrs Bane. Does that mean…? “He owns this hospital? That man, Atlas? He owns this property?”

“Yes, ma'am. Your husband…owns pretty much half of everything in Semtle.” He paused, letting his eyes drift over my expression. “Are you okay? I suggest we go back.”

My palpitant heart would burst soon, and the clamoring voices in my head screamed one thing. Run. And that was exactly what I did. With the throbbing headache and the wicked cold-like shards of broken glass beneath my feet, I fled from the hospital.

The security gave chase, but I was better at hiding. I was in an amazing cityscape, bustling with cars and tall buildings. My soul feared I'd be crushed. The fear was venomous. Unlike in Valtaria, where Vehicles could be a rare sight, they pooled the streets here.

My lips hung open as I took in the thrilling sight. This was where my mother had left us for; how do I blame her for such? I reached to feel my locket but was met with an empty neckline, more plum than mine.

Smoother, healthier skin and collar bones protected by meaty flesh, unlike the hollow bones that could hold water that I had.

The locket was lost, it must have been back at the hospital.

“Move it!” Someone screeched in my ear as they bumped into me and moved past. My entire body trembled with pain, and the wind was cruel.

The city was filled with light, they didn't conserve like Valtaria and they had a lot of people. The duskborns were more than I'd imagined and they could definitely wipe us out if we were discovered.

“Out of my way!” Another yelled at me from behind, and I was shoved hard to the sidewalk, where I bruised my knees.

I plummeted, and a sigh lurched out of me. My eyes brimmed with warm tears, but I wouldn't let them fall. The passersby walked with questioning looks on their faces. Could they sense that I was different?

Where was Arzhel? Was he home already, relieved that I was gone? He never wanted me anyway. My heart hurts. It fucking hurts.

Just then, glaring lights hit my eyes—the headlights of a vehicle. They flashed across me, illuminating the desolate landscape. Panic set in. I scrambled to my feet, intent on fleeing, but my legs trembled beneath me.

“Hey! It's me! Mara, it's me!” a deep voice called out, one that I happened to recognize.

I spun around, squinting against the glare. His figure emerged from the car, tall and imposing— Atlas.

“Mara, I have been looking all over for you. What are you doing here?” His words were painted in concern, making my stomach clench.

My heart skipped a beat. “I...I don't know," I stuttered, taking a step back.

Atlas rushed to my side, grasping my elbow. “Are you okay?”

I hesitated, unsure how to respond.

“I…don't know.”

His grip tightened. “Let me take you back,” Atlas urged, his voice soft.

“No!” I jerked free, alarm rising. “I don't know you.”

I raised my head to see that passersby had begun to gather, all of them seemingly interested in recording on their devices. They all had one, unlike Valtaria.

“Is that Atlas Bane?”” Someone whispered.

“What's he doing out here with her?” another voice chimed in. “Who's the lady? She looks familiar.”

Atlas's eyes flicked toward the onlookers before refocusing on me. “Mara, please,”he coaxed.

But I stood firm, fear and uncertainty paralyzing me.

Without warning, Atlas swept me into his arms. “Everything's fine,” he whispered against my ear.

I struggled, but he held tight.

“We're going back to the hospital,” he declared.

The crowd parted as Atlas carried me toward the car. I felt trapped, unable to escape this stranger who claimed to know me better than I knew myself.

As we drove away, Atlas's reassuring words did little to calm my racing heart. Who was this man, really? And why couldn't I remember?

We arrived at the hospital and I was back to the bed and the plaguing, sickly stench. It smelt of death and medicine.

Atlas was seated close to me, reciting memories of our last vacation—

No, his vacation with Mara, the owner of this body, when I heard noise from outside of a wailing woman. “Where's my daughter?!” She cried before bursting through the doors.

I lifted my head and met her eyes. The familiarity struck me in the chest as we held eye contact. She was the same woman in my locket.

The same exact person.

My lips quivered. “M-mother?”