Where was I? The room was cold and sterile, illuminated by blinding white lights. I could hear hushed voices and murmurs in the distance. Confusion clouded my mind as I tried to make sense of my surroundings.
"You have to go Reina. I can't stay anymore," a familiar voice echoed in my ears.
Ashlyn. What was she doing here? Why was she telling me to go? I felt even more bewildered as she retreated into the whiteness, leaving me with even more unanswered questions.
"Ashlynnn."
***
Slowly, I forced my eyes open, immediately wincing as the bright lights assaulted my senses. Blinking away the haze, I realized I was in a hospital room. Panic and frustration surged through me. What had that bitch gotten herself into now? And why on earth was I in a hospital?
"She's dead," a voice whispered.
"Poor thing. Being married to The Devil probably made her kill herself," another voice chimed in.
Kill herself? What the fuck? I would never do something so stupid. Only Ashlyn would... Oh shit! What has she done? I was always the one in control, immune to poison. Ashlyn rarely let me take over for extended periods of time, but now... I felt a newfound stability and control.
With my eyes still closed, I relied on my other senses to assess the situation.
"Wheel her to the morgue. A hearse will be sent soon," someone ordered.
"Tsk, tsk poor girl," another person lamented.
What the hell? They were planning to keep a living person with the dead? That was just fucking creepy. I needed to put an end to this insanity.
Summoning my strength, I forced my eyes open and whispered in a barely audible voice, "Water."
The doctors who had been observing me froze in shock, until I weakly raised my arm and tugged on one of their sleeves.
"Wate... r," I managed to croak out.
"She's awake!" one of the doctors exclaimed, clearly taken aback.
"You've got to be kidding! She's dead! We even detached the life support machine!"
Thirst now taking over, I tugged harder on the doctor's clothes, desperate for water. What the hell was wrong with these people? Had they never seen a person who was pronounced dead come back to life? Sheesh.
"She said something. I didn't hear properly," another doctor said.
This was becoming tiresome.
"Water, please," I repeated, my voice growing more insistent.
"She wants water!" the doctor shouted.
Finally, someone rushed over and held a cup of warm water to my lips. I sighed inwardly, wishing I had asked for it cold. But beggars can't be choosers.
"Thank you," I managed to say, surprising the doctors with my gratitude. What was with these people?
One of the doctors held out their fingers and asked, "How many fingers am I holding up, ma'am?"
"Five of them," I replied without missing a beat.
"It seems the poison didn't do any damage. Eye coordination and speech are intact. What's your name, ma'am?" the doctor inquired.
These people had no idea who I really was...
"Mrs. Ashlyn Alexander," I coolly replied.
"Memory intact as well," the doctor noted.
Another doctor stepped forward and asked, "Do you know me, ma'am?"
I stared at her face and smiled inwardly. This lady was Ashlyn's only friend and she worked in this hospital.
"Hey, Isabella."
Isabella gasped, covering her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes. Clearly, she was eternally grateful.
"I'm feeling a bit tired. What happened to me? Why am I in the hospital?" I questioned.
"Um..." Isabella hesitated, clearly unsure how to answer.
I almost chuckled at the doctor's hesitance and reluctance. Of course I knew what had happened to Ashlyn's body. She had been poisoned, but luckily, she had allowed me to take over. I was immune to poison, which worked in both our favors. Poor girl had suffered enough.
"You ingested something poisonous, Miss Ashlyn. That's why you are here. You were pronounced dead minutes ago. It's nothing short of a miracle that you're alive," the doctor finally responded.
"Dead? Pfft, you know I'm not that easy to bring down... Izzy," I scoffed.
Isabella paused, comprehending the situation. She now understood that it wasn't Ashlyn who was here, but me. My alter ego had taken the reins.
"Well, I feel fine now, so... Am I going to be discharged or what?" I asked, nonchalantly.
"Oh yes, but we would really like to keep you here for observation and more tests," the doctor insisted.
"Excuse me?" I raised an eyebrow.
"For observation reasons and tests. We want to make sure you're truly alright," the doctor explained.
"Well, I do feel fine, and you can monitor me from home. Just assign Izzy to check in on me once in a while," I suggested, not wanting to stay a moment longer in this damn hospital.
"Are you sure you aren't feeling dizzy or disoriented? Please, you have to make sure," the doctor pressed.
"No and no. The only thing I'm feeling now is exhausted and uncomfortable here. I don't like hospitals."
"Alright, we'll make some calls. You'll be picked up soon. Rest here for a while," the doctor conceded.
"Thank you so much," I replied with a genuine smile.
As the doctors made their exit, Isabella spoke up.
"I'd like to stay and monitor the patient," she asserted.
"Alright, Doctor Isabella. Please report if you notice any strange symptoms," the doctor instructed.
"Of course, Doctor Erin," Isabella replied.
Once alone, Isabella turned her attention to me.
"Is it really you?" she questioned.
I smiled warmly. Isabella was one of the few people who knew about my condition. I was Ashlyn's alter ego, living within her. I rarely surfaced, only emerging in dire circumstances, and I never stayed for long. But for Ashlyn to relinquish control for this long, it seemed that I would be staying put for quite some time.
"Yes, Isabella. It's me, Reina," I confirmed.
She sobbed and hugged me tightly, overwhelmed with emotion. Isabella was a soft-hearted soul, someone who both Ashlyn and I cherished. She stood by our side even when Ashlyn was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. Isabella was the best thing to happen to Ashlyn.
"It's so good to see you."
Isabella's eyes sparkled with anticipation. She knew, just as I did, that I had returned with a vengeance. Ashlyn had left a mess behind, and it was my duty to clean it up. But I wouldn't stop there. Oh no, I had something grand in mind.
"Welcome back Reina. Can't wait to see the hell you unleash this time," Isabella exclaimed, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
I chuckled softly, the fire of determination burning within me. "You just sit back and enjoy the show, hun. You're going to love every second of it."