Within the hour, I'm leaving from the hospital. Dr. Shultz hands me over to William and Valarie, who guide me to their sleek black Mustang with tinted windows. As we step outside, paparazzi cameras flash, momentarily blinding me. William opens the door, and I slide into the back seat, grateful to escape the relentless lights.
"Alright, Tai. Ready to head home?" Valarie asks from the front as William settles into the driver's seat.
"Yeah, I guess so," I reply quietly. "Where exactly is 'home'?"
"Here on the island," William explains, starting the car. "When we saw the crash on the news, we rented a place to stay until you're well enough to travel. We didn't want to move too soon in your condition."
I clasp my hands, watching Dr. Shultz's silhouette shrink in the rearview mirror. My chest tightens as I struggle to breathe steadily, anxiety still gnawing at me.
As we drive through town, curious eyes follow us from the streets. Soon, the bustling buildings give way to dense trees. The rhythmic motion of the car and the soothing greenery make me tired, and my eyelids grow heavy, pulling me into a dream.
In the dream, towering green trees surround me, and the scent of pine fills the air. Barefoot, I run through the forest, feeling the cool soil and branches brush against me. Joy fills me as I sprint toward a distant mansion, its lights glowing like beacons.
Suddenly, I feel watched. The mansion's lights flicker out, leaving me in darkness under the pale moon. My heart races and a primal fear grips me.
"Taaaii."
A whisper in my ear makes me turn. A dark cloud hovers before me, seeping into my chest like a burning fire. I gasp for air that isn't there.
My eyes sting and burn, forcing them shut. When I open them, I'm staring into a mirror showing a girl—me, but with black, tar-like tears streaming from pitch-black eyes. Smoke pours from her mouth and nose. She tilts her head, revealing a twisted smile full of sharp teeth.
Two decaying hands break through the mirror, nails digging into my skin.
"Tai!" Valarie's voice jolts me awake. I'm drenched in cold sweat, the breeze from the window cooling the beads on my face. I sit up, undo my seatbelt, and glance at William and Valarie, their faces filled with concern.
"Are you okay? Do you have a fever?" Valarie reaches back and places a hand on my forehead.
"I'm fine," I say, pulling away and exiting the car. I see the hurt flash across her face and instantly regret it. "I promise I'm alright," I add with a smile. She smiles back, and we walk up the stairs to a large blue frosted door. William unlocks it and gestures for me to go inside.
The house is massive, with white bricks and bushes lining the long driveway up the cliffside. We head up the stairs, and William unlocks the door for us.
Inside, the living room boasts a silver fireplace emitting blue flames. A black sectional and loveseat sit on a white rug with black embroidery. Glass side tables flank the couches, and a glass coffee table in front of the sectional holds blue roses. I walk past the living room and up the stairs. William locks the door behind us.
"Go ahead and get settled. Your room's the last one at the back of the hall," Valarie chuckles. "We'll start dinner—something better than hospital food."
I continue up the stairs and see my room at the end of the hall. Past four other closed doors—two on each side—I push open the door to reveal a serene space.
The walls are painted soft blue and adorned with intricate white floral designs. Sunlight streams through three bow windows draped in luxurious blue silk curtains, casting a warm glow. A queen-sized bed with a tufted white leather headboard sits against the far wall, dressed in a thick quilt that mirrors the floral designs on the walls.
Framed photos of Valarie, William, and a younger me laughing in the grass are arranged neatly on the headboard. A white desk holds an Apple laptop and an iPod Touch, and a blue bowl holds pens and scissors. Shelves above the desk hold geography and math books.
In the corner stands a tall dresser with a sleek fifty-inch flat-screen TV mounted above it. The drawers have neatly folded T-shirts and sweatpants, offering comfort and familiarity.
I walk to the window and look out at the swaying trees and a path leading into the woods toward a small lake. With a deep sigh, I flop onto the bed, letting the plush mattress and the soothing scent of vanilla envelop me.
A faint whisper lingers in my mind: Is this truly my new life?