I jerk out of sleep, panting heavily. My bed is drenched in sweat and the duvet lays crumpled on the floor.
I open my mouth to scream for my stepmother but realize my lungs are beginning to close up. I take in deep breaths as I try to revive myself. I know what is coming and in no time, I will be lying unconscious on the floor. I pat my chest as I ravage the room for my inhaler, searching the dresser, my closet and everywhere I can reach before my feeble body gives way.
I cough out a lump in my throat, throwing up blood as I close my eyes, pain shooting through my stomach and wracking my entire body.
'Not again, Eirlys. Not again' the voice in my head say to me as my knees buckle and I fall to the tiled floor. It's always been there, that voice. Most times, I'd mistake it for my subconscious but the vividness and impulsivity of the voice always made me wonder if I had another human in my body.
I shut my eyes, trying to steady myself on my knees when the door to my room suddenly flies open, a familiar scent wafting into my nostrils.
My stepmother rushes over to me as I try to make out a sentence but end up coughing up more blood on her pink, sleeveless gown. My hazy eyes find hers as they widen in horror and shock. I give her a feeble smile in an attempt to reassure her.
"Eirlys! Look at me! Someone, please call the doctor!" she screams and I resist the urge to cover my ears, unable to even if I tried. She shakes my body vigorously as my vision begins to blur and I'm unable make out a coherent image.
'You are such a weakling, Eirlys. You could have died any other day but you choose today of all days. Guess what? I'm not dying with a feeble soul like yourself, so you better get up.' Liora, the voice in my head, dryly says.
Anger surges through my body as I register the word 'weakling' in my head. I can be anything but a weakling? I would rather die by arson than be one.
Rhea, my stepmother, continues to scream as I forcibly shake my body from her grasp and haggardly stand on my feet, surprise taking over her face. I step away from her, holding my chest and shutting my eyes as I try my hardest to hold my body up with the only strength I can muster.
"Eirlys?" her voice, a mix of fear and uncertainty.
I open my eyes, staggering sideways as I violently wag a finger at her, an indication to warn her to stay away. Another figure enters the room, screaming and rushing towards me. I back up as fast as I can and in one swift motion, I feel my body fall forward as my back collides with the open door of my closet. The last thing I remember as the darkness consume me was my father's hand connecting with my bare cheek as I fell into his arm.
'Beep, beep, beep.'
The continuous, rhythmic sounds from the cardiac monitor disrupts my already scattered thoughts, pissing me off even further. The side of my head pulsates loudly as I try to open my eyes. I could hear voices from afar. Though very low, I could make out the voice of Serene, my best friend, talking in hushed tone to someone else. I blank out the voice and focus on opening my eyes. I press them shut as my head continue to hurt and forcefully open them, regretting the action instantly. The room is brightly lit with white walls covering the entire place. The annoying cardiac monitor beside me begins to beep irregularly, alerting the people I didn't know were in the room. I close my eyes and use both of my hands to support myself to seat on the hospital bed.
Someone frantically runs over to me and calls my name whilst holding me. I open my eyes to meet the blue ones of my stepmother. She looks worried and relieved at the same time
Serene follows behind her, worry etched on her laminated brows.
"Eirlys, are you okay?" she asks.
I shake my head sideways as I gesture to the cardiac monitor that was still beeping.
"Serene, please get the doctor." She says to my best friend that is already dashing out the door.
Tears form in Rhea's eyes as she restricts herself from crying. I continue to stare at her blankly, waiting for her to get herself together.
"I'm so sorry Eirlys."
I squeeze her hand in approval, unable to understand what it was she's apologizing for.
The doctor walks in a hurry, almost missing a step. He checks my heartbeat and lifts my eyelids to check my eyes. I eye him as he lifts my hand up and dish out words I can't comprehend to the nurse beside him.
"Can you talk?" he looks at me expectantly.
"No." I answer, visibly irritated by his question. I did not understand why and how I am in a hospital room..
Serene holds back a laugh as the doctor nods and looks at Rhea, gesturing for her to come with him.
"I'll be back soon" she squeezes my hand, looking over at my best friend before following the doctor out.
She walks over to me, concern etched on her face.
"How are you feeling now?" she asks as she sits next to me on the small hospital bed.
"Not good in the slightest" I push myself up with my hand to sit properly and rest my head on the wall. My head is banging and my body feels weaker than it usually is. my stomach rumble with hunger, eliciting unanimous sighs from both of us. She chuckles, walking out to the chair close to the door and picking up some brown paper bags that I assume contains food.
I open the bags as she drops them and sit, welcoming the delicious smell of pasta and meatballs as my stomach make some noise in approval. As i chew on my food, memories of what happened rushes back to me and I stop mid-air, trying to understand how I got to the hospital.
"Serene, what did the doctor say is wrong with me?" I question, suddenly aware of the situation.
She flinches and look everywhere but me, something she does when she's nervous.
"Uhm, I wasn't there but I think—"the door opens, interrupting her.
I look up to see who it was and my breath hitches as the food in my hand abruptly drops, my eyes widening in raw fear. My heartbeat quickens and my vision blurs. The figure continues to walk over to me as I scramble in fear to leave the bed, failing woefully as I fall and hit my head on the floor before being consumed by darkness.