When she tried to fight back, one of the officers hit her with the weapon he was holding and then she fainted. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself inside a dark cell.
The first thing she looked for was Kael, her pet and seeing him laying beside her, she sighed and brought it to her chest.
"I'm glad they didn't take you away from me," she whispered as she hugged it close to her chest.
Kayla thought back to everything that had happened before she fainted and pondered on it. Why did they call her an imposter? What do they mean by saying that Tyla has been dead for a year now, not only that, but she was also buried immediately.
Couldn't anyone remember her at all?
While she was thinking so hard about it, she began to hear approaching footsteps and then she stood up and faced the entrance.
"Is she awake?" A male voice asked.
Hearing the voice, she frowned. That voice sounded familiar, very much familiar.
"Yes sir," a lady replied and then the man approached the door.
That was when she saw the owner of the voice.
"Mike?" Kayla said, sounding happy and surprised at the same time. She was surprised because...
"What are you doing here?" She asked him.
"Who are you to address me with my name? Didn't they tell you that I am the commander?" Mike asked her rudely.
"Mike, it's me Kay— I mean Tyla," Kayla replied. She would have said her name completely but then she saw some officers standing close by, she could not expose her identity to anyone or she's doomed. "It's me, don't you remember?" She said, almost tearing up.
Mike was her boyfriend, they have known for many years. He has always been there for her, providing her with things her parents couldnt give her — love, attention, care, even material things... She never lacked anything because of him.
He even promised to marry her once everything settles down so why was he now acting strange?
"Tyla Nicole has been dead snd buried since a year ago," Mike said clearly. "How dare you claim to be her?"
"I am not claiming to be anyone!" Kayla said. "I am Tyla!"
Mike scoffed and then walked closer to the door.
"I know how it feels to be frustrated, Kay," he whispered. "Why did you come back? You could have remained dead or hidden somewhere. Everyone is doing good without you, do you hear me?"
Kayla stumbled backwards and dropped to the ground, her eyes widened in horror as Mike's words cut through her like a knife. How could he say such things? Didn't he remember their love, their promises, their dreams?
"Mike, what's going on?" Kayla whispered, her voice shaking. "Why are you acting like this? I'm telling you, it's me Kayla!"
Mike's expression didn't change. He just shook his head and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Kayla cried out, rushing to the door. "Mike, please! Don't leave me like this!"
But Mike just kept walking, disappearing from view. Kayla was left standing alone in the darkness, her heart shattered into a million pieces.
Kael, sensing her distress, rubbed against her leg, meowing softly. Kayla picked him up, holding him close as tears streamed down her face.
What was happening? Why didn't Mike recognize her? And what did he mean by "everyone is doing good without you"?
Kayla's mind was reeling with so many questions.
There was so many things she needed to know but there was no one to talk to her, they tagged her an imposter, the only person that was meant to listen to her has also broken her heart... Now, she was left with nothing.
She held Kael close, letting his soft purrs comfort her as she cried, soon, she found herself falling asleep in his comfort.
-----
Inside the office, Mike collapsed on his chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Commander, what should we do with the imposter?" The lady that followed him in asked him.
"Leaving her there is of no use," he replied.
"Then what should we do?" The lady asked him.
Mike didn't reply immediately but after some time, he spoke up.
"I'll handle it myself."
The lady didn't like his response but she did not complain and left the office. After she left, Mike pulled out a paper from his drawer, then he stood up and also left the office.
He walked back to the cell, the paper clutched in his hand. He stood outside the door, listening to the sound of Kayla's soft sobs. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come.
He opened the door and stepped inside. Kayla looked up, her eyes red-rimmed from crying, she had woken up and gone back to crying all over again.
Mike's heart twisted, but he pushed the feeling aside.
"Kayla," he said, his voice firm. "I'm willing to let you go, but there are conditions."
Kayla's eyes narrowed, but she nodded, hope flickering in her eyes.
"What are the conditions?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mike held out the paper. "You need to sign this."
Kayla hesitated, but Mike's expression was unyielding. She reluctantly took the paper, scanning the contents.
As she read, her eyes widened in horror. The conditions were impossible. She would have to give up everything - her life as an investigator, her family, her friends...
"No," she whispered, looking up at Mike. "I won't sign this."
Mike's expression didn't change. "You don't have a choice," he said. "Sign it, or stay here forever."
Kayla's eyes filled with tears as she stared at the paper. She knew she had no choice. With a shaking hand, she signed the paper.
As soon as she did, Mike's expression softened. He took the paper back, his eyes flicking over the signature.
"It's done," he said. "You're free to go."
Kayla stood up, Kael still clutched in her arms. She looked at Mike, her eyes searching for answers.
"Why?" she whispered. "Why are you doing this to me?"
Mike's expression hardened again. "Isn't it obvious to you that you are not needed? I don't know where you have been all this while that we thought you were dead but don't you feel that no one needs you? When you died, your family didn't look for you, they buried an empty casket in tje ground, no one bothered to know if you were really dead or not, no one bothered to know if you were alive and injured, no one looked for you! Not your father, not your mother, not even your siblings! To them, you were a load that needed to be taken care of, and when they received the information that you were dead, they were all relieved. The thing they did was dress Tyla as you and claimed you were seriously wounded and would never work as an investigator again. She is living her life just fine while you are here still claiming to be her. Isn't it just too obvious that your existence is no longer needed?" he said. "It is better if you just disappear for good, that way, your death will be a realistic truth."
Kayla's heart shattered into a million pieces as she realized the truth. All this while, no one really countered her as part of their lives.
"What about you, Mike?" She asked. "What is your thought?"
"Me?" He scoffed. "I don't need you as well," he replied. "I am only doing this because of the thing we had before and I am not going to do this again. Leave, hide somewhere or you can equally die."
Tears threathened to escape her eyes once more but Kayla forced them back. With a heavy heart, she stood up to leave.
"You will all regret this," she whispered and walked away with Kael tightly clutched in her arms. As she left, she knew she would never be able to go back to her old life.