Tragedy
Sage POV
I finished packing up the clothes into their suitcases and heaved a sigh of relief, just as Mother came walking down the stairs, an irritable expression on her face. Tonight is the night. The one we've all been waiting for. I can feel the excitement in the air, even though I know better than to hope that it's going to go my way. After everything I've sacrificed, all the hard work I've put into the company, I can only hope that it's paid off and that I'll be rewarded, even as part of me knows all too well that Sapphire, my fraternal twin and outgoing sister, is the one that is most likely to be the one called up on the stage. After all, I am too quiet, too meek, too introverted to be the face of an important company. Why should it matter that it's been my ideas, and my proposals over the last two years that have propelled the Silverspoons company into an expanding and even more successful company than it's ever been?
"Are you almost finished? We're going to be late Sage" my mother snaps, raising her sunglasses and squinting at me.
I gesture at the suitcases. "I'm done," I say quietly.
After all, we do have staff that could have dealt with this, but my mother and father always insisted that I take care of everything, simply because they could not bear to think that some of their precious items might go missing at the hands of a light-fingered servant. The horror of such an atrocity happening!
"Finally" my mother complains, rolling her eyes and putting her sunglasses back down "Tonight is going to be the biggest event that our company, Elite Fashion has ever seen. It's important that we get there to show our investors just how much we care. They are all eagerly waiting for our speech and to see who takes up the role of CEO."
I nod silently. She hasn't alluded to who has taken over the role. She and my father have claimed it's to be a surprise. Another torment of theirs to foist upon their daughters. Our whole lives have been spent in competition, Sapphire and me. It all boils down to this. The ultimate prize that has been dangled in front of us since we were young enough to understand what was waiting for us.
We walk downstairs and out the front of the hotel, aware of the curious gazes of the passers-by. As one of the wealthiest families in the country, we are well known and I can see several people pointing towards us out of the corner of my eye as I do my best to ignore them. The driver opens the door and my mother is the first to climb in, my father sliding in beside her.
"You can sit in the front with the driver," my mother says flatly as I stand there hesitating "I want to spend some alone time with your father discussing the event."
In other words, she didn't want to be overheard I thought numbly, quietly going to the passenger side of the limousine and opening the door to let myself in. The driver gave me a pitying look but I turned my head quickly to look out the window, my mother putting the privacy screen up to prevent me from speaking to her or my father.
Sapphire is already waiting for us. She had no interest in coming to speak to the jewelry designer. Then again, she shows only enough interest in the company to keep mother and father from disqualifying her as the next CEO. I'm tired. Drained. Endless business meetings over the last few days have sapped what little energy I have left. I'm prepared for the event, but part of me wonders why. A cynical part of me wonders what the point is when Sapphire has always been the favorite, the cherished daughter, and the one most likely to win this neverending competition.
Don't let yourself give up just yet I scolded myself, sometimes even the underdog has to win.
I give a wry smile, looking down the long road we're traveling on, the headlights of the limousine flickering in the darkness, due to the absence of streetlights. It's peaceful and I yawn, before I hear the sound of a loud engine coming up behind us. Somebody is impatient to get to their destination, I think frowning to myself as the car gets closer and closer. I glance at the driver who is clenching his jaw and glancing anxiously at the rearview mirror.
"Is everything okay?" I ask, feeling a sense of foreboding.
"Your security team is too far back" he muttered, glancing over his shoulder "and the car is between us and them. I don't like how aggressive they are driving. They're practically ramming us" he added as I felt the first flickering of fear.
Why was our security team so far back? They were meant to be on our tail.
"Speed up," I said anxiously.
The driver nodded and did just that. The car behind us, a large black-tinted SUV did the same. I felt my heart beginning to race. It rammed us. I gave a cry as the car skidded. "Hold on" the driver shouted.
My head hurt so bad I could barely see. "Check and see if anybody is alive" I heard one of them order in a loud voice.
I wanted to move but I was trapped. My head dropped even lower.
Darkness.
It was like a comforting blanket that surrounded me, caressing me, my mind and body no longer coexisting. I was nonexistent. Gone. Floating in an endless sea of black.
"Where is she? Oh my god, look at her" The sound of a voice screeching at the top of her voice permeated my senses and distracted me from my dream.
"Miss Sapphire, please, you must remain calm. I know that you're deeply upset...."
"Upset" my sister's voice screeched, as I felt my body becoming like a leaden weight, my head beginning to throb from the painful sound of her voice as it permeated my skull.
Bright light flooded my eyes. Pain throbbed in my side. Sapphire's raven black hair touched my face, her blue eyes filled with tears. I could hear low murmurs as I blinked, Sapphire noticing that I had woken.
"Sage" she sobbed, while I frowned and turned my head sideways, noting the stark white walls, the white ceiling, and the hospital bed I was lying on "thank goodness that you're okay" she cried.
I struggled to raise my arms. An IV ran from my arm and I saw several curious doctors standing behind Sapphire who was still dressed in her formal gown, security standing behind her. My mouth went dry. I tried to sit up and gasped as pain shot through my body.
"Don't move" a doctor said kindly, moving forward and beginning to shine a light in my eyes, while Sapphire steadfastly refused to move from my side "you've suffered some injuries and while they aren't life-threatening, they can bring some pain and discomfort. I'll arrange some more pain relief?" he said while I stared at him in confusion.
Sapphire nodded impatiently. "Hurry please, my sister must be in a lot of pain" she barked, reaching down to stroke my hair.
This was not like Sapphire, I thought drowsily. She was not the type to play nursemaid or be concerned about me. This was completely out of character for her. Although it was nice, I struggled to comprehend why I was here, or what had happened. I tried to think back, but it was like my mind was a blank canvas. There was nothing. I frowned.
"Sapphire" I whispered as she took my hand and squeezed it "what happened? Where is mother and Father?" I asked, trying to crane my head.
They should be here, I thought numbly. As little as they cared for me and Sapphire, they would never fail to turn up when one of us ended up in the hospital. I could see Sapphire's eyes well up with tears again and I eyed her in concern. Sapphire was not a crier.
"Oh Sage" she sniffled "don't you remember?" she asked.
Remember? Remember what, I thought disorientated. I could feel my heart beginning to race, even as the doctor began to take my vitals. Sapphire's face was panicked. "Calm down Sage" she insisted, as I tried to struggle upright.
"Where is mother and father?" I demanded hoarsely "Sapphire where are they? What happened? Why am I in here?"
She smiled shakily at me. "One thing at a time" she breathed, sitting on the bed next to me.
Why did I have such a sinking feeling in my heart? Like my life was about to change and never be the same again? Why did I want to curl up in a ball and cover my ears, afraid of what Sapphire was about to tell me? We had never been close, even though we were fraternal twins, but we hadn't openly despised each other either. We had merely coexisted for lack of a better term. I could feel her hand trembling as she held mine. She took deep breaths, while the security team behind her, looked grim, their faces studying the ground intently. Why weren't they meeting my eyes?
