CHAPTER 4
2197 Words
My lids flutter open and all that I can see is white.
“Am I dead?” I uttered, my mind is still hazy.
“Of course not.” The voice said in a bored tone.
“Where am I?” I asked, not noticing that I am actually conversing with another voice inside my head.
“Where do you think they bring people who got hit by a car?” she asked sarcastically. I was about to answer when the door swung open.
“Oh, glad to see you’re awake now!” a woman in a blue scrub suit went inside the white room.
“Hello, I’m Nessa, your nurse for the day. We didn’t find anything to identify you so we haven’t called anyone yet. If you wish to call your family, there is the phone.” She motioned to the landline on the side table of my hospital bed.
"What is your name?" she gave me a friendly smile.
"I'm Rieka Usoro." I answered tentatively. Am I really in a hospital or did I end up in a mental institution just like what I was fearing.
"Okay Rieka, I need you to fill these up with your information. Okay? Can you move?" she handed me some papers when I nodded to her question.
Then she checked on my vitals and the tube that is attached on my left hand.
“Everything seems normal now. At first we thought that you got fatal injuries but all your tests turned out normal. No broken bones or internal bleeding, just a few bruises and scratches. You’ll be discharged this afternoon.” She explained in simple terms but I still can’t seem to grasp what she’s talking about.
How come I only got a few scratches? I swear I felt something broke when the car bumper hit me and when I landed harshly on the ground. I even heard the cracking of bones and felt the intense pain that came along with it.
“You can call your family to come pick you up. Do you want anything? Are you hungry?” she asked.
“N-no. I’m fine, thank you.” I smiled weakly at her.
“Okay. I have to go and check other patients now.” She said goodbye and I just nodded at her.
I pulled myself to sit up then I checked on my arms and legs.
“Where are the bruises that she’s talking about?” I asked myself. I peeked inside my hospital gown to check my body but my skin is so clear. I don’t even have a single scratch!
“Of course. We have amazing regenerative skills that help us heal faster than a normal human being.” The voice echoed inside my head. Why is it not going away?
“Sorry to tell you but I’m here to stay.” She sounded like a brat.
I sighed and just took the phone from its cradle. I can’t call my grandparents. They will probably get a heart attack if they knew that I got into an accident. I’m fine now so I don’t have to bother them.
I called the dormitory instead and asked for Irish because I don’t know her number. I don’t have my phone with me either. I frantically ran out last night that I didn’t bring anything.
“Hello who’s this?” I sighed in relief when I heard her voice.
“Irish? Uhm…” I don't know how to tell her to pick me up here.
“Rei is that you?”
“Yes. I'm sorry but I got into an accident last night and I’m here at the hospital now.” I tried to explain shortly.
“Wait what? I thought you’re at work. And how did you get into an accident when we were sleeping?” she sounded confused. "You even slept earlier than I did."
“I will explain later but can you please bring me some clothes? I’m really sorry to bother you but I have no one else to call.” My voice quivered in self-pity.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll come and fetch you but which hospital are you at?”
“Huh?” I haven’t asked the nurse that but my question was immediately answered with the hospital’s name printed on my clothes.
“I’m in St. Peter’s Hospital.” I said after reading it.
“What?! How did you get there?" Irish exclaimed in a surprise voice. "That’s more than an hour away from here. But never mind, I’ll go there. Do you need anything else? Money perhaps?”
Money? Oh the hospital bills! I felt my hands turned cold just thinking about it. It will probably cost a lot since they run some tests to check on me.
“Is it okay? Promise I will pay you after I get my salary.” I told her in a low voice.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll go there now, okay?”
“Okay thank you.”
“Bye. Wait for me!” Then I heard the dial tone on the other line.
Thank God I found a friend in her. I don’t know what else I will do if she didn’t answer.
I stared at the ceiling while waiting for her. An hour away from the dormitory? I must have run for a long time last night that’s why I ended up here. But how can I explain that I have no injuries or whatsoever?
“I already told you the answer. The reason why you won’t listen to me is beyond my comprehension.” the voice grimly disrupted my thoughts.
I didn’t respond this time. The more that I talk to it, the more I feel that it is real. Do I have mental problems?
“I can tell you what’s happening but in your condition, I don’t think you’re ready to accept it. You can’t even entertain the fact that I am here.” The voice said as if it can hear my thoughts.
“I can Rieka. And please stop calling me voice, I told you my name is Daciana.” she sounded as if her patience is running thin.
I sighed then closed my eyes. I want to stop thinking for a while but my mind won’t let me. How is that even possible? The voice, well Daciana said that we can heal fast. Wait…
We? Is she really inside of me?
Ah! I’m really going crazy!
I didn’t know when I fell asleep. I just woke up when Irish came.
“Girl, what happened to you?” she asked after seeing me.
“I went out last night because I can’t sleep."
"Oh yeah! I remember now. You were awake but I was so sleepy sorry."
"It's okay. Then… I didn't see it coming. I got hit by a car. That’s the last thing I remember. When I woke up, I’m already here.”
“You got hit by a car?!” her eyes widened in shock.
“Yes. But I guess it’s nothing serious since I can go home now. I have no injuries too.” I tried to make my voice light so that she won't notice anything.
“Oh? That’s good to hear then. These are your clothes.” She handed me a paper bag.
“Thank you. I don't know what I would do if you didn't come for me.” I stood up from the bed.
“That's nothing. Do you need some help?” she asked.
“No I’m good.” I smiled before walking to the bathroom to change my clothes.
I stared at my reflection after taking off the hospital gown. I don’t feel anything unusual. If I will be honest, I even looked better now. I leaned closer to the mirror to have a better look on my face. My skin seemed to be more radiant and glowing.
Did I really got hit by that car?
But I felt it. I touched my hip where the bumper hit me. There is no bruise or tenderness. Nothing.
I wanted to cry but isn’t it better this way? If I really got a broken hip, how can I go to work? How can I study? Maybe this is for the better.
I should just be thankful instead of getting worried. I put on my pants and shirt that Irish brought then fixed my hair that also looks shinier. I got into an accident last night but I woke up like I had an instant glow up.
“Let’s go?” Irish asked when I walked out of the bathroom.
“Yeah.” We went to the nurses’ station to ask about my bill.
“You have nothing to worry about. Everything is already paid.” The nurse on duty told me.
“Huh? But I haven’t paid anything yet.”
“Maybe the person who hit you paid for it!” Irish said beside me.
I looked at her. That can be possible. Anyway, who else will pay for it?
“She's right. He took the responsibility of paying your bills. Though he already left after knowing that you're alright. These are your things.” The nurse handed me a paper bag. “And this is your prescription. It’s just pain relievers, if ever you still feel pain just drink them twice a day.” I just nodded. I can’t tell her that I feel fine now.
“So she can go home now?” Irish asked.
“Yes. You got lucky that nothing serious happened to you so be careful on the streets next time.”
“Thank you.”
We were quiet on the way out. My mind is clouded with everything that has been happening to me. My grandparents must be right. I shouldn’t have left. I should have stayed with them. That way, maybe all of these wouldn’t have happened.
“I really thought that you’re just at work.” Irish said when we were on the bus and that’s when I realized that I haven’t informed my manager yet.
“Oh gosh! Can I borrow your phone?”
“I brought yours! Wait.” She looked inside her bag then handed me my cellphone.
“Thanks, you’re the best.” I smiled.
“I know right!” we laughed.
I dialed the coffee shop’s number and talked to Ms. Jeanette, the manager. She was kind enough to understand what happened.
“Would you like to take a few days’ leave?” she asked.
“No Ma’am. I need to work. I didn’t get any injury so it’s okay to get back to work.”
“Okay but if you have to rest, I will understand.” she kindly said.
“No ma’am but thank you.”
“See you tomorrow then.”
Irish was right. It took us an hour and a half to go back to our dormitory. I was so embarrassed for bothering her that much.
“Don’t worry about it. Just think that you owe me one!” she said with a wink.
“But is it okay for you to stay alone here? I have a party to go to and I might sleep over. Would you be okay?”
“Of course! Have fun. I will just take a rest.” I told her then got on my bed. I’m okay but I still feel exhausted.
"Just be sure not to go out in the middle of the night anymore, okay?"
"Right." I smiled before closing my eyes.
I immediately fell asleep and when I woke up, I was already alone in the dark bedroom. There is no light but just like last night, I can see everything clearly.
“Rieka…”
It’s the same voice that has been calling me for quite a while now. But this time, it wasn’t in my head. I heard her behind me. I gulped to remove the lump forming in my throat before slowly turning around.
A loud gasp escaped from my lips with what I saw. My eyes almost popped out of their sockets! My whole body got paralyzed from too much shock.
Who wouldn’t?
When there’s a big white beast in front of me?
It stands in two feet like a human but its face and body is like that of a wolf, although it is way bigger and bulkier. Its canines protruded on its lower jaw. It can literally tear me into pieces. My body is literally shaking but I couldn't take my eyes away from it.
“Don’t be scared…” it said in a gentle voice that I wouldn’t have guessed to come from a huge beast like that.
It’s a girl’s voice, the same voice that I have been hearing inside my head all this time.
My whole body is trembling in fear as tears started to fill my lids. How can I not be scared?
“No… This isn’t true.” I shook my head.
“Rieka please listen…” she sounded pleading.
“No! Get away from me!” my sharp scream filled the silence of the night…
- Writer
