Prologue

Disclaimer: I do not own HM in any way.

Summary: Ever since she lost her loved one, Claire can no longer smile. Her soundless cry intrigues a certain thief as he determined to steal away her wound along with her frozen heart.

Author's Note: Hello, this is my first fanfic. I decided to post one of my fics instead of lurking around on this site. I need to remind you though that this story is really sad and depressing to some extent, but no need to worry cause it'd be a happy ending.

Tell me...

Do you remember... our promise?

I still keep it with me...

Even if... you forget about it...

Even if... you don't remember me...

I will always remember...

For you are my dearest.

"Claire?"

I opened my eyes slowly. I could see a blurry image of a blond woman with green eyes in front of me. I blinked my eyes repeatedly, the image started to get clearer.

"Are you alright?" The woman asked me again, concern in her eyes.

I nodded to her weakly, forcing myself to get up from the bed where I had fallen asleep.

But suddenly, I could feel a sharp pain inflicted my head.

Ugh...! My head...

It.. hurts...

What... is this?

Ah! It hurts...! It hurts so much!

I let out a groan. My body lost balance and I almost fell.

"Claire!" The woman grabbed my hand. She helped me to sit back on the bed.

I tried to calm myself despite of the unbearable pain that I felt.

After awhile, I faced the woman who sat in the chair beside my bed. She's still looking at me apprehensively.

"Don't force yourself to get up... you're still weak!"

She looked so scared. I must have worried her a lot.

I looked at my surroundings. I realized that I wasn't in my room. It's a small white room with so little of decoration except for some bonsai trees in the corner. Somehow the room looked familiar to me.

"...Muffy? Where... am I?" I asked the woman beside me. I was surprised to find my voice sounded so hoarse.

She gave me a faint smile and held my hands, as if trying to reassure me.

"Don't worry. You're in Dr. Hardy's house right now. You have been unconscious for days! Oh we're so worried! Me, Celia, Lumina and the others are watching over you in turns."

I noticed her teary eyes filled with sadness that she failed to hide from me. A pang of guilt hit me. I looked away from her and stared at my trembling hands. I felt so dizzy... both my head and heart ached so much that I felt nauseous.

There's something... wrong... something is missing... but... what?

"....What happened to me?" I finally forced myself to ask, breaking the silence between us.

Muffy's expression suddenly changed, confusion drawn on her face. She studied me quite awhile before she asked me back. "You don't... remember?"

I frowned. I tried to remember my past memories but my mind was so fuzzy that I couldn't remember a thing.

"I.. did I..." Before I could finish my sentence, the door suddenly opened and an old man with a white coat came in. It was Dr. Hardy. He looked surprised to find me awake.

"Oh... you're awake..." was what he said before he approached and examining me further. "Hmm... There doesn't seem to be anything life-threatening. I guess you're getting better. Just rest a couple more days and you'll be fine."

After that, a long silent occurred. Muffy still looked hesitant to say anything, so I decided to ask Dr. Hardy instead.

"....Doctor, what happened to me?" I asked him, hoping to find some answers that I failed to get from Muffy.

Both Muffy and Dr. Hardy glanced at each other and then back to me. They both gave me a sympathetic look, making me feel much worsen than when I first awoke.

Muffy suddenly leapt to me and hugged me tightly. I flinched at her reaction. "Oh Claire! Oh.. I'm so... sorry!!" She sobbed.

Doctor Hardy let out a deep tired sigh as he tried to compose himself before looking back to me and answered. "Claire... we found you washed ashore on the beach 5 days ago..."

...Huh?

What?

Did he just say...

I was...? then... then...

My eyes widened in shock, my body trembled in sudden fear. Realization started to hit as everything became clear for me. That night... I was supposed to be on the boat... with him... right before the storm hit us. The memory of that night sent cold shiver trough my spine. I quickly snapped it as I remembered something more important than anything in my life.

"....Where is he?" I asked, almost sounded like a whisper. "He was with me... where is he now?" My voice turned into a demand, causing Muffy to remove her grip on me. She gazed at me with a sad look and tears that she could no longer hold back.

"Claire... please be strong, honey..." She replied. Her trembling voice only made me felt more nervous, putting me nowhere to calmness.

"We could only found you that time, Kai... Zack and the other men are still searching for your husband..." continued Dr. Hardy.

Husband...

That's right, I'm married... with him...

We were supposed to go on our honeymoon right after our wedding...

But... now...

...none of that really matters anymore...

With every denial that I could ever possibly think of, I looked at both of them in hope and disbelief. "That.... can't be true, right?"

Please... please tell me it's a lie...

However both Muffy and Dr. Hardy didn't show any sign of lies in their face. Muffy gently hugged me again and caressing my back as she tried to soothe me with comforting words.

It's been... 5 days...?

...Can he survive that long?

Jack....

Suddenly, I could feel all of my blood drained from my face and my mind went blank. My body felt so weak that I could no longer hold myself. I fell back into the bed as soon as Muffy's grip loosened at me. I could hear her screams, calling over my name as my vision began to fade into the darkness around me.

Dear Goddess...

If you're still willing to give me a life...

Please... let this all be a dream...

A nightmare that I'm not supposed to awaken to...

Or else... take my heart away...

So I can no longer feel any pain.