Days passed by since her last visit to the hospital. Days of going crazy thinking about the story she read, about the image that resembles her and that man still in bed. He had woken up, that much she knows but she doesn't know what happened next and well Roni hasn't even dared to ask. Lucy had come into the bar from time to time asking about the John Doe, about what happened and about the book. The girl wants it back, but Roni cannot seem to part with it, not yet. There were still so many unanswered questions swirling inside her head, questions that only Henry can answer but she hasn't seen him in days.
So, Roni spent most of her time trying to avoid Lucy as much as she could until there was a chance to talk to Henry.
Another chasing sleep away was that name, Regina. The familiarity of it still made her skin crawl. Whoever this Regina is (she knows she is just a character in that stupid book that won't let her be) it connected Roni to her. She just doesn't know how exactly. It was stupid to think that fairytales were real and that she had anything to do with them but here she was entertaining the idea like a mad woman. Fantasy and reality seemed to be divided by one simple line that she had been courting without even realizing. Which meant that there was a chance that Roni was going absolutely insane. It was stupid.
Her eyes went to the clock more times than she liked to admit. Usually, when she worked the bar, her mind just lived in that moment where the patrons are slowly becoming tipsy and her charming personality gained her tips.
Not tonight.
She had made mistakes with drinks, confused patrons names (because she knows everyone who comes in and out) and had broken a few glasses. Nights like this always tended to end badly for her so she allowed the new bartender she hired to take care of things. Days like this she really wished Kelly was around, at least she would snap some sense into her.
"Hey, take care of the bar. Don't forget to lock up when you finished." Roni didn't even wait for the response, she picked up her leather jacket, keys and phone, and out the door she was.
It was surprisingly chilly. Hands made it to the back pockets of her jeans in an attempt of pushing away the coldness of the night. Her steps were slow with no destination. All she needed was to clear her head and forget that her life had become unreadable. The more she walked, the more determined she was of telling Lucy that she is done with this whole John Doe thing and move forward with her life. Sure, the girl might be upset but she was also understanding. Plus, she already did what the young, Roni didn't owe her anything. So why did she feel like a bad person?
The brunette shook her head, thoughts slipping away up until she stopped walking and realized where her legs had taken her.
The hospital.
The brunette frowned, tilting her head. "You have got to be kidding me." She muttered hands out of her pockets, slapping against her side. Out of all the places in Hyperion Heights she ended up in the one she hated the most. Maybe Lucy really has gotten to her head or maybe, just maybe, she was curious to see how the man with the bright blue eyes were doing. Roni turned around ready to go back to her apartment, but her legs wouldn't take a single step away from the big white building. It was like a magnet pulling her inside and she wouldn't be satisfied until she sees that guy. "I am so going to hate myself in the morning." She muttered lowly to herself as her gaze fell on the automatic doors that opened wide for her to step inside. Roni released a short breath and walked inside.
Something, instinct, woke her body unconsciously maneuvering through the mazelike hospital walls. Cutting left and right, lunging ahead until reaching the long hall that leads to a room with the number twenty-three inscribe on it. The feeling of excitement and uncertainty coursed through her veins like ecstasy through the system. There was no explanation for the sensation of familiarity to the number on the door, it was more pronounced the second time around as she intently stared at it. Sure, it held a significance to her, the death and mourning of an old love, but now that she really, truly thinks about it, there was so much more to it than she initially thought. A shaky hand grasped the cold knob, a chill running through her. With hair-raising in the back of her neck, Roni twisted the handle and slowly opened the door. The earlier sounds of machines had disappeared, replaced by the eerie serenity of silence. She never like silence, it was a slippery slope to loneliness that she tried to push to the back of her head in the form of drunk patrons and endless nights of dreamless sleep, which as of recent had become a nightmares left and right and the brunette had the slight feeling it was all because of the man sleeping peacefully in his bed. Roni closed the door behind her before her eyes drifted back to the sleeping form. Without all the tubes and respiratory aid, he looked even more handsome. At first, she didn't even move, her stare became heavy as she searches in her bank of memories anything that could tell her of his identity but as much as she tried nothing came and it frustrated Roni. How can someone look so damn familiar, and yet really haven't met that person? "This is ridiculous." The brunette muttered, ready to turn around and leave. There was no point to her being there, even when her heart kept screaming at her that this is where she belonged.
Roni did not like that feeling.
Her legs were more than ready (not so much) to leave when something put a stop to her actions, his voice.
"What is?" It was deeply accented though that might be thanks to the sleepiness of his voice. Has he been awake all this time? She would blame him for it, being in a coma for such a long time really does take the fun out of sleeping. Roni didn't say anything just gawk at him, her brain and mouth weren't on speaking terms at the moment. "Bit late for a visit…" Roni didn't know if it was for her benefit, but his words were light and even teasing. It struck her as odd. A stranger was here in his room really late and he was in the mood for teasing? What a weird person.
"Yes, well I was sleepwalking." Roni shot her retort, feeling the anxious energy just leave.
For his part, the man laughed, sitting up with a groan.
"Maybe you should lay back down." Roni doesn't know how or when but she was at his side, hands on his shoulders, concern on her face, real concern. Where did the feeling bloom from? She cannot discern but it had her heart pumping faster than ever.
"I've been laying down for a very long time." And again, his voice has that teasing edge that made her scoff, but she didn't let go. For the first time in a while she was afraid that if she did, he might disappear.
Get a grip Roni, this man is a stranger. "For someone who has been in a coma for a long time, you sure are cheery."
That laugh, his laugh, was rich and contagious. The corner of her mouth was battling to turn upright but she managed (with a lot of willpower) to stop it. Feeling at ease with someone sometimes took a lot of time but with him, it was as if they already been through that process. It was scary, to say the least.
"I've been told I'm tough and built like rocks."
It was the first time she actually noticed how hard were his shoulders and if she made her gaze lingered on his chest it was without even noticing. Beneath the hospital gown, there was most likely a strong chest which would be highly unlikely after spending so much time in bed being fed by vein. Her cheeks felt a slight tinge of heat as Roni finally let go of his arm and took a step back. Safe distance, yes. "Don't know if it was your ego that told you or someone felt pity for you and said exactly what you needed to hear."
The stranger laughed. At this point, she is starting to believe that nothing bothers him.
"I'm pretty sure she took pity on me." He supplied with a soft sigh. "Wish she would be here even though I don't remember her name or face."
There was a moment of silence shared between them. Something heavy falling in the space between them that made a splash of longing and sadness strike directly into her heart. Roni isn't sure if he felt this way as well, but the beating pattern of her heart had her breathing turn into something shallow. "Sorry for being insensitive."
But he shook his head, smiled and it was like seeing a piece of undiscovered artwork. "No apologies necessary." He managed to sit upright. "You know seeing as I don't remember her as much as I would like, I would wish that she looked just like you."
At that Roni's mouth hung open for a split second before schooling her feature into something more neutral. "Don't know if you are flirting or…"
"Being honest." He quickly intervened, before the full sentence left her mouth. "You hold a certain air of familiarity and darkness mixed with light that resonates with me a lot."
There were no words to describe what at that moment transpired. When Roni was little (not that she has a lot of memories of her childhood, for some reason she can only make out one of two) she read a story that always stuck to her heart. It was about a girl whose life was tinted with darkness. A huge family secret hung over her head, but her parents never really told her what it was exactly. All she knew was the stares she got walking down the streets, the looks filled with pity and aberration. The girl, innocent as she was, tried to explain to her father the look she got whenever she was out with one of her nannies who, by the way, maintain a certain distance with her as well. Her father as gentle as a dove flapping its wings told her 'Your mother makes some choices that a lot of people don't agree with but she is trying her best to give you a better future.' At the time the girl didn't understand what he meant but with time she started seeing how her house got filled with strangers and cameras all around. It wasn't until she reached fifteen that she knew what exactly her mother did for a living. She killed people and to the adolescent, it hit her like a bullet. Because, even though her mother treated her strictly, demanding of her perfection, in her stone like heart there was a little love for her. Her father had been bright days in her life and that day she discovered that her mother was darkest nights. A mixture of dark and light how Roni had felt like her life had been. This man before her using those words exactly had managed to leave Roni speechless.
He noticed.
"If I overstepped my boundaries I apologize." His face fell a little, a combination of regret and gloom ever present on his face.
Took her a while to come back, to put that story back in the archive of memories inside her head. How is it that something she hasn't even thought about in years can hit her so hard? Roni breathed out a short sigh, returning to then and there. "No need for apologies." It was only fair. She had pried into things she knows nothing about and he hit a nerve she didn't realize was tender. Too heavy too fast, Roni thought as she rolled her shoulders. It needed to change before spiraling into a place she does not wish to land. "Here we are talking but I don't know who I'm talking to unless you want me to call you Jon Doe." And if this was her way of redirecting their conversation to something a bit lighter, can you blame her? It was bad enough that from the very beginning of her day Roni had an existential crisis and add to that an identity crisis as well. No need to be reminded of a story that had shaped her life even if it was just that, a story.
The male had to notice her intention because he was nodding with a slight laugh. "Well, I was told or rather reminded that my name is Leo and that I am married to Belfrey?" Leo wasn't even sure if the way his sentence ended said as much.
Roni, for her part, couldn't mask the disbelief and disappointment on her face. The way her heartfelt was something she'd never really experience before. It was as if her heart was telling her that no, that can't be right. The sole thought of this guy being her husband did not sit well. He wasn't her type at all. "What?" Because nothing else could possibly come out. All her mind was trying to do is make sense of this new development and also trying to decipher the murderous sentiment that was slowly being born in her. That wasn't normal.
"Yes, apparently I've been missing for a few years." No shit Sherlock, but Roni kept that thought to herself. "According to Victoria, I ran away with my mistress."
That must be the woman he had compared her to. Though she doesn't believe to be so. But then again what does she know.
"Is that true?" All she could do was ask a question and suppress the need to just run away. It was stupid, he doesn't owe her any type of explanations and she wasn't asking for them even though it looks that way. He can always not say anything, and they can just continue talking about something else. Or she can leave never come back and hope she doesn't run into him on the streets.
But… "I don't know. I don't feel like it is." He answered, and the curiosity is making Roni stick around. "I have all these holes in my head. Missing places and faces that I am trying to make up so hard but the harder I try, the faster memories that don't seem to be mine take over. Sounds insane, I know." It looked like he was in pain and well the brunette can relate. It wasn't the first time she heard something like that. Sometimes it happened to her. Her mind and body were trying to push her to remember something but the more she tried, other memories took better hold on her mind. So, she stopped trying to force something that doesn't exist.
"That's more common than you know." His gaze bore into her, a soft lethargic smile gracing her lips. "My advice is to stop trying so hard. It will come to you with time and patient." But she knows that's not true. Time hasn't been a good ally and neither has been patient. Truth is that there's some tiny spark of hope inside of her telling that there must be more than this life. As ill-advised that hope it is still there, sparkling brighter from time to time. Quite a hypocrite she felt but it came from a good place. Roni wobbled her head gently.
"I guess you are right." He wasn't convinced.
Roni shrugged a little, "So, I got an important question." There was no point in riding a wave that reached shore. "Are you or are you not Ivy's father?" For a very long time, Roni had wondered who would be idiot enough to be with that woman whose soul resembles a monster. The woman had no scrupulous and had driven away many good people from Hyperion Heights just to meet her horrible agenda. And by the way, she treats Ivy there was no way that woman could be her mother so her theory had always been that the girl had come with the husband into the marriage. Maybe today would be the day that she finally would know a little bit more of the person that had managed to make (or try to) her life a living hell.
"Ivy…" He began pondering. His lips turned into a thin line, creases on his forehead and crinkles at the edge of his eyes. He looked more handsome now in deep thought and… Snap out of it Roni. "Oh, she came to visit me not long ago." He raised his gaze to Roni's, tilting his head to the right side. "If I didn't know she was Victoria's daughter I would have guessed she is yours. The resemblance is uncanny…" Her eyes widen a little bit, not the way she envisioned this going. "She said is my daughter and Belfrey's so I guess that should answer that." So much for her theory.
Roni nodded, though she still didn't quite believe it. There was much more to this than meets the eye. But it was none of her business. She better get going before someone notices she is here. "I guess it does," Roni said straightening her spine. "I should go. You should be resting, and it is extremely late." The unsettling feeling of leaving him all alone here came back just like that day when he woke up. Even though she doesn't really know him, the connection she feels to him is extremely powerful and she fears it a little, especially when Victoria is involved.
He was ready to protest, as much could be said by the way he was looking at her but must have thought of not saying anything. Roni smiled a little, taking a step back. "Goodnight, Leo." She was turning around when the door to the hospital room opened revealing Victoria herself. It was automatic how her eye roll came.
"What are you doing here?" The woman in her well-tailored pantsuit asked, not amused by her presence, like always. Roni ignored the heavy stare filled with hatred and simply sidestepped to walk out. "I hope this is the last time you come around here, Roni."
The brunette was ready to walk away ignoring the woman but then Leo spoke.
"Roni…" She turned at the mention of her name. "It is a beautiful name but somehow it doesn't suit you. I pictured you more of a Regina…" Roni's eyes widen, remembering the day he woke up. How he called her Regina and she just ran away. That name had been making its rounds ever since Lucy gave her that stupid book. The brunette shook her head.
"Yes, well my parents thought Roni would be quite unique." With that said, she turned away and walked out of the bloody hospital she vows no never step foot in never again.
The chilly streets of Hyperion Heights announced a storm brewing. Whether a real one or metaphorical it was debatable. There was no doubt that Victoria would come for her, the twinkle in her eye that was fuel by her hatred had Roni's lungs contracting a for a bit. There was something animal about her, and no doubt she would treat Roni as prey. What the woman doesn't know is that she is more powerful and resilient that she gave her credit for. Her line of thoughts stopped when she came face to face with someone she hasn't seen in a very long time. Roni stared for a long while, trying to decipher if she was real or not but the moment she spoke the spell was broken and she knew quite well that this was not a vision. The woman was standing right in front of her, arms crossed, the signature sneer on her mouth and the ginger hair flowing with the blowing wind.
"Roni, we need to talk," Kelly spoke and there was something about her voice that gave Roni chills. To think the woman she once called her best friend was here once more willing to talk about everything that happened. Maybe things are looking up for her? She wants to believe it so but something told Roni that was farthest from reality and that Kelly's return brings a lot of baggage to be looked through. Hopefully nothing bad would happen, but usually, her surprises visits (not much of them in reality) would bring a bad omen.