AndTheSaintsAreAllOfMAdeOfGhosts - I'm officially your fan now. Your music taste is just so spectacular! Had I been a director instead of a writer, I would have cast you as the music composer.
Reds77 - Your reviews are amazing. TBH, I wait for your reviews so eagerly every time I post a new chapter. They encourage me so much and your theories and questions provide a lot of insight. You can almost consider yourself as my co-writer because I've written so many chapters based on your questions.
To all my other regular reviewers - I'm sorry for not naming you specifically in this chapter but I just wanted you to know that though I'd probably never meet ou, don't even know your real names, you guys are still my most wonderful friends! Thank You So Much for supporting me and motivating me non-stop. Love You all.
From now on, I'm going to dedicate each chapter to one of my reviewers. This is is for AndTheSaintsareAllMadeOfGold (Jesus your name is too long to type XD) and Reds77.
Coming to the story, many of you whined about the last chapter revealing nothing. Hah! You thought I'd put you allout of your misery so soon? BWAHAHAHAHA! Let the suspense build up sweethearts, coz one thing I promise you is that when Christian's side of the story comes out, it will leave you all hyperventilating and sucking asthma pumps!
7.
Anastasia
In and out, I drifted from my dizzy state numerous times.
Christian was always there for me. With me.
I knew this because each time I came to my senses, he was always around.
Sometimes I would wake up and call for him. Other times I'd just be aware of my surroundings but not really conscious.
The voices, the scents and Christian touching me made me want to peel my eyes open but the continuous dull pain in my head wasn't allowing me to do what I wanted.
The first time I came to was the time I wasn't really awake. All the muscles in my body were stiff and refused to even twitch at my command.
It felt like I was experiencing my own sort of paralysis.
My temples tingled slightly at first, the pain increasing and spreading through my body as I fought to take control.
Voices grew, becoming clearer.
One belonged to Christian. The others one was unfamiliar to me.
"When was it?" The stranger asked.
"Last October." Christian answered.
"Well it is a long time but as you said she also suffered from retrograde amnesia, it could've been worse for her head."
"How worse is it right now?" Concern pinched his voice.
A warm familiar weight landed upon my shoulder followed by Christian's question.
"She has got a hairline fracture to skull. Her concussion her must have healed two months ago at tops, that's why there is no severe damage."
"But why isn't she waking up?" Fear and agony along with something else accompanied Christian's tone.
"She'll wake up when she is ready. If she doesn't, then we'll have to take her to the hospital."
"Thank you so much Mr. McGregor."
"Don't mention it. But how did this happen?"
The darkness consumed me again.
"I don't want to talk about this now." Christian said in a stubborn voice.
"Then when? Perhaps when she wakes up?" Jose!
Thank God they were back on talking basis.
A harsh sound rang off from somewhere on my right followed by a heavy thud and Jose's grunt.
Oops. Guess they weren't really back.
"I told you, now is not the time!" Christian roared.
I swear I had never seen him so angry. Or in my case, heard him so angry.
I willed my muscles to move so that I could stop my friends from fighting with each other.
But they remain frozen. Numb.
And I fell back into peaceful oblivion.
"You know why I did that. She needed you!" I woke up to Jose shouting.
"You left my brother there. In that fucking place! It should've been me."
Christian's reply came out in anguish, almost a sob.
Oh C, please don't break.
His voice struck me deep into my core.
I wanted to move goddammit!
Pain radiated from my body making my fingers moved involuntarily.
My fingers moved.
But the suffering that came with that movement was unbearable.
A whimper left my mouth.
I spoke!
Maybe it won't be exactly called speaking, but that was the most noise I made since I had been pushed off by Jack's look-alike.
My painful voice must have been audible to Christian and Jose.
They both stilled and I heard footsteps nearing me.
"Anastasia?" C called out. "Ana? Babe? You awake?"
Everything went blank again.
This time I was able to open my eyes easily.
But when I did, I wished I hadn't.
A room, straight out of five-star hotel, surrounded me. The bed was amazingly comfortable. It had a heaven-like feel to it but lying on it was worse than hell.
Gold colored sheets covered the soft mattress, just like the walls were painted in a golden shade.
It was my very own golden cage.
I got up, surprisingly no pain accompanying me this time, to look around.
Everything, each detail was just like I remembered.
I didn't want to be here.
The royal look of the room was suffocating me.
"Mia."
I jumped at the sound. My heart pounding in my ribs.
My eyes landed upon the other bed and there she was, sitting in the middle with a solemn look on her face.
"Beth? You're alive!" My voice cracked.
She smiled sullenly at me. "Not really."
I stilled. My heart vesting erratically now. "Wh-what do you mean not really?"
"Trust me. It's better than living here."
Tears pricked my eyes. I refused to believe what I was hearing.
I couldn't bear so much loss, it was going to crumble upon me and break me down to the point where nothing could repair me.
"H.. how?"
She shook her head. "Not important. I'm here to remind you of your promise."
"I haven't forgotten." I said determinately.
"Good. Then make sure you avenge us all Mia. You can do it, I know you can."
I nodded repeatedly, tears falling down my face.
"Need to go now."
"Wait. Don't go." I shot forward to stop her but everything blurred.
Beth, the beds, our room from BMHS.
"No! Don't go, come back. Please, come back." I cried out.
"I'm here, baby. I am with you." Christian replied, holding my hand.
My eyes were closed. I fought to open them.
Things turned blurry again, turning into nothingness.
My eyelids fluttered before giving way to my vision.
It was an effort to keep them opened but I fought hard.
"C?" I called out.
He suddenly appeared in my sight. His face was foggy and unclear.
Did my head injury resulted into me wearing spectacles now?
"I-I can't see you clearly."
"It's okay babe. It will be fine." He said, caressing my face with feathery touches.
Then he turned his face away from the bed and shouted. "Brandon! She's awake. Call your uncle."
I wanted to ask why he should call his uncle but as I opened my mouth to speak, my eyes started feeling too heavy.
Losing my battle with my lids, I let them flutter shut and slept away.
***
"He's surprisingly plaint. Doesn't complain or tries to run. Hasn't uttered a single word."
It took me a moment to recognize this voice, probably because I wasn't used to hearing this one much.
Brandon was talking in a low hushed voice.
"Do not trust anything he does. I'm sure he has a reason behind this." Christian replied.
"How long are you planning to keep him in the car's trunk?" Brandon asked.
I fell back into sleep.
***
Somewhere far away a sob erupted from someone.
Following by sounds indicating a silent cry.
"I'm sorry Ana. I'm so, so sorry."
Christian was crying.
My chest hurt. I itched to comfort him but my limbs felt too heavy to move.
The sounds disappeared and I was unwillingly pulled back into oblivion.
"Christian?"
He stirred awake, sitting on the chair beside me.
Raising his head, he looked at me with disheveled hair falling on his eyes.
"Anastasia? You really awake this time?" He asked me wearily.
I didn't understand his question but nodded nonetheless.
He took a relieved breath. "You have been awake a couple of times."
"I was?" That surprised me. Surely I remember a few conversations but not waking up.
"Yeah, we fed you sometimes, Dr. McGregor checked on you the other times."
Oh! Dr. McGregor.
So Brandon's uncle was a doctor. It made sense why Christian told Brandon to call him when I was awake.
I was awake. I remembered at least one time of the many.
The stranger talking about my head injury must be him.
"How are you feeling?" Christian asked.
"Groggy. In need of shower. How long was I out?"
He smiled at me but there was something wrong with that smile.
It didn't quite reach up to his eyes.
He also looked tired. Hairs unkempt and stubble grown more than he usually keeps.
Christian looked like he has suddenly aged ten years or so older.
I really hoped I wasn't out for that long. That would really suck.
"It's Sunday early morning."
We came here Friday evening to meet Brandon. I was attacked during the night.
So it was just a little over twenty-four hours. That couldn't be a bad thing, right?
"You look terrible Anastasia."
I snickered. "Have you seen yourself in the mirror, Grey?"
His lips twitched as if to smile. "Had to match my appearance with yours."
"Right." I rolled my eyes and winced immediately.
"What's wrong?" The slight humor vanished from his face at once. I felt sort of guilty for that.
"Nothing. Just my head. It hurts."
"Maybe you shouldn't roll your eyes or make much movement. You have a hairline fracture to skull."
I remembered hearing that, among the other things.
"Who is being kept in the trunk of Jose's car?" I asked him.
His eyes widened. "You were awake then?"
"Sort of. I was able to hear you and feel when you touched me but nothing else. I couldn't move."
"Oh. You sure you wanna really do this right now?"
I started to nod but then hiding the pain caused by it I mumbled out a "yes" instead.
Christian huffed. "It's Troy."
Shock consumed me. "Your roommate Troy? Our Georgia Troy? The chess champion Troy?"
He nodded sadly.
"But why? He is your friend."
"He was an implant by the Brooke. Like Jack."
My mouth dried. I gapped at him in bewilderment. "What?"
"He had attacked me like Jack did you. With that rod thing."
"Oh my god! C, are you okay?"
"Yes, Anastasia I am. He didn't get to me in time. I knocked him out though not before he told me things."
"What things?"
Christian gave me a rerun of what went down with him and Troy the previous night.
The further he told me, the further my brows went up to almost touch my hair.
"I can't believe this. They have a tagger following all of us. The moment anyone of us remembers they, they hit us."
The realization made me sick in the stomach.
Christian said nothing. Letting my brain catch up with all this.
"That means we'll have to be careful around Brandon. If or when he remembers, someone can really harm him."
"Yes. That's been already established. Brandon is really taking this all well." He told me.
"But wait a minute. What about Jose?" I asked C.
He shrugged. "He definitely has a story behind but he isn't really interested in sharing and I don't care about it either."
The cool tone of his voice made me want to ask why he suddenly hated Jose.
But I knew better.
Also, I knew which one of them would be easier to extract information from.
And that wasn't Christian.
So I let it drop, for now.
"So what now?"
"You get better. We return to Atlanta with Brandon. Decide from there what to do. I think Troy can provide us some useful information about the Brooke."
It was a good plan. With just a little problem.
"What?" C asked. He must have seen the hesitation on my face.
"It's summer. I can't stay in my dorm room and I don't have any other place to stay in Georgia."
I was a transfer student so I hadn't faced a problem like this last year.
When I had made the impulse decision to go to Georgia State University, I figured I'd be going back to Iowa to live with my Aunt during the summer.
I really didn't want to now.
For one, too many things were going on here for me to leave Georgia.
For two, we had to go to the Brooke. Maybe not this very minute but in a few more days.
And thirdly, Maggie hasn't once called me since I was in hospital last October, to ask about me.
She didn't even call me on my birthday.
I had always given her the benefit of doubt for being young and all, but there was no excuse this time.
Come to think of it, had she really made me feel wanted I might have not even been tempted to go to the Brooke instead of Mia at first place.
"That's a stupid statement. Obviously you are staying at my place."
I frowned. "Your place?"
"Yes, at Sandy Springs. My parent's house basically. It's just half an hour drive from Atlanta."
"B-b-but-"
"But nothing. They'll be anyway gone, visiting some family friends in South Africa. So we have the place to ourselves. Jose and Brandon are coming there as well."
"You sure?"
He nodded curtly.
"Where am I exactly?" I asked him, noticing the plain, lavender colored walls around me.
Thankfully void of any nostalgic paintings.
"Brandon's cousin's room. She is studying in New York so we shifted you here in her room."
"Where are others?"
"Mr. and Mrs. McGregor are in their own room, sleeping. Brandon and Jose are taking shifts to keep watch on Troy. One of them is sitting in the car while other resting in Brandon's room."
"And when was the last time you slept?"
He opened his mouth then closed. Then spoke. "I was sleeping when you woke up."
"In the chair, C. When was the last time you slept on a bed."
His silence was all the answer I needed.
"Are you crazy? This bed is big enough to be shared by three. You aren't gonna hurt me if you lie next to me."
Saying that I scooted a little to the side, making enough space for him. I held the covers high and waited for him to hop in.
He didn't. He just stood there, his expressions blank and closed off.
"Come on Christian. Climb in."
His eyes hardened. A shutter came smashing down, building a wall between us behind those sky blues and cloudy grays.
"I don't want to."
A voiceless crash rang inside my ears. Like something inside me had broken.
He didn't say he couldn't or he wouldn't. That might have hurt less.
He said he didn't want to.
As if that wasn't enough, his words were accompanied by the glacier cold look in his eyes and steel hard set of his jaw.
The abrupt tears that filled my eyes were too fast to leak down before I could stop them.
I didn't want to look so pathetic in front of him. I didn't want to come as a needy-clingy woman.
Christian's face softened. Pain flicked through him as he opened his mouth.
To take his words back or to hurt me more unintentionally, I'd never know.
Because a knock interrupted whatever he was about to say.
The door opened slightly and a stranger peeked in.
From his age and facial features similar to Brandon, I assumed he was his uncle.
"I heard noises, so I thought I should check on my little patient here. May I come in, if I'm not interrupting?" He asked in a kind, patient voice.
Christian stood up to let him in while I sat straighter.
"No sir, not at all. Please come inside." I replied, discreetly wiping my tears.
The fine lines around his crinkled as he let out a deep warm smile.
"Sir?" He chuckled, turning to C. "I like this girl."
Any other time I'm pretty sure C would have said something snarky or joined him in his laugh.
But given the current tension between us, which I had no idea about, he just forced a tight smile.
That forced smile burned through me. As if I had gulped down some acid.
Dr. McGregor made his way near my bed and bent down, raising his hand. "May I?" He asked.
I nodded in affirmation.
With gentle yet probing hands he checked my head, followed by commanding me to move my face.
He also asked questions related to my vision, if blurry or not, the level of pain or numbness in my head and if I was feeling anything unusual. While he conversed with Christian simultaneously, I learnt that Christian and I were attacked by "a robber" when we refused to give him money.
Doc seemed to buy it.
I was claimed to be perfectly fine with just a little soreness around the slight bump forming on my temple.
"I would advise bed rest for today and if by tomorrow your soreness reduces, you're free to move again."
He gave me some pain meds with instructions to use them whenever I feel stinging at my head.
"Oh and also avoid any showers for today. My wife could come to assist you for bath. That is, if you'd like to."
Dr. McGregor's gaze swung between Christian and I as he asked this.
Before I could open my mouth to respond, Christian beat me to it.
"Yes that would be really helpful, Doctor. Thank you." The tight smile was back again.
I couldn't comprehend why this action hurt me further.
He had asked Mrs. McGregor for my assistance. That was good, right?
It was just that I was expecting he'd say not to bother because I somehow thought he was going to assist me in bath.
That was stupid. Why would I interpret something like that?
Maybe because of what we shared Thursday night?
Maybe because Christian had always helped me and been protecting o me?
Or maybe because I had thought something was going between us?
But now looking at his closed off face that refused to lose its blank expressions, I wasn't so sure what was going between us.
With a polite nod from Christian and a sincere "thank you" from me Dr. McGregor left the room.
The awkward silence that followed his departure was hard to describe.
There were tones of things for us to discuss but none of us looked willing to talk.
When did had that happen?
Was it because of something I did? Or because he now remembered his time in the Brooke?
There was another knock on the door with Jose's voice calling out my name. "Ana?"
C stiffened. His stance instantly taking a tensed posture. Muscles in his jaw ticked while he clenched his fists.
It was clear that Christian was having a hard time not to pounce on Jose and beat him into next week.
Well, too bad for him.
He could be the ass he was continuing to be but I needed to talk to someone willing who would provide me the answers I want.
"Come in Jose." I yelled.
The door opened and Jose came straight at me. His expressions anxious and weary.
He didn't even spare a glance at Christian, who was watching Jose's every step like a tiger ready to attack.
Coming straight at the edge of my bed, he crouched slightly and hugged me.
I was surprised. More like shocked.
My arms came around him slowly and awkwardly.
Jose had never been so expressive about his emotions and certainly never so affectionate with me.
It was almost as if Jose and Christian have changed their personalities.
C was standing there stoically while Jose was hugging the hell out of me.
Did I wake up in an alternate universe?
Parting from me, Jose brushed my hair as he stood. Taking several inches back.
"You okay?" He asked.
"I'm good. Thanks." I smiled at him warmly.
Due to some reason this interaction seemed to anger Christian.
With a loud grumbling, he left the room, banging the door so hard I was surprised when it didn't come off its hinges.
"What's wrong with him?" I asked Jose.
"He's just... he's overwhelmed. The memories must be too much. He's dealing however he can."
"That includes being an asshole and punching you?"
A wry grin touched his face. "It's Christian, Ana. What do you expect?"
"Hmm." I didn't want to discuss about C with Jose. There were more important things.
"So... Troy?"
"I'm guessing Christian told you. Yes Troy is a shock to me too. But I think Christian is more hurt. The memory lane and then this. No wonder he is angry all the time."
Christian was hurting. I could understand that.
When I my memories had flashed into my brain, I was a mess. Screaming and crying for hours.
Christian had been there for me, holding me and rocking me back and forth while I cried.
Guilt panged into me. Here I was, cursing Christian was acting mean.
I should be patient and supportive to him. But no, I was wallowing into my own bruised ego.
God, I could be so shallow at times.
I should talk to him. I needed to talk to him.
But first, I needed answers.
And I was pretty sure Christian wouldn't give me them.
"Jose, why did he hit you?"
Jose closed his eyes as if in immense pain. He hesitated several times, but I saw patiently.
The look at my face must have told him how I was not going to let this go.
"I didn't get his brother out."
"What?" I didn't understand.
"I was awake when we were put into the time machine at the Brooke."
That much I already knew.
"Something happened - some fight between Christian and Christopher took place. The Brooke wasn't letting both of them go. Only one could."
"And Christian returned but Christopher didn't." I joined the pieces together.
"But what has this got to do with you? You were injured yourself, how would you have saved Christopher?"
"Christopher did make a deal with them, Ana. Christian and I talked. He told me Christopher made a deal to let everyone go back."
I was dumbfounded. "What? How?"
"He did win the race. That Lotus? He must have somehow saved I from dying and won the Pinnacle Race. By doing so he became the first and probably the only person to win the race."
"And as the winner, he demanded letting all of us go?"
My suspicions were confirmed when Jose nodded.
"Yes. He demanded every person left alive from the Pinnacle Race to be returned home, along with his brother."
I shook my head, feel in suddenly pale.
"I don't understand. Why? Why would he make that deal? He threw me out of the building. He betrayed me."
Jose flinched. "He never betrayed you, Ana. I never knew you thought that way."
"What do you mean?"
"Remember that time in the race? Just before the final level started? Christopher and I had gone to check the tower."
I remembered. "Yes."
"We saw that glass chamber. I knew how it worked. It was the way for the implant to return from the games. Who happened to by Cody in our race."
"You knew who was Cody? That he was sent be the Brooke to kill us all?"
"No. I knew there was an implant but I didn't know who it was. Could've been anyone."
"So you told how the glass box thing worked to Christopher? Did you tell him about the implant as well?"
"No. Like I said, I couldn't trust anyone. Even though there were slim chances of Christopher being one but I didn't want to risk it. I just told him the mechanics of it."
"Then what?"
"Christopher made a plan and made me promise not to tell you Ana. He knew the winner wasn't coming back. No one ever came back from the Pinnacle Race."
Jose smiled woefully at me.
"You were never supposed to win the games, Ana. He had always planned for you to go in that chamber. And when you threw the Lotus Trophy like that? It pissed them off. He had no other choice."
My mind wheeled.
Pieces slowly realigned, slotting unwillingly into place.
No. It couldn't be.
Horror filled my heart.
I swallowed back my scream. Misery roared in my blood.
I wanted to cry, but no tears came. I wanted to rage, but no sound remained.
A wail clawed up my throat. I had to squash it back down my lungs.
The truth Jose had spoken so adamantly crashed through me.
Christopher, whom I had hated for betraying me was actually trying to save me.
All this I have let myself believe that he had wanted to win the race all by himself.
That it was the reason why he had thrown me across the mountain to my death.
But now that I looked carefully, the glass never shattered. I had never been injured because of the glass chamber.
I had fainted because I had tumbled inside it so violently.
Had I been having a firm hold I would have just been a mere ride for me.
The chamber was supposed to keep me safe.
Christopher had kept me safe. All this time.
No. Fucking. Way.
God. What have I done? Why had I hated him?
But how could have I understood what his actions had meant?
Was this the reason Christian was not speaking to me? If so, I deserved it.
His brother had saved us all, and all I had done was mistook his actions and blamed him.
I owed Christopher my life.
We all did.
We had to get him out of there.
And that started by talking to Troy. Get as much information from him as possible.
"Take me to Troy."
He shook his head. "Ana, you're not in the conditio-"
"I am perfectly fine. Just let me take a shower and we'll go. Either you can assist me or I'll go out myself."
Jose's mouth twisted into something in-between a smile and a grimace.
"Okay. Try telling that to Christian."
I raised a brow. "He doesn't have to know about this."
He huffed. "It's my funeral then."
I grinned at him. "Come on. You love me Jose." I teased him.
But he suddenly turned solemn. Then let out a bitter chuckle.
"I'll be waiting outside the room. Get your shower quick."
"No showers for you sweetheart, you are only allowed to take bath for next few days." Brandon's aunt came strolling from the door.
A huge welcoming smile on her face as she stopped right in front of me.
"Off you go boy. I'll take it from here."
She had a strong southern accent. Stronger than even Christian. She must be a local, I assumed.
Jose left obediently. Mrs. McGregor led me to the bathroom and started a bath for me.
The trip from the bed to the here had taken a lot of energy and left me exhausted.
But I refused to let it show on my face.
I didn't want Christian or Jose to object about my involvement anymore than they were already going to.
I wanted to meet Troy. So I will meet him.
Sitting on the closed toilet seat, closed my eyes. Allowing myself to relax a bit.
Mrs. McGregor helped me in shedding my clothes and climbing in the bath.
She made small talks in between too.
"Glad that you're up now. Your boyfriend have been going out of his mind. He didn't leave your side once, you know."
I gaped at her.
My boyfriend?
Is that what Christian was?
He didn't leave my side once when I was unconscious, according to Mrs. McGregor but left as soon as I woke up?
Wow. He was developing new qualities to be added to his Asshole Résumé.
Mercurial. Fickle minded. Split personality.
What. The. Heck. Was. Wrong. With. Me.
I was acting like a spoiled brat. A hypocritical bitch.
I had been like this with him too after waking up in the hospital.
Instead of whining about it, C had helped me through all this. He had been patient and gentle and supportive.
When had I turned so bitter?
I had always been the sweet warm Anastasia everyone liked.
Nothing about that had ever been fake.
And I couldn't blame this on the Brooke. I had been kind and helpful there too.
I had helped and protects others in the race countless times.
I had even saved Jose. Who I had then known only as the boy who had attempted to rape me with his friends in BMHS.
The First Lesson.
That was what the sick ducks of BMHS staff called it.
Yet while seeing him near his end, I had let go of my fury and hatred. I had jumped to save Jose.
And dammit if I wasn't proud about that!
So what was happening to me now?
"Brandon told me you are his high school friends from Vermont? That you're on a tour and decided to meet him?"
Oh. So that was the story.
Not trusting my voice, considering how terrible of a liar I was, I just nodded.
"It's good that you came to visit him. The boy never gets out of his room. Now he is out taking strolls late at night with Jose."
It pained me to know how much Brandon was suffering.
It pained even more how much more he would suffer when his memories come back.
Time was running. We had to prepare for a war.
Because I knew there will be a war.
But I also knew that I'll be the one to win it.
After all I was the cinder.
I was going to burn those who burnt me.
REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! And I'll try to post the next chapter by the next week.
Love ya all,
Kaishi Springs xoxo