Chapter 58

Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Claudia’s POV
That night, I ended up having a terrible nightmare, the world a hazy, twisted blur. Shadowy faces loomed over me, their features smudged and unclear, but their intent was to hurt me, but why me? What did I do to them? How can I escape from them? Am I trapped with these unknown men?
Hands reached for me, cold and threatening, and I screamed for help, my voice raw and desperate, echoing in the foggy void. I thrashed, trapped in the dream, pleading for someone to save me as the blurred figures closed in.
My eyes snapped open, a piercing scream tearing from my throat, so loud it shook the hospital room. My body trembled uncontrollably, my chest heaving as I gasped for air, still caught in the terror. The sterile walls felt like they were closing in, and I couldn’t stop shaking, my hands clawing at the bedsheets. I could still hear their voices, they were after me, and I needed to cry out more for help, if not they were going to harm me.
Asher was there in an instant, his arms wrapped around me tightly. “Shh, you are safe, wifey, It’s just a dream,” he whispered, his voice steady. “I’m here. No one’s going to hurt you, I will always protect you,just trust me.” He held me close, his warmth battling the icy fear, but I was too far gone, my mind spiraling, my sobs loud and frantic. I couldn’t calm down, couldn’t stop the panic flooding through me. They were here to harm me, and he couldn’t see them. I need to leave here at once for somewhere safer where those unknown faces won’t be able to access, so I can be free from harm.
The door swung open, and the family doctor rushed in, his face calm but focused. He saw my state, wild-eyed, trembling, out of control, and didn’t hesitate. “We need to sedate her,” He said softly to Asher, already preparing a syringe. Asher grip on me was too hard for me to let go. I screamed over and over for help, then the needle pricked my arm, a sharp sting, and within moments, my screams faded, my body growing heavy. Asher’s arms stayed around me as my eyes fluttered shut, the tranquilizer pulling me into a deep, dreamless sleep.

I was awake, and was a little bit stable. I am worried… I know what I saw was a part of my memory. I had no idea it existed, and it couldn’t be someone else. What am I forgetting that I need to remember? Who were those people after me? I racked my brain, but I ended up with a loud spin whenever I tried so hard. Everything was blurry, so I have no clear memory about it.
I heard voices. I was not alone in the room. It was Asher, speaking low and seriously, and my parents, their tones tight with worry. They didn’t know I could hear them.
“The doctor had to sedate her to calm her down,” Asher said, his voice steady but heavy. "She woke up screaming, completely out of control. It was… scary.”
“Oh, my poor girl,” my mom whispered, her voice trembling. “Is she okay now?”
“She’s fine, just sleeping,” Asher reassured them. The doctor said the tranquilizer would help her rest. But…” He paused, and I could picture him rubbing the back of his neck, like he did when he was troubled. “I need to ask you both something. Did anything happen to her in the past? Before we got married? Something that could’ve caused this kind of fear?”
“No, nothing,” my dad said quickly, his voice sharp, almost too fast. “Why would you ask that?”
“Yeah, what’s going on, Asher?” my mom added, sounding defensive. “Did something else happen to her here?”
Their words felt rushed, like they were hiding something. Even in my groggy state, I sensed it…a tension in their voices that didn’t sit right. Asher must have noticed too, because his tone hardened just a bit.
“Are you sure?” he pressed, calm but firm. “Are you hiding anything about my wife? Anything I should know?”
“No, of course not!” my dad snapped, a little too loud. "She’s our daughter, Asher. We will tell you if there is something.”
“Absolutely not,” my mom chimed in, her voice high-pitched. “She’s just been through a lot lately, that’s all.”
The room went quiet for a moment, the air thick with unspoken things. I lay still, my heart thumping, my eyelids too heavy to open. They had no idea I was listening, piecing together their words through the fog in my mind. Their denials sounded hollow, and a chill crept through me, not from the hospital air but from the nagging feeling that something wasn’t right.
Asher’s voice cut through the tense silence, firm but pleading. “Look, she’s out cold right now, and the doctor said we can’t wake her for a while. But I’m begging you…if there’s something I need to know about her, tell me now. If you don’t, I swear I’ll find out for myself.”
“There’s nothing, Asher,” my mom insisted, her voice sharp and final, like she was slamming a door shut. “Nothing at all.”
My dad stayed quiet, but I could imagine his stiff nod, backing her up. The air felt heavy, their words ringing false in my hazy mind. Then I heard their footsteps shuffle toward the door, the soft creak as it opened and closed behind them. They were gone.
I took a deep breath, my chest rising shakily under the thin hospital blanket. My eyes stayed closed, my body too weak to move, but my mind churned. “I need to remember,” I whispered to myself, the words barely a breath. That stranger from earlier…the one who bumped into me, his sharp face sparking that flood of fear…could I know him? Has he tried to hurt me before? The thought twisted in my gut, cold and heavy.
A dull ache throbbed in my head, growing sharper as I tried to dig into the blurry corners of my memory. Nothing came, just shadows and gaps. I hated it…this helpless, foolish feeling, like I was stumbling blind through my own life, unable to recall something that could explain everything. My hands clenched the sheets, frustration burning through the fog, but the headache pulsed harder, and I let out a shaky sigh, sinking back into the bed, desperate for answers that wouldn’t come.
The door creaked open, and Asher stepped back into the room, the family doctor at his side. Their voices were low, but I caught every word, still pretending to be asleep, my body heavy but my mind alert.
“Could it be post-traumatic stress?” Asher asked, his tone tight with worry. “The way she screamed, the panic… it’s like something triggered her.”
The doctor’s voice was calm, measured. “It’s possible. If she had experienced something traumatic in the past, her mind might’ve locked it away as a defense. Shock can do that…bury memories deep. Today’s incident could’ve stirred something up.” He paused, then added, “Her pregnancy is stable, by the way. We can do a scan whenever you’re ready.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Asher said, his voice softer now, relieved but still uneasy. I heard the doctor’s footsteps fade as he left the room.
Asher’s chair scraped closer, and I felt his presence beside me, warm and steady. “Hey,” he whispered, like he sensed I was awake. “Is there something I should know?” His voice was gentle, but there was a weight to it, a plea.
My eyes fluttered open, meeting his worried gaze. I nodded slowly, my throat tight. “Call my parents in,” I said, my voice hoarse but firm. “Please.”
He searched my face for a moment, then nodded, his jaw set. “Okay,if that's what you want.” He stood, gave my hand a quick squeeze, and left the room, the door clicking shut behind him. My heart pounded as I lay there, the headache still nagging, my mind racing with questions about what my parents weren’t telling me…and what I couldn’t remember.
My parents hurried into the room, their faces pinched with worry. Mom rushed to my side, brushing my hair back, her voice shaky. “Sweetie, are you okay? What happened?” Dad stood closely, his hands stuffed in his pockets, eyes searching my face like he was afraid of what I’d say.
I let them fuss for a moment, their questions piling up…how I felt, if I was in pain. Then I took a breath, and cut through their concern. “Did something happen to me before I got married?” My voice was steady, though my heart raced.
Dad’s brow furrowed. “Why are you asking that? Are you feeling worried?”
Mom jumped in, her words quick. “Did something happen, honey? Tell us.”
I swallowed, my fingers twisting the blanket. “It’s blurry, like a memory I can’t grab. The harder I try to remember, the more my head hurts.” The ache pulsed even now, a dull throb behind my eyes.
Dad’s face softened, but his voice was firm. “Then stop forcing it, my little pumpkin." Digging up the past will only hurt you more. Focus on your life now…with Asher, and the baby you’re going to have.”
“Exactly,” Mom added, nodding fast. “You have got a good, hardworking man, a bright future." Let the past stay buried.”
I nodded, forcing a small smile, like their words had sunk in. “Okay,” I said softly, letting them think I’d let it go. But deep down, a fire burned. They were hiding something…
I could feel it in their rushed words, their nervous glances. I needed to uncover the truth, to unlock whatever memory was trapped in my mind, no matter how much it hurt. As they patted my hand and promised to check on me later, a quiet resolve settled in me. I hoped I wouldn’t regret it when the tr
uth finally came out, but I had to know.