One hundred and four- A chance at new life

One hundred and four- A chance at new life

SARAH PIERCE

It took a lot of struggle, but I eventually broke free from the many hours of haunting nightmares that held me down. 
But, even though the beeps and whirrs around me were beckoning for my eyes to open, I was scared to open them. Because the last time I did, I was so frightened by Nathaniel’s presence that I found myself screaming words that definitely hurt him. 
I didn’t mean to say those things. A desperation roused in me when I saw him, and all my body and soul wished to do was hide. 
I guess that evil man was right. I might not be able to view Nathaniel as the man I love anymore.  Every time I look at him or even hear his voice, I’ll be forced to remember the gruelling days I spent in that place.
 All because that monster looked the same as Nathaniel. 
Things can’t go on like this. 
They can’t. 
However… Despite this terrible aftermath, I am glad I didn’t die in that fire. 
Imagining a life without Raya and Nathaniel was painful enough, it would have hurt greatly if that actually happened. 
Maybe I would have turned into a vengeful ghost by now. Ha. Ha.
With a sigh, I reprimanded myself for making weird jokes while wondering if Raya was really around. I had heard her voice in my deep sleep, and that was truly one of the major factors that woke me up. 
I hope my baby is okay. She has been through so much; so much that she didn't have to face. 
But I'm worried that it might not be over. 
That man could still be out there, plotting to ruin more things. He could even come back if he hears that I didn't die. And…
Wait.
Now that I think of it, I have been feeling an unsettling presence next to me since I woke up. 
Shit. 
With a deep swallow of the fear, anger and tremor on the tip of my tongue and with a firm grip of the smooth sheets covering me, I slowly opened my eyes, the dull lighting in the room making me wonder if I was truly in the hospital. 
“Good.”  That statement jolted me, I almost sprang out of the bed. “You’re awake.”
“Eh…” My attempt to speak sounded like a weak whistle. 
“Don’t stress,” the man continued, his gaze cold and hard to read. His unequal stance shifted closer, and weirdly, he sat me up. Before moving away, his eyes met mine, and silently, he seemed to warn me not to do something rash. Then, he whispered, “You must be wondering why I’m here.”
I flickered my eyes to the top of his side-parted grey hair and swallowed hard again. The aura of his presence screamed trouble. It would be best to be careful since this man was actively involved in hurting me and Nathaniel. 
Thankfully, he stepped back and stood at the edge of the bed. But his eyes never stopped drilling glares into me. 
When I couldn’t take the mystery of his presence anymore, I coughed and managed to ask, “What do you want?”
Edward Storm pushed out a scoff, flapped the ends of his suit jacket and placed his hands on his waist. “You’ve surely had your fair share of fun and death, haven’t you?”
“Fun?” 
“Five years ago and now.” He graciously sat on the chair behind him. “You’ve always been an interesting catalyst in my son’s life. Distracting him from the things that mattered. Things more important than you.”
“Is Nathaniel even your son?” I asked, recalling the man’s comment about who Nathaniel’s biological father might be. 
“Why wouldn’t he be?”
“His twin said-”
“Oh. That.” His chuckle rippled through the room with an effect that disturbed my soul. “That was a necessary lie I fed to that fool. He believed it so much and didn’t bother to check if it was valid.”
“So… you are… Nathaniel’s father?” I carefully confirmed to ease the pain in my throat. “And… that man’s father too?”
“Were you worried that your grandfather birthed Nathaniel? Please.” He chuckled again. “Evelyn gave that old thing a few days of pleasure to secure his wealth. Even if he tried, his expired body wouldn’t have been able to create half of a fetus.”
Hearing that relieved me, but not totally. 
Edward Storm continued, “I recognise only  Nathaniel to be my son. As for the other one, well…” He flicked his arm and glanced at the gold watch on his wrist. “Evelyn never told me she gave birth to twins. So, let’s just say that one belongs in jail forever.”
“You are the reason he did those things.”
“True.” He nodded like it was a casual thing he was referring to. “I used his hatred for Evelyn to control him. Then I turned him into Nathaniel, which was surprisingly easy to do. But now that he has fully proven himself to be an enemy to my progress, it won’t be difficult to abandon him.”
“Just…” His lack of remorse for the harm he caused, which resulted in so many awful situations, was appalling. I decided it would be best if he left.  So, to hasten his departure, I asked, “Why are you here?”
“Right question.” His upper body leaned forward, his eyes still disturbing to look at. “I need you to stay away from Nathaniel.”
I observed the tube attached to my left arm. “Based on?”
“Based on?” he repeated, his tone bitter. “Sarah Pierce, it seems your contract with Nathaniel has deluded you into thinking that you actually have a future with him.”
If not for my aching throat, I would have sparked a loud laugh out of me.
 “It’s quite interesting that you think you have a say in Nathaniel’s life,” I replied.
“True.” He sat back, like a tamed lion. “Nathaniel has ensured that I don’t get to be the father I wish to be. That’s why I need you to do this.”
“No,” my answer was sharp enough despite the mild volume of my voice. “I won’t.”
“A quarter of a million dollars,” he said confidently. “That’s life-changing money. And it’ll be yours if you agree to leave Nathaniel.”
His offer was interesting. Interesting and crazy. He’s just like that twin, wicked and abrasive like wild wolves.
While I tried not to show my disgust for his nature, I crossed my arms as firmly as I could and asked, “Why do you want me to do that?”
“Because-”
A rattling sound cut him short. I looked up to see that someone was attempting to open the door from the other side. Though the locked door was not a good sign of safety, I ignored the rattling and returned my focus to Edward Storm, who was unmoved by the interruption. 
With ease, he continued, “Without you in his life, Nathaniel becomes miserable. When that happens, he’ll have to depend on me. That way, I can access the things I’ve set my eyes on.”
How could Nathaniel be so unfortunate to have the kind of family he has? 
“Things?” I questioned. “Things like what?”
“I don’t see how that’s your business.”
“You are a useless father attempting to ruin his son’s life as if the accidents and memory tampering were not enough.”
With annoyance, he jumped to his feet and fixed his eyes on me more intently. “I’ll increase the price to half a million.”
“Get out,” I ordered, my gaze not tearing away this time. 
“Get out?” he mused, and the sides of his lips pulled into a smirk. “I’m offering you a chance at a new life, but you tell me to get out.”
“I’m actually being too nice to you,” I countered, strength slowly rising in my voice. “Before I puncture your neck off, get out.”
“You think you can survive living with Nathaniel? After days of being tortured by his identical twin?”
“Your money won’t erase what happened, Mr. Storm. It seems you can’t understand that little logic.”
He released a chuckle, short and hateful. “Interesting.” His eyes swiftly became mellow, but with a little danger still in their depths. “I picked the wrong Pierce to have fun with. Unlike Rosaline, your stubbornness is sexier. I bet you’d have been the same in my-”
A loud slap punctuated the man’s dirty statements. 
And it was my mother who delivered the slap, her eyes burning with anger at the man. 
“Edward Storm,” she angrily called, “you fucking monkey. Get your dick out of your brain. Hiding behind money to control your son? You think money will save you from what you've done?” Before the man could look up, she exclaimed, “Ah! It is not even your money, you thief.”
“Ruth…” Edward’s chuckle filled the room again as he adjusted his posture, his hand rubbing the back of his neck, which I noticed was reddening. “You are still as loud as ever.”
My mother stepped closer, her fury was not diminishing at all. “You shouldn’t have come here, Edward. You essentially just hastened your departure from this world.”
“You’re threatening me? You… You little vermin? Do you think I'm the same man as before? I will trample you.”
She laughed. “You hurt my daughter, Edward Storm. Apparently, killing my father wasn’t enough blood for you to spill.” At that instant, three tall, very sturdy men rushed into the room. “Before you extend your wickedness even further, I’ll make sure you have a taste of your own blood. How about that?”
Before Edward Storm could reply, the men roughly snatched him off the ground, and he was carried off, him and his audacity. 
“Sarah,” my mother's sternness disappeared. She hurried closer, her arms embracing me so much that I found relief in her warmth. “Did he touch you anywhere? Are you hurting?”
“No, I-”
The new presence that stopped at the front door caught my attention. 
I looked up from the hug and my eyes met Nathaniel’s, who was in a wheelchair, Raya seated on his lap, her arms waving at me with so much vigour. 
I thought I would be able to maintain the silent communication my eyes were having with Nathaniel’s, but I couldn’t. When a prickly feeling squeezed my chest, I found myself swiftly looking away and shutting my eyes.
“Sarah?” My mum worried as she sat next to me. 
In the walls of my mind, I was back in that terrible-smelling place, listening to that man taunt me repeatedly.
“Sarah?”
One of his desires was to ruin me using his intense similarity to Nathaniel. I don’t want that man to win. He mustn't.
 Nathaniel is the man I love, the father of my child, the man my heart yearned to be with even when I was crazily angry at him. 
“Sarah?”
My breathing, which had hastened at some point, reduced and  without opening my eyes, I asked my mum, “Is he still here?”
“Nathaniel? Uhm.. yes. Do you… Do you not want to see him?”
“Please take Raya outside,” I replied. “Nathaniel and I have to talk.”
No matter how reluctant I am, I have to do this. I have to break the curse of fear that twin planted in my heart.