Chapter 72 Who?

Chapter 72 Who?
Callista.

The dark-haired man smells so nice. Like sea breeze and pinecones, mixed with hints of smoke. I remember the sea that I’d seen on my way out of the first city, how fresh it felt, how liberating. Now, he’s got his arms around me, and they are so nice. Strong. He’s tall and muscular, and so very warm around me. Something inside me sighs in relief upon seeing him. I feel happy.

Outside the room, rain pours. It’s so loud, and thunder and lightning flash. Involuntarily, I flinch. Something whines in my mind, but I can’t make sense of it. Instead, I turn to the safety of the man who is holding me.

But I can’t ignore it, not really. My mind is a mess. I can feel it. I can’t focus, my attention keeps darting. I can’t remember much; my memory is spotty.

I don’t know the man who’s holding me.

“Who are you?” I ask, voice polite and timid, because he’s nice. I really want to know who he is. He feels so familiar.

“What do you mean who I am?” The dark-haired man’s face scrunches, incredulous. He’s really handsome. A little scary, but handsome. I could stare at him for days.

I feel safe with him.

But who is he? Why does he look so confused?

“I don’t know you, I’m sorry,” I tell him earnestly. “What’s your name? Why are you holding me?”

I look around the room, which looks like a hospital room. I’m wearing a light blue hospital gown as well. But I don’t feel bad. People usually go to hospitals when they feel bad, right?

“Did something happen to me?” I ask the man who is gaping at me, “Why am I in the hospital?”

“Callista, you’re scaring me now,” The man whispers, “It’s me, Theon. I’m your…” He lists off, looking unsure.

“You're my what?”

“Nothing, nothing, I’m just…I’m Theon.”

“Oh, okay, then. Hello, Theon,” I smile at him in greeting. “I’ve never seen you before. How do you know my name?”

“Oh, Goddess…” Theon’s eyes are as wide as saucers. “You don’t…remember me?”

“I’m afraid not,” I reply, feeling sad about it. “Sorry, I feel horrible. I don’t really forget the people I meet…”

The room is dark like it’s the evening, and the winds bring rainwater in through the open window. Shadows around the room dance, lengthening and broadening until they look like sentient creatures. They rotate around me. I feel like I’m being watched by a thousand eyes.

And then with another lightning flash, out of nowhere, a blonde woman materializes next to Theon. Right out of thin air! She wears a blood-soaked sweater and a short, pleated skirt with boots. Her legs are scratched and scraped; her face a deathly pallor. She looks like a corpse really. There’s a maniacal look in her pink-colored eyes.

Wait, I know her. A name floats in my mind. Ruelle Leander. She’s my adoptive sister.

My hackles rise immediately. She’s not good news.

“Oh, Callista,” She cackles evilly. “Let me tell you, this is golden. I didn’t know you would be this vulnerable and weird. But you are!”

“Why are you here?” I ask her. “You should be dead!”

Theon jumps back.

“Who are you talking to?” He questions, looking around, “There’s no one here but us.”

Ruelle sits leisurely on the seat next to the bed, “And why should I be dead, stealer?”

“Because…” I try to remember. “You died in the forest...”

“How did I die?” She presses on, taunting.

But I can’t remember how. All I see in my mind is her lying on the ground with horror on her face, her blood soaking the ground. Her blood had been on my clothes too. But that’s all I remember. I don’t know how she got killed. All I know is that I was in the forest trying to escape the Rexellen pack.

But why? Why would any of that happen?

“You’re dead,” I repeat. “I saw you die. It was a full moon and…you died.”

She starts to laugh and laugh. Cackling hysterically, like she’s finally losing it.

“I’m going to call Dr. Haeger!” Theon leaves me to run to the door as Ruelle tries to catch her breath. He doesn’t even look at her. But she’s right there.

“Doc, something's wrong!” He yells, and an elderly man immediately comes running. I don’t know him either.

“Callista, what's wrong?” He takes my face in his hand and looks into my eyes, “Your pupils are dilated. How do you feel? Dizzy? Nauseated?”

“Who are you?” I ask him, trying to scramble away from him. Who just comes and grabs people like that? “I don’t know you!”

I’m starting to feel scared, waking up in a place I don’t know, seeing my dead sister, and being manhandled by people I don’t even know. I don’t even know how I got here; I need answers!

Ruelle walks towards Theon and leans onto him. He’s too busy staring at me to look at her, even when she wraps her arms around him and gazes at him lovingly.

My blood boils.

“Stay away from him!” I scream, breaking away from the old man’s hands, although I don’t know why I want her to stay away from Theon.

“Oh, so you don’t remember him, but still get jealous?” She brushes her cheek on his shoulder, but he’s oblivious to it. “He chose me over you, Callista, over and over again, every day.”

“Who is she talking to?” Theon asks, head whipping around, missing Ruelle by miles, although she’s right there! “There’s no one else in the room.”

Why can’t he see her?!

“Callista. My name is Dr. Haeger. I’m your physician.” Dr. Haeger stares at me, inquisitively. “Do you remember me? I was here mere moments ago.”

“No,” I’m too impatient to talk to him. “Don’t you see her?!”

Ruelle smiles and kisses Theon’s cheek. A growl rips from my throat.

“She’s right here!” I point to Theon. My heart beats so fast in my chest, and my attention darts from her to Theon to Dr. Haeger. I feel like there are ants in my brain, and they’re biting me from the inside.

“Oh, this is bad,” Dr. Haeger mutters. “Callista, I need you to stay calm, okay?”

Ruelle licks a path up Theon’s cheek and bites at his face. When she withdraws, blood runs down his cheek.

“She’s hurting him,” I bellow at Dr. Haeger, grabbing at his arms. “Look at him, he’s bleeding! Get her away from him before she hurts him more!”

Another boom of thunder sounds, and it feels like someone’s whipped me. I clutch at my head, whimpering. It hurts so much.

“Who is she?” Theon yells from somewhere. “Who are you talking about?”

“Ruelle! She’s next to you and she’s biting you!”

Theon’s face morphs into an expression of horror. Lightning flashes outside, and the wind howls, moaning like a dying man. My mind feels like it’s going to split in two. I see double of everything, and breathing feels difficult. I want to close my eyes, but if I do, I won’t see what Ruelle would do to Theon next. I can’t let her hurt him!

“What?”

Ruelle draws a knife from thin air and holds it near Theon’s neck. My blood runs cold.

“I’m going hack his head off, Callista. What’re you going to do about it?”

She smiles and raises the knife.

The air in the room stills, and I feel a rush of energy surge through me. I don't care for the wires that are hooked onto me.

With a scream, I lunge at her, with all the hopes of taking that knife and plunging it into her own heart!