Chapter 44: REASON TO LIVE

I missed Mike's call, but he dropped a message for me, which left me in a rush to get to the hospital. I was almost close to the hospital when I got a call from my dad.

“Good evening, dad,”

“Son, you have refused to come home or even visit your mother and me.” 

“Dad, I have been busy. Charles told me about the celebration at the company. Are you really going to hand over to Emily?”

“Yes, I have been wanting to retire for a while now. I'm not so strong to run the company like I used to. We have a new brand that we need to show off at the celebration, and I want you in on it.” I sighed. I can't remember the last time I rode a motorcycle. 

My dad has been crazy about sports for as long as I can remember. But I am crazy about fashion, and my dad wanted me to be just like him, forgetting that we are two different people. But Emily, on the other hand, is like my dad; growing up, all she wanted was to quit school and follow my dad to his company.

But my dad neglected her at that time, and I'm glad he is coming around.

“Son, are you still there? I'm not asking you to take to replace me; I'm just asking you to be a part of the race we organised for the advertisement of my new power bike, my last project, before I hand it over to your sister.

“I don't know, Dad; it's been a while since I rode a motorcycle, and I don't know if I still have what it takes to be out there. I might be good at every other sport, but racing is a no for me.”

“I know, son, but it's a one-time thing. Just do this for your old man, would you?”

“Fine, but don't expect too much from me, though.”

“Great, I will talk to you later then. Make sure you come on time tomorrow. I would like you to meet someone before the celebration.”

"Okay, dad.” I knew I had to agree to everything he said in order for him to end the call. I wonder who else he wants me to meet this time around. I ended the call and headed for Mike’s office immediately.

“What took you so long to get here? Do you know how long I have been calling you?”

“I got tied up with work; I'm sorry I didn't respond to you on time.”

“That's okay; I believe you saw my text message.” 

“I did. I don't really care about the baby at the moment; I just want her back to her feet.”

“I'm glad to hear that from you. I removed the baby today. I tried to incubate the baby, but it was too weak. The baby died before the surgery was over. I'm sorry.”

“It wasn't your fault; you did what you had to do. How is she now?”

“Better than before, let's hope she wakes up sooner than we are expecting.” I ran my hands through my hair, showing how distressed I was.

“Thank you, Mike; you really did me a solid.”

“I'm happy I could help, but dude, you need to shave. You are really stressing yourself out lately.” 

“I know, I just keep feeling weird. I don't even know if I'm doing the right thing by keeping her hidden; I'm just confused.”

“You did the right thing. Mr. Sebastian claimed she dropped a suicide note, but I don't think Alda really did that. I'm thinking it was a forged note to make it look like she really did kill herself.”

“Alda said something to me before she passed out in front of my house that day.” How did I miss this, and to think I never mentioned it to Mike?

“What did she say?”

“He killed me; they killed me; that was what she said before she passed out.”

“This is not making much sense; we need to hear from Alda. She is the only one who can tell us what happened. If someone really tried to kill her, then who could that be?”

“I think there is someone I need to talk to.” I suddenly remembered the lady Alda introduced to me as her friend.

“Who?”

“A very close friend of Alda. She might know something. I will just ask her a few questions.”

“No matter what you say or ask, be careful. We don't know who Alda’s enemy is, even though I'm suspecting that her stupid husband is the one; that dude is up to something."

“Ex-husband, they are divorced.” I hated the fact that Mike referred to that idiot as Alda's husband. I'm going to expose that idiot and get Alda’s company back. I turned and started heading out.

“Where are you going?” Mike called after me.

“To see Alda before I leave. I need to get some rest in order not to call attention to myself tomorrow.” I replied to him.

“What is happening tomorrow?”

“My dad is retiring, and Emily will be the new CEO of Race House.”

“Wow, I wish I could make it, but I guess I will just congratulate her with a flower later. And I love what your dad did with his latest race car.” Mike said it with excitement.

“Wait till you see the new power bike that will be launched tomorrow, and my dad wants me to be a participant in the show-off race tomorrow.”

“Cool, that is awesome.”

“It's not cool for me, Mike. I don't like going wide with the machines, but my dad doesn't seem to understand that. Emily has that energy my dad is looking for in me, but he just won't let me be.”

“I know you don't seem to like your dad bugging you all the time, but just do this for him. Every father wants their son to take after him.”

“I will just do my best. I will tell Emily you sent your congratulations. Please keep a close eye on Alda for me tomorrow; I might not be able to come here tomorrow.”

“Don't worry; I will take care of her. You need to relax and have fun.”

“I will try; now let's go see Alda.” I said to him as we left his office for Alda's ward.

Siofra's POV

I watched the two men in front of me bicker with each other and couldn't help smiling. I love the fact that they both stayed positive with Alda. I love the fact that they never gave up on her.

They were kind of my motivation, especially Xender. The way he talks to Alda and begs her to wake up every day made me admire him. He always looks sad whenever he stays with her.

They didn't stay long before they left. I walked up to Alda's bed and sat besides her. If they are not giving up on you, then so am I. I reached out to touch her hand, but I remembered I couldn't. 

I withdrew my hand and wanted to walk away, but then it hit me. What if the only way I could reach Alda wasn't from the inside but from the outside? That's it; that's what I have been missing.

I took a deep breath before reaching out my hand to touch her. I literally begged for it to work, and it did. I could touch her, and a smile appeared on my face immediately.

I didn't waste much time before pushing myself into her subconscious. It wasn't like the last time I ended up being thrown away. This time around, I made it.

She was still sitting in the same spot I saw her the last time, but I couldn't hear her cries anymore. She still had her knees hugged to herself, her face buried in her hands. Instead of calling her name like I did the last time, I walked up to her and sat besides her.

“It's so dark in here. You know the outside is a lot more peaceful than you imagine. It's funny how we all live in the same world but yet in a different world.” I said I was trying to draw her attention.

“How do you mean?” She asked.

“You know, the world seems so peaceful, but when you enter people's inner worlds just like I have entered yours, you will find out that their world isn't as peaceful as the outer world looks.” I said I was trying to break things down for her.

And finally, she looked at me. I was expecting her to be shocked about how I looked so different from her, but she just stared at me curiously.

“Who are you? Why do you keep coming back when I don't obviously want you around? You have been staying beside me since I was brought here. You always stay in the corner of my room, looking so lost, just like I am,” she said before looking away from me. I had no idea she had been seeing me all this time.

“My name is Siofra, and I got lost while wandering about, which is why I ended up with you. I never meant to invade your privacy, but it just happens that we are stuck together. I share your memories, but I don't know if you share mine.” I said to her.

“So those memories I have been seeing were yours? I thought it was just my brain playing tricks with me,” she said, staring out blankly.

“Aren't you going to ask me some questions?” I asked when I saw how calm she was.

“What is there to ask? You are an elf from the memory I saw, and it seems you got betrayed like I was. I'm sorry if you came to me thinking I could help you, because I can't.

You shouldn't even have saved me. What's the point of living when all I ever cared for is gone—my parents, my baby, and my life?” She said she was sounding so helpless. That got me angry because the people who did this would be living the best of life.

“We both got a second chance to rewrite our wrongs, and I am not throwing mine away. I need to go back home; my people need me.”

“Good for you; I don't have anything to go back to. I only have an empty world waiting for me out there.”

“Can I ask you something?” I said to her, and she just nodded her head.

“Will you come with me? I want to show you something you have failed to see before deciding you want to end your life.” I offered her my hand, hoping she would accept it. 

She hesitated for a while before she took it. I started leading her out of the dark room.

“Where are you taking me to?” She asked.

“To show you the reason to live.”