Chapter 24

Waking up in that hospital room was like waking up in a strange dream. My body felt heavy, and my mind was a complete blank. Not just fuzzy—empty. The kind of empty that makes you feel like a ghost in your own skin. I stared at the ceiling, trying to piece together… anything. Nothing came.

The only thing I knew was that kind people had helped me. Vanessa, with her warm brown eyes and strong voice, had been by my side since they pulled me out of that tomb. The thought of it still made me shiver. A tomb. What kind of person ends up there? What kind of life leads to being buried alive?

Vanessa sat at the edge of my bed, flipping through her phone. She glanced up and caught me staring. “How’re you feeling?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. It was the truth. “Everything feels… strange.”

She nodded thoughtfully, brushing her short black curls back. “That’s fair. You’ve been through a lot. But hey, don’t worry. You’re with us now, and we’ll figure this out. My mom says you can stay with us for as long as you need.”

“Thank you,” I said quietly. I wasn’t sure what else to say. Gratitude felt too small for what I owed her.

Vanessa tilted her head, studying me. “The doctor found that necklace, the one with ‘Elizabeth’ on it. Do you think that’s your name?”

The name stirred something faint inside me, like a thread I couldn’t quite grasp. “It… it feels familiar. I think it might be.”

“Okay then, Elizabeth,” Vanessa said with a grin. “We’ll stick with that until you remember more.”

The way she said it, so casually yet so certain, made me feel better. Like I wasn’t completely adrift.

Before I could respond, there was a knock at the door. Vanessa stood and opened it to reveal a tall man in a police uniform. He stepped inside, his blue eyes scanning the room with professional calm. His hair was a tousled dirty blonde, and there was a warmth in his expression that made me instantly trust him.

“Good morning,” he said, his voice even and kind. “I’m Officer Nicholas, but you can call me Nic. I’ve got a few questions for you, Elizabeth.”

I sat up a little straighter, though my body felt like it weighed a ton. “Okay,” I said hesitantly.

Nic pulled up a chair beside the bed and took out a small notepad. “First off, how are you feeling?”

“Confused,” I admitted. “I… I don’t remember anything. Not who I am, not where I’m from… nothing.”

Nic’s expression softened. “That’s alright. Memory loss after trauma isn’t uncommon. We’ll do everything we can to help you. Do you remember anything at all? Even the smallest detail might help.”

I tried. I really did. I closed my eyes and pushed against the fog in my mind, but all it did was push back harder. My head started to ache, and I shook it quickly, afraid of what might happen if I forced it.

“No,” I said, my voice cracking. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” Nic said gently. “You’ve been through something terrible. It’s okay to take time.”

Vanessa watched him closely, her arms crossed but her expression curious. “Do you think this was some kind of crime? Like someone put her in that tomb on purpose?”

Nic hesitated, clearly choosing his words carefully. “We can’t rule anything out. For now, I’ll have an officer stationed at your house to make sure Elizabeth is safe. Just a precaution.”

The thought made my stomach twist, but I nodded. “Thank you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Nic gave me a small smile, the kind that somehow made me feel safer. “We’ll get to the bottom of this,” he promised. Then he stood, nodded to Vanessa, and left the room.

Vanessa turned back to me, a curious smile tugging at her lips. “Handsome, isn’t he?”

I blinked at her, startled. “What?”

“Officer Nic,” she said with a teasing grin. “Don’t act like you didn’t notice.”

I felt my cheeks heat up. “I wasn’t paying attention to that.”

“Sure you weren’t,” she said, clearly amused. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here. Mom’s waiting for us.”

The drive through New Orleans was a sensory overload. I stared out the window, taking in everything like a child seeing the world for the first time. The streets were alive, pulsing with energy that seemed to radiate from every corner. Musicians played jazz on the sidewalks, their melodies weaving through the air like magic. People danced in the streets, their laughter and joy infectious.

“Busy place, huh?” Vanessa said, glancing at me.

“It’s beautiful,” I murmured, my eyes fixed on the vibrant buildings. They were unlike anything I’d ever seen—or at least anything I remembered seeing. Their intricate iron balconies and colorful facades seemed to hold centuries of stories.

Vanessa smiled. “Yeah, it grows on you. The music, the food, the people… New Orleans has its own heartbeat, you know?”

I nodded, feeling a strange connection to the city. It was loud and chaotic, but it felt like… home. I stuck my hand out the window, letting the breeze dance across my skin. For the first time since waking up, I smiled.

Vanessa noticed. “You’re smiling,” she said, her tone warm. “That’s a good sign.”

The music on the streets grew louder as we passed a group of performers. I found myself tapping my fingers to the rhythm, my body responding instinctively to the beat. I didn’t know why, but the music made me feel lighter, like a weight I didn’t know I was carrying had been lifted.

Vanessa’s house was a cozy, two-story home nestled in a quiet neighborhood. It had a wide porch with a swing and a front yard filled with neatly trimmed bushes and flowers. The sight of it made something in my chest ache. It was the kind of place that felt safe.

“Home sweet home,” Vanessa said, pulling into the driveway. “Come on, let’s get you settled.”

Inside, the house was warm and inviting. The walls were painted in soft, earthy tones, and family photos lined the shelves. It smelled faintly of cinnamon, like someone had recently baked something.

Vanessa’s younger brother, Joe, looked up from the couch as we entered. “Hey,” he said, his eyes darting to me before quickly returning to the video game he was playing.

“Joe, this is Elizabeth,” Vanessa said. “She’ll be staying with us for a while.”

“Hi,” I said, feeling awkward.

He nodded without looking up. “Cool.”

Vanessa rolled her eyes. “Don’t mind him. He’s more interested in zombies than people.”

She led me upstairs to a small but comfortable guest room. The bed was neatly made, and a vase of fresh flowers sat on the nightstand.

“It’s not much,” Vanessa said, “but it’s yours for as long as you need it.”

“It’s perfect,” I said sincerely.

She handed me some clean clothes. “Bathroom’s down the hall. Take your time.”

The hot shower was heavenly. I watched as the dirt and grime swirled down the drain, feeling like I was shedding a layer of something dark and heavy. But no matter how much I scrubbed, I couldn’t wash away the emptiness inside me. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, searching for something recognizable. My curly black hair framed my face in wild, damp ringlets. My brown eyes stared back at me, wide and searching. Who was I?

The pressure in my head started to build again, and I grabbed the edge of the sink for support. The pain was sharp, and I felt a trickle of warmth on my upper lip. Blood. I quickly wiped it away with a towel, my hands trembling.

When I returned to the room, Vanessa was waiting for me. She smiled when she saw me, her expression soft and reassuring.

“You look better,” she said. “How do you feel?”

“Clean,” I said, which was mostly true.

She laughed, the sound light and genuine. “Good. Tomorrow, we’ll take a walk around the city. Maybe you’ll see something that jogs your memory. No pressure, though. Just take it one step at a time."

I nodded, grateful for her kindness. “Thank you, Vanessa."