Chapter 35: Chapter Thirty Four

Athena

My eyelids fluttered as consciousness slowly crept in, pulling me from the depths of sleep. I had been dreaming of another life—one where my mother and sister were still alive, where we were happy, untouched by grief. And, of course, James Carter was nowhere in sight. He had no place in that world. It was my dream, after all—I could decide who belonged in it.

A frown formed between my brows as a steady beeping sound reached my ears, making me wonder where it was coming from. Then, a sharp, sterile scent tickled my nostrils—antiseptic, and my frown deepened. With effort, I forced my eyes open, but they felt unbearably heavy, as though an unseen weight pressed against my lids.

A dull ache pulsed through my body, dragging a groan from my lips. I tried again, blinking against the harsh light, and finally managed to open my eyes fully. A white ceiling loomed above me. The crisp, clean sheets beneath me were a stark contrast to the filth and darkness I had been trapped in for weeks.

Beside me stood an older man with kind eyes, a stethoscope draped around his neck. He was checking my vitals, his expression calm but observant.

“You’re awake. Welcome back, Ms. Sanderson,” he said with a reassuring smile.

I struggled to find my voice. “Where… am I?” I croaked, my voice thick with exhaustion.

“You’re in a hospital. You were brought here a few hours ago—you were rescued,” he explained. “I’m Dr. Whitten.”

Then, like a tidal wave, the memories surged through me, relentless and overwhelming. The tunnels. The faint glimmer of light in the distance. The moment my body collapsed, too weak to embrace the relief that had been just within reach.

I swallowed, but my throat was parched, the simple motion painful. I tried to sit up, but weakness pressed me down, rendering me helpless. A fresh wave of discomfort swept over me, and I let out another groan. It felt like I had been asleep for years, not mere hours.

“Take it easy. Your body has been through a lot,” Dr. Whitten said gently.

“I feel… weak,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

“That’s to be expected. You’re severely malnourished and dehydrated. We’ve started you on IV fluids, but it’ll take time before your strength returns.”

I licked my cracked lips, struggling to form the question weighing on my mind. “How long… was I there?” My voice trembled. “I thought… I thought I’d die there.” A shudder ran through me.

“Two weeks,” he answered, his expression filled with something that resembled admiration. “You’re incredibly strong, Athena. You held on.”

Two weeks. The number settled over me, heavy and suffocating. His words should have been comforting, but all I could think about was how close I had come to never waking up at all.

“You don’t have to worry anymore,” Dr. Whitten added softly. “You’re safe now.”

I processed his words, my gaze drifting to the IV line taped to my arm. A part of me had already accepted death in that place, resigned to fading into nothingness. But now, I am here—weak, but alive. Saved.

Tears burned at the corners of my eyes as the weight of survival settled over me, heavy and suffocating. The nightmare was over. I had made it out.

“I didn’t think I’d make it,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“But you did,” Dr. Whitten said gently. “You’re safe now.”

Safe. The word felt foreign, almost unreal. I exhaled shakily, trying to absorb its meaning.

“What happens now?” I asked with a quiet sigh.

“For now, you rest. Focus on healing.” He gave me a reassuring nod. “The officers who rescued you are outside. They have a few questions for you. Do you feel up to speaking with them now, or would you prefer to wait?”

I hesitated for only a moment before nodding. “Now. I’m sure they have other things to do.”

Dr. Whitten offered a small smile before stepping out of the room.

The silence that followed felt deafening. I closed my eyes, allowing the moment to sink in. A tear slipped down my cheek. For the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself believe it—I had a future beyond the darkness. 

During those two weeks of captivity, I had nearly convinced myself that Beatrix hadn’t cared enough to report me missing. But I had been wrong—the officer who found me assured me that they had been searching all along.

Someone had reported my disappearance.

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I called.

The door opened, and two officers entered. There had been three of them when I was rescued, but now, only these two had come. The first was tall, at least six-foot-two, with blond hair and piercing sky-blue eyes. 

His name tag read Det. Calloway. The second officer, a brunette with warm chocolate-brown eyes, stood just a tad shorter than his partner.

“Ms. Sanderson, how are you feeling?” Calloway asked.

I mustered a small smile. “I’m… happy to be alive.” My voice wavered with emotion. “Thank you for rescuing me. I really thought I’d never see another day.”

“We were just doing our job,” Calloway replied with a nod.

I hesitated before asking, “Have you informed my parents that I’ve been found? I thought my mother would be the first person I’d see.”

Calloway exchanged a glance with his partner, who lifted one shoulder in a small shrug. The silent exchange sent a ripple of unease through me.

“Is something wrong?” I asked, my voice laced with unease. My heart began to pound. “Do they think I’m dead?”

Calloway hesitated, running a hand down his face before exhaling deeply. “No, it’s not that.”

“Then what?” I pressed, my brows drawing together.

He hesitated again, then finally said, “They weren’t the ones who filed the missing persons report.”

His words landed like a blow to my chest. His words didn’t make sense. My mind raced to process them. “What do you mean?” I demanded, confusion tightening my throat. “I was gone for two weeks, and they did nothing?" My voice rose slightly. "That’s not possible.”

“Well, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but your mother claimed you ran away from home after stealing from her,” Calloway informed me.

“What?” The word barely left my lips as disbelief settled deep in my chest. I stared at him in shock, his words hitting me like a punch to the gut. That couldn’t be right. Beatrix accused me of stealing from her? When? How? I wasn’t even home.

“We just need to take your statement,” Calloway continued. “You said you never saw the face of the person who kidnapped you?”

“Yes,” I answered with a distracted nod, my mind still reeling. “He kept me blindfolded for the first few days, and even after removing it, he always wore a ski mask.”

“Do you remember anything about him? His height, any distinguishing marks?” Calloway pressed.

“No, he was completely covered—dressed in all black,” I replied, frustration creeping into my tone. “Though he did mention something… He said his brother was a police officer who had been investigating my—” I hesitated before finishing, “—James Carter before his sudden death.”

Calloway’s expression sharpened. “Did he give you a name?”

“Um… Damian,” I said after a moment’s thought.

“Did he mention which precinct his brother was stationed at?”

“No,” I admitted. “But it was probably the same place James worked. When I was younger, we moved around a lot before settling here in Crescent City, so I don’t know exactly where the incident happened.”

“That’s fine. We’ll conduct our investigation and hopefully track down the suspect,” Calloway assured me. He studied me for a moment before asking, “Is that all you remember?”

“Yes.” I nodded, deliberately omitting Scarlett Granville’s involvement. Some things were better left unsaid.

“Alright. Thanks for your cooperation.” Calloway offered a small nod. “We’ll update you once we catch the guy.”

“Thank you,” I murmured.

“Take care of yourself.” He threw me a mock salute before turning to leave with his partner.

“Detective!” I called out suddenly.

Calloway turned back. “Yes?”

“Who do I have to thank for reporting my disappearance?” I asked, my voice cautious.

A small smile crossed his face. “That would be Eros Belmonte." He answered.

I blinked in surprise. “Eros?” I squeaked, barely believing what I had just heard. No way.

"We were skeptical at first, given what your mother told us, but he was so persistent—so convincing—that we had no choice but to start a search,” he explained.

I gave a shaky nod, struggling to process what I’d just heard. I watched as the officers walked out, my thoughts spiraling. Beatrix had accused me of theft to cover up my disappearance. How could she spin such a cruel lie so easily?

“It has to be Serena,” I muttered to myself. “No one else would have thought of something that vicious.”

And now, on top of everything, I had to come to terms with Eros being my unexpected savior. I already owed him a three-thousand-euro debt—now I owed him my life?

Just… wonderful.