Isabel took a deep breath. “I’m not sure, but I have got a lot of questions for her once she wakes up. In the meantime, I need to speak with Dr. Gabriella. Selena will most likely be in therapy for quite some time.”
“But I don’t think sending her off to therapy with Dr. Gabriella is the best option.”
“Jade, our family is falling apart. I can’t let drugs ruin Selena as well. What went wrong? She was fine a few hours ago. Was there something that triggered her? Has she before smoked weed or used drugs? Is this why she said she was healed and did not bother with therapy? She is back to finding comfort in marijuana.” Isabel had a lot of questions, but Jade doesn’t appear to have the answers. She couldn’t tell Hania about it either. If Hania learns, things might get worse.
“I’m not sure, Mom, but I am scared of her.”
When the door opened, Isabel stood up and approached the doctor immediately. “How is she doing? Is she OK? Is she conscious?”
“Please remain calm, Mrs. O’Brien. Your daughter is safe and will be up in a few minutes.”
“But? There is always a but.”
“But.” The doctor took a deep breath. “We should discuss having her in a safe environment. Selena will be in danger if she is alone and has no intention to harm herself.”
“She has a therapist who will look after her.”
The doctor shakes his head. “I believe we need something stronger. We need people to watch over her as she recovers.”
“So, what is your suggestion?” Isabel asked.
“She has to go to rehab. Sign her up for a year’s programme, and when we see how quickly she heals, you should bring her home; if she doesn’t heal at all, I will recommend that you extend her stay in rehab.”
“That is bullshit!” Jade approached them.
“I will take my leave,” the doctor said as he started to walk away.
Jade cast a glance at Isabel. “Mom, please don’t take Selena away. She will get better. "She will not like this.”
“It’s not her place to like it. As her mother, I will fulfil this condition. Excuse me, I need to talk to Dr. Gabriella.” Isabel carried her bag and walked away.
Jade took a deep breath and immediately reached for her phone to call Trisha and Dalett. Trisha picked only one ring. “What? Hospital? What happened to her?”
“It seems Selena has returned to her old habits.” Jade said.
“I don’t understand. What old habits are you talking about?”
“Trisha. She was found unconscious in her room, with drugs and weeds close by. It seems that she has returned to finding comfort in these things.”
“If she goes back to using this, it can only mean one thing. Are her memories brought back?”
“I don’t think so; she has remained unconscious since we found her on the floor of her room. Mom is now planning to send her to a rehabilitation centre for treatment.”
“This is bad; as far as I know, Isabel will not put her in a place where her friends can visit. She will take her far away. Overseas to ensure that we don’t make contact with her, I will be there soon”
Jade hung up the phone and headed to Selena’s door. Selena was visible gazing out the window as soon as she walked in. Jade’s lips curled into a smile as she started to cry. Selena turned to face her. “Are you alright? Why are you crying?”
“Why am I crying?” Jade sprinted straight into her arms. “Please don’t do that again. You scared the living daylights out of everyone.”
“As you can see, Jade, I have not died. I remember you saying you were having a party tomorrow. Would you still like to borrow that dress?”
Jade looked up at her and laughed. “How can I attend a party while you are in a hospital bed?” She wiped away her tears. “Selena. What has happened to you? I understand there is a reason you are turning to drugs for comfort, but what happened? How long have you used this? Are your memories back?”
Selena sighed. “No. I am afraid they are not. I just used it a few hours ago. I wasn’t sure how I knew I had it, but at the time, I just wanted the pain to stop.”
“What pain?” Jade focused on her.
“This may sound crazy to you, but I have been having these dreams.”
“Nightmares?”
Selena shakes her head. “No, I wouldn’t call them that. It felt so real that just thinking about it makes my heart hurt.”
“What do these dreams look like?”
“It sounds unbelievable, so I would rather not tell you. I don’t want you to laugh at me.”
“Well, I will not. This town is strange after all. There is so much going on in this town. You must tell me what you saw, Selena. It could actually be part of your memories. It could be the real reason you lost them in the first place. We have wondered and searched for answers about your disappearance and what happened, but we have found nothing.”
“It felt similar to what happened in The Legend of the Seeker. When Kahlan and Richard first met, her life was in danger. They were on a cliff, and just as Kahlan was about to fall, Richard saved her. But mine was different. I saw his face as I stood at the cliff’s edge.”
“Whose Face?”
“Grandfather’s.”
“What?”
Selena nodded. “He was there with Aunt Patricia, and as I was about to escape, he shot me. Right into the chest, and... And then, as I fell, all I could see was the moon through tears. Jade, I can’t remember what happened anymore. But it felt very real. Please tell me I am not going crazy. Tell me you believe me.”
“Selena, I believe you.” Jade took a deep breath and held her tears back. “I believe everything you have said.”
“It sounds like something you would see in a movie, right?” Selena began to laugh, then looked at Jade with a serious expression. “I have been awake for a while, and I know what Mom is going to do.”
Jade took Selena’s hands in her own. “I will not allow that to happen, Selena. I’m not going to let her take you away from me.”
“Jade, there is nothing you can do to stop her.”
Jade nodded gently. “I understand, but there is something you can do. You must remember everything, Selena. It is now or never.”
“But how? I don’t know. I have tried, but it is extremely painful. Having memories flash through your mind.”
“Wait. Do you already have those?” Selena nodded in response to Jade’s question. “Then we have a better chance that you will remember everything. We just need to reactivate your memories. Don’t worry; you will not go insane. You are much stronger than that.”
Jade and Selena looked at the door as it opened unexpectedly. “Guys.” Selena was startled when she saw her friends.
“I called them over. You need your friends more.”
“You have grown up so much. Who would have guessed you were only thirteen with that brain?”
“I am fourteen, Selena.” Jade rolled her eyes. “So, guys, I have both good and bad news. Which one would you prefer to hear first?”
“First, the bad news.” Trisha and Dalett spoke in unison.
“But why did you choose the bad news first?” Jade inquired.
“Because while the bad news breaks our hearts, the good news helps to calm them down a little.” Dalett said.
“I have never been more proud to call you my friend than today, Dalett.” Trisha said.
“Ouch.”
“Sorry, but you don’t always have good reasons. Dalett, I have to tell you this because I’m your friend.”
Jade began to talk. “Okay. The bad news comes first. I...”
“Is it okay to say this in front of her?” Trisha referred to Selena. “Isn’t it better if we talk in private, Jade?”
“Don’t worry about it. We need to shock her to get her to react.” Jade turned to Selena. “Whatever you hear us say is true, and I will answer your questions later, but for now, we have more to figure out.” Jade took a deep breath. “Guys, I think I understand how Selena lost her memories.”
“How?” Trisha asked.
“She said that she returned to drugs because she was experiencing flashbacks and was in pain. But there was one particular dream. It felt so real that she can’t even call it a dream.”
“Get straight to the point, Jade.” Trisha spoke through clenched teeth.
“Alright, I think our grandpa and Aunt Patricia might have something to do with what happened to Selena.”
“What?” Trisha and Dalett both said.
“I think my grandpa is a wolf hunter.”
“Ehnn?” Trisha yelled.
“Think about it. The secret greenhouse. The unusual atmosphere surrounding the mansion. The...”