Chapter 5 NEW REALITY

CHAPTER 5

taya's P.O.V

I suddenly woke up with a start while feeling as if my whole body was spinning around. It felt strange and my head was so dizzy that it made everything seem unclear.

As my vision became clearer I saw a bunch of faces looking down at me.

They were all quite close and their expressions showed a confusing mix of worry and relief.

"Becky thank goodness you're awake!" a woman shouted with her voice filled with tears.

I narrowed my eyes and looked closely at her with my eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Becky?" I whispered softly while feeling a dryness and scratchiness in my throat that made it hard to speak.

"Sweetheart it is me Isabella your mom." the woman said softly while leaning in a little closer to me.

Her eyes shone with tears that she was trying hard not to let fall. "I was really scared and thought we had lost you forever."

"Lose me?" I asked while trying to lift myself into a sitting position. However a firm yet gentle hand came down on my shoulder encouraging me to lie back down instead.

Isabella gently spoke to me. She said "Please lie still my dear. You really need to take some time to rest and relax."

She had a slight tremor of worry in her voice as she continued "All you need to do right now is breathe deeply and calmly."

I shook my head slowly while feeling my heart race in my chest. "I... I don't know who you are. Why are you calling me Becky? That's not my name-"

"Please be quiet for a moment" Isabella said gently while trying to calm the situation. Her eyes showed a strong blend of hope and fear all at once.

"You are safe here with me now. You don't have to worry anymore. All you need to do is relax and take things slowly."

"I keep saying that I'm not Becky" I said firmly while feeling a tight pressure in my chest that made it hard to breathe.

"I don't even know who Becky is! Can you please tell me who you are?"

"I am your mother" Isabella said with her voice shaking slightly with emotion.

"My name is Isabella Stone. I really need you to try and remember who I am. You have faced so many difficult experiences and I am here for you."

My thoughts were racing very quickly and I was trying really hard to remember anything at all even the tiniest detail from a life that now felt completely foreign to me.

The last thing I could clearly recall was an overwhelming sense of pain-a deep troubling world filled with blood and betrayal all around me. I could almost sense the sharp breaths I had taken in along with the desperate cries for help that I had let out under a cold glowing moon.

I had been pleading for the goddess to save me to rescue me from whatever nightmare I was trapped in.

"No... no please don't do this to me. I felt like I was dying. I couldn't stop the bleeding. It was so bad" I said softly but my voice kept getting louder as panic took over me.

"I asked for help. I prayed to the moon goddess for her mercy...."

"But now you are here with me." Isabella said with her face changing from a look of worry to one of determination. "You made it through everything you survived my dear girl."

I used all my strength and pushed myself up again. I really wanted to see my reflection so I said "Please let me see myself!"

The room felt like it was moving around me as I clumsily got out of bed. I paid no attention to the surprised gasps and quiet whispers of worry coming from the people nearby.

With unsteady legs I made my way toward a large mirror that was located on the opposite side of the room. Each unbalanced step I took seemed to emphasize the growing understanding I was beginning to feel within myself.

I was taken aback when I saw my reflection in the mirror. The face staring back at me wasn't mine

There were no signs of the weakness that I had always thought defined me. Instead the girl in the mirror appeared to be full of a strength and energy that felt completely new to me. Her long dark hair beautifully framed her face and her eyes had a fierce quality to them that was very different from the softness I used to associate with myself.

The body that stood before me looked strong and healthy and there was an oddly regal presence about the way she carried herself as if she possessed a kind of confidence I had never known before.

"What the...?" I said softly. Then I sensed it-a strong wave of realization.

"I-I'm not the same" I said with my voice shaking with surprise. "I'm... she's... I'm really here! I'm-"

"Becky?" Isabella sounded confused.

I turned to look at her and everything around me moved too. "No no I'm not Becky. This isn't who I am. I used to be someone different. I died!"

My voice was loud within my head and the words felt harsh in a place where I should feel safe.

The women near me-the maids with the anxious looks-shared glances while frowning with worry.

"But dear..." one maid began while looking like she wanted to help but didn't understand.

"You've just lost your memory. It often occurs after such stressful situations. You'll remember."

"Amnesia?" I repeated with my voice getting louder as I began to understand.

"You think I'm Becky? But I'm not! I've never even known-" I wanted to yell out these words but stopped..

"Please calm down" Isabella said with her hands shaking. "Becky just listen for a minute. You tried to end your life. But you made it. You're alive! Can you hear me?"

"Suicide?" The word hit me hard while tightening around my throat. "But why? Why would I even think of that?"

"Things were tough for you dear." Isabella said gently with her tone calm but sad. "You were... detached from your life. From us...-"

"Becky..?" My heart tightened as I repeated the name. This felt like cold water shocking me while sending a rush of fear through me. "Why did I do this?"

Out of nowhere a voice burst into the room while breaking the thick silence. "Elder Stone is here!" a servant shouted while sounding worried.

It felt like a light had been turned on. All the maids and younger staff turned around quickly like a strong wind had blown in.

Isabella's earlier calm look changed and her face became tense as if she were wearing a mask.

My heart raced with the sudden need to know seeing everyone rush away.

"What's going on?" I asked while looking between Isabella and the door. "Who is Elder Stone?"

"His-" Isabella started to say but stopped when she looked at the door with her face going white with worry.

"What is he like?" I asked with my curiosity mixed with the tension around us.

Isabella stepped back and swallowed. "Just... just hold on dear."

A felt a wave of panic wash over me. Who was this Elder Stone? Why did he scare everyone so much? The doors flew open and I froze as a tall person stood there. I gasped in surprise...