336: STIRRING FROM SLUMBER LUKE’S POV As I raced down the winding road, I strained to monitor the pursuing cars in the rearview mirror. But my focus began to waver, the constant stress and tension taking their toll on my weary mind. Suddenly, I realized, with a sinking feeling, that I had lost track of the cars chasing us. At that moment, I had to scan the road behind me, but there was no sign of them. It was like they had disappeared into thin air. For a moment, relief washed over me, but it was short–lived. But turning my attention back to the road ahead, my heart plummeted as I realized something was terribly wrong. The brakes of the car were no longer responding. And that was definitely not good. Frantically, I pumped the brake pedal, but there was no resistance, no slowing of the vehicle. It was like the brakes had completely failed. Panic set in as I struggled to maintain control of the speeding car, my hands gripping the steering wheel with a white–knuckled grip. It was like this was going to be the end. Ariel was still insensible, and I was trying everything in my power to fight for our lives. But it seemed like it was all crashing down now. The only thing now was to hope for the better. I frantically scanned the road for any sign of an escape route, but it was too late. Before I could react, the car careened off the road, hurtling towards a nearby embankment. Time seemed to slow as we plunged over the edge, the world spinning in a blur of motion and noise. The impact was deafening as the car collided with the ground, with metal crunching and glass shattering around us. The car threw my body against the dashboard with a sharp jolt, the world fading into darkness and unconsciousness claiming me. ARIEL’S POV Slowly opening my eyes, I saw myself in a hospital room, laying down on the bed, with the sounds of beeping machines all over the place. I blinked several times, my vision blurry as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. The sterile smell of antiseptics assaulted my senses, mingling with the faint scent of flowers from a bouquet on the bedside table. Gingerly, I shifted my body, feeling a dull ache radiating from various parts of me. I glanced around the room; my gaze fell upon the bandages wrapped tightly around my arms and torso. Each movement sent a wave of discomfort coursing through me, and I winced, trying to piece together what had happened. Flashes of memories flooded my mind–the men chasing us, the panic–stricken drive, and the moment when we were beaten vigorously. But then there was the darkness–the void where my memory faltered. I remembered the sensation of fists raining down on me and the searing pain as blows landed with merciless force. How had I ended up STIRRING FROM SLUMBER here, in this hospital bed, with injuries for worse than I initially recalled? Questions swirled in my mind, each unanswered query adding to the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me. With a shaky breath, I closed my eyes, attempting to push aside the rising tide of fear and confusion. But amidst the chaos of my thoughts, one thing remained clear: I needed answers. I needed to know what had happened, how I had ended up here, and what fate had befallen Luke. A nurse entered the room, and the moment her eyes caught me, she gave me a delightful smile, her eyes brightening at the sight of my wakefulness. It wasn’t like she knew me or something. “Oh, thank goodness you’re finally awake,” she said softly, placing her hand around her chest, and she seemed quite relieved. “It’s been quite a while.” Confusion creased my brow as I tried to grasp the situation. “Quite a while?” “Well yeah.” How long exactly?” I inquired, with my voice filled with uncertainty. The nurse’s smile wavered slightly as she consulted my chart. “You’ve been in a coma for one and a half weeks.” Shock rippled through me, my eyes widening at the revelation. One and a half weeks? My heart sank at the realization of all that wasted time. “One and a half weeks?” I repeated myself, my voice barely audible, disbelief coloring my words. “Are you being real?” “I know, it’s quite surprising. But that’s just it, sweetheart. You should be glad you’re finally awake. Your friends and families have been waiting for this moment. Even a little girl claimed to be your daughter. I don’t know.” “Janice?” I asked softly. “Yeah, I think that was her name,” the nurse said, making a confused face, trying to recall the moment. Wow, so I had really been in a coma for so long? Shit! I could only wonder how things were going without me. And what about my husband? Was he unconscious too? Before I could gather my thoughts to inquire about Luke, the nurse’s expression shifted as another nurse called for her assistance from outside the room. “I’ll be right back,” she assured me, giving my arm a reassuring pat before hurrying towards the door. “Wait, hold on,” I told her, with the intention of asking her about Luke. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back,” she quickly replied, and she bolted out of the room, leaving me alone with the weight of unanswered questions and a gnawing sense of dread. I took a deep breath, lying on the bed, looking around. I just hoped Luke was completely strong and healthy. Last time I remembered, he was being assaulted as well by those heartless men. And Bernardo! Oh Bernardo! 36 STIRRING FROM SLUMBER I was boiling in anger, with his name popping in my head. That man showed me how he had a cold heart. 1 wondered if he was still married to Catherine or if they had divorced. In fact, I wanted him to kill himself. As I lay there, lost in my thoughts, the door creaked open, and I turned my head to see my mother enter the room, holding a vibrant bouquet of flowers in her hands. Her expression softened as her eyes met mine, and she hurried over to my bedside, a mixture of relief and concern etched on her features. “Ariel, sweetheart, you’re awake!” She reached out to gently brush a stray strand of hair from my forehead. “Mom,” I whispered as I was about to sit down. “Don’t stress yourself, Ariel. You just woke up. You still need to get some rest. “Yeah, I know that,” I uttered in a hushed tone, She leaned in close, pressing a tender kiss to my check before settling into the chair beside my bed, her eyes never leaving mine. “Oh, Ariel, I’ve been so worried about you. You really had me terrified.” “I’m sorry, Mom. I didn’t mean to scare you. But… I can’t even explain what happened. Things were just so complicated.” Her hand found mine, squeezing it gently as she offered me a reassuring smile. “Shh, it’s okay, sweetheart. There’s no need to think too much. The important thing is that you’re awake now, and you’re going to be okay.” “Thanks.” I squeezed her hand back, drawing strength from her presence. “Where’s Luke? “Is he okay?”
