The Vengeful Rebirth

Chapter4

Pain.

A sharp pulsing ache.

That was all I could feel. I felt I had been run over by a truck. Soon, the pain was followed by a tightening weight in my chest. It was like I had been pulled out of the deep waters and thrown onto the land.

I struggled a bit before opening my eyes to a blinding white light. I shut it back immediately. Then, I slowly opened it, my eyes adjusting to the light’s intensity.

Confusion set in immediately.

What was happening?

I blinked repeatedly, trying to sit up but my body refused to cooperate. A steady beeping sound echoed through the room. Wires cling to my arms. I looked around slowly and saw I was in a big room. I was in the hospital.

Why was I here?

Panic surged in my throat and I tried fighting the panic which was setting in fast.

The last thing I remembered was darkness. That awful hard bed in the prison infirmary I died in. That cold cell. The persistent cough and fever. How I was framed and betrayed.

Has someone saved me? Had they found out the truth? But I was sure I died. The doctor said I was poisoned and had advanced Pneumonia.

I turned my head, slowly, and caught my reflection in the place screen of the tv in the room.

I gasped.

This wasn’t me.

It was me but not me I remembered. My hair was fuller, longer, and shinier. My cheeks and eyes weren’t sunken in. My skin wasn’t ghost pale, wrinkled, or old. My face looked, dare I say, younger.

My breath hitched and my body trembled. My hand shook as I reached for the remote control near the bed. I clicked on the power, the screen lighting on. I flipped through the channels, desperately scanning the news and morning shows.

Today’s date flashed across the bottom of the screen.

March 26th, 2023.

My heart stopped.

This isn’t possible.

This was the week it all started. The very week Luisa borrowed my car. The week she killed three people. The week my downfall started.

I wasn’t dead.

No. I had died.

I was reborn.

This discovery shocked me to the core. I felt like I was hallucinating or dreaming. Everything felt like a dream and I was just waking up. But I knew it wasn’t. I had indeed experienced all that and now, I was given a chance. Heaven had answered my last wish.

My body shook heavily as I pulled away the blanket off my legs, forcing myself to stand. Every muscle in my body ached, but the fire in me had been ignited.

I had been given a second chance and I wasn’t going to let it go.

~

Later that afternoon, the nurse finally came. I was already sitting on the bed, my eyes sharp and my aura changed.

“You’re awake!” The nurse exclaimed, surprised. “That’s incredible. You fainted after your panic attack. Your family has been notified, but—“

I cut in. “Don’t call them.”

The nurse blinked repeatedly. “Huh…I already did. Your sister—“

“Luisa,” I muttered. The name tasted like acid. “Of course.”

The nurse gave me an awkward smile. She said she’ll be here by evening. She sounded really worried.

I forced a weak nod, hiding the anger in my eyes as I dismissed her to do her work.

Luisa. Worried? Luisa who had happily framed me, testified against me, and watched me rot behind bars? One who stole my fiancé and had everyone at her beck and call while just faking a tear? The one who spurned everyone in her fingers?

I clenched my fists beneath the sheets.

That would be in the past.

This time, I’ll be the one in control.

~

Luisa walked in an hour later, looking perfectly dressed, a face concerned in her eyes as she gazed at me. I controlled the urge to lunge at her and tear her to pieces. I was sure she was the one behind my poisoning in the prison. She wanted to destroy me completely.

I wondered why. I wondered what I had done for that hatred of hers. She didn’t just stop at ruining me. She made sure she erased me from the world, but I was back and I will make her pay for it. With her blood.

Luisa could play the role of an artist, and so can I. I greeted her with a weak smile and trembling hands. Just enough to look vulnerable and weak.

Luisa rushed to my side, her eyes moist and sad. “Matty! Thank goodness you’re okay. I was so scared and worried—“

“Then why are you just coming?” My tone was pitiful. She looked taken aback at my question but quickly regained herself.

“It doesn’t matter, does it? I’m here now.”

I looked into her eyes and almost rolled my eyes at the pathetic excuse of her acting. I was really dumb in the past. How could I have missed this?

I nodded.

Yes. You’re here now but you won’t see what’s coming after you, Luisa.

“Hey, Matty. Why are you smiling creepily?” Luisa's voice interrupted my thoughts.

“I’m just happy you’re here, sister.”

“Oh. It’s okay. I’d go ask the nurse when you’d be discharged.” She patted my head and walked away. I stared at her disappearing figure before averting my gaze.