Escape my ruthless past.

Chapter Twenty

*Mauve's POV *

It all began with a startling realization - I was in a hospital bed, surrounded by beeping machines, with no memory of how I got there. The pain on my side made it impossible for me to sit up, and I noticed that I had been stitched up and had a cannula in my arm and tubes in my nose. The clock read 11 pm, and the hospital was eerily quiet.

My mind drifted back to the previous night, when I had been at the ruins. I couldn't shake off the feeling that I needed to go back there, that there was something I needed to know. The longer I stayed in the hospital, the less likely I was to remember the location of the ruins.

Without hesitation, I removed the tube from my nose and ripped the cannula out of my arm. The machines started beeping frantically, and I hit the off switch. I looked around for clothes to wear, but all I could find was a dressing gown and some slippers. They would have to do.

With a deep breath, I struggled to get out of bed, ignoring the pain shooting up and down my body. I took a moment to regain my balance and then began my search for a way out of the hospital.

As I made my way down the dimly lit hallway, I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of anxiety. I had no idea what had happened to me or why I was in the hospital, but I knew that I needed to get back to the ruins.

After what felt like an eternity, I found a set of stairs and made my way down to the ground floor. I could hear the sounds of cars passing by outside and knew that I was getting closer to freedom.

Finally, I made it to the hospital's main entrance. I took a deep breath and pushed the doors open, squinting as I stepped out into the . I looked around, trying to get my bearings, and then set off in the direction of the ruins.

I knew that I needed to take things slowly, to rest when I needed to, and to stay focused on my goal. The pain on my side was a constant reminder of the mystery that had brought me here, and I was determined to solve it.

As I walked, my thoughts turned to the events of the previous night. I remembered the feeling of excitement and wonder as I explored the ruins, the thrill of discovery, and the sense that I was on the brink of something truly extraordinary.

I knew that I needed to get back there to uncover the secrets that lay hidden within its walls. And no matter what obstacles lay in my way, I was determined to keep going, to push through the pain and the fear, and to find the answers that I so desperately sought.

It was a gruelling journey, one that seemed to stretch on for an eternity. With every step I took, I felt a sharp pain in my chest, a constant reminder of the heartache I was trying to escape. I had to keep stopping to catch my breath, both from the physical exertion and the emotional turmoil that was threatening to consume me.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I reached the edge of the town hall. From inside, I could hear the sound of music and laughter, a stark contrast to the pain and sorrow that I was feeling. I didn't want to be seen by anyone, so I walked along the perimeter of the building, hiding myself in the shadows and edging myself towards the safety of the woods.

As I turned my head, I heard a familiar laugh, one that instantly brought a smile to my face. It was Rose, the girl who had captured my heart and never let go. She was with Lyle, a boy whom I had never particularly cared for, but who had somehow managed to win her affections. I watched as she stood there, her hands wrapped in his, laughing and smiling as if the world was her oyster.

My heart ached as I watched them, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of joy as well. I was happy that Rose had found someone who made her happy. I only wished that I could find that same sense of happiness and contentment, but it seemed to be forever out of my reach.

As I turned my gaze away from Rose and Lyle, my eyes were drawn to the triplets, all of whom were surrounded by girls. I recognized Poppy and her posse, the most popular girls in school, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment wash over me. It seemed that everyone had moved on, leaving me behind to wallow in my own misery.

And then I saw it, the crowns on Poppy and Brett's heads, a symbol of their newfound status as homecoming king and queen. I felt a sharp pain in my chest.

As I leaned against the sturdy trunk of a tree, I couldn't help but notice the intimate moments unfolding before me. Miles, the charismatic one, had pinned his companion against a sleek limousine, their lips locked in a passionate kiss that spoke volumes about their connection. Jax, the charming and flirtatious one, couldn't keep his hands to himself, roaming freely over his date's body with an air of ownership and desire. And then there was Brett, the mysterious and brooding one whose gaze lingered on Poppy with a hunger that was practically palpable.

The ache that surged through me in that moment took me by surprise. I barely knew these people, and yet, I couldn't shake off the profound sense of loneliness and longing that washed over me. It wasn't jealousy, at least not in the traditional sense. I didn't want what they had – the tangled relationships, the complicated connections, the messy emotions. No, what I yearned for went far deeper than that. It was a longing for a sense of belonging, for a place to call my own in this world, and for the feeling of being truly seen and understood by another human being.

I thought about turning around, about disappearing into the darkness of the woods and leaving all this behind. But something kept me rooted to the spot, some morbid curiosity that compelled me to keep watching, to keep torturing myself with the what-ifs and maybes.