DIP: Tainted Blood [stop - TO BE EDIT]

Chapter 5

Vanessa was in her deep thought as her mind began to play all those flashing memories when she just woke up from her long sleep.

‘Well, to be honest, I can’t stay much long in the city. One day, I’ll show you my world.’

‘Wow, world. Nice. Take me there and let’s stroll to your lovely kingdom.’

‘Oh Nes, only if you knew.’

‘Well, we will get there in time, like you said.’

‘Yeah…’

She began to take some of those words in that conversation as her hints before matching them to her doctor’s words and reactions.

‘Oh I see, it's the after effect of your concussion but then if your mind decides for you to remember you have to decide whether to be reminded about it or let it remind you unrecalled.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Some memories can be brought back but sometimes, mostly due to trauma, the brain didn’t let any memories resurface again. It was like the brain formed a defense mechanism so the person won’t be dealing in such painful experience again or it's better to be forgotten since the life of a person keeps evolving if it chooses too.’

‘That’s being unfair for those who knew the person…’

‘It does, but it’s the person’s brain that keeps its body safe. But at the same time, it allows the person to reset or rewrite something that happened badly to the person.’

‘Like making new memories?’

‘Exactly. Make new memories from old faces that you recall or keep them forgotten and put them just in arms’ length. It’s always the person’s choice but make sure to make a choice that makes you happy and comfortable with.’

Within those conversations, Vanessa knew that there was some sorrow or sadness in her doctor’s tone even though she kept her face totally blank. But Vanessa heard them and saw those feelings hidden behind her doctor’s eyes. She didn’t just see them but more on felt them very clearly which made her do her deep thinking since her doctor, Marian, said those parting words.

‘Soon. Gather more intel and I might tell you or better, show you my world.’

Vanessa couldn’t help but to feel the smile was indeed showing onto her lips as she finally pinpointed every small detail from her flashing dreams and Marian’s words, tone, and those sad and longing eyes. They both have the same tone and feelings each time they talk to her which it never fails in making her heart beat like a sledgehammer. Vanessa chuckled on how her mind finally began to do what it's good at. Thinking thoroughly and analyzing small details of evidence that was presented to her. It's totally engraved into her memory. As she was in the middle of thinking, she turned to her left side table and opened the stereo then a familiar song from Secondhand Serenade entitled Stranger began to play on her background.

Turn Around

Turn Around and fix your eye in my direction

So there is a connection

I can't speak

I can't make a sound to somehow capture your attention

I'm staring at perfection

Take a look at me so you can see

How beautiful you are

Vanessa found herself smiling as she finally understood the familiarity she’s feeling when she saw her doctor. Though it was still a blurred memory like her mind was preventing her to remember who Marian Ibarra really was to her.

You call me a stranger

You say I'm a danger

But all these thoughts are leaving you tonight

I'm broke and abandoned

You are an angel

Making all my dreams come true tonight

“In my mind you’re a stranger but in my heart you’re definitely not...but who are you, I mean, really who are you to me, Arian?” Vanessa asked herself as she laid her back comfortably on her bed before covering her eyes with her left arm.

I'm confident

But I can't pretend I wasn't terrified to meet you

I knew you could see right through me

I saw my life flash right before my very eyes

And I knew just what we'd turn into

I was hoping that you could see

Take a look at me so you can see

Vanessa was indeed feeling the song which made her cry since she knew in her heart that she knew Marian Ibarra but in her mind was still puzzled that her mind didn’t want her to know yet. She really wanted to know till she recalled what Marian told her about her concussion.

‘Some memories can be brought back but sometimes, mostly due to trauma, the brain didn’t let any memories resurface again. It was like the brain formed a defense mechanism so the person won’t be dealing in such painful experience again or it's better to be forgotten since the life of a person keeps evolving if it chooses too.’

“Trauma? Why would I have some trauma about Marian?” Vanessa asked herself but her tears never stopped from falling.

Take a look at me so you can see

How beautiful you are

Your beauty seems so far away

I'd have to write a thousand songs to make you comprehend how beautiful you are

I know that I can't make you stay

But I would give my final breathe to make you understand how beautiful you are

Understand how beautiful you are

‘Make new memories from old faces that you recall or keep them forgotten and put them just in arms’ length. It’s always the person’s choice but make sure to make a choice that makes you happy and comfortable with.’

“I know you’re hurting from my condition but still you manage to tell me what I need to hear. I will make it up to you soon…” Vanessa sadly said but there was also something else within her words. Confidence.

“But now, I have to make my first step in a new life...hope by doing this, I finally recall even some memories of you of who you really are to me.” She continued on telling herself as she finally knew what to do and what she finally decided as she took the papers on her bed.

“I hope my heart still beats for you.” She chuckled sadly though there was still doubt in her chest because of her nervousness, she closed her eyes to calm down her nerves and finally took the pen out from her side table on the right to fill up the form.

She knew if she took her first step by taking the promotion and being transferred to the DIP headquarters at Vicente Hill, she’ll be taking a risk into making another life - a new life in a different world.

“Let’s see what the headquarters could offer to my new life with them. I might be nervous but excited at the same time.” Vanessa grinned to her own though before looking out the window then back to the papers that she just filled up before putting it back on the folder.

Another hour passed by, she already ate and asked her nurse to send the file to the DIP Headquarters at the Vicente Hill. As the nurse left her with the exclusive file, just within a few moments her phone suddenly rang. She didn’t know the number but when she answered the call, somewhere within her, she already knew who was it.

“Santos, speaking. Who is it?” Vanessa answered her phone.

‘Hi, Miss Santos. This is Lyca from before. We already got your file and hope to see you soon.’

“Thanks for notifying me but that’s quick.” Vanessa said in her professional voice which made Lyca on the other line chuckled a little but didn’t escape from her ears.

‘Well, I told Joe to check on you everyday at the lobby and good thing before she left, she received a call from the lobby.’

“You guys are checking me?” Vanessa asked in shock but more out of curiosity.

‘It's one of our jobs to check on someone that’s going to be a part of our team.’

“Well, I also got the feeling that you’re not just doing that to anyone who’s going to be in your team.” Vanessa sighed and went back into her serious tone.

‘That’s so true as well. We want to guard everyone as we could to prevent heavy casualties.’

“Good to know then.” Vanessa said and nodded as well.

‘We’ll check on you again and hope by that time its your discharge.’

“I hope so too and thank you for checking me up.” Vanessa said while smiling gladly since she’s all by herself aside from the Chief and his family who’s been her guardian till she is 19. Ever since then, she’s been on her own though the Chief still has been helping her till she finishes school.

‘No problem. See you soon, Miss Santos.’

“See yah.” Vanessa sighed before putting the phone down and slouched on her bed as her mind drifted in such distant memories.

Vanessa lost her whole family she ever knew when she was 10. She could remember those nightmares that always haunt her. She lost them in such an accident that they aren’t supposed to be in. Police cars were on their alert as their sirens kept wailing then gun fire began to echo throughout the background but it didn't escape from their car. Their car began to stumble when the chased car suddenly showed to their side. Both drivers immediately died but what surprised the rescuer was the ten year old kid crying in front of her parents' dead bodies. They protected her.

“Ever since then, the Chief took me in their household and treated me like a family but I don’t want to burden them as I grew up.” Vanessa chuckled a little as she recalled those tragic moments in her life.

“And now, look where I am...stuck in the hospital bed.” Vanessa smiled sadly but she knew it's all in the past and she already got over it with the help of the Chief and his family.

“I just have to take another step for my life.” Vanessa continued telling herself when exactly there’s a knock by her door.

“Come in.” She answered and her nurse came in with a wheelchair which made her look at the digital clock and it was her time to get going for her check-ups.