Saved By The Masked Mafia Wolf

Chapter 6

AUDREY’S POV

I woke up in a hospital room the bright light stinging my eyes. Confused and disoriented I blinked a few times trying to make sense of where I was. My heart raced as I tried to remember the last thing I had done before waking up here. Suddenly I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. I turned to see Aunt Sarah her face a mix of relief and concern.

“Thank goodness you’re awake Audrey!” she said her voice shaky. “You gave us quite a scare.”

“What happened?” I croaked my throat dry. “Where am I?”

“You’re in a hospital in Canada” she said tears filling her eyes. “You escaped. It’s over now.”

“Escaped?” I whispered trying to wrap my head around her words. My mind was foggy and I struggled to remember anything. My heart sank as a painful thought crossed my mind: I couldn’t remember my past.

“Yes you escaped from… from him” Aunt Sarah said her voice dropping to a whisper. “You’re safe now I promise.”

“But… who? What do you mean?” I pressed frustration creeping into my voice.

Aunt Sarah took a deep breath. “We can talk about it later. Right now you need to rest.”

“Can’t you just tell me?” I insisted feeling the weight of my confusion pressing down on me. “I don’t want to forget again.”

She hesitated her expression torn. “Okay but I want you to know you’re safe here. We’ll figure everything out together.”

I lay back against the pillow trying to relax. But the room felt suffocating. I needed answers.

Days passed and I still felt lost. Every time I tried to piece together my memories they slipped away like sand through my fingers. I started therapy to help me cope with the trauma but the therapist Dr. Wilson seemed to dive into deep waters I wasn’t ready to explore.

“Tell me about your escape Audrey” Dr. Wilson prompted during our first session. “What do you remember?”

“Not much” I replied my voice barely above a whisper. “Just flashes… and then waking up here. I wish I could remember more.”

Dr. Wilson nodded encouraging. “That’s okay. Sometimes it’s a gradual process. Let’s start with how you feel right now.”

I thought about it then admitted “I feel… lost. Like I’m in a fog. It’s frustrating.”

“Frustration is a natural response to trauma” he explained. “You’re in a safe place now. Focus on rebuilding your life here in Canada.”

“Rebuilding” I echoed the word hanging in the air. “But how? I can’t even remember who I was.”

Dr. Wilson leaned forward. “You’re not defined by your past Audrey. This is a chance to start over.”

I nodded slowly but doubt still clung to me. As the days went on Aunt Sarah visited me often bringing stories of my new life.

“Audrey you’re going to love it here” she said one afternoon a glimmer of hope in her eyes. “We’ll go hiking in the mountains visit the lakes… you’ll find peace here.”

But the more she talked about my new life the more I felt the weight of my past pressing down on me. I needed to confront it but I was scared. What if it was too painful?

One evening as I sat in my hospital room a nurse came in with my medication. I noticed a newspaper on the side table. Curiosity piqued I picked it up. The headline read: “Mysterious Escape: Woman Found in Canada After Disappearing.”

“What?” I murmured my heart pounding. I scanned the article looking for clues about my past. But it only deepened my confusion. It mentioned a man like a shadowy figure and spoke of a history of abuse. I felt a chill run down my spine.

“Aunt Sarah!” I shouted my voice echoing in the empty hallway. She rushed in concern etched on her face.

“What’s wrong?” she asked her eyes darting around the room.

“Look at this!” I held up the newspaper my hands trembling. “Who is this man? Why does it say I was abused?”

Aunt Sarah’s expression turned serious. “You don’t need to worry about that now. It’s not important. What matters is that you’re safe.”

“But it is important!” I cried frustration boiling over. “I can’t just forget about it! I need to know the truth!”

She looked torn glancing at the door as if expecting someone to walk in. “Okay Audrey. But you have to promise to stay calm.”

I nodded desperate for answers.

“He… he was a dangerous man. You got involved with him and it was bad. You finally escaped. That’s all I can say for now.” Her voice shook as she spoke.

“Why can’t you tell me more?” I pressed feeling the walls closing in.

“Because I don’t want to scare you” she said softly. “You’re in a safe place now. Focus on your recovery and we’ll handle the rest later.”

But my mind was racing. I couldn’t let it go. I needed to confront the shadow lurking in my memories.

After a few more therapy sessions I felt slightly stronger but still lost. I decided to take matters into my own hands. I started researching the newspaper articles online piecing together fragments of my life.

Then one night I received a text from an unknown number. My heart raced as I opened it.

“You shouldn’t have come here Audrey. I know what you’re trying to do. Don’t think you can escape me.”

I froze fear gripping me. I quickly deleted the message but it haunted me. Was he still out there?

The next day I confided in Aunt Sarah. “I got a strange text. I think he found me.”

Aunt Sarah’s face paled. “What did it say?”

I relayed the message and her eyes widened. “You need to be careful. I thought we were safe here.”

“I thought so too!” I shouted my frustration boiling over again. “What if he comes for me? I can’t go back to that life!”

“Stay calm Audrey” Aunt Sarah urged her voice steady. “We’ll get you the protection you need. We can’t let any of them find you. Again.”

Just then the hospital room door creaked open and a figure stepped inside. My heart stopped.

“Is this the right room?” a man asked his voice smooth and calm.

I felt the color drain from my face. I recognized him from the newspaper a shadowy figure from my past.

“What do you want?” I demanded backing away.

He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’m just here to say hi Audrey. You can’t run from your past. It will always find you.”

Aunt Sarah stepped in front of me protective. “Please leave.”

But the man simply chuckled unfazed. “This is just the beginning. You think you can escape so easily? You have no idea what I’m capable of.”

As he turned to leave I felt a rush of panic. My memories were coming back but they were jumbled and confusing.

Why did everything feel like there’s a dark cloud over me?

Aunt Sarah looked at me her expression serious. “We need to talk. This isn’t over.”

I felt a chill run down my spine knowing that my new life in Canada was only just beginning and my past was far from behind me. What had I escaped?

And most importantly, would I ever truly be free?