I Fell In Love With My Murderer’s Dupe

CHAPTER 1

Elara’s POV.

My chest feels so tight. I cannot breathe. Everything around me is dark, and it felt like I was being choked. Wait, am I still alive? Why am I still able to think?

I can even hear a small voice coming from the right side of my ear. Is this hell? I cannot see anyone. Am I hallucinating?

“Doctor, her fingers moved! I saw it!”

I forced myself to open my eyes and everything was white. What is going on? Earlier, all I saw was darkness and now I am seeing light? There must be something wrong with the Gods segregating the souls.

“Ma’am, are you okay?” I turned my head to the right and saw a woman with a worried expression on her face. But there was a hint of a smile shown in the small curve of her lips. She was worried but happy at the same time.

What is going on?

I roamed my eyes around the room, upward, downward, from the left to the right. I am in a shelter of monochrome colors. But the difference is there are pin lights everywhere. This room looked like it was crafted with perfection, no traces of rocks being connected together using raw eggs nor branches of trees peeking in. And the floor… it was not soil. It was square pieces being connected together with a marble texture.

“Doc, I think she is still adjusting.” The woman’s voice made me snap out of my thoughts. I looked at my right again and observed her. She was a woman who looked like she was in her mid-30s. She was wearing a polo with striped pattern and a long slitted skirt in a dark brown colour.

Weird enough, corsets are not a thing now? There are also two ladies in a white dress with caps on their heads with blue masks, and a man in a simple blue polo long sleeve and suit pants, with a white blazer and a stethoscope hanging around his neck.

Stethoscopes are a thing now?! Hold on… How do I even know what a stethoscope is? It’s weird. I have not seen one before but I know what it is called.

“I believe I should leave you first alone and call us when you encounter a problem.” The man uttered before looking at me with a smile.

“I am delighted that you have finally woken up, Miss Valentino,” he said before exiting the door with the two ladies.

The woman standing beside me then pulled out her phone from the pocket of her top, her fingers tic tacking on the screen’s keyboard. What is she using? Has technology improved that fast? How long was I asleep?

I saw something being pinned around her right chest. It is what seems to be a name tag. Is that her name? Ms… Vernice?

“How long was I asleep?” I asked, breaking our moment of silence.

Ms. Vernice checked the screen once again and looked up, biting her lip, as if she was calculating.

“About 6 days, almost a week, Ms. Elara,” she replied.

A week?! And a lot of things had improved already? Based on my last memory and the things that I am witnessing now, I refuse to believe humans are smart enough to invent things in a span of 6 days!

Wait, 6 days…. On the same year?

“Wait. What year is it today?” I asked again.

Never in my entire life had I ever believed in any extraordinary thing to ever happen but I am now asking this question to know if something extraordinary did happen. Ironic, right? But if I wouldn’t ask, then what I am seeing now would be even more confusing.

Ms. Vernice’s forehead creased, as if it was the strangest thing I had ever asked. Well, it was because who in their right mind would ever?

“2024. Ma’am, you’re concerning me. You didn’t get amnesia, did you?”

Amnesia? And 2024?

How did this even happen? The last time I could remember the year was 1678. And you’re saying we are now in the 2000s? There must be something wrong. Well, there IS something wrong. Did I perhaps travel in time? Did I hit my head somewhere else? Did I reincarnate? But if I did, I would have been rebirthed as a baby! Not a middle-aged woman. Could it be that my soul transferred to this body?

I rose up and walked towards the whole body mirror pasted on the wall. My body looks the same. From my toes, to my legs, to my body, neck, and face. I look the same as before. But how come? Another note, this surely is not a baby’s body. What exactly is going on here?

I walked back to the bed and layed down. A sharp pain suddenly tinged in my forehead. This is giving me a headache and I am not too bright for this.

I pulled the blanket as I planned to sleep again, hoping this was all just a dream and I would wake up on my soft mattress in my tiny, lovely cottage.

“Oh.”

The cardigan. The cardigan I was weaving is here. I scanned the material and it was the exact copy. The threads of it are silver and gold, they sparkle under the lights of this tiny room. It is also still unfinished, the same as a while ago.

And then it hit me.

I frantically scanned the room, checking for traces of the deranged man who had ended my life. Or tried to – as it is very clear that as of the moment, I am still alive and breathing.

Where is Lord Nicol?

Or was he left in the past as I was the only one who got killed? Or was he also here?

Or…

I glanced at my right and watched Ms. Vernice almost falling asleep on the tiny couch. Could he be her?

I stood up and grabbed the sharpest thing I could find. It was a pen sitting nicely on the bedside table. This might be enough to defend myself if he – or she ever attacks.

“Hello?”

Before I could even walk towards her, I heard three knocks on the door followed by a series of “Hello” and “Open the door, please.” That must have awoken Ms. Vernice as now she was already striding towards the door, opening it, making a creaking sound.

I have no idea why or how, but I found myself clutching my chest in anxiety, my heart was pounding fast. It was his hair that peeked first, followed by his forehead, then his nose, then his mouth.

My eyes widened at the sight of his entire face. That is the face I could never forget, the face that I deem to curse throughout my life and even death. The man stood there with a worried expression on his face – which turned into delight as we made eye contact. Sweat was prickling around his neck and his hands, those hands that held a nasty sword were now holding a basket of fruits while the other grips on what seemed to be a bouquet of flowers.

I know his face all too well. It’s him. It’s Lord Nicol.

I moved back, slowly and slowly, as this man approached me. I am getting deja vu. This was exactly how I experienced it just a moment ago. This man is about to get me again.

I felt like I lost my hearing from the nervousness, but his footsteps were too loud, they were slamming my ears.

“Ma’am? Please stay on the bed.” Ms. Vernice walked closer to us and grabbed my arm, guiding me back to the bed.

“Baby?”

“Stay away from me! Get out! I do not have any idea what you were here for! I do not know a single damn thing about you!” I cut him off, anger and fear collided in my voice.

Lord Nicol’s expression turned sour. His eyebrows lifted up, his lips pouting at the same time. He looked confused and unaware of what I was spouting about.

“Baby, what are you yelling about?” He continued to step closer to me, ignoring my screams and warnings. This bastard…

“I am NOT a baby and will never be a baby. Am I that weak to you for you to call me as one? I know what you’re plotting!”

Lord Nicol signed something to Ms. Vernice, gaining a nod from her in response. She then slowly exited the room with worry sketched on her face. She probably had no idea what was going on. It was between me and Lord Nicol, after all. And I would not want other people to be involved in this mess.

Ms. Vernice’s POV

I already did what I was supposed to do. I was the one who found her unconscious in her office and offered to take care of her in the hospital during her treatment as Mr. Valentino is busy with his work, and Ms. Elara is someone I treasure a lot. She is a good boss. I also contacted him earlier to come as she had already woken up. Whatever their problem is, it’s none of my business. Good bye.

Elara’s POV

“Do not leave me! Please!” I shouted once more, jumping from the bed to follow her.

But before I could even take a step, I heard something drop on the floor, followed by my face being blocked with such a hard chest and toned arms snaking around my body. I can feel his fingers rub my back, in hopes to calm me down.

“Have a nice day, Ms. Elara and Mr. Florenze.” That was the last thing I could hear from Ms. Vernice before the door shut.

Florenze? This man is NOT Florenze! Is he under a disguise so he could tail me and kill me again? Is he making himself a trustworthy man when he isn’t?

There is no choice left for me to pick. I decided to keep screaming for help, hoping someone would come and take me away from this nasty murderer.

“Help-“

Before I could even scream again, soft lips met mine. It was too fast, I could not react. It first landed as a smack, before he started moving against mine. It was slow and gentle. My mind was clouded.

What was I doing earlier?

The world around me turned silent, I could only hear the beats of our hearts turning into one. He found his arms around my waist, pulling me closer. His thumb was rubbing the softness of my skin. It sent vibrations to my body.

The kiss deepened as he inserted his tongue in my mouth, ours now dancing along. It was sweet but somewhat eager.

Before I could start the thought process, he broke away from me, panting and gasping for air.

What just happened?

“It looks like you’ve calmed down now.” His fingers brushed my hair, tucking the strand blocking my face. I watched how his face turned relaxed. His lips curved in a smile, relieved.

I love you always, Elara.

Suddenly, a voice rang in my ears. It was the same voice as Lord Nicol, as well as the guy standing in front of me.

When was that?

“I’m sorry it took me so long to come here. I didn’t know cancelling my appointments today is too much work,” he said, moving away to pick the basket and place it on the table. He then gave the bouquet to me. It was a bouquet of tulips… my favourite flowers.

I remained silent the whole time, confused and conflicted.

“The doctors said you’ve suffered from over-stressing. We never expected you to sleep that long. But I’m really… really glad that you’re now awake. I was so worried…”

My eyes widened as I turned to look at him. Tears were streaming down his cheeks, his eyes were red. It was like he had been holding it for a long time. His hand found its way to mine. He held my hand and rubbed my fingers with his thumb.

“I’m really sorry I didn’t have much time for you. I…”

He looked down and sobbed, his voice broken from the tears.

“I love you so much… Please don’t ever make me worry again.”

For some reason, it made my heart ache a little. Who is this Florenze and why does he bear the exact same face as the Lord?

Also… he seems to love Elara so much.