CHAPTER 3: New Identity
1428 Words
Satomi’s heart pounded in her chest, a chaotic rhythm of fear and confusion that refused to settle. But then, this man's voice, soft, gentle, full of a tenderness she hadn't known she carved, wrapped around her like a warm embrace. His touch, so light against her skin, soothed the tremors inside her, calming the storm in her mind. Slowly, the world around her began to blur, and a strange dizziness overtook her. The only thing she could cling to at that moment was his gaze. Emerald green eyes, alive with concern, framed by lush golden lashes, looking at her as if she were the most precious thing in the world.
As her eyelids fluttered, her vision dimmed, she felt herself drifting toward sleep, her breath slowing. The last thing she saw before the darkness claimed her was him. His gaze was full of affection and care like he could protect her from everything. But deep within her mind, fragments of another memory flickered, unbidden, pulling her from the soft haze of sleep. Her thoughts shattered, the pieces falling into place. Images of the past, her past, flooded her senses.
Satomi, no matter what happens, we will not leave you. We are together in hardship or comfort. Friends forever!
The echo of those words made her chest ache, the memory of two people who had shown her what love truly meant. They had been her family, in a world where she had never known one.
But then... darkness. The crash of metal. Screams. Glass shattering. The world splunks as two cars collide in an explosion of sound and destruction.
Your friends are dead!
The voice pierced her mind, harsh and accusing, and Satomi felt a wave of panic surge within her. Her eyes snapped open again, her breath ragged and shallow, as if she had been drowning. Her throat burned, dry and tight from the scream she couldn’t quite remember making. She opened her mouth, but only a hoarse gasp escaped.
"This voice... Kana?" Even though she couldn’t see her face, Satomi knew the voice. Her stepsister. Her tone was venomous, filled with hatred. But why? Why was she there? After everything that had happened, why was she still tormenting her? "After everything, I lost..."
The words echoed like a cruel refrain.
Sister, why don’t you just die along with them?
Tears welled up in Satomi’s eyes, the weight of the memories crashing down on her like a tidal wave.
No! Ayane! Akari!
Just die!
The command rang in her ears, cold and final.
No!
With a gasp, Satomi jolted upright, her body trembling with the force of the shock. She tried to scream, but only a dry, strangled sound left her lips. Her throat was raw, as though she'd been screaming for hours.
A soft, hurried rustling of fabric alerted her to someone’s presence. A figure dressed in an old-fashioned maid’s outfit, the kind that looked like it belonged in a play or a distant past, rushed to her side. The woman’s face was full of concern, her brow furrowed with genuine worry as she gently placed a hand on Satomi’s arm, trying to calm her.
"Duchess!" the woman called, her voice trembling with fear.
"Duchess?" Satomi blinked, disoriented, her gaze wandering around the unfamiliar room. The world was still spinning, but she could make out the towering windows, draped in thick, heavy curtains with intricate tassels hanging down like ropes of silk. The soft glow of crystal chandeliers bathed the room in a faint, shimmering light, casting delicate shadows on the high, vaulted ceilings. A crackling fire in a grand stone fireplace warmed the air, its flickering flames casting a golden glow on everything they touched. It was lavish. Old. Familiar, yet utterly foreign. "Where am I?"
She could swear she had seen this room before, in a dream or a memory long buried. But how? Why did everything feel so... out of place?
A gentle, worried voice broke through her confusion.
"Duchess, how are you feeling?" The brunette woman, her face pale with concern, looked at her with eyes that shimmered with unshed tears, as if she feared the worst. Her words were laced with genuine care, and it only made Satomi feel more lost.
Duchess?
Satomi couldn’t find her voice, her mind still reeling from the wave of memories that crashed over her. She stared at the woman, unsure of what to say. Everything about her, from the old-fashioned maid’s attire to the way she spoke with such intimacy, felt so strange, yet so... familiar. Her mind refused to connect the dots.
The maid's eyes searched hers, full of concern. "Duchess... do you know who I am?"
She gazed at the maid standing before her, who seemed genuinely worried, her hands anxiously intertwined. There was something oddly familiar about the woman, yet she couldn't place any previous encounters with her.
“Duchess, I’m your exclusive maid. Do you remember my name?” the maid asked, her voice tinged with a mixture of concern and hope.
Confusion washed over her as the situation grew increasingly complicated. "Why did this woman keep referring to her as Duchess," she thought. The lavish surroundings only deepened her bewilderment. Instead of the sterile white walls of a hospital, she found herself in a room that exuded an air of medieval grandeur. The walls were adorned with rich tapestries depicting scenes of nobility, and the furniture was crafted from dark wood, intricately carved with ornate designs.
The bed loomed large in the center of the room, draped in heavy fabrics that looked both opulent and inviting. She ran her fingers over the thick, embroidered bedspread, marveling at the luxuriousness of it all. Everything felt like a scene pulled from a storybook, but she couldn’t understand what role she was meant to play in this peculiar narrative.
The door swung open, revealing a tall man with golden blond hair that seemed to capture the very essence of sunlight as the sun dipped toward the horizon. Its golden hue intensified, casting a warm glow on his striking features. His eyes, deep and lush, sparkled like beautiful emerald gems, drawing her in with their captivating gaze. The contrast of his fair skin, reminiscent of a soft, white cloud drifting across a brilliant blue sky, added to his almost ethereal appearance.
As she studied him more closely, she noticed the weariness etched into his face, a reflection of the worry and fear that had marked the time they spent apart. An overwhelming sense of relief washed over him as he approached her, and his expression softened. Without hesitation, he jumped onto her bed and enveloped her in his arms. The sheer strength of his embrace was evident, yet it was gentle and reassuring, making her feel safe rather than overwhelmed. She could sense his cautiousness, as though he feared she might vanish if he held her too tightly.
At that instant, recognition surged within her. This was the man who had gazed at her with a profound sense of affection as she awoke from her slumber, his eyes filled with emotions that spoke of longing and concern.
“Wife,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion, “I was so worried that you would leave me all alone.”
Satomi's last vivid memory was of lying in a sterile hospital bed, the antiseptic smell around her mixing with a sense of impending doom. She recalled the moment she heard the familiar, shrill voice of her sister, echoing through the sterile halls. It should have brought her comfort, yet confusion washed over her as she struggled to comprehend why she found herself in such an unfamiliar setting, surrounded by strangers.
Among them was a man who held her tightly, whispering tender words and calling her his wife. The term sent shockwaves through her mind. As far as she recalled, she had never been married. Just a year earlier, she had ended a tumultuous relationship with her boyfriend after he cheated on her with her sister, Kana. That betrayal had left her heartbroken and single, a solitude she had embraced following the painful revelation.
Agitated and disoriented, Satomi mustered every ounce of strength she had left to push against him, desperate to escape his warm but unwelcome embrace. The idea that someone she didn’t know could care for her so deeply felt utterly surreal.
“Who are you?” she demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger, as she searched his face for answers that seemed just out of reach.
- Writer
