THE MISSING PIECE

CHAPTER 14- THE OTHER VOICE

GRACE

I felt like if a trailer hit me, but not figuratively but literally. My whole body ached, I couldn't even open my eyes. The darkness was even worse than the pain. I felt alone, and cold. Slowly I started to feel some heat inside, I walked to the source, but suddenly it got bigger. I felt my skin burning in the fire, my hair disappearing in ashes. I thought I was dead but the pain felt so real I couldn't possibly be dead. A fresh feeling came from my back. I tried to focus on that feeling rather than the hellish fire I felt in my blood. I don´t know how much time passed, I felt like if I was out for weeks. My body still hurt but more like and after cold pain. “Grace, are you feeling better?” the voice spoke in my head. I try to remember why it sounded so familiar, but the pain in my head stopped me from thinking too hard. I opened my eyes and realise I was in the room. Belle was sleeping at my side, everything looked normal except that I had a cannula in my right hand. As soon as I try to sit down I heard the door opening. I saw Miller with a big smile, he walked to me and hugged me.

    -I´m so happy that you are awake!

I felt tingles and sparks all over my body. I pushed him off.

    -What did you do?

    -I hugged you?

    -No, the sparks and…  did you use a taser on me?

He lifted his hands.

    -I got nothing on me! Why would I use a taser on you?

    -Then explain the sparks and electricity? That is impossible to be normal static.

    -Grace, do you remember why are you in bed?

I closed my eyes and I tried to think but I just remembered going to sleep after watching movies with Sabrina and Kevin. I tried harder and my headache started to intensify. I felt a comfort sensation in my forehead, and tingles? I open my eyes and saw Miller’s hand in my forehead. I pushed it of.

    -Stop touching me!

    -You don't like it?

    -No! It feels weird.

    -But like... good weird?

    -No! Just strange weird! Why are you smiling like that?

He was completely freaking me out, he had a teasing smile like if he was trying to flirt with me, it felt completely awkward and my body was about to burst with the sparks. Like when you are in the carnival in one of those games that let you fall down, that type of feeling but worst.

    -Sabrina! Please come! Miller is freaking me out!

Sabrina entered the room with tears in her eyes and she hugged me.

    -I’m so glad you are okay and awake, I missed you so much? Are you still the same?

    -What are you talking about, I just slept?

    -You are still funny as always!

She hugged me tighter. Miller put his hand on Sabrina’s shoulder and by pulling her, he broke the hug.

    -Don’t touch her so much, it drives Kygo jealous.

    -You and your stupid male jealous wolf...

    -And also Sabrina, I don't think she is joking in the part that she just slept. I think she has no memory from the past few days.

Few days! I looked at them in shock. “We slept for few days.” the voice in my head spoke again. The headache intensified. I saw Nelson entering through the door and Miller almost attacked him. While avoiding Miller, Nelson grabbed a syringe and injected me something. I felt the substance traveling my body and the pressure in my head started to fade away. Sabrina held Miller’s arms the whole time until Nelson left the room. In the second Sabrina released Miller he came to bed, sat and grabbed my hand, pulled it to his face and smell it. I tried to take my hand back but my body was so relaxed I couldn't move.

    -Sabrina, what did Nelson injected me?

    -He injected a cat sedative, to keep your cat down until you feel better and strong enough to hold both of you.

    -My cat? Belle?

    -Okay, Zac. Now I believe you with the part that she wasn't joking. Grace what's the last thing you remember?

    -I remember eating the hotdogs, and going to bed… My dogs were barking and I went out and saw Miller in wolf form.

I looked at him, and a flashback from the wolf I saw that night appeared in my mind.

    -But he wasn't him, the wolf was not the right color, then you and Kevin… OMG you and Kevin also transformed! Miller you are not alone! They are also from the same kind as you!

I was so exciting telling him, I was so happy for him, he will never feel alone again! He just smiled at me and took my hand in his two hands and kiss it. Sabrina looked at me and sat next to me, but she sat on the floor because Miller was still sitting in the bed.

    -Okay, Grace don't stop keep telling me what happened after you saw me and Kevin transform.

I was really confused, why didn't Miller asked more questions? Was he not happy to find more creatures like him? He didn't stop smiling at me, so I think he is happy. I looked at Sabrina and she was waiting for my answer.

    -Then I saw more wolves appear between the trees, I remember been scared to death… The last wolf tried to attack Max and Milo! OMG are they okay?

I tried to stand up, but Miller's hands push me back to my place in the bed.

    -Don´t worry Grace, they are okay.

He said those words too close to my ear. I pushed him back.

    -What else do you remember Grace, don’t stop...

I looked at Sabrina and she was getting mad, so I decided to ignore Miller and kept trying to remember.

    -And… nothing I can't remember anymore. It's really blurry.

    -Those memories are linked to the cat, right now she is sedated so Grace isn’t able to access that information yet.

Nelson’s voice came from behind the door, but he didn't enter or opened it. Miller and Sabrina share a strange look at each other. Sabrina stood up and leave the room without saying a word. Miller kissed my hand and then followed her. I tried to understand but I was not able to even link what they were saying, what could Belle had to do with my memory? I sat and looked for my phone. It was still charging, I plug it off and turn it on. As it turns on it started to vibrate like crazy. I had many messages from social media, my mail, and many other applications. I saw through the window and it looked the same, but how does the signal is getting through? I took it and started to read the messages. I had a lot from Noah. I miss him so much I just want to go back to my life. I pressed call and in seconds Noah answered.

-Grace! I'm so happy that you can call! where are you?

-Noah I miss you so much! Everything here is strange and confusing…

-Are you alright what happened, baby?

I started to cry, hearing his voice made me realize that I miss him more than I thought.

-I want to go back, I love you so much and...

Before I could finish that sentence Miller entered the room in a very aggressive way. He took the phone from my hand and crush it. I turn my sight to my phone now in pieces. The tears started to intensify.

-Why are you like this? What did I do to you? Did you have an idea of how much I missed his voice? How much time I have been waiting to hear him again?

He looked at me, his eyes were completely black, but I was so mad I wouldn't let it end like this.

-I´m going back to my home! You already gave your permission, and that day if it hadn't been for the wolves by now  I could be back with him!

His eyes didn't leave mine. He walked closer to me and bends down, his face was now at the same level as mine.

-You are not leaving my side until you remember everything that happened and understand who you really are!

After saying those words he exits the room. And let me there crying alone with my phone turned to pieces. I woke up and notice that I actually cried so much I fall asleep. The first thing I saw was my phone in pieces and I decided that it was enough. I move carefully with the catheter still in my hand and started to gather all my things and pack them. I heard a knock in the door, but I was in no mood to talk. I heard the door open and saw Sabrina holding a tray with soup.

-Grace, what are you doing?

-Packing.

-Why? Did you already speak with Zac?

-I don't care what he says. I want to go now, you told me that I could actually go that night remember? 

She looked at me and left the tray in the bed. 

    -I know I said that, but you can’t go back until you remember everything it’s…

    -You to? Did miller send you?

    -It’s not that but…

    -You said you will support me!

-And believe me I do but…

-No buts! Miller also gave his authorization for me to return!

-He did but I didn't think it was going to be good for you to see him mated to other woman!

-What?

-That night Miller chose a she wolf to be his partner but you are...

She looked at me in shock.

    -But I’m what?

    -Sorry, Grace it was not my place to say those words. Please forget them, and eat soup.

She left the room so fast I couldn't ask more questions. My stomach growled and I decided to take a break from packing and eat the soup. It was actually good, and I thought neither of them knew how to cook. “The taste is good.” The voice in my head returned. “Are you feeling better Grace?” I didn't know why but I could hear it so clearly, like if it was my conscience. “Are you my conscience voice, like in Pinocchio the cricket?” I laugh at my own thought as if something was going to respond... “If Pinocchio could transform into a cricket and the cricket lived in his head, yes. Something like that” “OMG did you actually answer me?” My head started to get dizzy. and I lay on the bed. “We are still not used to the link.” “What link? What are you talking about? Why are you still talking?” “I will tell you what I know, okay?” “This must be another nightmare, but okay.” “You and I share the same body, I remember everything since you were a kid, but some days ago I discovered that my real body is a snow leopard. We can change between your human body and mine, or at least that's what Sabrina is been telling while you were sleeping.” I tried to assimilate what my voice or more like the other voice in my head was saying. Everything was so confusing, but what in this few past days wasn’t. “Okay let’s imagine I believe you, who are you?” “I remember something, memories that are even older than us, can you lend me your body?” I felt like if someone was pushing me back. I started to move but without me moving, like if I was dreaming. I saw how my body walked to the bathroom and took some paper and started to draw something. 

********* symbols were drawn by my hands in the paper. “I think that is pronounced Anri, the first symbol means apricot and the second symbol is justice, logic, reason, truth or something like that.” “So your name is Anri because?” “I will bring justice and truth.” “Justice and truth for who?” “I'm not sure yet.” “And the apricot part?” “My eyes are the color of an apricot.” She moved my head to face the mirror and I saw my face, but those were not my eyes, they were yellow with orange sparks. “What happened to my eyes!” “Those are mine, they appear because I'm controlling your body.” “Give my body back!” “No! I felt trapped before!” My head started to felt dizzier, I saw everything blurry and then felt some sparks all over my back and head. I had a strange dream, I was back at that night. The wolf was just about to attack my dogs and I ran faster than him. I transformed into a white leopard while running. When I reached the wolf I bit his neck hard. A metallic taste filled my mouth and I felt the blood dripping from my jaws. I felt the struggle of the wolf to break free from my jaws, but I just applied more pressure and used my claws to penetrate the chest and back. It went limp and I turned to see the rest of the wolves. A low growl leaves my body without dropping the wolf from my jaws. Five wolves ran to the forest. I saw two more wolves appeared from the other side of the plain. The smell of rotten meat changed to a strong scent of fresh rain and forest, a cold sensation got to my body that at the moment felt on fire. I let the wolf free from my jaws, but when I turned my sight down I saw a girl, a young girl with a torn apart neck and deep claw marks in the chest. I killed someone. I remember that I started to run. But my paws and mouth were drenched in blood, that girl’s blood. I remember the lake and ran to it. I washed my paws and face, then went near the rock and smell the red stains that smell like rain and forest. I lay down and the black wolf appeared. I was afraid, but the scent of rain and forest started to intensify. I smelled the air and found that the wolf was the one giving the smell away, I ran to him and deep my nose to smell it more. I remember seeing Sabrina and then I remember an intense fire inside… Then I heard voices talking, telling what Anri just said about me able to transform, and me being Miller's mate? The sparks intensify in my forehead. They turned to big electric shocks. I open my eyes and saw Miller kissing my forehead.