A VOW FOR VENGEANCE

Chapter Two: A New Type Of Life

Hanna’s POV

One moment there was nothing. Then there was a loud, pierce ringing in my ears that would not stop, like an alarm no one else could hear.

Every time I tried to open my eyes, a bright, cold light hit me. Forcing me to shut them immediately. I just laid there, breathing, just breathing, trying to remember how to exist.

Where am I?

I forced my eyes open again, slower. Blurry shapes lingered above me. Faces. I realized as my vision gradually cleared. People in scrubs, leaning over me with that particular look doctors have when they are trying very hard not to scare you.

“Miss, can you hear us?”

“Yes,” I responded faintly. My voice sounded distant, like it belonged to someone else.

One of them pointed a small sharp light directly into my eye and I flinched, squeezing them shut again. The darkness rushed back in, warm and quiet, and for a moment I wanted to stay in it.

My last memory immediately flashed through my mind. The truck, the headlights and the screeching sounds.

I opened my eyes again. Wider this time around.

I was in a hospital. I was alive. Tears ran down my cheeks.

Minutes later, Lucas, tall in an expensive beige-looking suit, alongside beautiful Mia, following him like an accessory he had forgotten to leave at home, rushed quickly to the hospital. Quicker than I expected, by the way. I am sure news of my accident must have reached their ears by now, and they were celebrating and happy thinking they had won and were now free to openly admit their love. Or did they come to see if I truly died in the accident?

Say nothing, not yet. I thought quietly.

“My beautiful princess,” Lucas said with concern written all over his pretentious face. “Why are you fainting on the day of our engagement?” “Wedding jitters?” he asked.

“Well, I got you your favorite flowers to mark this special day.” While giving me the white peony flower, which used to be my favorite, now it was as if I was being handed poison. “Happy engagement, My Love.” He added, pecking my forehead.

I refused to collect the flowers, I just laid on the bed staring into space, as if nobody was talking to me. Then he placed them on the table.

For a few seconds, I could not process what he said. When it hit me, I slowly turned to him.

“Faint… Engagement?” I asked as I slowly sat upright this time around. I noticed the card that was attached to the peonies flower and read it in absolute disbelief.

“Cheers to fresh beginnings, Happy Engagement.” I read the line over and over again, still confused. My stomach churned for a bit.

“I was in a car accident. What engagement are you...?" Before I could finish my question. I was cut short by Mia.

“Maybe it could be the excitement that comes with finally getting engaged to the love of your life.” She smiled while caressing her hands lovingly on Lucas's shoulder. He looked at her. No, not with the same eyes he had been looking at me for four years. This was passion, raw and burning.

At that moment, every inch of my skin wanted to scream. How bold. Bold enough to come here and showcase their affair directly in front of me. Are these people intentionally making a jest out of me?

I thought for some minutes.

I ignored their concerns. I had just come out of a deadly accident and, after all, they were the least of the people that truly cared about me and, if anything, wanted me gone.

“How was Mom’s exhibition?” I asked without a bit of concern, just trying to move past the conversation about the engagement. It was the exhibition where I had come to know the truth about them anyway. I was sure it had gone well with or without my presence and besides, Isla hated failures and would do everything possible to avoid them.

I did not get the answer I expected. I noticed them staring at each other confusingly.

“Hanna, mom has not done the annual exhibition this year, everyone has been busy preparing for your engagement party.” She replied. “Trust mom to make it glamorous.” She added, smiling.

“Yes, my princess,” Lucas seconded, bringing out an old very familiar object out of his trouser pocket.

“Here, your phone. The stylist gave it to me after you fainted during your fittings.” Handing the weird-looking phone to me.

I was bewildered, shocked, in total disbelief.

This was the exact phone I used a year ago. I had lost it during an event and tried everything possible to track it but to no avail. I remember getting a new phone a few months later and besides, the phone I had earlier must have been crushed into pieces in the accident.

Anxiously, I tapped the screen and it lit up. A selfie of myself and Lucas which we had taken at a rooftop restaurant, his arm around my shoulder, both of us laughing at something I couldn't even recall anymore. I looked so happy in that picture. So completely, embarrassingly unaware. Then I noticed something very strange.

The date: February 12, 2024. This was a year ago, on the exact date Lucas and I got engaged.

My hands were shaking. Not from an accident, but from something that made no sense at all and yet was staring right back at me in plain, undeniable numbers.

"Hanna?" Lucas's voice brought me back. He was watching me with a look of concern, his brows slightly pulled together, his head tilted just enough to look caring. I used to find that look comforting. Now I could see exactly what it was. A performance. A very well-rehearsed one.

"You've been staring at your phone for a while," Mia added softly, perching herself at the edge of my hospital bed. “The doctor said you might feel a little disoriented and stressed after fainting. It is completely normal."

Fainting.

They thought I had fainted.

“Oh no, I am not stressed. In fact, I am quite… entertained. My life has become so much more interesting,” I replied, giving them a venomous smile.

“If you do not mind, I would like to use the restroom.” Still smiling at them.

“Let me escort you then.” Mia volunteered.

“No, it is fine. I will go with the nurse.” I signaled for a nurse’s attention.

I studied myself in front of the restroom mirror for a few minutes. Scanning my entire body. Someone who was involved in a serious accident like mine would have wounds or at least scars on their body that would be evident for weeks.

What exactly happened to me? How is this possible?

Why is everyone saying I fainted?

I stood there until the fear settled into something I could carry before coming out. The nurse who was assisting me quickly rushed to me in order to help.

“Sorry, I seem to have forgotten. What is today’s date again?” I asked just to be sure my mind and my family were not playing cheap little tricks on me.

“It is February 12, Miss.” The nurse answered, grabbing my hands gently.

“20…2024?”

“Yes Miss.”

I let out a huge sigh and quickly adjusted my face to normal on reaching the door.

I met a doctor discussing with Lucas as I entered the room.

“Oh! Miss Lawson, I was just speaking with your guardian. We have done the necessary tests and everything is perfectly normal. You are free to get discharged whenever you are ready,” the doctor explained, then turned to Lucas. “Mr Edward, you will need to come with me to sign some paperwork.”

Lucas nodded and followed the doctor out of the room.

“Finally, time to get you engaged.” Mia approached me, squeezing me in a tight hug. I didn’t reciprocate.

When she was finally done, I slowly laid back down on my hospital bed.

“You don’t seem excited, Hanna.” She added, giving a worried look.

“Who would be?” I whispered in such a way that she didn’t hear.

Lucas came back, with a happy smile. “Get dressed, it is time to go home...”

“I will go home on my own.” I cut him sharper than I intended. Then I reduced my voice. “I need to do something important first before coming home.”

Lucas paused for some seconds, looking at Mia like they were exchanging some kind of eye contact.

“Okay fine, we will be leaving, but make sure to come home on time before the ceremony,” he finally replied, “I will ask the driver to bring your car here for you,” pecking me on my forehead, then heading out with Mia.

I just laid there alone for a few hours, staring blankly into space. Then got dressed and picked up the flowers Lucas bought.

“Cheers to fresh beginnings.” The words replayed in my head.

“What a cruel joke.” I whispered, tossed the flowers into the trash and headed out.