Standing next to the tall glass wall, I stared out at the rain falling from the darkened sky. Thunder growled through the clouds while the city lay asleep beneath the storm's heavy breath. It had been pouring since afternoon — and to my bad luck, the interview I had been preparing for was scheduled today, only to be postponed because of this furious weather.
The day remained as clear as pure water in my mind, as if it had just happened a moment ago — the day I came into this world.
My eyes fluttered open as I slowly sat up straight. Looking around, I realized I was in an unfamiliar place.
I remembered the explosion.
How was I alive?
I had been on fire — my skin and flesh burned down to the bone, instead of being in a hospital, i was in... A cottage?
a cheery voice spoke, breaking my trance;
"She's awake! Mom! Dad! The pretty lady is awake!"
I turned my head towards the door to see a teenage boy and a younger one — maybe four years apart — standing there.
The teenager...
Hair as dark as night, black orbs complementing his pale skin… a slight muscular build — far too defined for a 13-year-old...
"Hey lady!" said the younger one, watching me closely with his doe-like eyes.
Golden-brown silky hair. Pale blue eyes. Honey-colored skin.
A couple entered the room after the kids. The woman scolded them sharply.
"Felix! Don't shout, she just woke up. Go outside! Go, Franklin, you too."
The boy with jet-black hair — Franklin — walked to the door with his younger brother, as the woman, who I assumed was their mother, walked to me.
Her skin was quite fair, Pale blue eyes, golden-brown hair and adorned in simple fabrics
"Hey, dear. How are you feeling now? Are you okay?"
I nodded slowly, still trying to figure out what had happened to me. It was suspicious... too suspicious for a person to survive such a brutal explosion.
"My name is Janis... Janis Bernard... and this is my husband Fabian Bernard."
The woman spoke, pointing at her husband as the man with similar dark hair — black as night — walked forward. It was as if I was looking at the boy, Franklin, all grown up—wait!
Janis Bernard? Wife of Fabian Bernard? And their two sons?
Felix Bernard and...
My heart skipped a beat.
Franklin Bernard.
My favourite side character from my favorite novel — The Call of Fate.
"D-do... do you have a mirror?" I asked, and she pointed at the wall mirror. With shaky steps, I walked toward it, staring at my reflection... long red hair, deep blue eyes... and honey-colored skin... I gasped, staring at my face in horror. I looked just like her, exactly like...
Laurel... Laurel Miller... the villainess who almost kills the female lead... for being the love interest of her husband, Cassian Valor... the male lead. The one who dies after Cassian divorces her, while being pregnant... that Laurel Miller.
Janis walked to me with worry as she looked at me.
"What happened? Is everything okay?" she questioned. I simply shook my head, still traumatised.
I walked back to the bed and sat on it, looking over at Janis. My eyes welled up, vision blurred, breath uneven — my mind… completely shaken.
"What happened to me?... Where did you find me?" My words were slow but determined.
I wanted to know what had happened to me.
"My husband and son found you near the lake this morning. You were unconscious and no one was there by your side, so they brought you here…"
The lake? There was no scene in the novel that had said anything about Laurel visiting the countryside or any kind of lakes. That can only mean one thing —the plot is yet to start—
I'm not married or engaged to Cassian.
"O-oh... thank you..." I mumbled.
I have to leave...I have to go, to the Miller estate and change my fate before I end up with he same fate.
"I'm Laurel...Laurel Miller..." I told her as i saw her eyes widen in shock...of course everyone knew who i was...
"I'm sorry to be...rude but can you drop me back to my home, my family would be worried for me"
The cold wind brushed against my skin as I stepped out of the Bernard's house, cloaked in a warm coat Janis had insisted I take. The sky still wept soft, silver rain, but my thoughts were louder than any storm.
Laurel Miller.
That was my name now.
I began preparing myself to leave. I thanked the Bernards for everything and made sure that they would keep in touch... since being in Franklin's good books was the best gateway from my horrifying and pitiful death.
They walked me to the closest bus station, and from then on, I led my way on my own. The bus ride was quiet, save for the sound of the heavy rain pattering against the road and the roar of the engine. The Bernard family had been kind enough to offer a ride back to the city. From there, I'd make my way to the Miller estate.
My hands tightened in my lap.
According to the novel, Laurel was rich, feared, and infamous. She had power. Connections. A temper no one dared test.
Her father, a cold politician. Her mother, a housewife. Her elder brother was leading their first-ever chain of companies.
It was supposed to be a life of luxury.
But all I could think of... was that divorce. That death. That end.
But I'm determined... I am and I will change the fate.