"A car collided with a truck I heard." someone shouted.
"Wait, there... there is a girl. Help her out, someone call the ambulance!"
"Move back, move! Let the police handle this."
"Pull out the stretcher, fast!"
"Apply CPR, c'mon! Is it working?"
"The girl couldn't be saved."
"No!"
Selena jolted awake, breathing heavily. Sweat soaked her forehead, her heart hammering. She clutched the pillow, trying to calm down. Around her, the room was dark and silent. The clock glowed— 4am.
After a while, Selena forced herself out of bed, splashed cold water on her face and looked in the mirror, "And it's just...another dream." she murmured.
Selena dressed quickly and grabbed her phone as a message from her boyfriend blinked,
"Where are you? The ceremony will begin soon, won't you come?"
"I'll be right there." She typed, slamming the door behind as she left.
Driving home, her stomach knotted. It was the same road...the same car. The collision. She flinched and stopped the car immediately. She shivered but forced herself to keep driving.
And suddenly— a truck appeared from nowhere. It barreled straight at her car. Selena barely jumped out in time, rolling across the road. Her car crumpled behind her.
Her leg throbbed sharply. She touched her head— sticky warmth trickled down. Blood. Too much of it. Her phone lay shattered. Panick clawed at her chest as she forced herself up but failed. She staggered forward, vision swimming, and then everything went black.
Selena opened her eyes and found herself in the floor of a dark room. She stood up, opened the door and an image hit her —the one she could never forget. Her dad, paralyzed, sitting on a wheelchair, on the top of the stairs. "Dad?" She murmured as she stepped out of darkness. A women— face blurred— appeared shoved him down. He fell, blood everywhere. Before Selena could react, a scream pierced the air, "Dad! Wake up! Call the ambulance!" Selena dropped to her knees. Her hands clutched her ears, her whole body shook. "Stop! " She screamed.
Selena gasped. The blood, the scream— it dissolved into white light. A ceiling. A hospital bed. Reality... or another vision? Her heart raced; she held her chest tightly.
"Where am I?" She whispered.
"Doctor, the girl is awake!" A nurse shouted, rushing over.
"You're awake." The doctor said as he approached, flipping through his notes. "How are you feeling?"
Selena's gaze swept the room. Her head was bandaged, her leg in a plaster cast.
"Who brought me here? What happened?"
The doctor's expression softened, "I was passing by and saw the accident. You were unconscious, so I brought you here. You've been lying here for almost five days. I didn't know your name or family— what should I call you?"
Selena's jaw clenched. Not giving them my real name, not yet.
"I am...Suzy." she said, "I don't remember... My car... I just..."
"So you weren't the one driving?" the doctor asked, following her gaze towards her leg. She nodded.
"Your leg's fractured, head injury was a bit concerning but nothing critical. You'll recover soon... probably three weeks, if your body cooperates." he added.
Selena fist curled beneath the blanket. Anger simmered beneath her calm. how dare she! she thought.
"Thank you for saving me." Selena said, soothing her voice, trying to stay steady.
"Of course." The doctor replied with a faint smile.
"Well, can you...do me a favor please?" She asked hesitantly. "Actually, I don't have my phone so... Can I use yours for a minute?"
"Sure. Maybe you can use my tablet. Curious about the accident?" He asked, adjusting his glasses. His gaze lingered on her a beat too long behind the lenses.
Selena's lips pressed into a thin line, "yes."
The doctor handed her the tab and reminded her about her medications before leaving.
Selena's eyes followed him as he walked out of the room. He seems odd. I'd keep an eye on him.
Selena sighed, a drop of tear rolled down her cheeks. Dad, I know who killed you. Her fingertips went numb; the words tasted like iron. She wiped her tears and watched rain streak the window.
On the screen, the headlines were blunt. "Selena Leonard...died." News articles confirmed what she already suspected. Things were unfolding exactly as she assumed. A corner of her lips curved into a dark smirk as she scrolled past photos of Helena Marchand and Isabelle crying in front of her picture.
"Anyways, it's not that surprising. I just forgot your habit of biting the hand that feeds you." She muttered, laughing sharp and bitter.
Selena kept scrolling until one article stopped her. Her brows drew together."You've crossed your limit, Helena Marchand. Just wait and watch how I strip your skin down." Her grip on the tablet tightened. Sorrow and hatred both reflected in her eyes. "That accident... I knew it."