Boston, December 2019

"Sutures are in place." I said as my hands moved.

"We're done here. Let's pack her." Dr. Smith said.

"Hold on. I think I still see some necrosis here. More retraction." I said as a nurse gave me a cloth.

"Systolic dropped to 80." The anesthesiologist informed me.

"We need to control the bleeding and start packing." Dr. Smith said, intently looking at me.

"We get the necrosis, and then I will tie off the bleeder. Forceps." I said as my hands continued to move, receiving the forceps and continued.

"Down to 70." the anesthesiologist said.

"Dr. Jones." Dr. Smith said.

"Two seconds." I replied with my eyes fixated on the open stomach of the patient.

"We don't have two seconds." Dr. Smith quickly answered.

"Then one." I said as I looked at him, tension inside the operating room can be felt, "Scissors." I said, focusing back at the patient.

"That's it." I said, taking out the tissue, "Forceps. I found the bleeder. Clamp." I said as my hands moved quickly. "Tie it off." I said as Dr. Smith immediately obliged.

Silence engulfed the room, the pumping of machines could be heard and seconds later, "75 and climbing." The anesthesiologist informed, relief can be seen in his eyes.

Exhaling a breath, "Scissors." I said and Dr. Smith cut the thread, "All right. Let's pack her." I added as I looked at Dr. Smith. Tilting my head to the side as the surgery was successful.

Removing the scrubs as I exhaled a breath, "Another success, Dr. Jones." He said, I looked at him and chuckled.

"It's snowing." I said as I looked at the window of our shared office. "Winter is coming." Dr. Smith replied, "So, what will you do this Christmas?" He asked as I shrugged my shoulders.

"The usual." I replied, "Why don't you come to our house? Fena will surely be happy to see you and the kids, they already miss their godmother." He said as I looked at him, giving him a smile.

"I'm okay, Abel." I said as he looked at me, worried dancing in his eyes. "Okay. But our house is always open to you, RJ." He said as I nodded my head.

Changing my clothes and putting on my coat, "I have to go. Call me if you need something." I said as Abel nodded his head.

☘

Closing my eyes as I was about to sleep, hearing something clatter in my living room. I abruptly opened my eyes.

I slowly got up, careful enough not to make a noise, grabbing my golf club. I slowly opened the door.

Slowly approaching the living room, a silhouette of a man can be seen placing things inside his bag.

Thief.

Discreetly approaching him as I swing the golf club, hitting him straight to his head, his unconscious body laid on the floor, sighing as I looked at him.

Hearing a clicking sound behind me, my body froze.

There's another one.

"Drop that or I'll shoot you." He said, in a threatening manner, "I said drop it." He said, feeling something cold behind my head.

Slowly letting go of the golf club, "Turn around." He said as I obliged.

"You're beautiful." He commented as I looked at him, a full head mask covering his face as our eyes met. "Such a waste that I have to kill you." He said as my breath hitched.

"Now, don't be afraid. I'll make sure it'll be an easy quick death." He said, teasingly, caressing my face with the gun as I steady my breath and looked for a nearby weapon.

Noticing a cutter on the table, I slowly took it and without a second thought jabbing it in his eyes as he let go of the gun. I ran upstairs, locking my room, quickly grabbed my phone and dialed Abel's number.

As soon as he answered, "Help me." I said, breathless, "What happened?" He asked, alarmed, "Someone entered my house. Two and they have guns." I answered as the knob rattled.

"If ever I die today. Bury me beside my parents and Claude." I said, "Don't say such things. I'm on my way and Fena already called the police. Hang in there. I will get you out of there. Alive." He said.

The door opened as I ducked my head, crawling under the bed, "Come out, little mice." He said in a sing-song manner.

Covering my mouth as he stopped in front of my bed, "Where could she be?" He asked, "Looks like she's not here." He said and left. Letting out a breath, seconds later, screaming as someone grabbed my leg.

"There you are." He said and continued to grab me, forcefully lifting me up as he pointed the gun at me. "Scream and I'll blow your head off." He said as I stared down at the barrel of the gun.

Quickly grabbing the gun as I began to tug it, a gunshot was heard as both of us froze, looking down seeing my white shirt slowly begin to be covered in red.

He immediately let go and left as I covered it with my hand, pressing it hard enough preventing more blood to flow out, kneeling down and laying on the floor.

As my body slowly loses more blood, I begin to feel dizzy, breath uneven and labored.

Is this how I die? Will I now be able to see you, mom? Dad? Claude?

Closing my eyes, feeling my head being lifted, "Riv, I'm here." Hearing Abel's voice, opening my eyes, smiling at him.

"I've lost too much blood." I said as he shook his head. "I'll get you to the hospital." He said as I stopped him.

"Let me rest, Abel. I'm tired." I said as he shook his head, tears dropping on my face. "Don't cry, my friend." I said as I touched his face with my bloody hands.

"Bye, Abel." I said as I closed my eyes.

☘

Gasping for air, as I got up, two men immediately sat up, looking around, "I'm awake." He said, "I didn't sleep at all." Another man said.

Looking at them confusingly, roaming my eyes around the room. I was inside a bedroom, walls were painted with gray, a semicircular couch and a table on the right side.

Two nightstands and lamp on each side of the bed, a chair on the left side of the bed, and a simple chandelier hung above.

The two of them looked at each other, seconds later, a man entered the room, looking at me his eyes widened.

"You're awake." He said as I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"We saw you in front of our doorstep, cold and unconscious." He said, "By the way. I'm James Moore, and these two maggots are Ian and Fergus, unfortunately my brothers." He added, earning a chuckle from me.

"Thank you, I'm Rivia. Rivia Jones." I replied, hissing as I looked down, marks begun to appear forming a bracelet and encircling my wrist.

"Quite lucky, aren't you?" Ian said as I confusingly looked at him, tilting my head, "That's your soulmarks. You have your soulmates marks and they have yours." He added.

"Soulmate? Soulmarks?" I asked as they looked at me. "Where am I?" I asked, "New York." James replied as I furrowed my eyebrows.

"What year is this?" I asked, "2011." Ian answered, looking at me with confusion.

"I think you should get some rest first. Well explain about soulmarks and soulmate later." Fergus said as he approached me, my breath hitched and flinched away as the three of them froze.

"Okay, we'll leave you so you can rest. We'll be at the living room if you need any help." James said as they stood up and left.

Looking down at my wrist, ten marks encircle my left wrist, running my fingers at it as my head is still groggy.

Soulmates?

Soulmarks?

What the heck am I doing here in New York when I was in Boston dying?

Did I just go back in time?