This chapter is dedicated to for making me feel secure about my writing. I love you girl ❤️❤️❤️ And please do check out an amazing book of hers which I am sure you guys will love. It's titled, It Lives In The Woods.

"Mummy, can you hear me?"

"She is awake."

"Finally . . ."

I heard voices floating around me as I took a deep, sharp breath and my eyes slowly blinked open. The first thing I felt was the blinding rays of sunlight that flitted in through the open windows. The bedsheet was soft and silky beneath my pale fingers and a fluffy pillow graced my head.

I felt a bit at ease. The darkness was finally gone and with it was replaced a shiny light. I heaved a sigh of relief as I discovered that my hands were no longer bound with chains but, as I lifted them up to the rays of the sun, I noticed two red, jagged marks on both sides of my wrists. They glowered and discolored my white, transparent skin.

I noticed that my palms were a bit paler than usual, almost as though I lacked blood in my circulatory system. Flinching as I felt a cold finger come in contact with my warm skin, I gasped for breath in the blue, transparent mask that was fixated on my nose.

My eyes veered in the direction of the slim tube connected to the mask and glided across the white tiles with each wary movement I took. A green coloured cylinder sat by the far corner of the room and from my view, the tube was plugged into a golden valve that served as a passage way for oxygen.

I heard that tiny, incessant voice yet again, which was grating highly on my nerves.

"Mummy, can you hear me?" the tiny voice whispered in my right ear.

I grunted in reply and painstakingly turned my head to the direction of the voice. I almost sucked in a breath at the blonde haired girl that was peering closely at me. Her ink–black lashes shimmered in the light and her perfect shaped eyebrows were furrowed in concentration.

My eyes took in her appearance in slow motion. Her small, pink lips were puckered in exasperation and her bright, blue eyes were laced with worry. Her sharp, pointed nose blew gentle gusts of air on my skin with each breath she took. She was indeed beautiful.

In her red, velvet gown that contrasted with her pale white skin, she looked almost ethereal. My right hand flitted involuntarily to cup her left cheek as her eyes burned into mine. I couldn't recall who she was. I tried my best racking my brain but, all I ended up with was a sharp pain that resounded deep in my skull.

I silently traced my bony fingers across a pink, jagged scar that ran from the base of her skull to her forehead. The cut looked deep and glowed faintly in the sun rays. I swallowed visibly as I noted other smaller cuts that were spread across her pretty face.

There was one on her left cheek, another on her forehead and yet another on her chin. They looked fresh and almost distorted her beauty.

The little girl plopped on my bed. She looked tired, her vibrant eyes looked withdrawn and worry lines were etched on her forehead. I noticed a tear slide from the corner of her eyes. They dropped fitfully down her chubby cheeks.

She grabbed my right hand that remained stagnant by the side of her face and kissed it. They connected with her tears and I felt something shift deep inside me.

It can't be. It can't be that this girl is my kid. If so, why can't I recall? And why do I have this vague feeling in the pit of my stomach?

My thoughts were conflicted as I laid still watching her in the silence. Her shoulders shook and more tears cascaded down her beautiful face.

I shifted to accommodate her on the bed and pulled her into a bear hug, I kissed her strawberry scented hair and patted her back in between sobs. Her breath was coming in hitches and I could feel her tears dripping onto my hospital gown.

After what felt like hours as the silence stretched on and engulfed the room, I managed to croak out.

"What is your name? I asked, slowly lifting her small frame from her body and looking steely into her blue eyes.

She didn't reply me. Her eyes were now red rimmed and her lips had pinkish bruises on them. I guessed it was because she had bitten too much on them and now, they were screaming in despair.

She only shook her head and burst into fresh tears.

________________________________

A loud creak of the rich, mahogany door startled us out of our embrace and we broke apart. I saw the little girl quickly wiping the tears from her eyes as she shot off the bed and stood ramrod straight by my side.

What the hell was going on?

I spotted a tall, thin woman making her way graciously towards me. I gulped as I instantly began to feel the bad vibes that were emitting off her and reaching me in waves. My hands gripped the edge of the bed and my gaze was concentrated on her face. Never for once wavering.

Her doe– brown eyes wore an evil glint and her heels clicked loudly on the floor and resounded throughout the room. From the corner of my eyes, I could see that the little girl's head was bent and her gaze fixed on the floor.

My heart went out for her. She must have suffered greatly at the hands of this wench standing in front of me. I saw her shuffling her feet and in seconds, she was breaking out of the room in a run. I flinched as my eyes connected with the frail gait of the woman standing in front of me.

One look and I knew she was evil. Her small lips which were coated in a bright, red lipstick were upturned and held a slight smirk, her nose seemed to be fuming in anger as they grew rounder with each inhale and exhale.

She had on a devilish grin on her withdrawn face and her gold ear rings glinted sharply in the rays of the sun. My eyes raked over her appearance.

But before I could note anything, she bent over me and her right hand which was coated with so many silver rings, connected with my jaw and my chin was rough- handedly brought to stare at her evil eyes. I felt a slight shiver run through my entire body and spread it's claws to my heart.

Her hand remained clenched on my jaw as she spat, "I have a preposition for you."