I am 21 years old.
I'm at the stage where I'm mentally a teenager with the responsibilities of an adult. My life has just begun. I have only started to gain more life experiences. I am in the 14th year of my student life. I grew up sheltered and am fortunate to live in a solvent family. I have never been a victim of any crime. The money in my bank account comes from my monthly allowance. It has summed up to about 3000 US dollars so far.
I admit, I have lived quite an easy life.
Then I was run over by a car that was running a red light. The only consolation at that moment was that I wasn't the only one. If I die, it won't be a lonely one. Psychopathic? Maybe.
Most importantly, Dad won't get as mad at me when he hears I failed to get an A in Social Studies.
I don't remember much after that.
I could hear voices from time to time, I think.
It was like I was half awake in a dream.
I couldn't see or hear much but I could feel the atmosphere.
Then I felt a shift in my surroundings and moments after, I opened my eyes.
There are many people in the room. I felt someone look into my mouth and flash a light in my eye. When I sat up, I froze.
It was a hospital room. It looked far more expensive than what my family could afford.
No, I did not freeze up because of that.
It was because I was surrounded by people I couldn't recognize. Some looked really worried. And some didn't look like well-wishers.
My gut feeling screamed - something's not right. The tension in the room is very different from what it should be in a patient's room.
Like I'm a criminal.
"Miss, can you tell me your name?" the doctor asked.
It was a very generic question.
It should be just that.
Then why do I feel like I shouldn't answer?
Especially when I look at my well-wishers. A man in his mid-fifties, a woman in her late forties, a little girl around seven or eight, and a young man in his late twenties. They resembled each other and looked like a family. And they looked at me like I was one of their own. Like how my family looks at me when they're worried.
Should I act disoriented?
"...What happened?" I said. There was no need to act, my voice was strained and distant as it is.
"You suffered from a serious trauma. Do you know where you are?"
"...The hospital."
"Are you feeling any discomfort anywhere?"
"...I feel like I've been hit by a train."
"Do you know this person?" The doctor pointed at the woman sitting next to me, clutching my hand.
This is it. I could tell that my answer meant a lot to the hostile people. What I answer now will determine whether or not I'll have the upper hand in this situation.
Even though I don't know what the situation is.
But the answer I think is correct was something I vehemently wanted to deny. The clues were glaring at my face, the words were at the tip of my tongue. Despite my adverse feelings, I gambled.
"Mom."
There. I've said it. Now how they respond will either prove-
"Yes, honey, it's me", the lady cried as she held onto me.
"It looks like she is well aware of her surroundings and her memory seems to have returned-"
I couldn't hear any longer. The well-wishers cried tears of joy while a hailstorm ran rampant inside my head.
The moment I had seen the medieval-type weapons on the people in the cabin, I instinctively knew. Either, I was in a different world or I wasn't me.
I hoped it was the first case. Then, at least I would have myself and my identity. I considered that possibility because this body was identical to mine. Down to the old scars on my wrists.
Now, I don't know anymore.
Who was I?
What happened to me?
"Doctor, I'd like to ask her a few questions." One of the non-wellwishers came forth.
"She just woke up so I advise you to put off the difficult questions for a different time."
"I understand."
He looked at me. Despite the glares from my 'family', the man wearing a suit approached the bed and handed over a file.
"Miss Winslow, do you recall this incident?"
As soon as I saw the pictures on the file, I felt like someone had just placed a mountain on my back and it was hard to breathe.
Three dead bodies beyond recognition. As soon as I looked at them, I 'remembered'.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! - The heart monitor's sound increased.
My heart raced as I 'relived' a gruesome and mortifying experience. And intense shame bubbled up from within.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
I couldn't breathe.
The nurse ran over to help but her touch felt like bugs crawling on my skin.
Slap!
I pushed her away, even though she wasn't at fault. Too many things were going on at once. I was losing it. It was hard to speak. But I needed to.
"... No… "
All that came out was an intelligible murmur.
"I'm sorry?" The "interrogator" couldn't make it out.
"Stop pushing her!" My "mother" yelled at him. In the midst of her hurling her fiery grievances, my shaky voice spoke up.
"I don't know."
My answer silenced the room.
I tried to keep talking, but…
"It's not… That wasn't what…"
Words just wouldn't come out of my mouth.
No.
I simply couldn't bring myself to talk about something that made me want to rip myself apart. It took everything in my power to keep my hands steady - to not claw at my throat.
"Then what happened?" He continued to push for an answer while I wanted to-
"That's enough for now."
The man standing near the door stopped him.
"We can continue this when she is feeling well. We'll take our leave."
The nurse chased everyone out of the room. I was given an oxygen mask and had to lie down. The overwhelming amount of information or 'memories' was too much. So I didn't think about it. Or at least I tried not to.
I was in another person's body in another world where magic exists. I was assaulted. Then I went through an Awakening, and I killed them.