Chapter Twenty-Nine
Annie
A persistent beeping drags me toward consciousness, but I can’t open my eyes yet. Everything feels heavy. My stomach churns, and I’m damp with sweat, my body trembling in small, uncontrollable waves.
My mouth is painfully dry.
Am I awake?
It feels like I am… but nothing quite lines up.
I lift my hand toward my forehead, and something tugs. A cord brushes across my face.
My eyes finally crack open, blinking against the light.
A drip.
I follow it down to my hand.
Hospital.
“Crap,” I mutter, my voice rough.
A nurse walks in, offering me a gentle smile as she checks the machines beside me. “Hi there. How are you feeling?”
“Uh… how did I get here?” My voice sounds distant, even to me.
“You were found at the emergency department doors,” she explains. “One of the nurses brought you in. We’ve run some tests. Do you remember anything?”
Fragments flicker through my mind—bubbles, music, something dark sliding down the walls.
What the hell…
“I… I think I was at someone’s house?” I say slowly.
She nods, watching me carefully. “Do you know who you are?”
“Annie Slade.”
“We thought so, but you didn’t have any ID or a phone on you.” She pauses. “Do you remember taking any drugs?”
A flash hits me.
A couch. A box. Pills.
My throat tightens as I nod, tears filling my eyes.
“It’s all right,” she says gently. “You’ve had a reaction. Our tests showed LSD in your system, along with your prescribed antidepressants, and a high level of alcohol.”
My stomach drops. “I took… LSD?” I whisper, the word barely making it out.
She gives a small nod. “Mixing those substances can be dangerous. You’re very lucky you made it to us when you did.”
A sob escapes before I can stop it. “I can’t believe I’ve been that stupid.”
“We’re flushing it from your system,” she continues. “You’ll need to stay overnight so we can monitor you.”
My heart starts to race.
Mum.
Dad.
Dad’s away, thank God—but Mum…
“Can you call my mum?” I ask quickly.
“Of course.” She hands me a notepad, and I scribble down Mum’s number, my hand shaking as I pass it back.
“What time is it?”
“Just after three in the morning.”
My eyes widen. “How long have I been here?”
“A couple of hours.”
I exhale slowly, my body still trembling. “Is Indi working?”
The nurse shakes her head. “No, she finished earlier.”
Of course.
I sink back against the pillow, dread settling in my chest. Mum is going to be furious… or worse—terrified.
I deserve both.
“I’ll go call her,” the nurse says, slipping from the room.
The silence presses in around me, and I close my eyes, trying to piece together what happened.
A guy. Trent. Drinks. Dancing. His flat.
After that… nothing clear.
Everything blurs together, slipping through my fingers no matter how hard I try to hold onto it. Time doesn’t make sense either. It stretches, folds in on itself. I don’t know if I’ve been here minutes or hours.
Then something hits me.
I look down.
I’m not wearing a bra.
My stomach twists as I pull my shirt forward to confirm it.
A flash—hands, movement, taking it off…
I squeeze my eyes shut.
God…
I swallow hard, my chest tightening.
I wish Aston were here. The thought hits me harder than it should.
The door bursts open not long after, though I have no idea how much time has passed, and Mum rushes in, Ella right behind her. A nurse follows, guiding them inside.
“Oh God, A-Annie,” Mum murmurs, her voice breaking as she reaches me, taking my hand. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay,” I say quietly. “Just… feeling stupid.”
Her expression tightens, relief and anger battling for space. “I’ve already had words with your sister,” she says, her voice firm. “She told me you went to London. A club, Annie? And now you’re here, hooked up to a d-drip.” Her voice cracks. “I could have l-lost you.”
Guilt slams into me. “I’m sorry, Mum. I don’t even know what happened. I’m trying to remember.”
Her gaze sharpens. “Did someone spike your drink?” she asks quickly. “Please tell me that’s what happened.”
I hesitate. “I… I don’t know,” I admit, my voice small.
Her face falls, disappointment flickering through the fear. “Annie… you’re on medication. You know that mixing it with alcohol is risky, let alone anything else.” She exhales sharply. “You’re hurting, I get that… but this? This could have killed you.”
“I know,” I whisper.
“When Ella came home without you…” She shakes her head, her voice unsteady. “I was terrified. You were alone in London, with no security. Do you have any idea how dangerous that is for you?”
I stare down at the sheets, shame burning through me.
“I don’t know what to do with you right now,” she continues, softer now but no less intense. “I’m so angry. But mostly… I’m just relieved you’re here.”
“I don’t even know how I got here,” I say, my voice trembling. “The last thing I remember is being at his flat, and then it just… stops.”
A flicker of memory pushes through.
The couch.
My shirt.
His hands.
I frown, trying to catch it before it disappears again.
Something isn’t right.
“Annie… were you with someone?” Mum asks carefully.
I nod.
“Who?”
I shake my head, my throat tightening. “I don’t know. It’s all… blurred.”
Her expression shifts, frustration creeping in. “Annie, can you remember anything at all?”
I close my eyes, forcing myself to go back, to try and piece it together.
At first, it’s nothing but flashes, movement, shadows, the sound of my own laughter. Then he comes into focus. His face. His hands. The room.
My chest tightens.
I see him moving around the room… pulling off his shirt. I remember the bed. Me, lying back, everything spinning.
A sharp inhale catches in my throat.
“What is it?” Mum presses. “What are you remembering?”
I open my eyes, panic rising fast now. “I… I think I slept with him.”
Mum exhales slowly, her shoulders dropping as she rubs a hand over her face. “Annie…” Her voice is tight. “Please tell me you were safe.”
I nod quickly, tears spilling over. “I think so. I remember… I think h-he…” My voice falters. “I think we were.”
She studies me for a moment, searching my face, then lets out a quiet breath.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me, Mum,” I whisper, the words breaking as I cover my face with my hands. “I don’t even remember half of it.”
The tears come harder now, heavy and unstoppable.
“Oh, Annie… sweetheart, don’t cry,” Mum murmurs, pulling me into a tight hug. “I’m angry and hurt, and I don’t understand why you’d put yourself in this position… but I’m just so grateful you’re alive.”
“I’m such a fuck-up,” I choke out against her shoulder.
“Why can’t I ever get anything right?” My chest heaves as another sob breaks free.
“I miss Aston so much, Mum. He’s moved on, and I just…
I just wanted to feel like someone wanted m-me.
” My voice cracks completely. “I messed up. I messed up so badly.”
Mum tightens her hold on me. “Hey… we’ll get through this. We always do.”
I cry harder, everything spilling out at once. My heart is racing, my thoughts slipping, the edges of the room still not quite steady. The walls seem to shift, like they’re breathing with me, and I know it’s probably whatever’s still in my system, but it feels fitting.
“What did Dad say?” I ask finally, pulling back just enough to look at her. “Is he coming home?”
Mum brushes my hair back from my face, wiping away my tears with gentle fingers. “He doesn’t know,” she says quietly. “And I haven’t decided if I’m going to tell him yet.”
I blink at her. “You wouldn’t tell him?”
Her expression tightens. “I’m not keeping this from him for you, Annie. I’m doing it for your father. This would devastate him… especially with his past. I don’t want to see him like that unless I absolutely have to.” She glances toward Ella. “For now, this stays between us. Do you understand?”
Ella nods, her arms wrapped around herself. “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry, Ella,” I say softly.
She shakes her head immediately, tears spilling over as she steps closer to the bed. “No, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you there. I was angry, and I let it get the better of me.” She takes my hand, gripping it tightly. “If I’d made you come home, none of this would’ve happened.”
“It’s not your fault,” I whisper, though the guilt still sits heavy in my chest.
“I’m just glad you made it here,” she says, her voice breaking.
A flicker of memory cuts through me. The back seat of a car. I frown, trying to grab hold of it.
“What is it?” Mum asks, watching me closely.
“I… I think he brought me here,” I say slowly, closing my eyes as the fragments start to piece together. “I remember being in a car. I couldn’t move… everything was black.” My stomach twists. “I think he dumped me at the entrance and left.”
Mum shudders, her grip on my hand tightening.
“And my bag… my phone… they’re gone,” I add, the realization settling in. “The nurse said I didn’t have anything with me.”
A heavy silence fills the room.
“I hate that you were with some stranger like that,” Mum says finally, her voice tight with anger. “God knows what he could have done.”
“I know,” I whisper. “I’m so sorry. I swear… this won’t happen again.”
“It better not,” she replies, her tone firm now. “Because I can’t keep covering for you like this. And what if he knew who you were?”
“I didn’t tell him my name,” I say quickly—
And then another memory slams into me. ‘Let me fuck you, Annie,’ I remember him saying.
Shit, he knew my name even though I never told him.
“Crap! I think he knew who I was,” I say.
Mum shakes her head, her lips pressing into a thin line.
“He called me Annie… but I never told him my name.” My stomach drops. “Shit,” I mutter, dragging a hand through my tangled hair.
“For God’s sake, Annie,” Mum snaps, her composure slipping. “Let’s hope he keeps his mouth shut. If this gets to the tabloids, can you even imagine the headlines?”
“And he has my phone,” I add quietly, the frustration settling in.
“It’s all right,” she says, forcing a calmer tone. “We’ll disconnect it first thing in the morning and get you a new one.” Then her gaze sharpens again. “But this cannot happen again. Ever.”
I nod quickly.