Chapter Seven
I feel like my head may explode. The pounding rhythm inside is knocking against my skull so hard that I’m not so sure I didn’t crack it open. I know that’s not the case because I’ve been through this before. A panic attack. I’ve been in this position many times. Sometimes, I’m alone when it happens, and sometimes, I happen to be at work. Jason typically finds me curled in the corner of my office while I have it.
I tried therapy when I was younger because everyone swore by it, but all my therapist did was cause further issues. I feel like she was putting scenarios and words in my mouth that never happened just to try and get a rise out of me. I wasn’t about to sit back and pay someone who was causing more problems for me, though. All I wanted was to know the truth and remember what happened the night I was taken.
Trying to open my heavy eyes, I groan as the bright lights in the room slowly start to shine into my eyes. I close them tighter for a brief second before blinking them back open. I look around the room to see I’m at the hospital, but I’m not alone. In the chair to my right sits Detective Martinez who looks handsome as ever as he sleeps away. I should probably speak to wake him up, but he looks peaceful, as if he hasn’t actually slept in weeks.
“I’m not actually asleep, Mariana,” he states as he slowly opens his eyes.
I grip the blanket, pulling it closer to my body. “It looked like you were sleeping pretty well, Detective.” His lips curve upward into a handsome, menacing grin.
“If I was sleeping, I wouldn’t have known that you snore when you sleep. Actually, you talk in your sleep.” He readjusts his body in the chair, sitting up straighter.
Nobody has ever told me I snore, let alone talk in my sleep. Is he just saying things to mess with my head, or is he being serious? I know I’ve been known to sleepwalk a time or two and end up in the oddest places, but I never knew I was talking. What have I been saying? Are there answers to who I am within my sleep talking?
“I… I do?” I ask with a shake in my voice.
He nods his head, watching me closely. “You do. Who knew all I had to do was sit by your side while you slept to learn more about you? One thing I don’t know is who you’re running from.”
Looking away from him, I focus all of my attention outside of my hospital room’s window. The trees sway slightly as birds fly by. Who I’m running from is a far more complicated issue to explain. If I told Sebastian the truth, he would surely run away as far as he can. “Who isn’t running away from something or someone?” I ask.
“Me,” he answers with confidence. “Only those with secrets to hide go into hiding. So, Mariana, what is it you’re running from exactly? Who?”
All the blood begins to rush out of my face. “I -” I try to think of a lie on the spot, but thankfully, I’m saved by the quiet nurse as she sneaks inside, announcing she’s there to take my vitals. Internally, I’m thanking god, but I know deep down this was just a coincidence. It gives me time to think of something to tell Sebastian.
Time seems to stand still in the silence filling my room. The nurse hurries around, trying to finish as soon as possible, no doubt trying to get away from Sebastian’s intense glare. He hasn’t let his eyes off of her one time. It’s as if he thinks she’s going to try and take me away from him. I guess it would be bad if he lost me while he’s trying to find Hayley’s killer.
The nurse finally finishes up with what she’s doing, including getting out my IV and everything, and smiles widely at me. “The doctor will be in soon with your discharge papers.” Just as quickly as she came in, she leaves.
“I know you don’t want to tell me who you’re running from, but I feel like it’s a big part of the case. I want to protect you as best as I can, but you need to help out a little bit here. I can only find out so many things. I need you to fill in the blanks. Please, let me do this. Let me in.” He takes one of my hands in his, squeezing it firmly. “I promise, I won’t hurt you.”
If I couldfind an ounce of a lie in his words, I would feel better about this situation, but the truth is, I can’t find the smallest ounce of one. The thought of him telling me the truth makes me nervous beyond belief. How could he throw himself into my problems without knowing what they are? He found out my real identity, but how much does he know about me? Can he help me find my real birth parents?
“I’ll answer your questions if you answer mine in return. Do we have a deal?”
His lips curl up into a cocky grin. “Is this the part where I sell my soul to a gorgeous demon?”
My face begins to heat as my eyes widen. I’m sure my skin matches the color of a tomato at the moment. “Clock is ticking,” I tsk.
“We have a deal.” Sebastian holds his hand out for me to take. I take it, giving it a firm shake. “How about I give you a ride out of this place, and we can go somewhere to talk?”
My hands start to sweat. “Uh, I’m not sure about that. I don’t want people to get the wrong idea, or assume anything,” I ramble. “Plus, I’m sure you have work to do. We can talk whenever.”
“You’re part of my job now.” He leans closer to me. “You’re all I have to help me solve this case. To help find the man who killed your sister.” I swallow the thick lump in my throat as he continues. “So, I don’t plan on leaving you until I hear everything and know everyone that was around her. For now, all I have is you.”
I can’t explain why, but hearing him say I’m nothing more than a means to an end hurts my heart. Of course he never really cared about my well being. He’s right, he needs me to find the person responsible for her death, and I need him to give her justice. Maybe I needed to hear him say that so I could understand our deal more.
“I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Hayley, I promise.”
Sebastian's face falls a bit as he eyes me curiously. “I want to know more than that. Mariana. I want to know everything about you as well.”
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you everything about me. Sorry.” I look away hoping to hide the lie. It’s not a complete lie, but a stretched one. I remember more of my past than I let on, but I still can’t remember who my parents are.
He sighs heavily, “Just because your sister is my case doesn’t mean that I’m going to ignore everything about you. You need just as much help as her, if not more. I won’t let anyone else hurt you.”
He leans closer to me.
The doctor walks in my room with a few papers in her hand and a smile stretched across her face. She looks over to Sebastian with googly eyes, drawing my attention to his stone cold face that doesn’t look the slightest bit interested in her. Part of me loves the fact that he did that, but the other part of me wonders why. Sebastian isn’t like other people I’ve met. He’s a big mystery to me, and I want to know more. Something about him draws me in closer each time he speaks to me. It’s like a siren’s song bringing its victims closer.
“Are you ready to get out of here, Natalia?” The doctor asks as she looks at me.
I laugh softly. “Beyond ready.”
“Good! I love to hear that someone is feeling well enough to leave. Is there any family I can call on your behalf?” The doctor looks up through her lashes at Sebastian, making me want to jump up and claw her eyes out. Isn’t it obvious that he’s on duty and currently with me? Is this doctor so blind that she can’t see that?
Sebastian takes my hand in a friendly manner. “She’ll be leaving with me, Doctor . Do we have a problem with that?”
“Not at all!” the doctor says loudly, holding her hands up in the air. “I just wasn’t aware of what was going on. I thought you may have been a friend coming to visit her.”
Sebastian cocks his head to the side. “Are you new here? I don’t think I’ve met you yet.”
The doctor gives him a wary look before smiling. “I’ve been here going on a month now. It’s much different here than it was back home.”
It’s easy to determine where home was for her based on the thick hispanic accent she carries. I wonder if my accent would have been that thick if I never would have been taken from my home. Part of me is curious to know more about her, though.
“Where are you from?”
Sebastian turns to look at me with a question in his eyes. ‘What are you doing?’ He might not be saying the words, but I can read them.
“I’m from Mexico,” she answers quickly, looking around the room. That’s strange. “A small little town that I’m sure nobody has ever heard of.”
“Interesting,” Sebastian mumbles.
The doctor quickly lifts up the papers in her hand, pushing them in my direction. “Here are your discharge papers. You should be fine as long as you take care of yourself and don’t stress nearly as much.” She bolts out of the room and out of sight, leaving us more curious than before.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here.” Sebastian states as he rises out of his chair. I follow quickly behind as he gathers my little amount of stuff for me. After I get changed, we leave the room as soon as possible. I don’t want to spend another second here unless I have to.