*Reborn in Shadows*

Chapter 5: The Awakening

When I opened my eyes, the world was still hazy, a fog of confusion clouding my thoughts. A dull, throbbing ache in my head that pulses with every beat of my heart. My eyelids feel heavy, like they've been glued shut, and
a sharp pain I instinctively reached up to touch it, only to feel the plaster cast on my arm, a reminder of the injury I couldn't quite remember.. When I finally manage it, the world around me is a blur of whites and grays, the edges of everything fuzzy and indistinct.

I blink, trying to clear my vision, but it's like looking through a fogged-up window. The light above me is harsh, making my head pound even harder. I can smell antiseptic, sharp and sterile, and it only adds to the confusion swirling in my mind.

Where am I?

I try to sit up, but my body feels sluggish, like I'm moving through water. Panic claws at the edges of my mind as I realize I have no idea how I got here. I take a deep breath, trying to calm the rising tide of fear, but all it does is fill my lungs with the cold, clinical smell of this place.

I look around the room, my vision slowly sharpening. The walls are a muted gray, the kind that makes everything feel cold and distant. There's a chair in the corner, empty and impersonal, like everything else in this room. It's a place meant to hold people, but it's devoid of anything human.

Who am I?

The question slams into me with the force of a freight train, knocking the breath from my lungs. I should know the answer—shouldn't I? But when I reach for it, there's nothing there. It's like trying to grasp smoke, slipping through my fingers the moment I think I have it.

I squeeze my eyes shut, fighting the wave of nausea that comes with the realization. My name... What is my name?

The door creaks open, and I flinch at the sound, my eyes snapping open to see who's there. A man and a woman walk in, their faces a mix of concern and relief. They're both dressed neatly, the kind of polished appearance that speaks of wealth and control. The man has a strong, chiseled jaw, his hair slicked back with precision, while the woman has soft, gentle features, her blonde hair pulled into a tight bun. Their presence should be comforting, but it only heightens my anxiety. They looked down at me with expressions I couldn't quite read—concern, maybe, or something deeper. The man, tall and with dark hair streaked with silver, stepped forward first.

"Don't try to move too much," he said, his voice deep and soft, filled with an emotion that tugged at something inside me. "You're still recovering."

"Cath, honey," the woman says, her voice warm but unfamiliar. "How are you feeling?"

Cath. Is that my name? It doesn't feel right, doesn't feel like it belongs to me. But I can't correct her—I don't know what my name is.

"W-where am I?" My voice is weak, trembling as I speak for the first time. I'm not even sure if I'm addressing them or asking myself.

"You're safe," the man says, stepping closer to the bed. He reaches out to touch my hand, and I instinctively pull back, my body reacting before I can think. His hand hovers in the air for a moment before he drops it to his side. "You've been through a lot, Cath. But you're safe now. We're here to take care of you."

I stare at them, my mind racing to make sense of what he's saying. Safe from what? Why don't I remember?

The woman—leans in, with a slight tremor in her voice  "We're your parents," she said gently ,her eyes filled with what looks like genuine concern. "You had an accident, darling. The doctors say you might not remember everything right away, and that's okay. Just focus on getting better."

An accident. Maybe that's why my head hurts so much, why everything feels so disjointed. I stared at them, my heart pounding in my chest. The word "parents" felt foreign, like it didn't belong to me. I wanted to believe them, but something inside me resisted, a nagging doubt that I couldn't shake.

Let's go Home. The man took a deep breath, steadying himself . The word makes me feel uneasy but I nod, too tired and too confused to argue. They help me to my feet, and I lean on them as they guide me out of that haunting room ..

"We're home now," the man says, his voice softer, more coaxing. "We'll take you to your room."

Walking towards the room....My legs are wobbly, my body weak like I've been asleep for days. But as we step into the hallway, my breath catches in my throat.

The house is huge, like something out of a movie. The walls are a rich blend of gold and brown, the kind of opulence that speaks of old money and privilege. Everything gleams with a polished sheen, from the dark wooden floors to the intricate carvings in the crown molding. It's beautiful, sure, but it also feels overwhelming, like I've stepped into someone else's life.

The woman—my supposed mother—leads me down a long corridor, her hand gentle but firm on my arm. "You'll feel better once you rest in your own bed," she says, as though that could magically make everything okay.

But nothing about this feels like mine. Not the room, not the house, not even my own name.

When we reach the bedroom, it's even more overwhelming. The walls are painted a soft, warm gold, with elegant brown drapes framing large windows that overlook an immaculate garden. The bed is massive, covered in plush pillows and a silky, cream-colored comforter. Everything about this place screams wealth and comfort, but it does nothing to soothe the storm brewing inside me.

"Try to rest," the man says as they help me onto the bed. "We'll be right outside if you need anything."

I nod again with a forced smile , not trusting myself to speak. The man, seeing the confusion in my eyes, reached out and touched my uninjured hand. "You don't remember us, do you?" His voice cracked, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of pain in his eyes. "But it's okay. We'll be here, every step of the way."

The woman nodded, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "We've been so worried." She leaned down to kiss my forehead. "Rest now. We'll be here when you wake up."

As they both looked at me with such hope, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. They wanted so badly for me to be their daughter, to fit into this life they had built. But the truth was, I didn't know who I was. And until I did, this place—no matter how beautiful—would always feel like a gilded cage.

I watched them leave the room, the door closing softly behind them. As soon as they were gone, I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding. I lie there, staring up at the ceiling, trying to make sense of the disjointed images and emotions swirling in my mind. I feel like I'm trapped in a stranger's body, in a stranger's life, and I have no idea how to escape.

I sighed and closed my eyes, trying to calm the storm inside me. Tomorrow, I would start piecing together who I was hoping that sleep will bring some kind of clarity. But all I can see behind my eyelids is darkness, and all I can feel is the ache of something important that's missing, something that's been taken from me.

But for tonight, all I could do was let the darkness take me, and hope that when I woke up, the world would make a little more sense.

*** you can imagine the house and room the way you guys want ***
** pls support my novel ,it my first time I hope you enjoy plus leave any doubts or suggestions if u have I will gladly look into it **