Sweet Summer

Chapter Twelve :

As Natalia was brought to the ER, the cold fluorescent lights flickered overhead, illuminating the sterile room filled with hurried voices and the sharp scent of antiseptic. Nurses moved swiftly, their faces set with a blend of urgency and professionalism, as they stripped her of her clothing, replacing it with a hospital gown that hung loosely on her frail frame.

"Get the IV ready!" one nurse called out, her tone brisk. "We need to stabilize her."

Another nurse positioned a small cart filled with medical supplies nearby, pulling out syringes and vials, their contents glinting ominously under the harsh lights.

As the doctor assessed her injuries, Natalia's mind drifted. Shadows danced in her vision, whispering fragments of memories that felt just out of reach. She could hear the faint echoes of laughter and the warmth of the sun on her skin, but they were drowned out by a deeper, darker presence lurking at the edges of her consciousness.

Suddenly, a chilling voice broke through the haze. "You shouldn't have come here, dear." The words slithered around her like a serpent, wrapping tighter and tighter until it felt like the very air was being squeezed from her lungs.

As the bright lights of the hospital flickered above, Natalia's eyelids fluttered open, a heavy grogginess enveloping her mind. She blinked against the brightness, trying to grasp her surroundings. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air, mixing with the faint sound of beeping machines. Confusion washed over her, but a sense of familiarity lingered just out of reach.

"Where am I?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. The room was empty, save for the faint hum of machinery. She attempted to move, but her body felt heavy, as if it belonged to someone else.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and a nurse walked in. Her kind eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, you're awake! Thank goodness!"

Natalia's heart raced at the sight of the nurse. "What happened to me?" she asked, the questions tumbling out. "Where is everyone?"

The nurse smiled gently, but Natalia noticed her eyes were..just black. "You've been in an accident, sweetheart. You need to rest."

As the nurse moved to check her vitals, Natalia's heart sank. Something felt off. She couldn't shake the feeling that something sinister lurked just beyond her comprehension.

"Are my friends here?" Natalia asked, her voice trembling slightly.

The nurse paused, her expression faltering. "I'll be right back," she said, before hurrying out of the room.

Natalia frowned, her mind racing. She tried to push herself up, but the weight of her body anchored her down. The machines beeped rhythmically, and the room felt increasingly suffocating.

As she lay there, shadows danced at the corners of her vision. Were they memories or hallucinations? Faces flickered in and out of her mind—Alina, Parker, Hayden—each one more distant than the last. Panic gripped her as she realized she couldn't remember how she got here.

Then came a soft voice, barely a whisper, slithering through the air like smoke. "You're safe now, my dear. You just need to sleep."

Natalia's heart raced. The voice felt oddly familiar, like a haunting melody that twisted her thoughts.

"Who are you?" she croaked, her throat dry.

But the voice only chuckled, a low and melodic sound that echoed in the sterile room. "You'll find out soon enough, sweet Natalia. Just relax..."

The shadows deepened, and Natalia's vision blurred. Desperation clawed at her as she fought against the encroaching darkness. But it was no use. As her eyelids grew heavy, she felt herself being pulled into a deeper slumber, the sweet whispers weaving a web around her mind.

Days turned into weeks, and soon it felt like months had passed without Natalia stirring in her hospital bed. Alina, Parker, and Hayden had grown weary from the lack of progress, desperate for a sign that their friend would return.

Then, one afternoon, as the three were gathered at the hospital, a doctor rushed in, a look of surprise on his face. "She's awake."

Without hesitation, they hurried to Natalia's room, hearts pounding in their chests. There she was, sitting up in bed, pale but seemingly okay. Her brown eyes flickered open, and she smiled weakly as if nothing had happened.

"Nat!" Alina exclaimed, running to her side and gripping her hand tightly. "You're okay... I-I thought..."

Natalia looked at her friends with a soft, reassuring smile. "I'm sorry I worried you. I don't remember much, just... everything went dark."

Hayden stayed by the door, his gaze fixed on her. He wanted to believe it was really her, but something gnawed at the back of his mind. Yet, the way she spoke, the way she moved—it was all Natalia.

The days that followed felt like a relief. Natalia was back, laughing, talking, and slowly getting back to her routine. But as time passed, little things began to go unnoticed. An expression she'd never used before, a phrase that sounded off. But they chalked it up to her trauma.

One night, as the others slept peacefully in their cabins, Natalia stood alone, staring at her reflection in the cracked mirror. The dim light flickered, casting eerie shadows across the room. Her fingers absentmindedly traced the faint stitches on her neck, but she didn't seem alarmed by them—almost as if they had always been there. She tilted her head, inspecting the reflection, her expression unreadable.

Her eyes, once warm and full of life, now held a slight distance, though it could easily be mistaken for exhaustion after everything they'd been through. She smiled faintly, as if practicing for when she'd see the others again in the morning. The same smile they all recognized, the same familiar warmth...

But beneath that exterior, there was something hidden—something carefully concealed.