If I Had A Heart

Chapter 14

Regine all but jolted awake, a desperate gasp escaping her lips as she inhaled what seemed like her first breath in days.

As her eyes snapped open, all she could see was blackness around her, almost instantly pulling her back into a deep sleep once again. Fighting to remain awake, she shook her head instinctively and tried to overcome the exhaustion threatening to take over, her heavy eyelids drooping slowly no matter how hard she fought off the temptation.

It was as if she was rising from the dead after an eternity of nothingness; her body ached, her head rang, and Regine couldn't remember the last time she had felt this tired in her entire 22 years of living.

What the hell had even happened last night?

It was the first question that sprang to her mind the instant she awoke, although her memories were still too muddy to come up with the answer she desired, leaving her to lay idly in the darkness for a bit longer until she was sure she could remain awake without drifting back into a lifeless sleep for god knows how long. If it had not been for the throbbing inside her head, she might've done just that, but the mounting pain only pushed her closer to consciousness.

Either this was the worst hangover Regine had ever experienced or she was suffering from some kind of head injury; at least that would provide an explanation for this bizarre form of amnesia she was currently experiencing along with the agony of being hit in the face with a crowbar. Bits and pieces of the night before were flashing before her eyes, but something was keeping her from putting the entire sequence of events in order. For the life of her, Regine could recall neither the beginning, middle, or end of the last 12 hours, but she did remember one thing. God, it was all she could think of now as her body trembled in response.

David's eyes.

Because of course they were all she could really remember.

Her mind was all but overflowing with images of his eyes and nothing else, as if there was no room for any other memory for her to hold, like everything else had been forcibly pushed out. Thrown away.

Those glacial eyes had been gazing down at her so intently at one point in the night but Regine couldn't remember why or even when, if it had actually happened at all. She wasn't entirely convinced she was really awake but instead trapped in some eerie fever dream where up was down and escape was futile. The room she was in was too dark, giving her no clues as to what time of day it was, puzzling her all the more.

Perhaps she really was dead after all.

She certainly felt like it. Her aching bones cracked with every small movement but she pushed away the discomfort and unexpected pain to the back of her mind as she attempted to find out where the hell she was. From what she could tell, she wasn't naked. Only her boots had been removed, her toes wriggling around freely in her socks. Patting herself gently in the darkness, Regine confirmed that she was still wearing the little black dress she had decided to wear before going out with Jane.

Suddenly, all logical thought then ceased, causing Regine to stiffen as soon as Jane's face crashed into her mind.

Was she safe? When was the last time she saw her?

Ugh! There was no point in even trying! A mental wall, seemingly formed from indestructible concrete, stood between her and the events of last night. The only thing she could do now was get up and what, retrace her steps? If only she knew where to begin...

Rubbing her temples to keep the pounding in her head at bay, she groaned and eventually rose from the bed, only for her feet to meet soft and familiar carpeting. A passing flicker of hope filled her as she made her way to the perimeter of the room, trying to find some source of light to guide her.