Chapter 6: Unconscious Minds

For someone who is in a coma, they are unconscious and will not respond to the voices calling their name or tears of sorrow nearby, pleading for them to wake up. They are alive but the brain is functioning at its lowest performance level. Shaking and trying to wake their bodies with movements would not wake them up. It would not improve their state of alertness. It was pointless for Amanda. All she sees is darkness. She was unable to respond to any form of touch or sound. It was like being in a deep sleep. A sleep that she finds it difficult to wake up. Some people think that comatose patients can hear sounds near them. Some say it is like being in a dream of a continuous loop of memories. But for Amanda, it was standing in a pitch-black room. It was as if time stood still for her. Only her. It has been almost a month since Agent John’s rescue team found Amanda lying on the river banks, unconscious. There was blood on the back of her head. The rescue team only found her the next Morning, the blood dried up, and she was barely breathing. After a month of close observation, the Doctors found it odd. They ran some tests with promising results of her waking up soon. But, her eyes remained closed despite her brain activity showing some positive signs of improvement each day. Her one and only friend, Rick Bones, came to visit every day for the past week. He stayed by her side waiting for her to wake up. Even Emilio was present almost every day after he had learned about Amanda’s situation after two weeks of her being in the Hospital. He truly cares for her. He never felt this way about any woman before. Amanda is special in his heart even when they just only got to know each other. Knowing the details of her supposed freak accident with her car crashing at the bridge and drowning in the deep river, Emilio used his power and money to find out what happened and who hit her car off the bridge. It was all indeed a made-up story cooked up by the Agency to conceal the truth. They even had her car look like it had crashed on the bridge where she jumped. It was a good lie. A believable one. The other evidence of her ever being an Assassin was moved. Not a trace of The Reaper was in presence at the bridge that night. No death. Nobody. No blood. “Mandy. Please wake up” Rick whispered in her ears while holding her fragile hands. He too only has Amanda as his friend. Before knowing Amanda, he was always alone, being labeled as a “Weirdo”. But, Amanda understood the kind of man he was. She does not judge him for his strange behavior. “Hey, Rick. Go and have something to eat” Amelia walked in with Emilio at her side. She likes Rick. He is the son of a rich woman named Grace, his grandmother. Just like Amanda, Rick too lost his parents at a young age. They have so many other things in common. Amelia felt a little sad that one day, Amanda would need to end this lovely friendship she had with Rick. He makes her happy and helps her through her studies at the university. Rick is a good and caring a person who is good for Amanda. “Yes, alright. She looks better these few days. The students at the university set up a prayer group and hope she will recover from this tragic accident” Rick gave Amelia a faint smile and nodded at Emilio, who faked a smile at Rick. “You are such a good friend to my niece, Rick. She is lucky to have you” Amelia gave him a brief hug before Rick left them. “So, are they dating?” Emilio asked Amelia after Rick left. He was watching how much Rick cared for Amanda and felt a little jealous. Emilio already starting to have feelings for Amanda and he will eliminate any threats to take Amanda away from him. Amelia chuckled and pat Emilio’s back gently, “Rick would be more interested sexually with you than Amanda. He is a good friend to her. Don’t worry much” Sighing in relief, Emilio too chuckled and ran his fingers across his hair, “Ah, he is gay. Got it.” Taking a deep breath, he continued, “Amy, you know I like your niece. I hope you don’t mind the age gap and bless this relationship I wish to have with her” Amelia shook her head while helping to cover Amanda’s body with a blanket. The room was getting a little chilly. “As long as you make her happy, I’m fine with your relationship with her. Don’t break her heart” Amelia felt the opposite in her mind. She felt disgusted with Emilio having to touch Amanda. If it weren't for the job assigned to them to get Emilio’s client list, Amelia would have stabbed a man like Emilio for touching Amanda. She felt disgusted by him having feelings for her sweet-looking Amanda. “I’m happy you felt that way, Amy. I promise I will be good to her. I do like her. I know it is too soon but, I would like to see if this will work out between us” Emilio said while placing a chair for Amelia to sit. ‘What a whole load of crap’ Amelia thought but still manage to smile at Emilio. She knew well what Emilio would do to Amanda. Emilio is a woman abuser and a gang leader. There is no way he would treat Amandaissawelld. He would treat her badly once he gets bored with her. Just like how he did to other women before Amanda. It was all written in the report Amelia got from the Agency. Emilio is a man who should not be trusted. There were many reports of missing women linked to him. But, using money, he got those reports buried deep with no link to him. One day, Amelia would reveal the truth about him to the public. As they were chatting, Amelia paused when she saw a glimpse of Amanda’s finger movement. Something happened. Amanda could hear it. A voice with the ignored for many years since she first heard it. The voice that frightened her every time it appeared in her head since she was just a child. “Ariana.. WAKE UP!” the voice got louder in her head. The voice that Amanda can hear. It was the voice of Astra. The name that she feared to mention was never her child psychologist treated her for a behavioral disorder. Without her medication, she heard the voice again. Only the medication injected into her neck would help her be in control of the force that is pulling her to a place where she is no longer in control of her body. The medication that Amanda could only receive from the Agency. Feeling her body losing control, Amanda fought hard. She knew at that instant that Astra was trying to wake up from a place she sent her. A place at the back of her brain where Amanda can be in control of her mind and body. After ten minutes of fighting, Amanda opened her eyes wide and took deep breaths several times. She felt suffocated. She felt weak. “Amanda! Thank God! You are awake!” she felt somehow afraid when she saw the handsome face of Emilio Graco. He smiled at her blank face looking at him. As she sobbed in tears, Amelia hugged her body tight. That was when she whispered in Amelia’s ears, “Astra is back. I need my medicine” At the same time, lying on a bed in a large room with a medical machine monitoring vital signs, Alaric too woke up from his deep sleep. He too felt suffocated and tried to breathe. The nurses were running towards him trying to calm him down. They were calling his name but Alaric’s mind seems to be elsewhere. He was in fact at a different place. A dream-like place where he was sent back to a memory of meeting the mysterious woman with a rose scent. He did not want to wake up to that dream. He wanted to stay longer in the dream and find any clue he can that could lead him to finding the truth about what happened back then. “Alaric, baby calm down” it was the voice of Margot. The woman who stood loyal by his side all these years. A woman who was willing to give her body to him willingly for his sexual pleasure.. in any way. She has been the one who wwarmedbed at night, among other women he slept with. Sometimes more than one occupied his bed pleasuring him. He has indeed a high sexual appetite. But, none seems to satisfy him enough. Margot did not care. She would stay loyal to Alaric even though she knew one day Alaric, her Alpha, would leave her once he found his lost Luna. All she has to do is to ensure her Alaric will never find his Luna. To her, Alaric is hers. Always.