Chapter 3 : Between Life and Death.

Everywhere suddenly became covered in darkness, cold that Hazel couldn't feel her body anymore. She couldn't even move. But somehow, she could still hear...and they were faint voices, very distant and at the same time distorted.

"... she's already losing too much blood!"

That sounded like a female voice to her, panicking and eager to help. She prayed within her that help come her way. She could have wished for death, especially with the way she was treated like trash, but how will she make Eric and Sophia pay back if she doesn't stay alive? 

"There seemed to be no pulse...wait, it's here ... but very weak!" 

Another voice said, but it was a male voice this time. It came very urgent, demanding that attention be given to her immediately. 

Hazel tried everything possible to speak, tried to even move, to show them that she's still alive, but nothing responded in her body. 

It felt more like she's sinking... going deeper and deeper into nothingness. 

"Sir, we're obviously wasting time here. She won't ever make it."

The voices were now becoming clearer. "She's already far gone. We should..."

"Save her this minute!" 

That voice again, the cold, commanding and familiar voice. Hazel's heart or whatever the accident had left of her, started shaking. It was him again. Yes, the one with the name, Alexander. 

"Sir," another voice hesitated for a few seconds, "we just discovered that her injuries are critical. Even if by chance she survives, she might not..."

"I said you should save her at all cost!" 

That was kind of terrifying, as no one dared argue again. Then, Hazel felt something very sharp piece through her skin, the pain unbearable. 

There was a sudden jolt, and her body responded by twitching weakly. Different machine Ms started beeping rapidly.

"She's now responding!" One of them announced happily. She couldn't figure out who the owner of the voice was, but it sounded so familiar, like she had met the person before. 

"Prepare the transfusion with immediate effect."

Then, the vision went back to being blurry again, fading in and out of control, just the same way her consciousness rolled up like mat, to one corner. 

Time had passed, or it actually didn't, and either way, Hazel had no idea, as everything felt too unreal. It was more like someone gradually floating between two worlds. 

Then, she heard a voice, a different voice now, very calm and measured. From the way this person sounded, it could be that the position is higher than the rest. 

"Bring her hand."

Hazel couldn't tell what was going on, until someone lifted her fingers. She felt too weak to react to the pain or do anything about it. She was almost lifeless. 

"What exactly are you doing to her?" Someone asked quietly.

"Just follow instructions, no much talking."

This person too papers, and the rustle almost made her ask what was going on, but she couldn't do anything at that point. Hazel's hand was pressed down forcefully on something soft. It was actually cold hands that guided her fingers.

"No..." She tried to whisper, but not weird came out. It was trapped completely inside her, no one to help her out. It was her signature that they were taking without her permission. The person dragged her hand, until it landed on a document 

 It felt slow, and of course unnatural, but they had the final say. 

"It is done," the voice replied. 

"From this moment onwards.....she belongs to the Bale family."

At this point, darkness finally swallow everything, nothing that happened afterwards was known to her again. 

When Hazel finally woke up, everywhere was quiet, too calm fof her liking. Her lashes fluttered slightly, trying to adjust to the soft light above her. The room felt warm, nothing like the cold darkness from before. Her body was still weak, and her movement still hurting. 

She blinked slowly, trying to recognize her new environment, but everything including the ceiling felt unfamiliar, elegant and luxurious. 

"...where am I...?" She managed to whisper, her voice completely dry. She tried to sit up, the that was a wrong move, as pain shot through her body. 

"Ah..."she gasped, falling back into the warm and soft bed. At that moment, the door burst open, and a maid came rushing in. She might have heard her groan in pain. 

"Miss... please, don't hurt yourself by moving!" Hazel turned her head weakly to her side. Her vision hadn't returned fully, still blurry a bit, but she knew she hadn't seen that face anyway before.

"Who...are you...?" She managed to ask. The maid hesitated a few seconds, not saying anything, and the strange look on her face was fearful, or that she was terrified to say something to her. 

"Y..you shouldn't... shouldn't strain yourself, " she finally said too quickly. 

"You've only regained consciousness, you need all the rest you could get."

Hazel's furrowed her brows in shock. 

Consciousness? 

Then, immediately, the fragments of everything that happened came rushing back to her mind. Starting from the rain, the blood, Eric and Sophia. 

Then, the car that sped to her direction before she could turn. Her breathing quickened, as the betrayal, the pain came back fresh in her head. 

"I... need to leave..."she murmured, already making attempts to get up again. The maid immediately rushed to her side, holding her from moving. 

"No!" 

Her voice rang through the room, very sharp and startling. Hazel froze immediately, very confused at her reaction. She couldn't figure out what the problem was. The maid was friendly just seconds ago, why did she became tensed the moment she talked about leaving?

Hazel watched the maid for a few seconds, waiting for her to calm down, and maybe explain. 

"You... can't leave this place."

This maid Hazel's mind to skip a beat. 

"What...do you mean by ...I can't leave?"

The waited for a few seconds, clenching her fingers. It seemed it was so difficult for her to say, but had no choice anyways. 

Slowly, she leaned closer to her, and whispered...

"Because, you're now Mrs. Bale!"