4. NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE

LUCY POV

3 years back (NYC)

"Yes , yes sir . I'll look into the documents". Shit!! I want to kill that idiot.

Argh.. seriously though , can't they take their job seriously? Or is he doing it on purpose? Whatever, let's just get over with it.

Mr.Charles Smith, our financial manager, messed up again and I have to clean it up again. Why can't they just fire him? Right, fucking connections.

I huffed and pressed the accelerator hard as there were no vehicles on the road , not even one. Weird. I shrugged it off and continued driving.

It was 3pm , and the temperature was at its peak. As I was nearing the circle, I saw a huge truck in front of me crash into a car that was coming from the other side.

I pressed the breaks hard, causing my head to slam against the steering. My heartbeat increased as I witnessed the scene in front of me.

Suddenly, the truck started moving again, coming towards me at high speed along with the car stuck to it.

What the… why the hell did that truck start moving again? I started to panic. My hands are shaking, I can't even think properly. 

Before I could reach the car door, the truck slammed into the car, making my airbags open. The truck didn't stop until my car ran over the divider.

I was barely conscious when I heard the conversation.

Voice 1: "Do you think that they are dead?"

My eyes widened. Please don't let anyone die. Please God, please.

Voice 2: "Of course they have to be "

Oh God.. This is a murder.

Voice 1: "Should we go and check?"

Voice 2: " hello? Yes sir ,our task is completed. B-But s-sir.. there is also another car that is involved"

…..

Voice 2: " y-yes sir we crashed it too"

…..

Voice 2: "S-Sorry sir, it will n-not happen again"

Again? They killed people and are planning to kill again?

Voice 1: " what did he say? Should we go and check?

Voice 2: " no need.. even if they are not dead, they are going to die soon."

Voice 1: " What do you mean?"

Voice 2: "Mr.Moretti said to leave this place as soon as possible. The car is going to blast at any minute. "

That is the last thing I heard before I lost consciousness and a week later, I woke up in a hospital bed.

I thought I was dreaming at first, but the pain in my head felt too real. 

Sam was there. He is my colleague and Mr. Smith's assistant, I was actually going to meet him before the accident. 

******

" Are you sure that it isn't your imagination?" Sam asked, passing me a water bottle.

I gave him a nasty glare. I'm grateful that Sam and his sister Rachel, who is a doctor in this hospital, took care of me. But he does not believe a word I said.

I'm clearly telling him that there was a truck that caused the accident, but no, he is telling me a different story.

''Then how the hell am I here? Huh? What happened to me? Why is my right hand broken? Did I magically get hurt?'' I asked him angrily, raising my eyebrows. 

He signed. ''According to Rachel and everyone, you, along with the two kids, were indeed involved in a accident. But it wasn't a truck, a drunk man who was driving a car, hit you. He died on the spot, but his kids are okay. They got some broken bones and a concussion. Nothing serious.''

''Was there a blast?''

He nodded. ''One car did explode at first, but they couldn't tell which one, since it also caused another car to explode. Police assumed it was due to a puncture in the gas tank. Someone pulled you guys out before it happened.''

He also said that it was a miracle that someone was out there in that direction as that road was closed due to some construction.

Weird, I didn't notice any construction work.

''B‐But I saw it with my own eyes Sam, please believe me'' I said, whimpering.

''Shh… it's probably concussion. It's okay, you are okay. That's what matters'' He said, pulling me into a hug. I cried dejectedly, knowing that no one was going to believe me.

*******

"Um.. so what's your name?" I asked the younger one.

I wanted to see if they were okay. It must have been hard on them. They are so small. 

''Wilam'' He said with a cute voice melting my heart.

''William?'' I asked clearly, to which he nodded his head. He has my father's name.

''How old are you?'' 

''Four'' Said his brother, who had just entered the room along with the nurse.

''Willy! Don't talk to strangers'' he scolded his younger brother.

William nodded his head frantically and went with the nurse for a checkup.

''Chill, I was just having a conversation'' I said, not knowing what to say.

He scoffed. Woah, he has some attitude problems.

In the next few days, while we were still in the hospital, recovering, I learned that his name was Jason, 6yr old.

Vicky ( William) and I got close, while Jay is still grumpy with me. One day, members from an adoption center came to take Vicky and Jay, on the day of their discharge. 

''Nooooo, leave me!! I will stay with Lucy'' Vicky started screaming and crying when they tried to take them. He ran and hid behind me, clutching my legs.

Jay got teary-eyed looking at his brother. 

''Sweety, you can trust us. We are going to take good care of you guys until someone adopts you. Now, please come with us'' the lady said, holding Jay by his arm tightly. 

I can see that the grip was too tight for a kid.

''HEY! Leave that kid!'' I snapped at her loudly, making her flinch and loosen her grip.

I motioned Jay to come here and, for the first time since we met, he listened to me. 

''Can't you see that you were holding him too hard?'' I asked her, showing Jay's hand, which is bruised now. 

''I-I apologize, I didn't notice''

''I'm sure you didn't '' I snapped sarcastically, making her red with anger.

''Well! It's not like we have a choice. Their mom died years ago, now their junkie father who abused them is also dead. He was involved in gangs. They have no relatives, no friends, nada!.They have to come with us until someone decides to adopt them. If they are lucky, they can both go to the same family!'' She snapped back, still flustered. 

If they are lucky? And were they abused? Since I started spending time with them, I got to know that Vicky and Jay can't live without each other. Their bond is strong.

Jay made me move their beds close, saying it would be difficult to protect Vicky when they sleep too far. I thought it was because of the accident but never imagined that they were abused.

Accident. It's still a mystery. Someone tried to kill them and they are still out there. And whoever this Moretti is, he is powerful enough to change the whole story. They are not safe out there.

''I'll adopt them both'' I said, making everyone snap their heads towards me.

Present (Rome, Italy)

It took a year for Vicky to call me momma and it was six months since Jay started to call me mom. It was a beautiful moment though.

I always wanted to go to Italy. So when I got a chance to come here, I thought why not settle in and we could be far away from, whoever this Mr.Moretti is. But did I do the right thing?

The clicking sound of the door pulled me from my little reunion with the past. I quickly ran and hid behind the desk. I took a peek and saw the woman from earlier looking at me with a weird expression. I signalled her to keep quiet and she nodded.

Soon, Mr. Orlando came out with two men in black suits along with his secretary.

One is a brunette with electric green eyes, talking with Mr. Orlando and the other one is also a brunette with chocolate brown eyes flirting with the secretary. Wow, they are hot. They look alike, maybe brothers. They shook hands and the two 'men in black' suits entered the elevator.

After Mr. Orlando and his secretary went into the office. I slowly came out.

Sigh.

"Mam, should I inform Mr. Orlando about your arrival?" Asked the woman.

"Huh? No. It's OK" I said and went near the  window which was made of glass and saw one of them getting into the car and the other green-eyed one was busy with his phone. Before he got into his car, he looked up, locking his eyes with my own.