Chapter 3| I Woke Up as Someone Else

Diamond’s POV

“I didn't do it!" I pleaded, but the officers weren't listening as they handcuffed me. I looked over at Adlyne and Crystal as they continued their fake act, and when the policemen weren’t looking, they smiled at me mischievously, and that was when it clicked. 

They had it all planned. “Please, I didn’t kill them. You have to believe me, officer." I cried and struggled with them, but my plea fell on deaf ears. As I struggled against the police officers, my mind reeled with the realisation that I had been set up. 

My stepmother and stepsister had planned this, and I had fallen right into their trap. I felt like a fool, and I couldn't understand how I hadn't seen it coming. Now, I was going to pay the price. I sobbed uncontrollably as I was dragged out of the house, my vision blurred by tears. 

The police officers showed no mercy, shoving me forward roughly as I stumbled and tried to catch my footing. I felt weak and defeated, my body trembling with fear and despair. I had been framed for murder, and I couldn't do anything to change that. 

The day of my trial came, and all evidence pointed to me. Then I heard the most shocking words of my life as I stood there. “Diamond Ronald, you’re hereby sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Max Ronald and Lily Davin.” The judge said:.

I felt my world collapse as the judge's words reverberated in my ears. Life imprisonment? For a crime I didn't commit? It wasn't fair; it couldn't be true. But there I stood, in handcuffs and an orange jumpsuit, being led out of the courtroom by the police.  

I felt numb, unable to process what was happening. It was as if I was watching it all happen to someone else, not me. As we walked out of the courtroom, I met Lily’s mother crying. 

“You will rot in jail, Diamond, for killing my child,” she spat in my face before the police took her away. My heart broke as I heard the words of Lily's mother. I knew she was right; there was no way to make up for the terrible things that had happened. 

She had lost everything, and now I was going to spend the rest of my life in prison. I felt hopeless as I was escorted to a police car and taken away. It was a fate worse than death, and I couldn't imagine how I would survive it. 

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It’s been months of living in hell, crying every single day without talking to anyone, and praying that one day I get out of here. Then I closed my eyes, imagining a life outside these walls, but the sound of kisses interrupted me again. 

This has been happening for quite a while now. I guess they’re a couple or something. The ladies beside me kissed each other, their bodies pressing close as they touched themselves. I was uncomfortable, but I couldn't escape the sound of their whispers and moans. 

"Hmmm, right there, baby,” I heard one of them say. "Baby, don’t stop, please,” she moaned. 

I had no choice but to endure because it wasn’t my personal space. Just then I heard a fire alarm, but I wasn’t moved by it because some inmates would always touch the fire alarm to make everyone scared, so I knew it was fake. 

But this time the alarm didn’t stop, and then I heard those words that made me freeze. "Everyone, get out of your rooms; the whole building is on fire." One of the female cops shouted. My heart pounded in my chest as I heard her words.

Just then, an idea struck my mind like a bolt of lightning. I could use this fire as a distraction, a way to escape this hell. So I took off my cell uniform and quickly pulled in my hoodie, concealing my face, and rushed towards the door. I held my breath and ran through the hallway.

The smoke was stinging my eyes as I made my way to the ground floor. When we all got outside, so many vans were already standing by, waiting to carry us all. So we had to form a line as everyone quickly entered the vans, but the police were on standby with their guns, making it difficult to escape.

I didn’t want to give up either. Before I could think of anything, I saw the ladies who were making out in the room earlier running. I joined them without thinking twice. We ran for our lives without looking back, and as we ran, more women joined.

“Stop running!” the policewoman kept shouting. My heart pounded in my chest, but I kept running. Then, I heard gunshots, and fear gripped me instantly. I looked around and saw some of the women who had been running with me falling to the ground. I knew I couldn't stop.

I ran until I was off their tracks. Suddenly, a car drove past me with speed, almost hitting me. I turned to see that the car had stopped, and a lady came down. “I’m so sorry for that. Can I give you a ride to where you’re going? It looks like you’re in a haste. She asked. 

I was surprised when the lady stopped and offered me a ride. "Yeah, some bad guys are chasing me,” I lied. "Oh, please enter the car now so you won’t get caught.” I knew it could be dangerous to accept a ride from a stranger, but I was desperate and had no other options. 

As I entered the passenger seat, the lady smiled at me, trying to put me at ease. "I'm so sorry," she said. "Where are you headed?" “Erm, mmm, to any nearby hotel,” I stammered, trying to sound cool. 

“Oh, okay, are you sure you’d be safe there?” She asked. I just nodded. At least for now, that’s the only place I could hide until I figured something out. The lady signalled her driver to take us to a nearby hotel. 

“I’m finally out of hell,” I whispered to myself as I let out a sigh of relief. I felt bad for those other ladies who were shot; I wish they had succeeded the way I did. “I’m Debra, by the way,” she said, stretching her hands for a handshake. 

“I’m Diamond,” I replied, shaking her. The drive wasn’t silent and awkward; as she said things that made me laugh, I guess she was trying to put me at ease even though she didn’t know me. “Nice ring, though,” I said as I looked at the flashy diamond ring she was wearing. 

“Thank you,” she replied. One thing led to another and  she opened up to me that she was being forced to marry someone she didn’t love. I felt sorry for her and didn’t know what to say, but I knew I had to say something. 

“My opinion doesn’t matter anyway, but I think you shouldn’t go on with the marriage if you don't want to." I said this as Debra suddenly interrupted me with her screams. 

“Watch out!!!!” She yelled at the driver as the car veered out of control, crashing into a truck. And boom, everything went dark.

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I couldn't feel or hear anything. I had no idea how long I was unconscious, but when I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. My head was pounding, and my body ached all over. I couldn't remember what had happened, but I knew it had been bad. 

I turned to look at the calendar beside me, and that was when I noticed I had been out for 2 weeks. As I tried to recall what had happened to me, a beautiful lady in her late 40s walked in. “O my God,” she gasped, and she immediately ran out of the room. 

The doctor came in with her and rushed over to me to check on me. “She’s stable now,” he said while the beautiful lady kept crying. I still couldn’t understand what was going on until the woman hugged me so tight.

"Debra, my little baby, I’m glad you’re finally awake." I was shocked because my name wasn’t Debra, and I couldn’t push her away because she seemed like she was so happy to see me, like I had gone missing before. 

The doctor brought a mirror and handed it over to me. I felt a sense of dread. I knew something was wrong. “During the accident, Debra, you were the only survivor with a destroyed face, and thank goodness your car was recognised,” he said. 

“I’m sorry your driver didn’t make it either,” he continued, and that was when everything came flushing back. I remembered the accident, and when I raised up the mirror to look at my face, I screamed.