A New Life Starts

Selene got out of the jail van slowly, with her hands cuffed in front of her, and her head down. The commotion at the main gate, the screaming guards, the screaming prisoners, the banging metal doors--was in her favor. She was pushed to the side door by a guard, feigning a trip and ran the final few feet into the black SUV that was waiting. Ronan Blackwood was driving, and his face was calm as all that had happened was all a part of his plan, to get Selene out whilst making it seem like she escaped from jail.

"You made it," he said.

"I... I can not believe that it worked," Selene whispered, trying her voice. Strong, unbroken now it was clear. "I'm... free?"

"You are," Ronan Blackwood said. “New identity, new face, new life. But you'll always be Selene but not that Selene. Don't forget that. You enter the world again tonight, you and we start.”

Selene's stomach tightened. "I... I don't know if I can do this. I mean it’s one thing saying yes on the hospital bed, and one thing actually doing it.”

"You can. You have to, because I have already put a lot of my money into this, and you can’t turn back now. Dinner at Garrick Thorne's will be your first meeting with him, it’s taking place once your new face heals. He has no idea you're alive. Liora Voss doesn't know either. It is your task to play the role of my girlfriend, a fan of Liora Voss. Keep your cool. Observe, learn, remember."

Selene took a shaky breath. Observe, learn, remember... “I can do it, I can do it,” she said to herself and each day, she made sure that was her motto.

Months later after the surgery, Selene was in a bedroom of Ronan Blackwood, fiddling with the black dress which he had prepared. She touched her face gently. Smooth, unfamiliar, perfect.

"I... I do not feel like myself, yet, she said to herself.

“Yes, you will,” Ronan Blackwood said, and sat on the edge of the bed. "Tonight, you play your part. Courteous, attentive, animated. Ask questions. Laugh at the right moments. Keep Garrick Thorne distracted. Be a fanatic of Liora Voss's music.”

Her chest tightened. Quiet. Observe. Learn... Every detail counts. She clenched her fists. All words, all smiles, all glances, they will all be mine to recall.

"I'm ready," she said softly.

At Garrick Thorne's door, Selene froze. The corridors were covered with wedding pictures: Garrick Thorne and Liora Voss, married, happy. Her chest constricted. Ronan Blackwood nudged her lightly.

"Remember, Selene," he whispered. "Polite. Friendly. A fan. Nothing more. Keep him off guard."

Selene nodded. A fan... just a fan.

Liora Voss opened the door and her smiling face illuminated the room. "Hi! Ronan Blackwood! And you must be...?"

Ronan Blackwood said with ease, “This is my girlfriend, Selene. Selene, this is Garrick Thorne, my best friend and Liora Voss, is his wife.”

Selene reached out, making an obligatory smile. "Nice to meet you, Liora Voss. I'm a huge fan of your music. I’m really honored to meet you.”

Liora Voss's eyes sparkled. "Really? That's so sweet! You like my songs?"

"Absolutely! I have heard each one of them. Well, it is wonderful to see you in person, Liora Voss.” Selene lied.

Garrick Thorne looked up and held a glass of wine. His eyes were slightly opened, and a flash of recognition came over his face. "Selene?"

Selene froze. She smiled a little, and in a controlled manner. “Selene”, she said, light-heartedly, trying to conceal the sudden hate and disgust that came over her seeing that look in his eyes and hearing him mention her name. Keep the act... calm... observe.

Garrick Thorne scowled, shock all over his face. "I'm sorry ... I... I had someone called Selene. She... she vanished. You remind me of her..."

The tension was broken by Ronan Blackwood coughing. "Are we playing FbI or eating?"

Garrick Thorne looked at Ronan Blackwood, who was still looking at the face of Selene, and nodded his head. “Something is not right, I cannot put it into place...” he mumbled under his breath.

"Let's go eat." He said finally.

Dinner began, wine poured, low music in the background. Selene politely laughed at Garrick Thorne and nodded at Liora Voss and all the time observed rhem.

“So, Selene," Liora Voss said after a little, leaning forward, and her eyes flushed with excitement, “how did you become such a fan?”

“Oh, I simply... have just learned about your music a few years ago after you opened the tour for Kaelara Storm,” Selene said. "It's incredible. I can't get enough of it."

Liora Voss's smile widened. "Thank you! That means so much. These were some of the songs that it took months to master.”

Selene felt her chest tighten. “Months you worked? Every word, every melody, was mine...” Selene said in her head.

“I even got some snippets from my new album,” Liora Voss said, and took out her phone. "Want to hear? It's just a sneak peek."

"Absolutely!" Selene bent over, pretending to be excited. "I'd love that."

The first song played. Selene froze. All her lyrics, all her melodies, her songs, stolen and possessed by Liora Voss.

“Oh, wow,” she said to herself, trying to smile. "This is... incredible."

Liora Voss beamed. "Right? I poured my soul into this one. It's raw, don't you think?"

Raw? My raw. Stolen. Every note mine. Selene was clenching her hands together. Stay calm. Observe. Plan.

Ronan Blackwood saw that she was tense, but he made no comment, and gently squeezed her thigh under the table. .

Dinner continued. Selene maintained her light tone, laughed at the jokes of Liora Voss, asked polite questions, and pretended to be impressed.

But all the words, all the melodies of the songs being purported to belong to Liora Voss, smoldered within her. She remembered all the movements, all the glances Garrick Thorne gave, all the details that she could apply in future.

Garrick Thorne looked at her every now and then, and was still faintly disturbed by her features. “You are... you are reminding me of someone I was once acquainted with... “ he said to Selene.

The lips of Selene curled in a gracious smile. “Yes, Garrick Thorne. You know me. You just don't realize it yet.” Was what she wanted to say, but she just smiled at him.

Dinner finally over, Ronan Blackwood rose and gave Selene his arm. She took it and bade farewell to the couple . She was burning rage, sharp and focused. Every move is part of the plan.

Ronan Blackwood looked at her, even and constant, and questioned when they had got in the car.

"What's your plan for her album?"