Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Amber’s POV

“Amber?! Hey, Amber. Are you okay?!”

A dull whirring sound droned in my head, making me groan painfully. All parts of my body hurt.

“Are you good?”

My eyes blinked open slowly and I frowned.

Where the hell was I? Was this the afterlife? Somehow I expected more angelic white clothing and maybe some music but this was starkly different.

Why the hell was I on the floor in the… Pack training room? And why was— Mina!

I sat up with a start. Swearing softly as the room swam around me.

“Hey, gentle,” Mina worriedly held my shoulder.

I was so happy to hear her voice! I tried to hug her hand but with my eyes squinted, I just ended up looking loony.

“Ouuu she hit her head so hard, she lost her senses,” A familiar voice purred and then laughter filled the room.

I frowned, the bright light harsh on my eyes as I turned this way and that. What the hell was going on?!

Why was I—

“Shut up! Cal!” Mina hissed as her hands began to pull me up. “Here, come. Let’s take a break,” 

I was still so confused. What was going on? Slowly, I let her pull me up. 

I knew Cal. He was a part of our pack. As I glanced around the room, my eyes adjusting to the light, I realised I knew all these people too. 

All members of our pack, we grew up together and… Maggie?

My steps froze at my sister in the corner. She sat in her wheelchair, conversing with some girls softly as Lucas helped her open a bottle of water.

Wait, Lucas? “He’s dead too?” I muttered aloud in confusion.

“Huh?” Mina blinked at me weirdly. “Okay, we really need to get you checked out,” Her fingers reached towards my head. “You might have a concussion,”

Pain flashed through me as her hands touched my scalp. “Oww!”

“Yep, definitely a concussion,” She chirped.

“Wait,” this makes no sense. “I can get injured in the afterlife?”

“What afterlife?!” Mina threw her hands up in exasperation. “You know what… don’t even answer that. Just be silent until we see the nurse.”

I had so many questions. Mina and I were dead, yes, but how did Maggie and Lucas die? And the pack members? And…

“Vera, what is going on?” I hissed to my wolf mentally.

“Beats me,” She whispered, her voice contemplative. But I got the faint sense she knew exactly what had happened.

I asked no more questions, allowing myself to be led to the training house infirmary, where Mina left me sitting on a bed.

“Sit here, Nurse Amy must be with Maggie. I’ll get her.”

Without waiting for a reply, she slipped out, closing the door behind her.

Finally alone, I let my thoughts unravel. 

The infirmary smelled like… like spirits and balms. The smell was soothing but also very familiar.

Four months ago, when we were still in wolf training, I had ended up here multiple times with injuries. Each time, Nurse Amy patched me up and sent me on my way but we both knew the real reason I was the trainee that landed here the most. I was malnourished.

Even now, my entire body felt sore. I hissed aloud, slowly standing from the bed and checking the extent of my wounds. My arm was busted. Something warm stuck my hair to the sides of my head and my ribs hurt when I exhaled.

“We got beaten badly,” Vera mused.

“I know,” It was so surprising, “Just like four months ago. Who knew the afterlife would be so similar to the real world,”

“Amber,” Vera’s voice was hesitant as I walked to the nurse’s table and began to look through her documents.She other several things on the table. Papers and even chocolate. “We’re not in the afterlife,”

My fingers that had been leafing through the cool documents paused. “I don’t understand; what do you mean? We died,”

“I know, but. This place isn’t just like four months ago… It is four months ago. We were reborn.”

I didn’t have time to react to her words; no sooner had she dropped that bomb than the infirmary door pushed open.

My entire body trembled, goose bumps running down my arms. I began to notice things I didn’t before.

How Mina looked… different. Her cheeks were fuller and the ends of her hair bleached blond. Just the way she wore it when we were in training. 

Even Nurse Amy. She came in behind Mina, her cinnamon eyes full of pity. But her body… she was pregnant. 

Even though I knew Nyana, her baby.

Cold sweat began to form on my temples. “By the goddess, it’s unbelievable,”

“Amber, you okay? You look a bit peachy.” Mina paused at the door, her eyes full of concern.

“What month is it?” I demanded suddenly.

My breath came in short spurts as I turned around the office like it held clues for me.

Was Vera right? I couldn’t have… Was it even possible? 

“You see, this is what I was worried about. She’s out of it,” Mina’s voice was worried as she conversed with the nurse. “Think it’s more than the concussion? I’m worried—”

Her voice droned out after that for me. I could no longer breathe. I should be dead. Be in the afterlife with my friend. How was I here? How was I…

“Amber, hey! Breathe,” I vaguely registered the pregnant nurse trying to calm me down. 

But my mind was in overdrive. I couldn’t think. Couldn’t do anything but try to understand.

“Amber! Amber!” 

My world stopped.

When you’ve died, fainting feels different. It feels less… definite. Waking up the second time wasn’t a surprise. I was less disoriented.

The air in the infirmary felt warm, like someone had put on the heater. I was in a bed with my legs covered. The nurse was nowhere to be seen. To my right, Mina sat in her chair, her hands firmly gripping my palm. She was fast asleep.

With no interruptions, I looked at my friend and felt relief. Her red and blond hair was slightly tangled. Her lips parted in a light snore but she was generally okay. She wasn’t dead.

“No, she’s alive,” Vera added quietly. “We have a chance to make it right,”

At her words it all came rushing back. My fingers fisted in the white sheets and I gasped. The pain was still fresh, tearing my heart apart. 

I wasn’t Maggie’s twin. I… I was an outsider. Just a blood bank. Kept and brooded for years to save their daughter’s life.

Anger. Raw, unbridled rage filled me, and also something else too. Determination. I’d been given a second chance and I had no plans on wasting it. This time around, My gaze flickered to where Mina sat. I’ll protect her.

My hand slipped out of hers gently and I slowly threw back the bed covers. When I was sure, she wouldn’t wake up, I came down from the bed and walked back to the nurse’s table. 

A bar of chocolate sat on her table unopened. With a small smile, I picked it up, unwrapped it and took a bite.

The dark, rich flavors melted on my tongue, filling my mouth. 

It was a small victory, but it felt so much more. I had my second chance, this time I would change things. Starting from improving my diet to build my strength.

“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!”