Chapter 1
Anastasia’s POV
ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO
I woke up to the sound of beeping. And let me clarify I did not woke up because I was well rested but because the beeping was getting on my nerves.
As I tried to move a sharp pain went through my whole body, but I pushed back the scream that wanted to escape me. I was not allowed to make a sound even if my whole body was hurting. No. In our house, the only person that was allowed to be heard was the monster we called father. But suddenly it hit me. If I was at home, what the hell was that beeping sound?
Slowly I opened my eyes, and a blinding light made me close them immediately. No. I was most definitely not at home. Panic started crawling up my body and I could feel my breathing getting frantic. Suddenly the door could be heard, how it opened hurriedly, and I could hear fast steps approaching me.
“Sophie. Darling. You need to calm down. Everything will be alright. You are in a hospital, and no one can hurt you anymore.” a sweet voice said close to my ear. It was soothing but my panic did not subside completely. They did not understand. I was not worried for myself, at least not only for myself. What happened to Seth? Where is my brother? I had to protect him from our father! He was too young to defend himself!
As I tried to ask the person that was trying to soothe me where Seth was, no words were coming out of my mouth and all I could feel was pain in my throat, that is how dry everything was.
The sweet person must have been a nurse because only a moment later she put a straw to my lips so I could drink some water. I tried to open my eyes one more time after I drank everything that was given to me. This time I opened them a bit more carefully and after a few more attempts I managed to open them completely.
As I took in my surroundings, I realized the nurse was really not lying. I was in a hospital. All the walls were white and there were no pictures or anything. I was lying in a hospital bed that smelt like antibacterial wipes. But right now, all I could feel was relief that I escaped from that monster for now.
And then it hit me again. Seth! Before I could speak a fit of coughing attacked me but once I was done coughing, I could finally speak.
“Where is my brother? Where is Seth? Is he alright? Tell me he is not with that monster anymore please!” I begged the nurse that was holding my hand.
She gave me a sincere kind smile before she spoke, “Your brother is alright. His injuries were not as dangerous as yours were. He was discharged already. And no, he is not with your father, since I presume you meant him when you mentioned a monster. Seth has unfortunately been put into foster care for now.”
At those words my heart sank. No, he does not get along well with strangers. He would get himself into trouble. There must be a way to help him. But… How long was I in the hospital? Confusion must have shown on my face because the nurse answered me, “You have been unconscious for almost 3 months, and the doctor said you would need at least three more months before we can discharge you. But I need to tell you this. You are not going into foster care like your brother. The police asked us to inform them once you regain consciousness because they have a deal to propose to you. And whenever they told us about these proposals it ended up with the person in question going to a witness protection program. So, I would say you are valuable to them. But the rest will be told to you when they arrive, ok sweetie?”
All I could do was give her a nod because I was speechless. Everything she said made no sense to me. I was unconscious for three months but judging by the looks of the room, Seth did not visit me even once since I was hospitalized. And that was just weird. We never argued it was me and him against the world or if I put it better me and him against our father. And in all these years not once did he turn his back on me so why would he do it now? He would not! I was sure of it. So, something was fishy. Either he was not allowed to visit me or something worse was happening.
Just as I was thinking about all the possible reasons why Seth would not be able to visit me, two cops strolled into my room as if they owned it. And no, I did not hate the cops, but since they ratted me out to my father instead of doing something about his abuse, they were not my favorite people either.
“Hello, Sophie. We are here to take your official statement about everything that happened in the evening when you were hospitalized and also to inform you of everything else that is about to happen.”
Was this man serious right now? Since he did not even blink with his eyes, I guess he was. Before I answered him, I made sure to give him a threatening glare. All this was their fault after all, and I made sure to let him know as much: “You want to know what happened? I came to you, looking for help, giving you the details of a year’s long abuse and what did you do? You called the man that was abusing me and my brother and told him I came to you looking for help! So, he came home and almost sent me and my brother to the grave! Now tell me where Seth is and why was he not here to visit me?!”
They were both looking at me with guilt and their eyes were full of excuses and apologies that I did not want to hear. I just wanted to know where Seth was. So, the next words out of the officer’s mouth pretty much destroyed me, “We told your brother that you died from too many internal injuries. He was sent to foster care thinking he lost you. But let me assure you, Sophie. It is better this way. He must believe you are really dead because we need to put you under a victim’s protection program. You are our best way to put your father behind bars once and for all. We will need your testimony in a year or so. We need to build a solid case, and you need to turn 15 so judges can count your statement as well.”
A year without seeing Seth. I could do that right? And then we can both be together again.
So, I gave them a nod but let them know I had some conditions. Otherwise, they can forget about my cooperation. If I am putting myself on the line here. I am doing it for myself and for Seth and right now I could not ask anything for myself, but Seth was out there, and he needed my help. “You need to make sure; Seth ends up in a good foster home. Also, he needs to stay in London so I can find him once we are done with whatever plan you have in mind. Also, I want him to stay on the hockey team. Those are my conditions.” and they agreed right away, “We have a deal. Welcome on board Anastasia.”
Well, I was not counting on changing my name, but I guess there was no other way. Our plan was in motion and only one year was separating me from Seth. But nothing went as we planned.
On the last night before we had to be in court, someone attacked our supposedly safe location. All the cops got killed and I barely managed to escape. So now I am alone. Wherever I went though they followed me. Until one day I found an online ad for a job as a caregiver to a person that was recovering after cancer treatments.
What is the good thing about it? It was in London, and I could look for my brother again. Bad thing? 20 years have passed since I last saw him. Would he even recognize me? And to top off everything, the woman I was taking care of was this sweet older lady, but her son was far from sweet. He was gorgeous, muscular, and off-limits. First of all, I had many many secrets, and second, he was Seth’s friend and teammate. But unfortunately, the heart does not care for logical things.
