Chapter 45: Chapter 45

—Heartifilia Asylum

The year 2021

Ariana POV as Anika

"This way miss" the old receptionist lead me the way inside the hospital rooms.

I followed her inside. The asylum has uncountable rooms. We pass room 55 but we're still walking like this has no end.

"Are we not there yet?" I impatiently asked her?

I know she heard me but she just continued walking through the hallway and ignored me. I waited and after fifteen minutes, she finally spoke.

"You know what, this room is the only room that's unassisted. I am shocked when you came by and ask me to visit her." She told me with her shivering voice.

I frowned and thinking what she was about to tell me. Is she warning me not to come to visit her? My mind is full of tangling doubts right now. I'm a prey outside this asylum so she is maybe my only chance to understand why they have to kill me when Anika and I were the same. They didn't know my stories about why I was being treated like a criminal. I just want to feel what it feels like to be praised by everyone and to be free even this is only temporary. My identity has been revealed and I had no choice but to take the risk but I can't die here or both of us will be doomed. If Ergo will visit me tonight, I wanted to ask him to let me speak to Anika and tell her that I am sorry for what I did here. Even this is too late to reconcile and finish my mission, I'll do my best to find her real parents and tell them I miss them as Anika.

"We're here!" I was startled when the old receptionist handed me the door key.

She looks afraid to come in.

"I'll leave you here. Be careful okay. If anything happens don't hesitate to radio me!" She said and handed me the radio.

I accepted it and nod my head. Even I had no idea who I will be meeting inside and what kind of person is Corazon Gables.

I took a deep breath and prays that everything will be alright. I clamp the knob tightly with my unnerving hands and a bit hesitant to check who was inside this 100th room. I have to or else I won't find any answers.

Until a door swung open. I didn't expect whom I saw inside. She's sitting quietly and her eyes were looking at the ceiling. She's humming words I don't understand and keeps fidgeting her fingers to ease the tension on it.

I was just standing there and I was pulling all my courage inside me to let out words from my dried mouth. I just realized I haven't eaten anything since last night.

I walked closer to approach her when she quickly turned her head towards me with her glaring look. I pulled back near the door. Maybe she's afraid of people.

My eyes widened to see my reflection in her. It's Anika's reflection too. The receptionist was right, she looks the same as me. What if she was Anika's biological mother? Why she's here and why did Anika didn't know this? What was Denise hiding all this time? Did she know something about Anika's real parents but hide it from her for many years? Why?

She's studying me.

"Amanda? Is that you?" She asked me and saw her running towards me and hug me tightly.

I just let her do it. She's crying and I want to comfort her. I tap her back with my cold and sweaty hands and nod my head.

"I've been waiting for you for many years! They keep you from me. They keep me here!" She said and I was dying to know who did this to her and what was the reasons behind it.

I pulled her and look her in the eyes.

"Are you my mom?" I asked her just to get her trust.

"Yes. I am." She murmured.

I help her go back to bed so that we can talk about it.

I thought she's the same as everyone here but she seems fine and normal.

She begins fidgeting her hands again and said things I can't understand again.

"May I know what you're saying, mom?" I tried to talk to her in the most comfortable way I know.

Her eyes became fierce and she tightly holds my shoulders.

" She's a monster. Amanda is a monster because of me. I made her like that! I'm at fault!" She keeps telling me about the monster stuff but I can't understand what she meant.

I can feel the tension in her body. She's not feeling okay. I guess there is something about her why they locked her here. I feel sorry about Anika. She lived for many years being the boss of all but she had no idea that her mother, her real mother treated like crazy here. I felt the hotness in my cheeks. I'm in tears again. I felt guilty too. If I stayed low and hide my identity well, maybe I smoothly finish my mission and maybe we are both switches back to our original lives and place.

I just realized how I deeply crave my husband's hugs and kisses. I'm too selfish and blinded by power. I must correct what I did wrong. I hope we can meet Ergo tonight. It's been months but he didn't show up in our dreams after telling us about our missions.

"Why did you stay here? Why you didn't look for me? Do you know how much I yearn for a mother's love? I lost my adopted parents when I was 7 and I lived alone!" I don't know what happened but I said those things to her.

Maybe if I was in Anika's situation I'll do the same.

She became quiet again and wailed loudly.

"I'm so sorry. I just miss you, mom." I said but she keeps crying.

Did I say mean things to her? I just want to know the reason why she's here? Why she's in this kind of place?

She stops crying and quickly took my hands and pressed them. I felt safe by her touch. I miss my mom Annie too. I wonder if she was still alive or not. I hope Anika found them.

"I hope you won't resent me if I tell you why I am here, Amanda." She said and I simply pressed her hands too and nod my head.

Silence means yes.

She tried to hold her tears again. She held her breath deeply. I can feel her shivering hands holding at me. She's hiding something scary I guess.

"Tell me, I'm here to listen, mom!" I told her.

"I killed your adopted parents. I was the one who attacks them! It's an accident. I tried to help them but they thought I will kill them." She finally told me everything.

But still, I can't understand what she meant.

" What? Can you please tell me vividly, please!" I told her.

Her eyes shifted on me full of guilt.

She didn't reply.

Instead of answering me, my eyes stretch wide open when her form gradually changes into a wolf-like mine.

Anika's mom is a shapeshifter too!

A loud growl echoed inside her room.