Purest Hearts

Military Base in North Yorkshire:

... aack ... haackk ... hak ...

    Desperately gasping for air … 

Kenny is struggling to free himself. He's well aware of the strength of his opponent. Wishing he didn't chug that drink before going to bed, he knew his alcohol limit but thought that it would be a waste since he poured it already - he wouldn't have been drunk and he would have a bigger chance of surviving. Silently vowing that if he'll make it out of this alive then he'll never drink again. 

      "Come on Kenny, just die already, why is it so hard to get rid of you!!?" hissed the perpetrator. 

      "I know him! I would recognise this voice anywhere. But ... Why ... Why him!?" A shocking realization came to him but there's still denial in his mind on what's happening. While pondering in his thoughts, it slackened him to fight back.

The ropes are getting tighter and tighter ... and the ragged gasps can no longer be heard.

Grayer Hospital, Devon:

      At the hospital, the staff are busy with Marianne. She was just brought in by the ambulance- she had a fall at the cliffs, suicide. 

Luckily, she was seen by tourists that are passing by, otherwise, it would have been too late. 

Kenny: 

       I felt an activity around me that woke me up but it's probably my house mate; I borrowed his newly bought drone, of course, he wants it back. I'm still tired and pretending to be asleep is logical at the moment. 

I suddenly touched my neck as I seemed to remember being strangled! Oh, but no indication of pain there. It felt surreal that time… I inwardly smirk at my silliness. Thank God! It was just a dream, that was a terrible nightmare ... Steven had a rope on my neck ... that was a horrible dream, but of course, it's just a dream! There's no way that he will ever do that! He's one of the kindest people that I've known.

He's been my best mate since nursery and he's been there for me when my parents passed away. He is my dearest best friend ... though, I wish it could be more than that ...

A sudden voice disrupted his thoughts. 

         "Lady Marianne, Lady Marianne, can you hear me?" a baritone voice coming from Dr Peter Bennett. As a doctor, he can tell that she's been conscious for awhile. 

"She probably had a lot on her mind," he thought.

He is still unsure why she fell off the cliffs. Her relatives had said that she attempted a suicide, but he hasn't seen any indication of a suicidal behaviour from her. But then again, sometimes, Marriane's actions can be unpredictable. 

        Kenny lazily opened his eyes, his vision fell into these people surveying him. The tiredness that he felt dissipated and his astounded face has an inquiry look regarding them. As a doctor, Kenny couldn't think of an illness that would require this much attention.

        They're all dressed in white gowns. One is fiddling a stethoscope in his pocket and most of them have dark circles in their eyes. The man in the middle caught his attention more, like he knows him. He looks better than the rest. Though they look like they all pulled an all-nighter, his handsome face and gentlemanly aura made him more dignified than the rest of them in whites.

         "Why would these people be in my room?" Kenny thought. 

He was about to ask but when he looked at his surroundings, the more confusion in his mind. The ceiling is not the elongated white slab which he's familiar with, instead, it's squarely tiled and a bit spiky. What's more, everything is in white, including the walls!

Kenny's POV:

"This is a hospital! Not my room!" shouting in my mind. I was about to get up but I couldn't..I couldn't move my legs!

Feeling bewildered, I tried again but I couldn't.

  A young lady rushed in on my side when she saw me. She  held my hand and looked at me with tears in her eyes. It's like she wants to ask something.

  I took my hand back as it's getting clammy in her clasp.

Looking at my hand, it's pretty considering they're some bruises on it. Not to mention how soft and delicate it is. Without the few bruises, I would say it's the hand of a fine maiden.

Wait! What?  What!!?? 

My hand!? This isn't my hand! An operation wouldn't have happened as there are no bruises and scars, and it's definitely not prosthetic, as I can feel it! Also, without my consent they can't do anything to me!

      "I'm so sorry Marianne.. It's my fault, I should've come to you sooner." Her voice broke my thoughts. There's a self-blame  on her voice.

She looks like she was about to cry,

I think I heard her say Marianne. Is she calling me Marianne!!? 

          The presence of the crowd, my surroundings and this lady here is already driving me mad. Not to mention, for not being able to get up. I looked at them with contempt and wanted to lash out at them to ease my frustrations, but I decided and preferred to be civilized. 

" Please, could anyone tell me what I am doing here?" I asked. 

But, Huh!! 

My voice seemed strange! It sounded like a female! It's baffling! 

         The faces of these people staring at me also changed to worries and concerns as soon as I spoke. They must be startled too with my feminine voice, who wouldn't? I would describe myself as a manly with the most feminine voice. Well, that is what it feels like.

The handsome doctor approached me with familiarity. 

He checked on me then I heard him say "I'm Dr. Peter Bennett, you had a fall and you are being treated here at Grayer Hospital." He is intently watching my face and I can feel the others are doing the same. 

Grayer Hospital … It's my first time to be here, but what exactly am I doing here? I could be treated at my hospital, the military base where I'm currently working has its own hospital and their facilities are superb. It's probably on par or even better than this hospital.

        "Lady Marianne ... Dr Bennett said with a concerned voice.

          " Are you perhaps talking to me?" I asked. 

I heard a sharp intake of breath from the lady. 

         " Can you tell me what you remember?" Dr Bennett asked nicely. 

I close my eyes.  I have to think … Not just him but the crying young lady is calling me Marianne too. Their faces are serious. No mockery or sarcasm, also it's been a long time since I was called a ladyboy.

There isn't any malice or trick that I've noticed on them, instead apprehensions from the lady and handsome guy, also the rest's presence are just to do their job as a doctor. 

Well, he said that I had a fall?  I'm at this hospital miles and miles away from the camp. My hand ... and my voice…!!

I hesitantly open my eyes and once again scrutinise the red eye lady who is obviously holding back her tears. There's a pity and guilt on her face. She is wearing a simple cut dress. The elegance in her must have faded due to her crying, though she smells fresh and clean.

With a sob, she said "Marianne, do you recognise me?" 

I would like to say yes to cheer her up, instead I answered her honestly with a simple "No".

I heard a cry of protest then deep breaths.

"I'm Annie, your childhood friend and your carer," she smiled with fondness.

Childhood friend ... Carer!? Like I ever need one?

Suddenly, I thought of how I couldn't get out of the bed. The wheelchair in the corner that I spotted earlier, it's a customised one, not a hospital property. Hmm ... I turn my gaze to these people.

They're starting to irritate me. 

" Dr. Bennett, is it?" I asked. I saw him nod.

" Is  there something wrong in my lower body?" I asked. I couldn't help but grimace after hearing my  female voice.

He looked at me then he answered me slowly like talking to a child. 

" You had a car accident with your  family 7years ago. You were very lucky to survive. Your legs are still affected but  with continuous training and therapy, I believe you will be able to walk again," he explained with a gentle smile.

Huh! What?!? 

" Really!" I shouted.

I can't help but be sardonic. Also, he is treating me like a patient with psychological trauma.

I don't believe in any of this! I must wake up soon! I know, I'm still in the dream. Dreaming inside a Dream, it's like that film that I've watched with Steven.

Nevertheless, why  do I have to dream as a woman? Even my dreams are mocking me!?

 I know my feelings for Steven but I didn't pursue it as he likes women. And I've never shown it either as I wouldn't want to ruin my long-term friendship with him. 

I suddenly feel so tired and exhausted. 

I should sleep off this dream and forget this series of nightmares that I've just experienced. 

It'll be a beautiful day tomorrow and I'm off duty so I can drive to the nearest seaside and have my favourite fish and chips.

Feeling exhausted and tired, I can feel myself succumbing to sleep. 

Watching Marianne closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep, Dr. Peter Bennett can't help to sigh. 

"Atleast she's OK," he thought, though her memory loss is something he didn't anticipate, there isn't any indication on her MRI's that is unusual, but she must have a traumatic experience from the fall.

She was brought here yesterday morning but none of her relatives made an appearance or inquired about her wellbeing. 

He already expected this, whenever she's being hospitalised, she's always accompanied by different carers every time she sees her.

Peter Bennett's face softens when he'd seen Annie tucked in the blanket on Marianne's sleeping form. 

"Hopefully, Annie will be kind enough to stay for long on her friend's side, given the long friendship they had since they were young, and maybe Marriane's unprecedented temperament would also be less with having a company of the same age", Peter thought.

"Miss Annie, it seems that Lady Marianne is suffering from amnesia. 

She should be able to regain her memory in due time. 

Her test results are all normal but we'll do more tests once she's awake. Also, I will ask one of my colleagues who specialises with this matter to check on her," he kindly explained. 

He met this lady yesterday and she had been patiently tending to Marianne. There's no pretense on how concerned she is to her friend, this made him feel at ease. Her previous attendants are only there for the high salary that Marianne's family provides, they do their job well but it's just a job to them. 

Annie listens to Dr. Bennett and keeps a mental note on his instructions and advice. 

When all the doctors have left, she's feeling the exhaustion on her body. She hadn't had a proper sleep ever since she put a foot in this country. 

She hadn't expected that for her to be able to meet Marriane, she has to be her carer!! 

She came to England to relax and to have fun with her friend though she didn't expect her to be in a wheelchair and the shocking part is she's been like that for 7 years!! They've been chatting on social media but  Marriane didn't say or give any hint of her situation.

"Come to think of it, I've never had a video chat with her standing, she's always seemed to be sitting on a chair and our conversation is more on trends and reminiscing on our childhood times which we always had a good laugh to our silliness before," Annie thought.

What more astonished her was, as soon as she agreed for this job, she was driven here at the hospital and was told that Marriane was just rescued from commiting suicide but she shouldn't worry as she will be compensated well for looking after Marriane at the hospital!! 

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        In a big bright room which is elegantly decorated with antique furniture, a discussion of current important events are being discussed by two people. The woman is in her late sixties, who is leading the conversation, and the other one is a middle age man who is listening intently to every word she's saying while nodding occasionally. There are a few corgis that are lazily lying on the floor but attentively looking at their master. In front of them is a table with luxuriously spread selections of food. 

        A man came in, dressed in an expensive suit, he politely informed them that the papers that they were waiting for had been delivered.

A delight could be seen on their faces. They already know the content of it, they just need the signed papers to pacify their minds. 

One of the papers is a signed agreement of Francois Davidson to be in charge of the Williams' businesses.

The other one is a copy of a marriage certificate of Francois Davidson and Marianne Williams. 

        The butler who was dressed in an expensive suit put away the documents in a safe. Inside the safe contains old papers dated nearly centuries ago, on top of the files is a bold handwritten agreement of Arnold Davidson and Michael Williams, and the bottom bit is signed by King Edward as a witness.