Thank you ALL sincerely. I am pleased to know that my story has made an impact to every reader out there. The fun is now getting started. 🌎 #TetheredWar #FightForYourFreedom #CanTetheredSoulsEscapeTheHunter?

*Luna*

As I hear the door handle turn, I was immediately back in my room in the hospital. I sucked in a deep breath, and my shoulders stiffened. I wasn't sure if it was Dr. Kim or Chase who was at the door. I just had to stay alert and prepare myself for whatever happened next. 

A blonde head popped in, and Chase's blue eyes stared back into mine, framed with heavy brown-colored lashes. All at once I was brought back to Memorial Day, the evening he took advantage of me at my sister's house, pushing himself onto me like my objection didn't matter. Then my mind flooded with memories of being inside the van. I gathered myself quickly and stared at the door. I wished that I could run out there, but I couldn't. 

I was unable to run away, and I had to endure whatever treatments I was given.  

He strolled in slowly wearing white scrubs and perched himself at the foot of the bed, gazing down at me. "How are you feeling?" he asked in a level voice. 

Like kicking your ass, you asshole.

I placed my fingers on my temples and titled my head slowly, wondering if he was serious or not. "My head... my head is hurting," I murmured, rubbing my temple. My head really did hurt.

"I imagine that you are still suffering from the accident." He whistled and motioned someone to come through. Nurse Smith walked in with a small cup of pills and a cup of water. "Maybe these will help." 

Unknown medication to help me? My heart rate kicked up as I glared back at him, not trusting anything I was given. What was in it? A drug to make me pass out? A tranquilizer? A lethal dose of poison? Good thing I could shield my thoughts right now. These people didn't need to peek inside my head.

"I'm not sure if you remember our last conversation. My name is Chase. We are close, and we have a daughter named Sarah. Have there been any new memories, resurfacing?" He stood still as I swallowed the pills, and my gaze followed the nurse. I remember everything. I slowly shook my head and narrowed my eyes before I let my secret be known. "When we last spoke, you woke up and couldn't remember how you ended up here. The both of us traveled here to Sweden, and our daughter is now with your sister. You were trying to run from your husband." No, I wasn't. "You fell asleep after I left, and we haven't spoken since." 

No, we haven't, which was a good thing. The second I woke up and told everyone I couldn't remember anything was just the beginning of my demise. Chase will soon feel the wrath of who I truly am and what I was capable of. I could feel this power growing in me deeply, a rage of fire for him. I was definitely not trying to get away from Amir. He figures that he can brainwash me into thinking that. Think again.

"Do you remember ever getting married? You and Mr. Khan met in Louisiana, where we live in the States, and he conned you into marrying him." I was about to haul off this bed and slap the ever living shit out of him. "You called me one day to help you get away. That is why you were in a forest in Texas, and that's how I found you." 

You asshole. Twisting everything around. 

"You didn't like who he became after you guys got married," he continued, his blue eyes darkening as they stayed focused on mine. "I can't recall that much about your reasoning for leaving him. However, I can help you with other memories, if you'd like." 

I don't think I can stand to hear anymore lies, much less listen to anything that comes out of his mouth. But I had to suck it up and pretend. He wasn't getting a reaction out of me.

"Is there anything you'd like to know, Luna?" His chin lifted as he waited. Could you shut that trap of yours? "I don't want to bring up anything bad, but I can help you retrace some lost memories. Would you like that, honey?"

Don't you dare call me that! 

I didn't care to answer, but I wanted him to hurry and leave my room. "All right." What other bullshit will you come up with? 

"Okay." He smiled and walked over to me, laying a hand on my shoulder. I could feel him trying to tap into my mind. 

But Luna made sure it's an empty hole in there, I thought to myself, giggling internally. Somehow, I blocked him out.

"I don't want you to recollect any painful memories. That's not the best approach," he said, trailing a finger down my temple. Get your damn hand off me. "You've had a... colorful past. There might be some traumatic memories that could flood back."

"I understand..." No, I did not. "I should take it slow." 

Chase and the nurse seemed to take that as a sign to move forward, and then he reached down to my hand, slightly squeezing it. I flinched. "We're not going to hurt you," he said, soothingly. But he already has. "I'm just going to help you jog your memory." 

Is that really what you want, Mr. high-and-mighty?

Given that I didn't have much of a choice, I wasn't in my right mind to protest. I pushed his hand off my body and sat upright. Then I tightened my robe around my chest and suddenly felt the pain medicine kicking in. At least that was an Advil that I just swallowed. I started feeling shaky, and I couldn't stop myself from trembling. My hair covered my shoulders and shielded my eyes for a moment. 

"The medicine should be working. We also gave you a muscle relaxer as well." 

What? 

As I lifted my head, I saw Dr. Kim strolling into the room, dressed in a white lab coat. He held his laptop in his hand and slightly smiled my way. My eyes traveled around the room and landed on the tiny instruments he laid out.

"Hello, Ms. Carlyle. Or should I say, Mrs. Khan?" Dr. Kim asked me. "I am Dr. Kim. I don't know if you remember me or not. I am your doctor from Louisiana. Chase told me you were here." Another lie. He reached into his pocket and grabbed his stethoscope. "I'm going to listen to your heart and take your blood pressure. Okay?" No, don't touch me. 

I nodded, seeing there was no way to avoid this.

Chase finally moved his slimy self away from me, and Dr. Kim proceeded with his exam. I jumped when I felt the cold stethoscope pressed against my chest, and my eyes glared heavily into his. I just wanted to smack him so badly. 

"Just take a deep breath for me," he said in a calm tone. Can I just wrap it around your neck and pull tight? "Good. I will now place it on your back." I took a deep breath for Dr. Douch and rolled my eyes, experiencing déjà vu all over again. "Sounds good. Please, extend your arms." 

I did and immediately noticed the small circle embedded into my skin where my wedding ring once was. I missed it terribly. I wondered where it was at. Swallowing hard, I glanced away, seconds from slipping into Lara Croft mode. Then my eyes met Chase's. His were hostile and full of curiosity of my sudden memory loss. I was utterly alone with people who've done the same routine to me before, and this time I knew things, even though I was captured.  

I was sure my blood pressure was through the roof because I couldn't stop my pulse from pounding hard, and the tightening in my chest kept squeezing tighter and tighter. As the pressure cuff loosened, I inhaled a few deep breaths, and then asked, "Why am I in Sweden? When can I go back to America?"

Chase clasped his hands in front of him. "You had a concussion after our car accident. It's best if you get well first." 

I stared at him, and the white walls suddenly crowded in. "When will I be released? I want to see my daughter." 

Silence. 

Then I let out a strangled laugh. "Am I being kept here against my will?"

There was more silence, as if no one wanted to confirm what I said was true or not. But of course, I knew the truth. I was stuck in a small town somewhere in bumfuck Sweden, and I didn't know whether I should try to escape now or before the end of the day. I figured that if I show some progress, then they'll let me leave this place, and at that time I could make a run for it to Texas. But this time around differed from the last. I wasn't able to just hop on a plane. I needed my fake ID. Passports. Everything Ahmed and everyone else fixed for us.

Dr. Kim finally released the cuff. "Your blood pressure is a little high. I think we should keep you here for observation, then you'll be transferred back to Louisiana, into St. Matthew's." 

Visions of the experiments and treatments lit up my brain. Hell to the no. I slid off my bed so quickly, startling Chase and Nurse Smith. All of them inched backward. "No. Why would I go back there? I'm not even sick-"

"Yes, Luna, you are," Dr. Kim interrupted. "Why do you think you were in the hospital in the first place? You were sick before your accident, and you were severely ill before you married a volunteer at the hospital. So, we believe it would be best to stay here for a while where you can continue receiving the help you need." 

"Why?" I felt my back hit the wall. What were they trying to sell me? "I just want to see my family. I have no memories. My mind is blank. I don't want to be in a hospital!" 

Okay, maybe that was a little dramatic. I should slow it down a bit. I couldn't act for shit. 

"I understand that," he replied. Chase just stood there with his hands on his hips, staring directly at me. Turn that gaze to the corner and stand still like a child, you imbecile. "We hope we can help you regain your memories first. Even Mr. Marquette wants you to remember the great times you two had together. But before you see your daughter, you need help." 

These people were not the ones who could help me see her. My army of tethered souls can.  

I slid down into the corner and began tearing up. I couldn't handle being stuck in here any longer. I just wanted to leave now and be with my family. "I want..." My brain couldn't process any of this. More experiments? More treatments? No. "People who know me..." 

None of them said anything, like careless souls they were. 

Amir... oh God, my husband and I wouldn't ever be able to see each other. Ever. Not while I was in here with fear of them popping into my head, finding their location. How will I be able to help him regain his memories? He was the one who lost them. Not me.

Pressing my palms over my eyes, I squeezed my eyes shut, tears flowing down my cheeks. "I don't understand. I'm not crazy. I want to go home to be with my little girl." 

"But don't you want your memories to come back first?" Chase asked, murmuring across the room, making sure he wasn't close in case I kneed him in his family jewels. Come close and feel my rage...

I closed my eyes for a moment, my breath heaving inside my chest. Then I opened them.

Chase walked toward me and kneeled down. "When you finally retrieve your lost memories, you will remember her. Wouldn't you want that? That you'll  remember the moment she was born, or how much you love her?" He pulled out his phone and flashed me a picture of the three of us smiling into the camera. I almost vomited over his white clothes, gazing at the picture of us holding each other. He believed that I didn't remember him. I wished it were that easy. "We were once happy together, and then you got sick. That was the reason you were placed inside the hospital in the first place. You can't remember us being happy, but it will come back to you one day." 

A chill radiated over my body. I finally realized what his game was. He wanted me to fall back in love with him so when my memories did come back, I could forget about Amir and stay with him and Sarah as a family. Did he really think it'll be that easy to win me over? Did he think I would push my love for Amir out of my system and love him all over again? Like none of this shit ever happened? Was Chase really that fucked up? He was. I knew that. And he must be under the influence if he thinks he had a chance with me. 

I stared at him and shook my head. "Where is Sarah? How is she?" 

"I've spoken with Liberty earlier. She is okay." Lie. He never spoke to her. He thinks my powers are gone. He doesn't know I can see my daughter when I am with one of my tethered buddies. 

Relief coursed through me, though. At least he didn't know where they were hiding and hadn't really spoken to my sister. That gave me some comfort to know I wasn't being played, if I really lost my memory. All he was doing was lying.

"We'll do what we can to help your with your memory loss," came from Dr. Kim. "We have different methods that have proven to be successful." He paused, glancing at Chase. "Right now, your mind probably feels like a huge black hole. We have a machine that is fairly new to this facility, and when we place it around a person's forehead, we turn it on. At that moment, it will shock the temples, and your memories should come back gradually. We won't use it unless it is needed." 

Yeah... right. But during the meantime, my allies will get me the hell out of here. There was no point in trying to escape now or to object to the same treatment that I was used to. Chase was dying to have his way with me, and he can, but he will never get the pleasure of knowing the truth about my memories. That will stay my secret. 

"I know your confused and probably scared," Chase murmured in front of me. 

"It's understandable, Luna." That was Dr. Kim. "But this facility is not as bad as you believe it is. We will help you here before you head back home. We will make sure you are comfortable." Chase stood up as Dr. Kim clasped his hands together. "You'll see Sarah again in no time." 

See her again? They were acting like they speak to her daily. They were acting like Liberty checks in with Chase every second of the day. And by telling me these lies will somehow soothe me. It doesn't. Doesn't Chase know who I've always been? I was a mother who talked with my child's sitter consistently when we were together. This was Chase's way of making me believe things were okay with her.

He was manipulating everything here. What if I did lose my memories? I would've had to trust him. Trust all these jerks.

As the situation really sank in, the tiny grip that I had to keeping myself sane was gradually slipping away. Fear and terror whipped through me, creating an ugly mess of emotions to power deeper inside my skin. I sprang to my feet, feeling my muscles ache in my legs and ankles, and my head was swimming because of my sudden movement.  I couldn't believe I was about to relive the horrors of being stuck against my will... again.

Then suddenly, I started feeling light-headed and ended up falling over onto my bed. My eyes were fluttering open and close as I could hardly make out anything Chase, Dr. Kim, and Nurse Smith were yelling over my limp body. I could see their lips moving but couldn't hear them clearly. I was disoriented.  Somebody slipped me something and now I was feeling the effects taking place.

I was glad for one thing: Amir couldn't feel this happening, and he was safe. 

"What's going on with her?" Chase screamed loudly in the room. 

"I'm sorry, Mr. Marquette," Dr. Kim said on the opposite side of him. "I had Nurse Smith give her a sedative. That way we can figure out what to do here." 

"Another sedative!" Chase grabbed Dr. Kim by the collar and threw him against the wall, glaring hard into his eyes. "I didn't authorize that!"

"Chase. Chase. Calm down. Don't you see what we have here?" Chase loosened his grip and stepped back. "Luna doesn't have any memories. This means one thing. We can do whatever we need to and she will cooperate. She will believe us. She has no jurisdiction." 

Good thing it looked like I was stuck in a trance while my eyes stayed focused on the ceiling. Keep talking, guys. Let me eavesdrop some more before I slip away in my mind.

"What if this is all an act?" Nurse Smith chimed in. Fuck. "I mean, I've seen this happen." 

Chase and Dr. Kim walked over to the bed and gazed down at me as I flicked my eyes shut, pretending I was falling asleep.

"I don't believe she is," Chase said, hovering over me. Then I felt his hand press against my chest, slowly cupping my left breast. He was taking advantage of me. Oh, hell no. "See. The Luna I know would have smacked my hand off by now. She hated being touched when she was asleep." 

Oh, you've made me hate a lot of things. And that wasn't my husband's hand.

Chase let go, thankfully, and Dr. Kim shuffled somewhere in the room. "Okay. Let's just hope for her sake she isn't pretending." 

"I can't read her thoughts, Dr. Kim. It's blank." Thanks for confirming that, Nurse. My stunt was working. 

"I'm telling you... Luna wouldn't fake anything like this," Chase said, letting go of my shoulder. "I know her like I know the back of her hand. And Sarah. Her daughter means everything to her."

"So, what are we going to do?" Dr. Kim asked, standing on the other side of me. 

"We'll keep her here for now," Chase responded, almost whispering.

"And what about her army of people?" Dr. Kim uttered. "What will we do about them?" 

"Oh, they'll come for her, and we will collect them, like we've done before," Chase mumbled, hovering his chin near my cheek. Ugh.

"They're not collector items, Mr. Marquette."

I almost snorted and laughed when Dr. Kim murmured that. That was funny. 

"And it won't be that easy," he added, tsking under his breath.

I heard the door opening and their footsteps scuffling into the hallway. 

Then Chase spoke in a soft voice, "No, it won't. Let's take one day at a time. Luna isn't going anywhere anytime soon. And hopefully, she isn't faking it. That will be the biggest mistake she has ever made if she is." 

The door shut, and so did my brain. I felt the medication flow inside my body, and then there was nothing. Just darkness.

***

So... Luna has some tricks up 
her sleeve. Hopefully Chase and his group will continue believing her act. But you all know me by now.#TetheredTwists 🙃