Puzzle Pieces

AVA

I used to think that my life was meaningless, that I served only one purpose and nothing else.

My existence had been solely reliant on Shay Zephanie. I was her perfect version with no terminal illness. Her version of 'mild perfection', as what Marcus had termed it.

The first phase of my life revolved around Marcus Zephanie's Lab. He had to make sure that there was nothing wrong with me.

Every day was a routine full of either screams of agony or not feeling anything at all. If I wasn't being poked by injections, I had to take some tests.

When Marcus told me about Shay's condition and why he needed me to live, I had a perfect understanding of what he wanted me to do and what needed to happen.

In exchange, Shay was to remain hidden until he could find the cure; until she would be all better, just as he had promised her twenty years ago.

And she, in turn, promised to wait.

But then, something must have triggered her to break that promise.

I wasn't proud of following after her footsteps.

However, I had barely done anything yet.

And now, my time is running out.

Marcus Zephanie made sure of that. He wanted me to know that I can't waste any minute. Even if I chose to betray him, he made sure that my death was inevitable.

Images of him plunging a knife over the mark on my left thigh haunted my vision. I remembered screaming. I felt like I was in a void, a dimension where I was neither dead nor alive.

At some point, I thought I heard Rafael's voice. But my perception was too clouded for me to make out what he was saying or if he had actually been there.

The poison was starting to take effect.

I have no idea how long I have left. My approximate would be another week tops.

It was barely enough time to stop Marcus.

But it was enough for me.

Before I die, I want to make a difference, at least, and do something right. Even when no one will know that I ever existed or what I have done, I could die happy knowing that my sacrifice wasn't in vain.

But even then, my secrets will have to die with me.

I woke up in an unfamiliar room. It was noticeably neat and tidy. And also small.

The tiny space was enough for the single bed I was lying in and a study table made of wood in one corner to fit.

In my best guess, I was in an apartel in one of the zones.

I searched my memory for what happened and how I had ended up being in this apartel, with an IV drip attached to my left hand.

The last thing I remembered before I probably fainted was telling Detective Oliver about who I really was. After that, there was nothing.

The wooden door slowly creaked open, and I was surprised to see Tori, Rafael's cousin, whom I met briefly at the engagement party, poke her head, smiling brightly upon seeing me.

"Oh goody, you're finally back to the land of the living."

"Yes." Barely, I mentally added while she casually strode in and sat beside me, placing a hand on my forehead, probably checking if I was sick.

"Thank goodness it worked. I almost thought that you were a goner".

I appreciated her enthusiasm, but I was still dying and the clock is ticking. Much as I wanted to get to know Tori, my limited time won't allow me to have that leisure.

"Where's Rafael?"

"That's it? You're not going to ask what happened?" Tori looked offended. I blinked, unsure if this was just the way she was or if she knew something.

"I really don't have the time." She sighed.

"I just saved your life, and all I got as a thank you was you asking for my cousin. You're breaking my heart, Shay. I thought we were allies". I think Tori was being overdramatic. She even pouted her lips and acted as if she was about to cry.

She reminded me so much of Stella, in some ways.

I didn't know how to respond to that.

"I understand, though. You and him are a thing. I totally ship your love team, by the way. Just don't tell Rafael that I said so". And I really have no idea what I should say to that.

Everything that she was saying almost did not make any sense. Maybe I should start inquiring from the beginning.

"You saved my life. What exactly did that mean?"

I could only think of two options for how she could have done that. One: she came by the restaurant and strategically took me to wherever this apartel was located without alerting Shay or anybody for that matter. And two: by some miracle or by whatever method she had undertaken, she was able to stop the poison from killing me somehow.

If for some reason, she was able to achieve both, I am and will be forever indebted to her.

"You're finally asking the right questions."

Tori flipped her hair, brandishing her pride for claiming to have saved my life.

"It was very tricky, but your body had somehow reacted a little differently to the Ricin, the poison, which had slowly spread across your system. It caused you to faint and run a high fever. What I did was an experiment, I wasn't even counting on it to work, I don't think it would have on a normal human body. I gave you lots of fluids, had to inject it to you actually". Tori paused, indicating the IV drip still attached to me.

"To remove the poison, if still possible, which thank goodness, it was and miraculously too. Then I made some fresh banana juice. Given that Ricin attacks the cells and stops it from providing proteins and theoretically, bananas are rich in protein, I just had a crazy idea. I decided to act on it, injecting the banana formula on your left thigh. Call it whatever you want, but in all honesty, you should be dead by now if that mad stunt didn't succeed". She paused yet again, a bewildered look in her face.

"Wait, I stand corrected, you were supposed to be dead a day or two right after the poison was ingested in your body. But, thank whatever Marcus Zephanie might have done to you, you have somewhat survived. Rafael nearly had a heart attack when you suddenly convulsed as an after effect of the Ricin about to be released from your body. You vomited all of it, by the way, five percent conscious and ninety-five percent not. So, now, I think I just bought you more time".

That, and so as my entire thoughts about dying.

I stared at Tori and found it almost impossible that she did achieve both probabilities I had thought of.

However, I could sense that she was telling the truth.

I didn't feel like dying anymore. Aside from the aching on my left thigh and the aftertaste of vomiting, I actually felt fine.

"Alright, you don't have to thank me. Just help us catch Marcus Zephanie and X, and I will call it even. Oh, and there's also the part of keeping my cousin happy. Those would be my only requests in exchange for saving your dying ass back there".

Hearing her mention Marcus and X, I finally got out of my stupor.

"You know then. About me, about who and what I really am". I said, realizing the detective must have forgotten to disclose about Tori knowing everything about us. Either he forgot or he really meant that to be a leverage against me.

I can't blame him.

If it were me, I would have done the same.

I watched Tori nod solemnly.

"And, to be honest, I like you better than the original."

Part of me felt a little insulted for her calling me a fake, though not directly, but the more significant part of me couldn't help the grin from spreading across my lips.

"Thank you, Tori, I owe you my life."

"Sheesh, I told you not to do that. But, you're welcome, and if you're really that grateful…" She trailed off, eyeing me mischievously.

"Keep doing what you're doing to Rafael, keep him on his toes, and consider your thanks accepted, wholly."

Despite myself, I actually found that quite amusing.

"I think I could handle that."

"I know you can." Tori smiled, giving me a wink.

I smiled back.

My life didn't seem meaningless anymore.

And somehow, in some ways, I was given a second chance to live.

I'll be sure not to waste a single moment of it.

If I had realized one thing from almost dying, it was that I didn't want to die with regrets.

I want to live my life like I own it.

I won't let Marcus or Shay or anyone else tell me what I can and what I can't do.

This second chance I have, I'll claim it and hold nothing back.

Except for my secrets.