CHAPTER 439: MOVING ON

Soft voices floated through the fog in Sarah’s mind as she slowly regained consciousness.

The world around her was too still and too uncertain to trust again.

For a long, fragile moment, she lay in that twilight between dream and reality, listening and waiting to hear that creepy voice that had haunted her for days.

She didn’t open her eyes. She didn’t blink. She was too terrified of even the strange air she was breathing.

The last thing Sarah recalled before she lost consciousness was waking up earlier to Sebastian’s creepy stares, his terrifying words and then an attempt to take her back to that God forsaken island before the attack or was it a rescue operation?

She recalled seeing her brother’s face and then everything went black. But then, this could all be happening in her head.

"She is breathing steadily now,"

Sarah heard someone whisper, sounding like a cousin.

"Do you think she can hear us?" Another person replied in a hushed voice

Sarah’s heart tightened. The second voice sounded like her mother’s.

’Could it be.... No, it couldn’t be. This is your mind trying to play another trick on you, Sarah. Don’t fall for it.’ She cautioned herself, slowly her breath.

Then she heard her mother’s voice again, this time even softer.

"Sarah... my baby..." Judith peeked at her daughter’s pale face, tears blurring her reddened eyes. She brushed her hand tenderly against Sarah’s forehead, her voice trembling as she spoke. "...it mom. I know you are awake and you can hear me. Please open your eyes."

Sarah’s throat constricted. ’Why is this dream so real?’

The sudden flurry of movement around her sent a rush of fear down her spine. She tensed instinctively, afraid Sebastian was still there.

Then she heard someone strange talking in the background, and she felt a stranger’s hand touching her, making her crawl back into her shell.

"She’s waking up." The strange voice was finally confirmed. "Just give her time and a little bit of encouraging words. She will open her eyes eventually."

"Thank you, doctor."

Sarah heard Amelia’s voice again.

Amelia tilted her loving gaze back to her cousin. She took her right hand into hers and stroked it gently.

"It’s okay, Sarah. You’re safe now. That animal is gone for good. He’ll never hurt you again."

Sarah’s fingers moved before she could stop herself, and her eyes twitched as though trying to open them.

"Everyone... She’s waking up."

Sarah heard the unmistakable voice of her elder brother Michael, confirming that she wasn’t really dreaming.

Stilling her pounding, she slowly fluttered her eyes open.

The harsh white light of the overhead fluorescent tube stung her eyes, and for a moment, Sarah could only make out blurred shapes.

But as her vision improved, her mother’s face came into focus. It was tear-streaked but radiant with relief and unfathomable joy.

"Mom..." Sarah mouthed weakly.

"My baby..." Judith burst into fresh tears, pressing trembling kisses all over Sarah’s forehead and cheeks "Thank God, you’re alive. I thought I’d lost you forever."

Sarah tried to speak, but the oxygen mask covering her face made it impossible. Tears streamed down the sides of her temple as she tried again, panic flickering in her gaze.

"It’s okay," Amelia said softly, gently removing the mask. "You can talk now. Just take it slow." She wiped her steaming tears with the back of her hand.

Sarah inhaled shakily, her voice raw and cracked.

"Please... tell me this isn’t a dream. I can’t go back there."

"You’re not dreaming, my angel."

Her father, Hilary, stepped closer, his eyes glassy with tears but filled with love. He came closer and crouched beside his wife, planting a warm kiss on Sarah’s forehead, his voice breaking. "You’re safe, now."

"Oh, Daddy....I miss you."

"Welcome back, baby sister." Michael knelt beside Sarah’s bed, stroking her arms tenderly, his voice thick with emotion.

"I’m good to see you, beautiful." Blaze stood by the door, a tender smile etched across his face.

In response to all the affection showered on her, Sarah broke down completely. Her sobs racked her weak frame as she clung to her mother like a child terrified the world would disappear if she let go.

Judith held her tightly, rocking her and whispering prayers of gratitude against her hair while everyone else watched silently, their hearts heavy with bittersweet relief.

Some doctors came and left after checking her vitals and reassuring her family that she was out of danger.

After a while, the nurses finally removed the oxygen mask completely, allowing her to breathe freely.

Over the next couple of hours, Sarah didn’t speak as she clung to her mother like a helpless child.

By evening, as the golden light of sunset streamed through the window, Sarah slowly began to warm up to everyone around her. Her voice shook as she recounted the nightmare she endured from the moment she opened her eyes and found herself dressed in a wedding gown inside a strange-looking ship.

Amid heartbreaking tears, she recounted how Sebastian made Henry watch as a terrified priest pronounced them husband and wife at gunpoint.

She told them how Henry, even in his last breath, told her not to be afraid.

Her body shook with grief as she shared how Sebastian finally murdered Henry, alongside the priest who jumped in the line of fire, pushing himself and Henry into the black sea.

By the time she finished her talk about her ordeal at the hands of her captor, the room was silent except for her sobs.

Judith wept openly, pressing her daughter’s hand to her chest.

Michael turned away, his jaw trembling as he fought to contain his rage and tears

Blaze ran a hand through his hair, his own eyes glistening as he muttered, "That bastard will regret ever entering this world."

Amelia leaned closer amid tears, whispering softly as she wiped Sarah’s tears away.

"Henry would want you to be happy, Sarah. To have to keep living and shining for him. He would love that."

"Yes,y dear." Hilary nodded slowly. "He gave his life for you. The least you can do is live fully for both of you."

Sarah wept harder, the thought of never seeing Henry’s face again shattering her heart into a million pieces. But she agreed to move on and carry him in her heart forever.

-

-

A week later, Sarah was discharged from the hospital.

But instead of going home, she made a quiet, unshakable decision.

"I want to go back," She said softly as the family shared a quiet breakfast at the hotel before their departure to the city.

"Back to where, honey?" Judith asked, exchanging word glances with the rest of the confused family.

"Back to the island where it all happened." Sarah met her mother’s anxious gaze. "I want to mourn him...." She chokes on her words. "....by the sea."

"Are you sure about this?" Hilary asked, worried she might sink into depression.

"Yes, daddy. I want to say goodbye."

"Can I talk you out of it?" Michael said pleadingly.

"No... I have to do this. I have to face my fears to move on."

Her family exchanged uneasy glances, but none of them could deny her this. Not after what she’d endured and survived.

"Fine." Amelia looked up to her husband, communicating unspoken words, while rocking baby Noel in her arms. "We will all go with her."

Blaze nodded. "I’ll make the arrangement."

-

-

By the following day, the entire family boarded a private jet to the Bamtif coast.

There, Blaze made arrangements for a cruise ship, equipped with enough security and the comfort of familiar faces.

Everyone, including Sarah’s best friend, Annabelle, took turns cheering her up and comforting her while keeping her company all through the cruise ride.

For five long days of sailing in the open sea, Sarah stood every evening at the deck’s edge, staring at the endless blue, whispering Henry’s name into the wind and weeping silently.

On the sixth day, she whispered quietly to her patient’s family. "I can’t find the spot where he fell. Maybe it doesn’t matter where I mourn him. Let’s just choose anywhere close to the dock. I’ll make my peace by the seashore."

Blaze nodded solemnly and steered them toward a small, tranquil island nearby.

As they docked, Sarah stepped off the cruise, the salty wind tugging gently at her hair. Her eyes were distant until they caught sight of a man by the dock, waving passengers toward a wooden ferryboat.

He wore a loose white shirt and plain shorts. His exposed skin was tanned from the sun and his eyes....those ethereal blue eyes were the colour of stormy skies.

For a heartbeat, Sarah’s world stopped as she froze.