Chosen

Chapter Twelve

Adrian's POV
I hear a knock on my door and open my eyes. I've been in my room ever since I was pushed away from Arabella by the doctors.
~Flashback~
I lift Arabella from the truck and rush her inside. I run to the infirmary, careful not to jostle her even more. I kick open the door and run inside.
"Doctors, we need help!" I yell, waiting for them to come running. They immediately take Arabella and lay her on a bed, looking her over.
They x-Ray her chest and stomach, watching the monitors intently. A loud beep sounds and the doctors spring into action, I try to watch what they are doing, but a nurse walks up to me, blocking my view.
"Your highness, we need you to leave. What we are seeing is that Lady Arabella was stabbed while she was captured, she's bleeding internally and we need to find out where it is coming from." My eyes widen and my heart drops.
"Will you be able to save her? She'll be ok, right?" The nurse smiles sympathetically.
"We will try our best, Your Highness." She ushers me outside and closes the door. I stand there for a while, trying to listen to what is going on inside. I can't hear anything and start to walk away when I hear something that brings tears to my eyes and chills me to the bone.
"Hurry! We're losing her!" I can't take anymore. I walk away from the room and up the stairs to my room. I lay on my bed and close my eyes as I finally let the tears fall down my face.
~End of Flashback~
I jolt out of my thoughts when the knocking starts again.
"Come in." I call, closing my eyes again. I hear the door open and someone walks in. I know it's my mother when the scent of vanilla and coconut.
"Hey sweetie, how are you doing?" She says gently, sitting down beside me.
"As well as can be expected. Do you know how she's doing? Have you talked to the doctors?" I feel her hand on my face, brushing my hair away from my forehead.
"She's still in surgery. But I did talk to one of the doctors. She told me that there is a very slim chance of her surviving. There were many injuries in her body, from the stab, it seems that it got infected from not being treated right away. She has a severe concussion, a broken leg, and a fractured rib. I'm sorry, sweetie, but I don't know if she will survive this." A tear falls down my cheek at her words.
"No, she has to make it through this. She can't leave me. I love her, I need her. I can't live without her." She puts her hand on my cheek, trying to comfort me.
     "I know, baby, but you have to prepare yourself for it. It's a big possibility that-" I cut her off, turning to face her.
     "If you're only here to remind me that Arabella will probably die, please leave.  I don't want to hear it anymore."  I turn away from her, facing the wall. I hear her sigh, get off the bed, and walk away, closing the door softly behind her.
     Tears fall down my face as I push my face into my pillow, quickly falling asleep.
A few hours later
     I wake up to hear knocking at my door. I groan, thinking its my mom trying to talk to me about Arabella's death.
     "Come in!" I call, sitting up. The door opens and my father walks in, urgently.
    "Son, she's waking up." I immediately jump out of bed and change my clothes. I run out the door and to the infirmary. I run through the door and look for Arabella. She's the only one in the room, surrounded by the doctor and nurses. I push past them, trying to see her. The doctor turns to me.
"She's waking up. But I must warn you, she's been through a lot. She was stabbed during her time...away. She also suffers from a major concussion. I don't know what state she will wake up in." He explains, a sympathetic look on his face. I only nod and watch Arabella. Her head moves, and her eyes start to blink open. I push the nurses away and sit next to her, grabbing her hand. Her eyes open and she blinks a couple to times, then looks around confused.
"Where...am I?" Her voice is hoarse, but still as beautiful as ever.
"You're in the infirmary, Ara. But don't worry, you're safe now." She turns her head to look at me and confusion flashes across her face.
"W-who are you? Do I know you?" She asks, fear starting to appear on her face. My heart drops as I stare at her, her beautiful face twisted in confusion and fear. She doesn't remember me.
    ~Arabella's POV~
The first thing I feel as I wake up is confusion, confusion then fear. Where am I? Who are these people? Why does everything hurt? When I speak, my voice is hoarse, as if I haven't spoken in days, I might not have. A boy is next to me, he looks at me as if I am his world, his everything. But how could that be possible? I don't even know him.
"W-who are you? Do I know you?" My voice shakes as I speak, watching the boy. His face drops, sadness and confusion clouding his expression.
"Y-you don't remember me?" His voice is desperate and it hurts me that I'm hurting him like this. It's so unfair, it's not my fault that I don't remember anything. I go through my memory. The last thing I remember is going to Monica's house after dad had hit me. Then everything goes black. What happened after that day? How did I get here?
"I'm sorry, but I don't remember you. Were we friends?" Tears fill his eyes as he stares at me sadly. He looks so sad, so discouraged. And it's all my fault.
"No, this can't be happening. You have to remember me! I can't lose you! You have to remember!" He starts yelling as anger fills his face. Fear fills me as he yells, angrily stomping around the room. One of the other men in the room, dressed in a guards uniform, walks up to him, placing his hand on the boys shoulder.
"Calm down,man, you're scaring her. Maybe you should just go get some air, spend some time alone until you're calm." He whispers. His shoulders and back stiffens as he swiftly turns around to look at me. I shrink back, scared that he will thrash out at me, and his expression turns to regret and guilt. He opens his mouth to say something, but closes it and sighs.
"I'm sorry." He walks away without saying anything more. A doctor walks up to me with a soft smile on his face, trying to comfort me.
"Hello, Arabella, I'm Dr. Bradley. Don't worry about him, he'll be fine, he's just upset. He really loves you, it's hard for him to see you not remember him. You were captured by the Rebels, Arabella," my eyes widen as I gasp. "You are suffering from a stab wound in the stomach, several broken ribs, a fractured arm, and a major concussion. That's what's causing the memory loss, it should be temporary, though. So you should get your memory back sometime." I take several deep breaths, trying to calm my racing mind. I was taken by the Rebels, why would they even want me? But then something the doctor said pops into my head. He said that the Prince loves me, is that true?I really wish I could remember everything. It would make all this so much easier.
"Wow, that's a lot to take in. I was captured by the Rebels?" Maybe I heard him wrong. But he just smiles sadly and nods.
"What's the last thing you remember, Lady Arabella?" I raise an eyebrow at the word Lady. He chuckles. "Sorry, I forget that you don't remember all this. You are in the Selection, the Prince's Selection. You were here at the castle for almost two weeks before the attack, you and him had become quite close. Now, tell me, what is the last thing you can remember?" He asks softly.
"The last thing I remember is going to my sister, Monica's house after my dad-," I pause, not wanting to go on. I don't want anyone knowing what happens with my dad. "After my dad and I had gotten into a fight." Dr. Bradley nods his head, writing something down onto a piece of paper.
"Ok, we'll start working on your memory soon, let's just focus on getting you healed first." I nod, but stop quickly as it sends pain through my head.
"Sounds good. How long will I have to stay here?" He thinks for a minute.
"Well, if we send some nurses with you, we can send you back to your room tonight. Would you like that?" I smile, I would like that.
"Yes, I would love that." He nods and calls out a few name. A few seconds later, three women in nurse clothing show up, smiling kindly at me.
"Would you please help me escort Lady Arabella to her room?" He turns back to me. "You are able to walk, just take it slowly. We wouldn't want your stitches to rip." I nod, slowly this time, to avoid the pain in my head.
I slowly swing my legs off the bed, holding my breath against the pain that sprouts through my body. I take a deep breath and push myself up, standing on my wobbly legs. I close my eyes, trying to balance myself, but open them immediately as it just off-balances me even more. I start to walk to the door and the nurses and Dr. Bradley follow closely behind, making sure to be close enough to catch me if I fall. I get to the door and look around, trying to remember anything about the castle and where my room is. I close my eyes and lean against the wall, trying to remember what the castle looks like, the outside and the inside. Suddenly, a picture pops into my head, like a map. I remember the castle. I open my eyes, smiling hugely as I turn to the doctor.
"I remember the castle! How to get around anyway! I actually remember something!" He smiles, surprised.
"That's great. I didn't think you'd start remembering this quickly. This is really good. If you keep remembering this quickly, you could have your entire memory back in no time." I smile, happy that at least something has gone right during this horrible day. I turn and confidently walk out the door and turn down the hall, walking slowly to my room, leaning on the wall for support. I'm almost to the hallway that contains my room when my black dots invade my vision. I lean my back against the wall and put a hand to my head, trying to stay conscious. I start to slide down the wall when I feel a pair of strong arms wrap around me, keeping me from falling.
"It's ok, I've got you. You're safe." I hear a smooth, deep voice say before I lose consciousness.
I stand on a beach, laughing with someone, happy. I'm wearing a black swimsuit with a bright blue bow on it, standing on the beach of a beautiful lake. I turn to whoever I'm with, smiling. It's the boy from earlier. So the doctor was actually telling the truth, we were close. Black invades the vision I was having, but then another picture fills my head. This time I'm on a cliff looking down at the lake I was at earlier. I laugh at something the boy said and look at him, smiling happily. I love him. Then I turn and run, jumping into the water. He jumps in after me, laughing. After that was the most amazing kiss I've ever had. The pictures fade away as black fills my head again, this time staying.
~Adrian's POV~
I sigh as I look down at the love of my life, in her bed, unconscious. I was in her room, speaking to her maids when I had heard footsteps. Everyone was in bed, so I was going to check who it was when I saw Ara leaning against the wall, about to faint. She started to fall when I got to her, catching her and holding her close to me.
"It's ok, I've got you. You're safe." I whispered to her as she lost consciousness.
Now she's in bed, surrounded by her maids. I thought I had almost lost her, I thought she was going to die. But I did lose her, just in a different, much worse way. She's alive, but she doesn't remember me.
"I'm gonna go before she wakes up." I tell her maids as I walk to the doors.
"Why are you gonna leave?" Her head maid, Ariel, calls out to me before I make it to the door. I sigh as I turn around.
"She doesn't remember me, and she's terrified of me." She smiles sadly.
"You'll get through this. You both will." I smile and turn to leave.
"I sure hope so." I walk out the door, but stay close. Close enough to that I would be able to hear when she wakes up.
About 20 minutes later, I hear Jackie exclaim, "She's waking up!" I sit up straight and strain my ears to hear her.
"Arabella, how are you feeling?" Ariel asks softly.
"I'm ok, just tired. Did I really pass out again?" I chuckle softly, even in the most depressing situation, she'll try to make it light again.
"Yes, you did." Ariel laughs.
"Ok, don't tell me your names, I'm going to remember them. I remembered my way around the castle, it should be the same with this." I perk up at that, is she starting to get her memory back? "Ok, I think I've got it, Ariel, Jackie, and Ariana, right?" The three girls gasp happily and I can imagine them all rushing to hug her, but stopping when they remember she's hurt. She's getting her memory back. I smile, actually kind of happy for the first time since Arabella was taken. Hopefully she'll remember me soon.
~Arabella's POV~
I've been stuck in my bed for almost five days. I'm mostly healed by now, and sick of being stuck in my bed. I haven't remembered anything else since I remembered my maids' names. I'm starting to lose hope that I'll get my memory back at all. I've done nothing but dig deep into my memory, searching for anything, but always coming up empty. I sigh, feeling the need to walk around. I sent my Ariel, Jackie, and Ariana away to sleep, since they've done nothing since watch me since I was brought back. This is the perfect time to shower. I smile as I swing my legs out of the bed and onto the ground, pushing myself up so I'm standing. I walk to my bathroom, slowly, on my wobbly legs and to the shower. I turn it on and after undressing, step into the warm stream of water. I sigh as my muscles finally relax and wash my hair and body. I look down and trace the scar across my stomach from the knife. Dr. Bradley took the stitches out two days ago and told me that I would probably have this scar forever. A reminder of the worst days of my life. I sigh, shaking the thoughts out of my head and turn the shower off, stepping out and grabbing my towel, wrapping it securely around my body. I start to walk to my closet when my I hit a puddle of water on the tile and slip, falling backwards, hitting my head on the hard floor. I groan as pain erupts through me. I stand up again and immediately sit down again. I wait for the pain to subside, and something incredible happens. My memory comes flooding back. Everything after the day that I had gone to Monica comes rushing back. The diner, the letter, meeting Marley, coming to the castle, meeting Adrian. Adrian. I need to see him. I stand up and walk to my closet, picking out a simple day dress that is easy to put on. I slip it on and dry my hair, braiding it down my back, I put some lipstick and mascara on, and look at my face, at all the bruises and scratches that haven't healed yet. I grab the foundation and stare at it, then put it back down. I'm not going to cover them, I will face these scratches and bruises, I won't let fear of what happened consume me. I take a deep breath and put a simple pair of flats on my feet, then walk out the door. I know where everyone will be, it's lunchtime.
I walk down the stairs and get to the dining room doors. I take a deep breath and stare at the doors. I look to the guards standing in front of them.
"Is everyone still in there?" I ask, looking at them nervously.
"Yes, are you alright, Lady Arabella? How are you feeling?" One of them asks, kindly. I remember him. I had become friends with him before the attack.
"I'm doing just fine, Michael, thank you for asking." I say, smiling happily. His eyes widen as I say his name, then he smiles widely.
"You remember?" He asks, incredulously.
"I remember everything." I say, happily.
"Then I assume you're here for Adrian?" He teases.
"Yes, is he in there?" Michael nods and starts to open the door. I take a deep breath as I wait to walk in.
"You're higness', sorry to interrupt, but there is a visitor here to see Adrian, a very important person." He beckons me to walk in and I do, taking a deep breath, I walk through the doors and search the room until I find Adrain. His eyes widen as he looks at me, silently asking a question. I nod my head slightly, smiling.
"Adrian." I sigh his name as he gets up and runs towards me. I run towards him, meeting him halfway as he holds me in his arms, burrowing his face in my hair.
"Arabella." He sighs my name into my hair, holding me even closer. I burrow my face to his neck and tighten my arms around his neck. "You remember." He pulls back, but not much, only enough to look me in the eyes, our faces barely an inch apart.
"I do. I remember everything." He smiles, the most beautiful smile I have ever seen.
"When? How?" I smile, shaking my head.
"Maybe we should talk about this later. Everyone is watching us right now."
"I don't care." Then he pushes his lips into mine, kissing my with everything he has, I do the same, kissing him with every fiber of my being, every emotion going into the kiss, until it leaves me breathless. He pulls away and rests his forehead on mine, breathing heavily. I look into his eyes, losing myself in them, his beautiful sea green eyes.
"I love you, Adrian." The words fly out of my mouth before I could even think about it. But I don't regret saying it, I don't regret it at all. His eyes fly to mine, wide and surprised, then filled with happiness and what I hope is love.
"I love you, Arabella." He says, pressing his lips to mine in another quick kiss. "I love you so much."
~End of Chapter~
AHH! I loved writing that chapter so much! It made me so happy! Well the last part anyway. Sorry it took so long to publish, I've just had soooo much homework. I'll try to get the next chapter out quicker. Please don't forget to vote and comment! I always love the support! Tell me what you thought of the chapter!