Mnasthai (The Order #1)

Chapter One

As cliché as it sounds, the first thing I saw is white. White ceiling and a bright light. Then I started to hear the steady beeping sound coming from my right. Being the heiress of the Mary Clair Medical Hospital, I'm very familiar of that tune. I'm in a hospital room.

My throat felt itchy and my mouth was arid and bitter. I weakly moved my eyes to find out that I was right. Walls were covered in white. Bland color and interior design of a hospital private room, which is very odd considering how we have far better private room than this. Is it currently occupied, kaya dito lang ako nilagay?

It was quiet and I was alone in the room. Knowing my family, a security detail is probably standing in front of my door. I'm surprised that one of our maids isn't in the room but then again, they know how much I hate maids. I have nothing against them, but having them around makes me feel like I'm too dependent.

What happened anyway? Why am I here? My forehead creased as I tried to remember anything but my most recent memory is winning at the swim meet. Did I pass out from exhaustion?

I carefully sat up. I feel like my body was glued to bed because it was such a struggle. Medyo nanghihina pa ang katawan ko. I waited for a minute before standing up. Nakakahilo ang tumayo agad pagkabangon. A gravitational force pulls blood towards feet, kaya bumabagsak ang blood pressure.

Pagkatayo ay kumapit ako sa IV stand at isinama 'yon sa paglalakad para makapunta ng bathroom. I opened the door and switched on the lights.

Nang tumama ang mga mata ko sa harapan ay hindi ko na nagawang ituloy ang balak na pumasok. My eyes widened at the sight of a stranger.

A girl wearing a patient gown with the IV stand beside her was staring back at me. Her skin was so pale that she looked sick. Her black straight hair brightened her complexion even more. It lengths an inch below her shoulder. She looked just as surprised as I am.

"Who-" the girl opened her mouth the same time I did. My eyes widened and the girl's eyes widened, too. No...

Inangat ko ang aking kamay para hawakan ang aking mukha at napasinghap nang gawin din ito ng babaeng nasa harapan. That's when it dawned me. I was staring at a mirror.

I was staring at my reflection, except that is not me.

No...

I hastily took a step forward and my reflection did, too. My tears filled my eyes in trepidation. A loud piercing shriek escaped my mouth. The mirror showed me how horrified I was as I stared at my... the girl who doesn't look like me, scream.

I heard the door banged against the wall. A sign that my scream reached outside these four walls. I turned my head, half-expecting to see men in uniform but I was welcomed with three unfamiliar faces instead. Two young males who looked like we have the same age or someone who's just a few older and a woman who could pass for someone's mother.

"Bakit, Kinsley?" tanong nung babae habang nakatingin sa akin.

Who's Kinsley?

They advanced towards my direction and my brain was repeatedly bellowing 'stranger-danger'. I stumbled a few steps back as I looked at them. My heart was beating fast in panic and terror.

"S-Sino kayo? What am I doing here?" I asked.

"Kinsley-" the guy called me again with that name.

"Stop calling me that! I'm not Kinsley!" I screeched.

"What? Kinsley, kailangan mong kumalma-" the same guy said as he continued closing the distance between us.

"Huwag kang lalapit! No! Please! 'Wag kang lumapit!" I cried out, violently shaking my head. My tears were blurring my vision now. "I'm not Kinsley! My name is Fabienne!"