Chapter 20 Harper's POV
It was dark, the curtains were closed, and his side of the bed was empty. I sat up then, looking around the room. The clock on the dresser showed it was seven AM, so I made my way into the bathroom. After brushing my teeth, I went downstairs into the kitchen, hoping to find Cole there. When he wasn't there either, I frowned. He was usually awake before me. After setting the coffee pot to brew I checked the living room, and then the garage. His car was gone, but sometimes he parked it outside. “Cole!” I called out, when I came back in. “Are you here?”
When there was no response, I decided to check the back porch. Opening the french doors wide, I was greeted by a large patch of grass. “What the hell?” I asked aloud, as I cautiously stepped out of the back doors. Scanning the property, there were no other houses in sight. The beach that I was so fond of, was gone. Spinning around to face the house, I felt my head begin to pound. What was going on? This was my house, but it wasn't my yard.
Running back inside, I searched frantically for my cell phone. It wasn't on the side table where I usually left it, so I checked everywhere, flipping the couch cushions off one, by one. My head began to spin, as the fear kicked in. Something was seriously wrong here. I searched the cupboards, and the refrigerator. Everything was just as it should be, and yet it wasn't. I couldn't explain it. I pinched myself, hoping this was a all dream, knowing full well that it wasn't.
I ran back out to the garage, banging on the opener. The door didn't budge, it didn't even make a sound. My car wasn't inside either, I guess I hadn't noticed the first time. The pain in my head was getting worse, and worse, so I went into the bathroom to find some aspirin. When I caught my reflection, I ran my hands over the healing bruises I found on my face, wincing when my fingertips brushed my temple. “What happened to me?” I asked out loud.
Just then, another reflection appeared in the mirror beside my own. My eyes grew wide in shock, and disbelief, as my sister slowly approached me, stopping when our shoulders touched. “I'm glad you're awake. I was worried.” Vanessa said.
“Vanessa? How are you here? Where is here?”
“We're home silly. You woke up in your own bed didn't you?”
“Well, yes.. but no. I don't know something feels off. The beach.. it's.. gone.” I stammered.
“The beach?”
“Yes the beach! It used to be right out the back door, and Cole! Vanessa, where is Cole? What have you done to him?” I asked, my heart beating wildly in my chest.
“You must have hit your head harder than I thought.” Vanessa said, full of concern. “Who's Cole?”
“My fiance!”
“Your what?” Vanessa laughed. “Harper, it's only you and I here. You haven't left this place in years.”
“No.” I said, placing my hands on either side of my head, shaking it in confusion. “No, this isn't right. I was at the prom, yeah, and then Cole, he proposed, like a real proposal. He loves me Vanessa. He does, and you showed up. You.. you kidnapped me. You took me away from him. Vanessa how could you do that to me? I'm your sister! How could you!” I yelled, pushing her hard in the chest.
“Harper, you need to calm down. If you don't, I'll have to get the doctor again.”
“Doctor? What doctor?”
“Your psychiatrist, Dr. Reece. These episodes are getting worse Harper, I'm really worried.”
“Episodes?”
“Here, let me get you some water.” Vanessa said, reaching around me to fill a glass from the sink. “Take a sip.”
“I don't want a fucking drink Vanessa!” I cried, chucking the glass as hard as I could onto the ground, sending shards of glass flying everywhere. “I want to go home! I want Cole!”
“Harper please, you need to calm down. You could have hurt yourself, like you did last time.”
“What do you mean like last time?”
“Why do you think you're here Harper? You were a danger to the other patients at the clinic. That's why we have our very own house. It's just you, and I against the world, remember?”
“You were in prison! I live on the beach! I'm engaged to Cole! He took me to prom Vanessa! Prom, something we never had the chance to enjoy.” I said, trying to reason with her.
“Listen to yourself! You're twenty two years old Harper, what kind of prom would you have gone to? Have you taken your meds this morning?”
“Meds? I – I don't take any medication! I want to go home Vanessa! Now!” I yelled, taking a purposeful step towards her. “Get the fuck out of my way!”
“I warned you baby sister.” Vanessa said, pulling her cell from her pocket, and pressing a few keys. Seconds later, a man appeared holding a syringe in his hand.
“What is that?” I asked, as the man approached me. “No! Please don't.” I started to cry, as he backed me up against the cool tile wall. I put my hands out in front of me, pushing, and hitting him as hard as I could, but Vanessa was soon at his side, grabbing my wrists violently, exposing my veins. I tried to use my legs next, kicking the man in his knee caps, but Vanessa slapped me hard across my face, making my head spin once again. Vanessa's expression softened, as she rubbed the spot she'd just struck me. It was a diversion, and while my eyes were locked with Vanessa's, the man injected me with whatever was in his syringe.
My legs buckled, and my entire body began to feel like jello. “What? What did you do?” I was barely able to breathe out the words. “Wh- Why?” I felt my body being lifted, and carried somewhere. The familiar feel of the couch was soon beneath me, and I closed my eyes against the throw pillow. “Cole.” I whispered, as I drifted off to sleep.
Voices, I could faintly hear voices, as my eyes fought to flutter open. My vision was blurry, but I knew where I was. I was home. I tried to sit, but my head was pounding, so I turned onto my side instead. The television. The voices were coming from the television. I squinted my eyes, trying to focus. Six o'clock, that's what the clock on the television said. How long had I been asleep? Why was I on the couch?
Vanessa. I remembered now. Where was she? Did she leave? Panic started to overwhelm me, and I sat abruptly, ignoring the pain in my head. Slowly, the fuzziness wore off, and I was able to focus more clearly. The six o'clock news was on, only it wasn't a station that I recognized. It was showing the weather for Mexico? Finding the remote nearby, I turned the volume up. The meteorologist finished their report, and then the story changed.
“Harper's House?” I asked under my breath. Turning the volume up again, I listened intently, but it wasn't until Cole's face filled the screen, that I really started to pay attention. Tears began to fill my eyes, as he plead with the world to help him find me. He looked broken, as broken as I felt inside. I crawled to the screen, placing my hands on his face.
“Sweetheart, if you're out there. I'm not giving up. I will find you.”
My cries turned into full on sobs then, and I quickly sought the remote out. I rewound, and watched him over, and over again, proving to myself that he was real. That whatever Vanessa was trying to do to break me wouldn't work. Cole was looking for me. He would find me. He loves me. This place, my loving sister, this wasn't real.
“Harper!” Vanessa's voice called from somewhere beyond the kitchen.
I quickly pressed the fast forward button, putting the television back on live TV, before turning it off completely. I couldn't risk Vanessa seeing Cole. “In here!” I called back, my voice a bit shaky.
“Are you feeling better?” Vanessa asked, as she sat down on the couch beside me.
“Actually, yes. I am.”