Reborn at a cost

Liana's POV

The hospital discharged me at 7 a.m. sharp. They said the concussion was mild-no bleeding on the brain, just rest, painkillers, and no sudden movements.

I took painkillers. Ignored the rest. By 9:30 I was back at Blaise Corps, hair in a messy bun to hide the bandage, sunglasses on to hide the dark circles, black sweater loose enough to cover the IV bruise on my arm.

I looked like someone who'd had a bad night, not someone who almost lost her entire past life in one faint. I blamed myself again. Every time I changed something, a memory died.

Last night's confrontation with Lucy? After Raphael dropped that bomb.

Lucy blinked once. Twice. Then she laughed. A sharp, confused sound.

"Boyfriend?" she echoed. "Wow. Congratulations, Liana." So," she said slowly, eyes flicking to him, "you're the one who sent the flowers."

Raphael smiled.

"Well, it was nice meeting you. Liana, see you at work tomorrow." Lucy said as she grabbed her bag and walked out, heels clicking like punctuation.

I sighed, turning to Raphael, "Sir. You don't even have my favorite color."

I shook my head and tried to focus on the pressing matter at hand.

I lose a memory whenever I try to change my fate.

I needed quiet. I needed to think. I headed to the staff breakroom. The door clicked shut behind me, cool air greeting me like an old friend. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead.

I leaned against the door, closed my eyes, and tried to pull up some memories. I remember most but I lose details of the important ones.

The smell of prison food. Nothing. Blank. My chest tightened. Another change. Another loss. I opened my eyes and took a shaky breath.

I started walking into the room properly taking slow and careful steps. My head still throbbed with every step. Halfway into the main lounge, I heard voices. Low. Breathless. I stopped. Then, I peeked into the room. Brian. And the new intern, Sofia. Twenty-one. Fresh out of uni. Dark curls. Big eyes. She was pressed against the wall.

Brian's hands on her waist. Mouth on hers. Hungry and messy, she giggled softly.

He pulled back just enough to whisper something in her ear. She laughed again. Bit her lip. His hand slid lower. I stepped back fast. As fast as I could.

But my elbow hit the door. They froze. Brian looked up. Eyes wide. "Liana-" I turned. I walked out of the room, my heart racing. My elbow throbbed from the hit.

And I ran into the stairs well, just as I was about to go downstairs, I heard footsteps below. Voices again. Lucy's voice was sharp, almost whispering. "...you think you can just walk away? I have everything. Every email. Every photo. Every late-night meeting. One word from me and your wife knows. Your board knows. You're done." Silence.

Then Graham's voice, it was low and shaking. "You wouldn't." Lucy laughed coldly and quietly. "Try me. You started this first. You'll help me finish it. Or I send the folder tonight." My heart slammed against my ribs. What's going on?

Who are they talking about? I leaned over the railing just enough to see them, two floors down, Lucy standing close to Graham, her hand on his arm, not gentle, it was threatening. Graham's face red, sweaty, eyes wide. "I... I can't keep covering for you.

Security's already asking questions. The logs-" "Then fix the logs," Lucy hissed. "Make it look like we planned." Graham wiped his face. "If this blows up-" "It won't. Because you'll do what I say. Like always." She stepped back. Smiled sweet again. "See you at the team meeting, boss." She turned. Started up the stairs. Toward me.

I backed away fast. Quiet as I could. Slipped through the door onto my floor. Heart racing. Head spinning. They are planning something.. And Lucy had something on Graham-something big enough to make him sweat like that. Photos. Emails.

Late-night meetings with what or who. Blackmail. Pure blackmail. I walked back to my desk on autopilot and sat down with hands shaking. The monitor glowed. My hidden folder is still there. Shadow protocol still running. But now I know. Lucy wasn't just a backstabber. She was running the whole game. Controlling Graham. Who knows what else.

I opened a new document. Typed one line: *What does Lucy have on Graham?* I stared at it and deleted it. Too risky. I needed proof. I needed to remember. I closed my eyes. Tried to pull up anything. The prison visiting room. Lucy on the other side of the glass. Smiling. What did she say? Nothing came. Just blank.

The ringing started again. It was faint, but it was there.I opened my eyes fast. No. Not now. I stood up. I walked to the restroom. I needed air. I needed to think.

I pushed the door open. Just as I was about to enter. I heard voices. Lucy. On the phone. "...yes, I'm working on it.. But he knows something. We need to move faster." Pause. "I don't care. Graham's scared. He'll do what I say. " Another pause. Then she laughed. Her low cruel laughter. "Dont worry , I'll all go according to plan." Click. She hung up.

I backed away. Fast and quietly. My heart in my throat.

I slipped into the stairwell again. Closed the door. Leaned against it. Breathing hard. Lucy on the phone. Planning. I Needed to Remember. But the ringing was louder now. The edges of my vision are blurring. No. Not again. I slid down the wall. Sat on the cold steps. Head in my hands. I tried to hold on. To anything. Raphael's face popped in my head.

"Not now." I groaned

The stairwell door below. Slow footsteps coming up, I stood up and ran. I sat on my chair shaking all over. I saw Lucy walking over to me. She stopped two steps away from me.

She tilted her head. "Feeling okay, bestie?" The ringing drowned everything. My vision tunneled. But I saw her eyes.

The ringing grew louder. The stairs tilted. Everything went black.