"Owwwww.... MY HEAD,"

My sudden outburst made my pain 10x worse, making me rethink the shouting. It wasn't like yelling was gonna fix my head. What did I even hope to accomplish? It wasn't as if anyone would know. They made sure of that when...

When what?

I couldn't really remember what was going on. Only that.... that... the floor felt wrong.

Now that I thought of it, the floor felt disturbingly soft. not unpleasant, (it might be the best thing I ever felt in my LIFE) but I was certain I should be on something harder than this. WAY harder.

No matter how hard I struggled, the memories weren't coming back. it was like trying to hold on to a bar of wet soap. With oily hands.

I groaned loudly, for some reason feeling certain that no one would hear me. and even more sure that they wouldn't care if they could. That, and an unreasonable sense of anger, resentment, and fear.

Those feelings made me jump at least a foot high when I felt someone touch my head.

I opened my eyes to see someone with an odd, black and white outfit. I also registered the huge and gaudy room behind her.

Where am I?

"Are you ok My Lady?"

Lady?! who even says that these days?!

Somehow though, this woman was able to say that with a completely straight face. Which was really weird. especially since I finally recognized the maid uniform she was wearing. I have no idea who this woman was, but as she continued to fawn over me, I couldn't help feeling impressed. Her acting skills were top-notch. There's no way I could do what she's doing without cringing and blushing the whole time.

I followed her directions as she fed me some porridge and a bottle of nasty medicine. I had no idea where I was, but considering my headache we're probably at some hospital. Most likely a children's one if the costume was any indication.

Don't get me wrong, I was suspicious. This whole situation felt weird, but who was I to deny free treatment?

The woman who must have been a nurse told me her name after a lot of begging (a surprising amount actually, something about it not being proper)

It was Felicia, such an unassuming name. For all the fuss I went through to get it, I thought it was going to be embarrassing, but no. Felicia is a fine name. A strangely familiar one but... not a bad name at all.

Stolen novel; please report.

....Unless she was lying to me. I would've totally done that if I were her.

Either way, whatever Felicia did seemed to be working. To the point where my head cleared enough to compute that I had been accepting stuff from a stranger.

The hospital theory was slowly being disproven as I looked around at the too big room. Way too fancy for anything my parents could afford, and we certainly weren't hard on cash...

Although, we weren't rich either. So maybe I was in a special room. They'll probably put me back when my condition stabilizes, which was happening surprisingly fast. Shouldn't I be in critical condition?

Before I could figure out how I knew that, Felicia curtsied.

"I'll be taking my leave now My Lady," she said. (seriously, rich people were on another level)"Before I go, your brother would like to see you,"

I sighed in relief. Felix can tell me what's going on!

"Let him in,"

Before I could decipher her hopeful expression. she turned away and opened the humongous doors behind her. Before she could exit, a little, wild-haired boy came rushing in.

His face was covered in snot and tears. His puffy, Turquoise eyes crinkled with guilt and sadness as he wailed.

"I'm so, sooooo sorry!"

Wait. This kid isn't Felix, my brother is older than me!

I looked towards Felicia for help, but she was busy staring at the crying boy with a mixture of pity and hope.

"I'm sorry... who are you?"

The child looked surprised and tentative when he said "I'm Colton... your...brother?"

I stared back at him. This boy was obviously aware that he made a mistake, considering his evident fear and uncertainty. So I tried to be gentle with my reply.

"I'm sorry, I don't have a little brother."

His gasp was so loud, it triggered my headache. Colton's already puffed-up eyes welled with tears as he turned and ran out. His wailing echoing back into the room.

I turned towards the frozen figure of Felicia standing in the doorway.

"Seriously though. Who was that?"

I recoiled at the look of barely contained disgust I received

"Denying his existence won't make him disappear, Lady Juniper,"

She shut the door behind her before I could reply.

I sighed before slowly laying my head back down on the pillow. Thinking about what just happened.

Where was Felix? I get mom and dad not being here, they're on a business trip. But shouldn't My brother have at least made it? I know college keeps you busy, but I'm pretty sure your sister being in the hospital was a good excuse for missing classes. his campus wasn't THAT far from home.

Why was this hospital so weird, and who was that kid... Colton? Also, my name isn't Juniper...

I gasped and shot up from the bed. immediately regretting my actions as I grabbed my head to lessen the pain.

But... if I was right...

Ignoring the pounding of my skull, I got out of the bed and surveyed the room. rushing to the nearest mirror.

Any doubts I may have had vanished as I stared at my reflection- and a stranger started back.

Dark, wavy brown hair cascaded past her waist. The girl's eyes were brilliant hunter green. They were stunning, even though they were clouded with pain. She was slender and delicate and pretty

And she was copying my every move.

The pain on her face gave way to shock as she sat hard on the ground. This girl was me! Or I was this girl...

But... my name is Bianca...

I gasped, and the girl in the mirror's hands shot up to cover her mouth. Tears sprung from her eyes as I remembered why my head was hurting.

Why I thought I was in critical condition.

Why Felix wasn't showing up.

Why my parents won't either.

That's because Bianca is dead.