Dark.
Everything was so dark.
Why was everything so dark?

A small beep made it's way through the airway -what was that smell? Was it bleach?- before reaching my ears.

Why was everything so dark?

My eyes wouldn't cooperate no matter how hard I tried, they stayed sealed shut as I tried to figure out my being. Trying to move my fingers didn't work. Where were my fingers? Where was I? A soft breeze was the first sensation I felt. However, it ended as soon as it started.

As a sound reverberated through the place I was in, my brain registered a door closing. Door! So I was in a room? But whose room? Where am I?

It took me several more minutes before I could finally feel soft skin against my hand. Someone was stroking it. But why were they touching me? Where-

Oh. Ohmygod. The car, there was a car, and I-

I crashed into a car out of nowhere on my walk. So was I in a hospital? Was a nurse holding my hand? Why won't my eyes open? What was wrong with me? How long was I out? Did mom remember? Did Ryan? Did they come to the hospital? Maybe mom did to sign papers or something. This wasn't good. She was supposed to be on a work trip. Did my accident force her to cut it short? But she must know I didn't mean to-

The constant, steady, rythmic beeping was what brought me out of my musings and I realized for the first time that I might finally be able to take control of my limbs again. What an achievement, my mind drawled. I rolled my metaphorical eyes. What the hell?

Opening my eyes proved to be harder than learning the macarena when it took me a minimum of ten whole minutes to do it. I vowed to never talk about that ever again. It took my vision another two minutes to tune into the surroundings but when it did, my eyes furrowed and for a second I thought I was dreaming.

Why else would there be a giant sitting in a chair next to my bed? Was he a stalker or something? But I wasn't interesting enough to be stalked. Infact the entire room looked lived in? Why would a hospital room look lived in? Maybe I was just transferred to a room that hadn't been entirely cleaned up yet. Maybe the guy had been sleeping in the chair waiting for someone else to come in. Maybe they confused my bed and room number with someone else's.

That definitely seemed more likely.

As my fingers finally twitched, a triumphant smile made it onto my face. But with that came the giant, violently shaking awake before turning his head rapidly to look at me. Even in the considerably dark room, his features were prominent enough for me to make out his wide eyes and ...soft smile? Why was this stranger smiling at me?

This was seriously starting to creep me out. What the hell was going on.

"Fiore?", his voice was heavy, from the sleeping perhaps, but it was also strangely gruff and if he wasn't smiling at me, looking me right in the eyes, maybe I would have looked down and confessed to him about the time I stole all of Miss Philip's red pens hoping she wouldn't be able to mark our English tests. Didn't turn out my way though.

My voice decided to not cooperate at that very moment but apparently he didn't need to be told twice. The man picked up a glass from the table beside my head and slowly fed it to me as if I were a child. Oh how would my pride ever cope.

Somehow, the lights were brighter now and as I stared at the unknown man in my room, my brain couldn't comprehend why he looked so familiar. I could swear I had seen identical green eyes somewhere. But now was not the time.

"I'm sorry Sir. I think uou have the wrong room", I gestured around me before a small giggle escaped me thinking about the incredulity of the situation, "And probably the wrong person too."

My words didn't seem to bother him though. He didn't even get up as his smile widened and he brushed a few strands of my hair back. My heart beat faster. Why? Why would a stranger show me so much kindness and handle me so gently? I-

I couldn't remember the last time someone did that.

"I'm not", the man smiled before holding both my hands in his much larger ones and looking at me straight in the eyes. Don't do that ugh. Looking at someone's eyes always, always made me nervous. "My name is Gabrielé by the way. And you are?"

"Rebekah", my voice was apparently still hoarse but Gabrielé didn't seem to mind.

Something flashed in his eyes as his hands on mine tightened momentarily before going back to normal, "How's your head darling?"

"Sore", was my one worded reply before I asked him what I wanted to ever since I saw him in my room, "I'm sorry but who are-"

My question was interrupted by three people strolling into the room, involved in heavy conversation. The first man had tattoos. So many tattoos. Didn't those hurt? I'd always wanted a tattoo, maybe this guy could hook me up. The next one was-

My eyes widened. No way.

"You", the words were out of my mouth before I could even think about it before my eyes narrowed at the third man, "And you."

What the hell was going on here?

As they turned to me, forgetting whatever conversation they were having their eyes widened but I didn't hold back, "Are you following me? Because that wouldn't be so wise. I know you saved me and everything but that doesn't give you a right to stalk me Sir." I quickly pulled my hand back from Gabrielé's with a new realization dawning on me, "and who are the others? Your stalker friends? I-"

I couldn't even complete my sentence because right there, in front of me, Niccoló and Gabrielé broke out into a series of snickers while I tried to recall what was it that I said that was so fucking funny. The guy from the other night simply raised his eyebrows like i was fucking entertainment while the tattooed one looked at me like I was the crazy one. Who the hell were these people?

Unwillingly a bead of cold sweat ran down my forehead on the realization that I was helpless in front of these huge men.

Men.

In turn I made sure to glare harder, "This is not a joke. You-"

"Calm down tesoro", Niccoló said as his laughter subsided into a wide smile, "Let us explain before you jump to wild conclusions baby."

Who the fuck was he calling a baby?

However, my tired throat demanded rest and I refrained from questioning him. I just quietly settled to outwardly display my displeasure to the situation. Now that the laughter had receeded, the men had shifted back to a resting bitch face and I knew that my back belt wouldn't do shit against them even if I wasn't lying like a helpless idiot on a hospital bed.

"So? What?", my voice did not sound like me at all, "Go on, explain. Explain why strangers have apparently housed themselves in my hospital room. You know what- there must be some sort of hospital policy against this or something."

They remained silent once more.

My already muddled mind turned more confused by the second. These men looked important. They looked like they could definitely have way better things to do than sit and waste away in the hospital room of a random girl. So why were they here?

A tired sigh left my mouth, "Fine. Suit yourself."

Not even two seconds passed when a hand gently grasped my chin and made me look up. It was him. My saviour. I did not believe in coincidences or fate. But two near death experiences and one -actually two- men in both places was never a mere coincidence.

"What I'm going to tell you now will be hard to hear. And you might not believe me at first. But know that I would never lie to you Fiore", his voice was smooth as he talked and I know his speech was meant to sooth me to some extent but I could hear an undertone, a part he was desperately trying to hide from me. And I let him.

"My name is Rebekah", was what I said instead as I narrowed my eyes.

He promptly ignored me before taking a seat in front of me. Now that I observed, all the men sat in front of me in some weird military position.

"Well", I shook my head softly. What was with the stress lines on them. They were definitely in their 20s or something but looked fucking 100 years old.

"If I have to hear this mind boggling news maybe I should get all your names first", a smirk made its way onto my face in hopes of reducing the tension i knew was visible on my face, "Atleast Gabrielé and Niccoló still have their manners."

"Brat", whispered the tattooed bitch and I immediately narrowed my eyes at him. Who the fuck did he think he was?

"Atleast I don't look like I always have dung under my nose", I scrunched my nose up just for the added effect and his reaction didn't disappoint if the withering glare he threw my way was any indication.

Unfortunately, Gabrielé being the responsible idiot that he vibed of being was proved my theories correct as he put his giant body in between me and the tattooed idiot. To be fair, I shouldn't have riled up the dangerous looking dude but he wouldn't attack a helpless child on a hospital bed would he? Oh who am I kidding, he absolutely would.

But deep down I was grateful to Gabrielé when a hateful glare made it's way into his eyes and I unintentionally shivered on the bed.

"That's Declan", Gabrielé cut off whatever Declan was about to say before gesturing to the man in black, my saviour, and saying, "And that is Fe-"

"I'm Federico", he cut off Gabrielé.

What was with these men and cutting others off?

My thoughts were cut off as Federico sat down in front of me, took a deep breath and started,

"Sixteen years ago on December 1st, our family had a new addition. Her name was Fiorenza and she was our little sister."