Isabelle (House of Jensen Series book 5)

Chapter 25

Isabelle's POV

In the Past

"I feel like I'm missing apart of myself I'm doing my best to remember my life before I was kidnapped. And I do but it feels like it's not the whole truth. I've not given my boyfriend a thought since I've been here. But apparently I'm in love with him."

Amanda look at the woman who had become a good friend only because of their shared trauma. And wished she had truly gotten to know her better before all this occurred.

"They clearly did something to your memory perhaps they altered it. Because you didn't remember where you were couple months back."

Isabelle looks at Amanda with sad eyes, "Maybe they did. I know my brother will rescue me and when he does there will be hell to pay."

"I really hope so for all our sake. These people are monsters. I was suppose to be doing my dream job working as a doctor. Instead I'm stuck here doing whatever they want me to do."

"I'm sorry Amanda you don't deserve what's happening to you. I'm sorry you were forced to date my brother."

She laughs bitterly, "At least he treated me well even if he hated me towards the end. I'm glad I made his life miserable and save one of us from a life of misery and hell."

"Lights out in ten minutes," they hear.

Isabelle rolls her eyes,"Our cells are sound proof. They don't have to yell so loudly I'm not deaf."

"You better get back to your cell."

"Okay and thanks for the chocolate and sanitary towels, tampons, wipes and hand disinfectant."

"At least they agreed to the woman having items they need every month. I'm sorry I couldn't sneak you anymore painkillers than the two I got you."

"That's okay I'll manage with them."

They walk back to Isabelle's cell and Amanda locks her in. She sits on her bed and counts the sanitary towels and tampons. She had been given ten total and she was only on day one of her period.

Isabelle sighs she wasn't sure she would be given more and her period normally lasted a week. And was very heavy. She woke up in the middle of the night because of the key turning in her cell. She clasp the sheets closer to her body and look around for something to use as a weapon. She pick the chair up just as the cell doors open. It was the guard who was friendly to her. "Quick everyone is upstairs eating. I didn't know which ones you needed. So I bought a selection.

He opens a bag and turns it upside down. There were boxes of tampons, sanitary towels and painkillers. Isabelle saw couple puzzle books and a pencil. She saw sweets, crisp, cereal bars, milk cartons and box juices.

"Quickly hide them and don't get any ideas about using the pencil on people in here. They will kill you in an instant princess or no princess. They're getting desperate now. Put your dirty sanitary towel in the bag. You shouldn't have to live with that smell twenty-four seven. I'll make sure you get a proper bin tomorrow with a lid."

Before Isabelle could say thank you he was gone. She places everything under her bed and remake It so the comforter touches the floor. She says a prayer of thanksgiving and takes a painkiller.

The present day

"What did you just say?" Repeats Isabelle.

"You and I dated for couple months before you were kidnapped," explains Federico so Eliza didn't have to.

"I wouldn't agree to marry James if I was involved with you."

Freddie takes my hand and look at Eliza, "I'm sorry can we have some privacy."

"Of course," she leaves the room.

"We dated for three months before you were kidnapped. Only our friends and my parents knew about it. You told me you love me the last time I saw you."

"I don't remember any of this."

"The doctor thinks the chip was suppressing your memories and some fake ones were told to you. The hope is you start to remember things organically."

"And no one thought I had a right to know about what was happening to my body!"

"It's not that, it's just you had major surgery and they were concerned about what the truth could do."

"I don't care it's been six weeks Federico you should have told me the truth both you and my family."

"Yes we should but what if you regressed."

I sit up straight and stare at him, "What do you mean?"

"What if your altered stated never got better and all those lies they told you was something you believed."

"You and my family don't get to make that decision for me."

"We tested Noah to see if he was fitted with a chip too."

I point a finger at him, "Don't you dare use my brother against me." Then realisation hits me they could've hurt my brother. "The other people that was held with me that wasn't family. Did they have an implant too?"

He nods sadly, "One of the woman was experimented on. She's now reliving her trauma every single day. She remembers everything constantly on a loop with no breaks. Unfortunately they did some pretty messed up things to her. Your brother is paying the best specialist he can find to treat her."

Realisation hits me, "Chloe she had her lower right arm missing. No wonder she snapped that guard's neck like it was nothing."

"You remember that?"

"Of course why wouldn't I?"

"Because it's the first time you've mentioned it."

"I had a flash of memory as we were speaking."

"I'm going to let your specialist know you remembered something we need to leave."

"No I want to stay I want to have a nice meal with a friend. Make good memories so they offset the bad ones."

"I think we should really go."

Determined to make my voice heard I sit back down, "I spent months in a place where my voice was silenced. It's not going to happen again."

Feeling proud of her and wanting to protect her all at the same time Freddie sits back down. "We will stay and afterwards we will see the doctor."

I hold out my hand for him to shake, "It's a deal." I smooth my black flora print button front shirt dress.

"I'm glad to see you have found your voice again."

I look up and catch his eyes as they follow my hand as it adjust my dress. I knew he wasn't thinking anything sexual but I change the conversation into a different direction. "I wish I remember our courtship."

He stands in front of me and lifts my head, "Don't worry you will."

"Waiting is the problem. We should tell Eliza she can come back into her own room now."

I watch him open the door and call Eliza back into the room.