Chapter 1 THE DAY I DIED

ELARA

She is dead. I killed her, my opponent, with a tennis racket and a single ball.

I watched as the paramedics finished loading the stretcher, and Zoey’s body, now zipped inside a black body bag, was lifted.

I didn’t need anyone to tell me this was an international disaster. Zoey was her country’s youngest tennis champion.

“Miss Vance, hands where I can see them. Step forward.” The officer suddenly called out.

My fingers tightened around my tennis racket. Hours ago, they worshipped me, the golden girl of tennis, but now it was different.

Just last night, I was accused of drowning my coach. Today, I played my final match with the police watching me like a criminal, but someone still died.

I stared at my racket. I had swung the ball too fast, and it had hit her right in the eyes.

My hands wouldn’t stop trembling. I couldn’t even hold the racket without it slipping, while I expected my team and managers to run towards me, but there was no one; everyone I knew had suddenly disappeared.

“Elara Vance, you are under arrest on suspicion of the murder of Zoey Halt and Rivers Gig, and for possession of illicit drugs and the unlawful intake of narcotics. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand these rights as I have read them to you?” I nodded my head calmly, trying to process everything going on as she handcuffed me.

The word ‘murder’ and my name in the same sentence didn’t feel real. I just wished someone would tell me this wasn't real, but it was.

“Aiden… I want to see Aiden.” I begged the officers desperately.

Something is not right, and I believed Aiden could fix this.

“El…” His familiar voice called most calmly ever, and I heaved a sigh of relief.

“You came…” I sobbed, taking steps towards him, but he retreated.

“Aiden?” I breathed. Relieved, he was still with me.

“I didn’t do it, it was an accident, I swear, I’m not on drugs,” I whispered.

He said nothing. His eyes were icy.

“Aiden, please say something, what about our wedding, our plans?” I cried, looking at the face of the man I had fallen for. He was the man I built my future and life around, the man I always dreamt of.

“El, I'm done. I hope,” he said quietly, “our paths never cross again. Not in this life or the next.”

“No…”

Before I could react more, there was a sudden jolt, and I fully opened my eyes. I hissed, staring around the room. The doctors were still trying to flush the drugs out of my system.

I was tired of seeing Zoey’s and Rivers' bodies whenever I closed my eyes. The events of the last 24 hours kept haunting me and playing in my head.

The door suddenly creaked open, and Officer Harkin leaned in with a blank expression.

“Miss Vance, an urgent press meeting is being held in the hospital's lounge, and your sponsors are here. The press, too. They’re requesting…” he paused,

“…an official statement. Are you ready to face them?” I stared at him and at the door. My eyes pleaded, just like he knew what I wanted, he responded.

“Mr Aiden hasn’t come around, but I believe you would see him at the press meeting,” Harkins consoled.

But, I had already made excuses for Aiden's earlier outbursts; he was overwhelmed, and anyone would do that. I would make this right. My eyes lit up.

“Ivy, she was a witness. Is she willing to comply now? I didn’t kill Rivers. He drowned. Someone else was in the pool with us; he must be the killer.” I said without catching my breath, but Harkin's face said something else.

“I am sorry, Vance.”

“Ivy has testified to the press, and the CCTV video footage of the incident backs her claims. The world fell silent. I tried coming to terms with what I heard, but couldn't.

Ivy would never hurt or betray me, I knew that for sure.

“A large amount of the new Narcotic drug, Trenamine, was found in your system. We believe you must have overdosed on it last night and gone for a swim, and when Rivers tried saving you, you harmed him.” A shiver ran through my spine. I looked at the officer, who now had his doubts.

I couldn’t understand why Ivy, the girl I took in as a sister, would do this to me.

She was the mastermind behind the arranged surprise pool party last night. Was it an intentional act? Was the party a setup? But why? These are questions I couldn't answer till I confronted her.

“The media is waiting. I’d escort you out.” I nodded, and he unlocked the cuffs.

As we walked through the long white hallway, my legs felt numb. I couldn’t bear facing Aiden or the world.

The room was packed with reporters, attorneys and microphones. And the second the doors opened, camera flashes exploded in my face. I spotted my sponsors and bent my head; even the president was present. I was the star of the nation, but now, I’ve only brought disgrace, my name across every headline.

I swallowed hard.

Yesterday, I was set to be the world’s number 1 women's tennis player and sign the biggest brand renewal in women’s tennis history. But now I was standing in front of the world wearing an oversized grey sweatshirt as a murderer and a junkie.

A host from the International Tennis League sat at the centre, acting as moderator.

“Elara Vance,” he began, voice sharp but steady, “Thank you for agreeing to speak to us. The world is watching.”

I looked at the cameras and Aiden’s empty seat and whispered.

“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

Hands were in the air, the world was watching me. I was now a global news.

I continued, “I’ve never used drugs; I’m being framed.” I whispered again.

“By who exactly?” The sarcastic man asked and continued.

“A video footage was released this morning, where you strangled your coach, Mr Rivers, under the influence of drugs, of course.” I swallowed hard.

“You were released as the nation’s star to play your final match, but you killed the rival’s national athlete on purpose.

“I didn’t do that.” I trembled.

“I’m not a junkie.” I raised my head to look at Ivy, but was immediately shunned.

“You have traumatised Ivy, our nation’s rising star, enough by making her watch you kill the coach, or do you want to also kill her?”

“I am not a murderer,” I yelled as I burst into tears, the reporters just wrote furiously. At that moment, I wanted to fall and wake up from this terrible experience. I never thought of a day like this. Suddenly, a familiar voice spoke.

“You are a murderer El, you just can’t remember.

“I saw you kill the coach.” The cold voice continued. Whispers filled the room. The ladies gasped and talked excitedly.

Aiden.

He walked towards me, looking as cold as ever. The flashes didn’t stop. I stared at the same man who hated public appearances and the camera, standing before the world to tarnish me.

“Elara has always been into drugs; that is why I called off our relationship.” Liar… I was tempted to scream, but I was already weak, and he continued.

“I have tried everything possible to help her, but a pig would always be dirty, despite where she is placed.”

I looked at the only man whom I have loved, and knew that my life had been a lie.

It dawned on me that I was only wated for my fame, and now I have given it to them, it was time to discard me.

“The footage is tampered with.” I cried, but the cops wouldn't listen, and led me out of the room, which was filled with murmurs.

I turned for one last glance at Aiden, but my heart splintered as I saw him kiss Mara deeply, love evident in their eyes.

I was just a thing they used and I've been discarded now.

Our eyes locked for a brief, frozen moment before he quickly looked away, while Mara threw her head back and laughed, as if the world had finally bent to her will.

How could I not see it? She was always in his life; they were childhood friends and business partners. How was I blind to the obvious truth?

I didn’t want to see more of that, so I ran out. Harkins screamed my name and begged me to stop.

But I didn't, I sprinted past the journalists and police barricades. I believed it was the drug, strong in my system that energised me to run fast.

I stumbled across the main road. Tires screeching.

“Elara, No.” Aiden suddenly called out, in hot pursuit, and I stopped just for a second, but that second cost me my life.

The car hit me, and my body was lifted off the ground and then slammed back down. My ears and face were immediately filled with blood as I lay staring at the sky.

Crowds formed, and I couldn’t feel my lungs. I couldn’t even blink as the taste of iron filled my mouth.

Before the police officer could get to me, there was another headlight. It was too fast, I couldn’t do anything as I lay motionless.

The car didn’t stop as it struck me, and suddenly the world went silent.