Chapter 18

"First, water filled my nasal cavity, burning like fire." Annabel's voice was soft, as if recounting someone else's story. "Then my lungs seized up. I wanted to breathe but could only inhale more water. The most terrifying part was..." She looked up and continued, "You can feel life draining away, and you're powerless to stop it." Kenneth noticed the unnatural twist of her left ring finger. It was a deformity from a broken bone that hadn't been treated in time. "I dreamed…" Annabel suddenly stood up and walked to the desk. From the bottom drawer, she pulled out a brown paper bag. "You should take a look at this." Kenneth took the heavy envelope and emptied its contents onto the table. Inside were a stack of photos, medical records, and a marriage certificate copy ruined by spilled coffee. "So this is your real name…" Kenneth's words trailed off, stunned by what he saw. In the photo, Annabel lay in a pool of blood. A deep gash marked her forehead, and the carpet beneath her wa