Prologue

"A stranger you were once. Then with a gentle look you took my hand".
-Laura Veronica Merodio

He wasn't sure what was going on. He hardly knew who he was. He didn't feel like moving, but knew he couldn't lay around forever. But why not? Not like he knew where to go or what to do with himself. He only knew his name, but nothing else.

Loki…that was all he knew. Nothing else. Rain started to fall, but still he didn't feel like moving. His back hurt and his mind pulsed, trying to remember everything, which proved impossible despite his best efforts. He didn't want to get up, but soon he'd have no choice. Struggling, he managed to get up but pain shot through him, surrounding him. But still he pushed on. He didn't know what for, perhaps it was instinct driving him. Just simple instinct to survive. Slowly but surely, he pressed on, the pain becoming all that he could feel. So bad it was it nearly numbed him.

Finally, somehow, whether it was fate or chance, he stumbled into an old wooden building. He somehow made it inside, uncaring it was unlocked. The only thing he focused on was getting out of the storm and being somewhere safe. Once inside, Loki took a place in a dark corner, his back sliding against the wall. Pain and a striking sadness filled him. Feeling both hopeless and helpless, he let out silent sobs.

He didn't know what to do. There was no one to turn to, no one he could remember. Everything just felt so different, strange and foreign. He looked up, trying to see through the darkness. There had to be a light somewhere, but he was far too hurt to get up and look. Then to make matters worse, he felt himself getting hungry. Brilliant…

Loki put his head back against the wall, feeling his vision blacken even more until finally, he was out like a light…

Mika Weis made her way out of her small country home. It'd stormed the night before, so the sun was covered with dark clouds, fitting her mood for the day. She was dressed in all black, with roses in her hands. It was the seventh anniversary of her father's death and like every year she went to the church where he was laid to rest.

She was twenty three now and lived alone. She hadn't known her mother, so her father had been the center of her world. When he died of cancer, she wasn't sure what to do at first. But she learned quickly that it was better to be alone. Mika didn't get visitors usually, as she was too far away from most of her other relatives whom she hadn't seen since the funeral and hardly communicated with them.

Mika had long dark brown hair that at a distance probably would've looked as if it was black. It curled at the ends and was somewhat frizzy. Her eyes were light blue and her face pale but not deathly so. Her face itself was soft for age, almost child-like. She was very slim, but strong as well. She wore simple black jeans, boots and a nice black dress shirt under a long coat. She wore a black scarf over her head and around her neck and shoulders. Sighing, Mika made her way down the old dirt road to the church.

It was a wretched building. It surprised her that it hadn't been completely destroyed yet from all the storms that had recently wracked the area. When she was a child, it had been all white with lovely painted glass windows and a strange red front door. Why it was painted red she never knew but dismissed the thought. Now it was nothing but a shadow of what it once was. The paint was chipping off for the most part. The windows were cracked or just flat out shattered, their shards on the floor inside or on the ground outside. The red door's paint was also chipped and it was practically hanging off its hinges.

Sighing, Mika made her way inside…

Loki stirred and woke from his pain wracked sleep. Groaning, he felt himself fall over on to the dusty old floor. He hissed in pain as his back and head throbbed. The little bits of light pouring through the cracks in the walls didn't help either. He closed his eyes briefly and then opened them again to try to adjust to his now lit surroundings. At least now he could see better.

He had taken refuge in some kind of strange old building. He saw rows of long, old mahogany seats that were covered in dust and cobwebs. There had been carpeting once here, but it was long gone now. At the other end of the room was what appeared to be some kind of altar or stage. All that he could see from the angle he was in were shards of glass on the floor shining in different colors under the light of an open window frame. It gave him some strange feeling, like there was some kind of invisible force that was pulling him toward the altar. But he couldn't describe it. Despite his pain, he couldn't ignore it and pushed himself toward it, though it took quite a painful effort.

Loki was on his knees there now, pain overtaking him again. He felt himself fall over once more, but this time he didn't bother to get up. He knew he wouldn't be able to, not this time, no matter his efforts. He closed his eyes, and expected to pass out. A faint sound suddenly caught his attention. Someone was coming in!

Cursing, Loki made his way back to his corner, crawling and trying to keep himself from crying out in agony. He hid among the rows of long seats and watched as a young woman walked in dressed in all black, red roses in her hands. He watched her curiously now, wondering what could possible bring her to this wretched, forgotten place. He didn't dare move, partly out of pain, but didn't want to risk exposing himself to her…

Mika made her way down the aisle to the stage altar. As a child, she remembered it'd been decorated with flowers and adorned with bejeweled crosses. Even though that was all long gone, the feeling this altar gave her didn't change. She kneeled and set the roses on the stage, unknowing that someone was watching her.

"Papa…seven years. That's how long it's been. I miss you, and I know you miss me too".

Who was she talking to? Did she know he was there? He didn't know her…did he? Was he supposed to? Shaking his head puzzled, Loki continued to listen.

"Aunt Abby tried to offer me a place in the city, but I feel like I can't leave here. It's like if I leave here, I'll leave you behind. Well, I know you'd follow me, but I can't really see myself in the city. I turned her down with that in mind. Hope you're not disappointed".

Loki didn't say anything. The girl was…interesting. Who was she? Who or what was she talking to? Questions plagued him but he kept them to himself and kept on, even slowing his breathing so it was quieter.

"It took me forever, but I finally got the roses to grow. You'd be surprised how many colors I got. And I got some lilies too. The garden's so pretty, dad. You'd love it. And don't worry, I got a vegetable garden too and of course you know I can hunt too".

She was a hunter…fascinating. He didn't expect that from one so small. And small indeed she was. Loki swore that if he could remember, she'd be the thinnest girl he'd ever seen. She wasn't tall either, maybe just a little over five feet. She looked delicate, but now was aware of the hunter in her too. For the first time, he ignored the pain and kept listening, bent on learning more about her.

"I just want you to be proud of me, daddy. I tried so hard, and now sometimes it feels like I don't really have a motivation. I mean…what am I living for? I wonder if you ever thought of things like that".

By this time, she was sitting on one of the stage's steps, looking down at the floor in thought. This was the first glimpse he got of the girl's face. There was something childish almost in it, from her slightly wide blue eyes to the paleness of her skin and just the general roundness of her face. There was something beautiful about her that he couldn't understand, much less explain. He became even more fascinated by her. She was a hunter, yet looked as if she wouldn't, couldn't, harm a living thing. Just something about her attracted him, or maybe it was because she was the first person he'd met since…well…whatever happened the night before. He crawled a little ways out to try to get a better look at the girl, but tried to remain hidden.

Suddenly the girl got up, startling Loki back behind the seats, trying to crawl back to the corner. She looked around, hearing something shuffling.

"Hello?"

Loki cursed under his breath. He knew it'd be stupid to respond, but then again…maybe she could help him. He tried to think of what to say but he came up blank. He heard the girl's footsteps moving around, she was looking for him. Loki stayed still now, trying to keep calm. Hopefully she'd be able to help him. When he was back in the corner, she saw him.

He was strange, no one she'd ever met before. His hair was dark as a raven's wing, and somewhat ruffled, like maybe it'd been straightened at one point but not so much now. He was paler than her, almost dead seeming but not completely. Dark blue eyes watched her every movement as she looked him over. He wore strange black and emerald green clothes, so she knew he was definitely not from around here. Shaking slightly, Mika kneeled down, getting a better look at him. Loki for his part stayed still, but also trembled every now and then. He wasn't afraid, but the pain in his back was returning, and he was still hungry. The pain in his eyes didn't go unnoticed by Mika.

"Are…are you okay?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
"Everything…everything hurts. But I'll be fine".
"What happened?"
"I don't…I don't remember".
"What's your name?"
"Yours first".
"I'm Mika"

He hesitated a little, but the look of concern in her face answered his question from before. She wanted to help him.

"Loki".
"No way".
"Yes".
The girl, Mika, smiled. "After the god of tricksters and thieves. I'm gonna have to keep an eye on you".
"And somehow, I wouldn't mind that".

Mika laughed a little and Loki felt a slight warmth course through him. He wanted to laugh with her, but the pain in his back made him decide against it.

"Can you stand?" Mika asked, concerned again.
"Not without pain".
"C'mon" she held out a hand to him as she stood, "You can stay with me I guess. I'm kinda curious about you".

Once again Loki hesitated, but only because of the pain he knew would run all over his spine again. Carefully he took her hand and Mika pulled him to his feet. He hissed in pain and almost fell over. Thankfully Mika softened his fall and he landed on the floor with just a soft thud, but in a pretty awkward position. He'd pulled the girl down with him and she was laying on top of him. Blushing slightly she got off of her strange companion and dusted off her clothes.

"Well…it's clear I'm probably not gonna be able to get you home unless I go get the car…But I really don wanna leave you here by yourself".
"It's alright, just do what you have to do. Not like I'm going anywhere".
"You sure?"
"Yes, I'll be fine".
Mika nodded. "Okay, I'll be right back, I promise. Don't go anywhere"
"I don't plan to".

With that, Mika hurried out, leaving him alone in the church to contemplate what was going to happen to him next.