Chapter One

"Don't give up Avy". Said Evan.

"I haven't given up, why are you telling me this?" I replied, confused at his words.

He smiled his golden smile that melted my heart even further.

"Trust me".

Then he disappeared. But I continued to stare at the spot where he was just standing. There he went, just like always; leaving me here to defend myself. Go on without him.

At this thought, tears started to stream down my face. But it wasn't sadness that brought this overflow; it was anger. Anger that he always left me here, trying to figure out his riddles. Never once did he say that he missed me, wished that he could be with me, or more importantly, that he loved me.

I shook my head, and turned away. The faster I walked, the angrier I got.

'Don't give up'…

I repeated his words over and over. I hadn't given up. Why would he say such a thing? Why wouldn't he explain his words, instead of him telling me to 'trust him'?He was like the old wise man on the hill. Sure, his words were encouraging, but they had no true meaning.

I started to run. Away from his words, away from the things he hadn't said, and away from my heart. He could have it all. I didn't need them, any of them.

My heart broke long ago; what good was it now? Something that took up space? Maybe I'd come back for it someday, but for now, it could stay with him…

I kept re-playing that dream in my head. I couldn't stop thinking about it. Lately, that was the only dream I had, ever since the incident at the graveyard.

I quickly tried to erase that from my mind. It wasn't something I wanted to think about. I was already reminded of it every time I looked in the mirror. If I ever came across that blasted Gama Lini again, I'd give him an equal reminder.

My fingers absently traced over my scar. I felt ugly; marked by some unknown evil. No matter how handsome he may be, he needed a little lesson in manners.

I thought of all the things I could do to him. Strap him to a pole in a lightning storm, have Rain chew off his leg, bury him alive. I knew none of these things would work, considering he was a ghost, but just the thought of pay-back was soothing.

I tapped my pencil on my desk impatiently. I wanted so much for the bell to ring; to be rid of this horrid class for another weekend.

As I looked up Envey caught my attention.

She gave me the what's wrong? look.

I just shook my head and looked back down at my desk. I could only imagine what questions my twin sister had in store for me after class. The thought sent shivers down my spine. I didn't like discussing my dream to anyone, not even myself. I knew what people would think. They would think I was some psycho, driven crazy by the death of my lost soul mate. That would be an interesting discussion. I would probably end up committed.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the bell rang. Everyone but me rushed out the door. I slowly put my books into my bag. Though I was happy that school was out for the weekend, I wasn't happy enough to celebrate.

As I made my way to the door, my teacher, Mr. Kenton, called me over. Rolling my eyes, I turned back around to his desk.

"Yes?" I asked quietly.

"AJ, I've noticed a difference in you the past week, is everything alright?" He replied, studying my expressions closely.

I decided to ply dumb. "I don't know what you mean".

He leaned against his desk and folded his hands together.

"AJ", he said sternly. "You can trust me".

There was the trust me thing again. It seemed like a regular comment anymore. It was like people had to tell me to trust them, instead of just expecting me to.

"There is nothing wrong". My voice sounded dead, even to me.

He seemed to understand that what was troubling me wasn't something I was willingly going to share.

"Alright". He said finally, giving in.

I took that as a dismissal, weather he meant it to be or not. I exited the classroom, and made my way down the crowded hallway. I didn't want to talk about it. Why couldn't people just leave me alone, and let me rot in my own misery? I knew the reason was because they cared about me, but I wasn't ready to be reasonable at the moment.

When I reached my locker I easily managed the lock, and opened the door. I grabbed my coat, took out the unneeded books out of my bag, and slammed the door shut. I was surprised it still shut, from all the abuse it had suffered though for the last week of me slamming it.

I then set back down the hallway to the school doors. I angrily opened the door and stepped outside. I didn't bother to notice Britney Baxter, my preppie enemy from day one, glare at me as I walked past her and her drones.

All I wanted right now was to be alone and let my emotions drown me. Luckily I was able to avoid Envey… for the moment.

I didn't know where to go, so I just let my feet carry me.

As I walked I put my coat on and put my hands inside the pockets to protect them from the bitter cold. The wind only made the temperature worse. It blew my long whit hair into my face, stung my cheeks, and made me shiver despite my coat.

As I passed by a cluster of stores, I avoided my reflection in their shinny windows. I didn't want to see my scar. It was like I was branded. as if I neede another reason to be considered a freak.

I put my hood up, not only to cover my frozen ears, but to hide my face as well. Ever since Gama did this to me I've felt like nothing but a prisoner; trapped by my own unwanted emotions.

At least Zora was dead, cursed by Evan's death. That was the only comforting thought. It was the only good outcome of it all.

After an hour of walking I ended up in the park.

I sat on an empty bench, in the middle of the vacant paradise. All I wanted was for my thoughts to quiet enough to let me think straight, If this kept up, I would go mad.

I stared at the ground. If people were to walk by they probably wouldn't even notice me, they would think I was a statue.

But was I more zombie than a statue, a dead a creature that was still alive? A creature with no feeling, expressions, or thoughts; an empty shell? Was that the type of creature I had become?

'No'. I thought to myself. 'I am a ghost'.

Anymore it seemed like every topic I could possibly think of, ended up becoming a bad thing in some small way or another.

I breathed out heavily. If only I could turn my brain off. Course that was my brothers talent, not mine. I laughed at this thought. Humor. That was the last thing I expected right now.

I laid length wise on he bench, tucking my hands behind my head; my legs dangling off the end. I stared at the cold, gray sky.

I thought about Evan. Oh, how much I missed him. I wished I could hug him and never let go, and he would say that he loved me.

But that was only a fantasy. A fairytale gone horribly wrong.

I sighed. I hated my life right now. More myself than my life, in all honesty.

I remember Zora saying in the woods that she knew where Evan was buried. How had she known that, and not me? Sure, I would have never guessed he would have ended up in the town I moved to, where my parents and family had grown up, that was just pure irony if I had ever seen it. Too ironic. Like fate…

…or was it planned?

It was probably just a coincidence. Evan never really told me a lot about his parents. He said he didn't remember them much. Just that they had died when he was two, and that he had gone off to live with his grandmother. He never told me how they died, and I wasn't bold enough to ask.

As I lay there, swimming in my lost memories, a small flake of white puff landed on my nose. I grumbled as I sat up. Now I would have to go home and endure another 20 question count down. As I got to my feet and started walking in the direction I thought my house was in, I realized I had gone into a part of the park I wasn't familiar to. I decided to go back the way I had come. More little white puffs started to fall.

As I looked around, I saw a playground that I hadn't noticed before. The swings swung back and forth by themselves, the merry-go-round squeaked as it spun slightly. And as I glanced back to the swings, I noticed a black figure with two purple eyes staring back at me.

I gasped and stepped back. Accidentally, I stepped onto a patch of ice, and fell onto my back. I sat up as quickly as I could and looked at the swings. But the black figure was gone.

I raised my hand up to my chest. My heart threatened to pound itself right out. I slowly got back onto my feet, as I continued to stare at the swings.

Either I had officially gone mad, or my fears were literally stalking me.

Finally got this posted! Well, re-posted I should say. For those who don't know this, there is a first story to this. (explains why there is a '2' in the title) I will say now that, that story isn't very good. This one is much better. But It'll give you the basic Idea of what is going on. But anyway, leave a review. No flames. Please and Thank you!