Chapter 1: Beginning

There are only a few selected people who know about my secret. I try to keep it as secret as possible, but; sometimes it's hard. I had dreams about my secret, the first time my secret revealed itself was when I was 6, I told my parents about my dream when I was little, but; they told me that I had an over active imagination and that it was only a dream. But, I knew in my mind that it was real some how and that maybe one day it would come true. But; it never came back until I turn 15. I started seeing this dream every night until my 16th birthday. Than it became only a memory, until 2nd hour that was…

"AH!"

"OH, MY GOD! Kasumi, are you okay?!" Abby asked

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Well, you didn't sound so fine." Danielle said worried

"I'm cool, must be from breakfast."

"Yea, the food here is horrible." Said Abby smiling,

"Now, let's get to 2nd hour before Ms. Johnson get on us again for being late." I said. Wow where did that come from? I thought, It felt like someone stabbed me in the stomach, I hope it don't come back. I thought it was from the crappy food I ate that morning, but then it came back during 2nd hour…

"AHH!" I screamed

"Kasumi!" Abby yelled.

I fell out of my chair; Ms. Johnson came next to me and started to rub my back. Why is this happening to me and not some one else? Why me? Why now? Why ever? Why?!

"AH! MY STOMACH!" I yelled

"Wow, what a drama queen." Lindsey said.

Lindsey is the world's biggest snob and is always trying to get me. My secret almost came out because of her and her attitude. I can't stand her! The only reason to why she acts so mean towards me is because her boyfriend was interested in me and dumped her once to go out with me, but, I turned him down. Then he apologized to Lindsey and now they're dating, but he still has interest in me…

"She not playing around, Lindsey!" Danielle screamed

"I called the office Ms. Johnson" said Abby

"There's no need for that… I'm fine." I said with a smile.

"Are you sure? Maybe you should go to the office for safe measure anyway." Ms. Johnson replied "No, I'm fine. All I need is some water." I said.

"Okay, go right ahead."

"Thank you." This is weird, I thought, what's going on with me? "I need to clear my head. Maybe sitting in the bathroom for a while will help me." I said aloud, as I walked to the bathroom I didn't know what was going on with me, but I was in for a big surprise. When I finally got to the bathroom, I let the water run as I struggled to collect my thoughts. Man, what is going on? I've never felt like this before? Why is this happening to me?As Isplashed the water on my face I had to look at myself. When I saw my reflection in the mirror I screamed.

I had icy-blue eyes, almost white. "My eyes were never this color before!" I said to myself "What is going on with me?! Why is this happening to me?!" I splashed more water on my face and prayed that it was all in my head, but the more water I splashed in my face the more it seemed liked my eyes were not going back to their normal color. "Okay, Kasumi get a grip on yourself, girl. You're just seeing things. Yea, that's it your just seeing things."

RRINGG!

"Oh, man! I missed almost half of second hour! Now, I'm going to be late for third! Kasumi get yourself together!"

As I ran back to my second hour I forgot about my eyes and how they looked, but then I saw my hand. My nails grew like claws! They were long and sharp… Oh, man I need to clip my nails bad! I didn't think they were that long! Maybe Danielle has her nail clippers with her today?

When I left the class room the bell rang. I had to hurry to my next class and that just so happened to be down stairs. I didn't know what all weird changes were happening to me and my parents surely aren't going find out! As I entered, into third Mr. David caught me.

"Well, Kasumi. It's a pleasure that you decided to come to class late, today." Mr. David Said

"Uh, well you see Mr. David I was…"

"She was in the bathroom, Mr. David." Abby explained

"Well, thank you Abby but I think Kasumi can talk for herself."

"But she's right, Mr. David I was in the Bathroom and I don't feel so good today."

"Okay then you can rest for the rest of the day in my class room if you'd like, I'll tell your other teachers."

"Thank you, Mr. David?"

"And Kasumi…"

"Yes?"

"I never knew you wore contacts?"

"I don't, why?"

"Oh, no reason. I'd like to talk to you after school then, if you don't mind."

"Okay, Mr. David?" I wonder what I did wrong, I mean I don't wear contacts or maybe he was talking about my eyes maybe he noticed that they're not their original color! Oh no! What if he calls my parents?! Man, could this day get any worst!?

At the end of the day Mr. David did call my parents and he told them that I would be with him until 4:30pm for tutoring. "Yes, Kasumi is with me and you don't have to worry about a thing… Yes, I understand okay, I'll drop her off at 4:30… Okay, nice talking to you, too. Bye."

I was a little worried about what Mr. David had in plan for me and what he was going to do?

"Now, Kasumi this maybe hard for you, but; I think I can help you everyday after school if you let me?"

What's he talking about?

"Now you're probably wondering, what am I talking about, right?"

"Well, duh!"

"You were adopted when you were 4, right?"

"Yeah, but how did you know that?" Mr. David was acting weird! And how did he know I was adopted at 4!

"Well, because I work part time at the hospital. So, I know these things."

"You do, but why?"

"A teacher's salary isn't a good pay. But hey, at least you get to put food in the house every week."

"So, why did you look me up in the hospital records? I wasn't even born here!"

"I know, but; you see your medical records were transferred here after you were adopted."

"Oh, I see you must work up in the front, right."

"Well, sometimes when I have nothing better to do."

"So, what do you do at the hospital?"

"Okay, enough about me. Tell me what's been going on with your body, lately?"

"Oh, well I've been having these weird cramps, you know. Not the normal ones either."

"I see. Let me look at your eyes, real quick." "Why? You know this is weird, right?"

"I know but they don't look the same as they do in this picture."

"Where'd you get that?"

"None of your business, now…"

"Whoa, wait you have a random picture of me? Why? Do you…" I asked

"Do I what?" he said clueless

"You know…"

"What… WHOA! Oh, heavens no! You don't remember when I took your picture for the school newspaper?"

"Oh, yeah! Miss Hampton put my poem in the school paper."

"Anyways now that that's settled, look at me." As Mr. David was looking at my eyes he notices something was wrong with me and that my body was changing.

"So, when did you notice the color change?" Mr. David said, as he took out a notepad and started writing little hand notes, I noticed he had the same birthmark as me but in a different spot.

"Kasumi, is their something wrong?"

"Oh, uh... no."

"Can you answer the question for me?"

"During Ms. Johnson's class."

"So this morning, right?"

"You could say, why?"

"Oh, no reason. Now come on."

"Why? Where are we going?"

"I have to run a few errands, then I'm taking you home."

"But, what about."

"I'll tell you tomorrow."

"When?"

"Whenever. Now I bet you're hungry?" Mr. David said smiling, he was right. I was hungry, and I did miss lunch.

"Yea." I said holding my stomach.

"Well, let's go!" he said smiling.

As Mr. D drove me home, my hand started to shake a little but I didn't worry too much. It's soon stopped, but then it got cold. Real cold like my hands were in snow, but there was no snow it was April and pretty warm, too.

"Are you cold?" Mr. D asked

"Huh, uh… no." I replied, as Mr. D drove up to my house he noticed how quiet I was.

He didn't even bother to ask me why, well I didn't really want him to ask me anymore question about what's been going on with me anyway. But, I still had a question for him.

"Well, here we are."

"Thank you, Mr. D"

"Oh, Kasumi…" He said, before I got out the car.

"Don't tell your parents just yet… about your little problem."

"Okay, but thanks anyway for the ride." Like I was going to tell my parents!

"You're welcome."

As Mr. D was leaving my step-mom greeted me at the door.

"So…"

"So… what?" I replied,

"So, why did you stay after?"

"It's none of your business why I stayed after!"

My step-mom is pure evil; all she ever does is get on my case about the stupidest stuff ever. Now, you're probably wondering what happen to my mom, the women who adopted me. Well she died of a long term ailment, she was sick for 2 years. A year after her death my dad started dating again. Which really got me when I was little, but why did he have to marry that evil witch!? When I reached my room I slammed the door, my step-mom was mad, but; I could care less about her.

I sat in my room for about an hour before thinking of calling my friends.

"Should I call them? And tell them what Mr. D wanted from me?" I said aloud.

"No, maybe I shouldn't." I just sat their until my dad came into the room.

"Ever heard of knocking, before?!"

"I don't have to knock inside my own house. So you're mom told me—"

"SHE'S NOT MY MOM!" I yelled at him,

"Kasumi, be nice!" he said

"I don't care about her and I never will!"

"Kasumi, I don't like your tone!" he said angrily.

"You can leave if you don't like my tone!" pointing to the door.

"Fine, you're grounded then. Don't even think about asking to go to the movies this Friday, young lady."

I was still pointing to the door; I don't care about going to the movies looking the way I do. I don't even want to leave my room, for the rest of my life! I walked to the window and opened it. I need some air, I need to get out. As I was looking out my window to the forest like surrounding it felt as if they were calling me, as if I needed to relax and I guess the only way I'm going to let some steam out was to take a quick walk.

I went out the window instead of using the door, then I remembered mom's wall garden, she used a ladder like plant holder. I'm glad my dad didn't let my step-mom take it down! I guess he still wanted a little of my mom in the house or around it at least. As I climbed down my foot slipped on the wet plant holder and I fell. Not on my back but on my feet instead, which was really weird. I didn't mind as long as I wasn't on the ground trying to explain to my dad what happened.

The closer I got to the forest like area the more empowering it was to climb a tree or pounce on something. I climbed from tree to tree not caring how far I went.

"Man, I needed that… freedom!"

"I've been waiting for you, Kasumi." A mysterious voice said from behind.

When I turned around the shadow of a tall and very muscular man was standing there.

"How do you know my name?" I asked him, he didn't reply.

"So, what brings you out here?"

"Why do you want to know?" I asked.

He jumped to another tree, "Come on, you can tell your old man"

"Old man?"

"Yeah, your father."

"Father? But you can't he's…"

"Dead? Yeah, that's what your father said about me and your mother, right?"

"Yeah, but how do you know that's what they said?" I said curiously, he jumped off the tree and looked up at me.

"Aren't you coming?" he said. I didn't know how to respond.

"Well, suit yourself." He said not interested then he began to walk away,

"Wait!" I yelled.

"For what?" he replied,

"I want to know more about you and my real mom." As I slowly came down from the tree he looked at me. "Is their something wrong?" I said.

"Huh… oh, no! You just remind me a lot of your mother, that's all."

"Oh, so I look like her?"

"A little…" Then he placed his arm around me, but it didn't seem weird at all. It was actually comfortable. As we continue to walk in the forest like area, I hadn't realized what time it was, until the sun came up, "Oh, crap sunrise already! I only wanted to be gone for at least an hour!"

"Before you go…" the man reached into his kimono, he pulled out a necklace. "I want you to have this, it once belonged to your mother when she was still alive."

"Uh, thank you." I said, unsure of what was going on,

"Run along. You have to get back home!" He said.

When I got to my bedroom window I thought I was going to see my dad standing there waiting for me, but he wasn't. Oh, well I thought.

"I need to get ready for school". I yawned "But I'm so tired".

I took a quick shower and got dress to go down stairs. Both my dad and my step mom were down there. I didn't say I word, I grabbed an insulator and fill it with coffee and headed to the door. As I waited for Abby to pull up. I started to think.

Maybe he wanted to say that he was my dad to make me feel comfortable around him… I pulled the necklace out… or maybe he really was my dad, but; I wonder why he gave me my mother's necklace?

A car horn blares, I looked up in confusion.

"Come on Kasumi you just going to sit there all day or go to school?!"

"Oh, my bad!" I ran to the car wondering what was going to happen at school today, I hope not much.

"Cute necklace, where you get it from?"

"Oh, uh… it belonged to my mom."

By the time we reached the school I started to feel sick again.

"What's wrong?" Danielle asked,

"Nothing just hungry that's all. I didn't eat anything when I left the house, didn't have the time." I replied.

"Good morning, Kasumi!" a deep voice said.

"Huh…oh, hey Mr. D!"

"That's weird." Danielle said.

"What's weird?" I replied,

"Why did Mr. D call you out like that?" she said confused,

"Mr. D is "tutoring" me after school that's all."

"Oh!" They both said.

I didn't want to tell them the real reason to why Mr. D and I are closer.

I've been thinking of telling them what had happened last night, but I didn't want them to ask question like, "What did he look like?", or… "What's his name?", or maybe…, "How tall is he?!"… I don't care about what they think of my dad, but I still don't think he's my dad! So, I guess I'll keep this to myself. For the rest of the day my stomach didn't give me any problems at all which was surprising to me.

"Are you okay, Kasumi?" Abby asked.

"Huh… oh, uh… yeah! What made you think their was something wrong with me?" I said.

"Oh, no reason. It's just that you were zoned out all day, but anyway are you riding home with me and Abby?"

"Uh, no I have to meet Mr. D in the front of the school."

"Why? What are you and him doing?" she asked,

"Nothing. It's just that he is tutoring me and we have to go to his house because his room is being cleaned."

"Oh, well call us when you're done." she said. "Bye, Kasumi..."

"See you tomorrow!" they said.

As they drove off, I walked back into the building to meet Mr. D…

I need to tell him who I met last night and what he gave me as well.