Chapter One

The neat square hole in the ground looked bottomless, devouring all light that entered in to the void. Thin skeletal hands creeped out over the edge and blindly felt their way along the wet grass, twitching and groping for anything in their path. The rain drizzled down and coated their grey skin in a shine.

Alexis blinked and glanced around, her bloodshot eyes darting between the pale faces in the crowd gathered around her. She had been staring unblinking at the scene before her without realising. Turning her gaze back to the hole in the ground the vision was suddenly gone, only to lay bare her own horror before her; two coffins slowly being lowered in to their grave, side by side. Together.

As in life, so in death.

The funeral passed in a grey discoloured haze, and Alexis stumbled through it, accepting hugs and condolences, playing the part of a grieving daughter. Her mind just felt numb though. Was she supposed to be a crying wreck? Screaming for her parents and the injustice that has been dealt to her? No one tells you how you're supposed to act.

"Alex, can you come here a sec?"

She looked up from the plate of half-eaten food she had been nibbling at and gave a weak smile. Standing up she placed the plate aside and followed her crew mate out in to the hallway. Leaning one shoulder against the wall she crossed her arms and sighed in relief at the quiet. The constant chatter in the living room had felt like wasps swarming around her mind.

Her crew mate, Jake, looked down at her in concern.

"You don't have to be here, you know," he murmured as he nodded towards the room behind her.

"Yes, I do," Alexis replied, giving him a stern look. "I'm their only child, and I'm an adult now. I'm expected to do all of this."

Jake pursed his lips and shook his head. "You don't need to torture yourself over this. You can't change the -"

"My parents were murdered, Jake. And the investigation team say they don't have any leads? Bullshit. They're either lying to me or can't do their job. I'm going to find answers even if I have to do it all myself. But, for today, I have to host this damn wake."

Alexis spun on her heels to go back in the room when Jake grabbed her arm. "Just don't burn yourself out, okay? I need my partner in crime back at work. They've put me with Derek and he's driving me nuts. Let me know if you need anything."

A smirk had started to rise on her lips at that. Derek was so old and boring it's a wonder Jake hadn't crashed the ambulance just to get out of it.

"I'll let you know. Thanks, Jake." With that she disappeared back in to her parent's living room and left her friend standing there, looking a little lost without her.

Alexis and Jake had been work partners for about a year now. He was a few years older and was her mentor in the ambulance service, forever teaching her on the job and keeping her entertained. He was sweet and helpful, and had helped to bring her out of her shell. Shyness was a weakness that She hated. She guessed he could probably do with a break from her, in all honesty.

Slipping unnoticed in to the room she began tidying up the empty plates and glasses, engaging in the standard boring conversations with family members she hasn't seen in years. How grown up you look Alexis! How's work? You do such a brave job. How interesting. Are you married with kids yet? No, why heavens not?! A catch like you! I'm so sorry to hear about your parents, terrible, terrible... is there any dessert?

She kicked everyone out by the time the sun had gone down, waving goodbye to old great aunt Maureen as she hobbled to her car. Finally shutting the door she leaned against it and closed her eyes, took ten deep breathes, then slowly opened them. The house was covered in darkness and the stillness soothed her.

Deciding that a bath was in order Alexis jogged up to the bathroom and turned the taps on. The steam quickly filled the small room and felt like a sauna, cleansing the grimey feeling that had been building up all day. Slipping in to the bath she immersed herself beneath the bubbles, and although she felt her muscles relax her mind was still whirring. It never seemed to stop.

The death of her parents weren't right, it wasn't natural... Something had killed them, but what? Nothing made sense.

Just then a creeping cold had begun to seep in to her bath water and she straightened up. Looking down at her legs the water was turning an opaque black, and all of a sudden a dark withered hand burst out of the water and grabbed her leg. She could feel the jagged nails tearing in to her skin! Gasping with shock she drew her legs back and was about to clamber out of the tub when the hallucination reverted and all she saw were the bath bubbles, upset by the ripples in the water.

Hallucinations. That's what these had to be. Brought on by the stress of her parents dying, surely. That made the most sense. Yet they felt so real... and something was holding her back from telling anyone about it. Running a hand down her leg she searched for any kind of proof that it wasn't real. Only... those scratches were new. Lifting her leg up she saw the 3 jagged bloody lines down her shin and dropped the leg back in the water.

What the hell is happening?