Chapter One

I smiled and waved at my friend as she turned to another block. I gripped my book bag and started running fast like there was nothing in this world that could stop me. I didn't know why my body felt like the wind itself. I never knew why I could understand five languages (so far) knowing that I couldn't remember being taught or spoken such tongues. I didn't know why I could solve such complicated problems in a college calculus book like it was basic addition or subtraction. I didn't know why I can memorize a lot of things just by looking at it but I think I may have a photographic memory. Strangely, I know a lot of things but I don't know myself.

The old woman who took care of me named me, Shane. She lives in a humble two story house and she let me stay with her, saying that she was lonely and in need of somebody's company. I may have refused, everything in my mind screamed that I need to get away, to keep moving but I since I couldn't remember anything I decided to stay. I knew that in the back of my mind, I was supposed to find something, to find what exactly?

I now live in a small town somewhere in Massachusetts. I turned and passed through a line of shops, and some restaurants. I continued running, loving the feeling of the burn in my legs and pricking pain my lungs. I breathed in, the smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the air and I smiled as I neared the bakery. The door of the shop opened and a blonde guy came out, wearing an apron and carrying a pie or tart. I slowed down and jogged towards him.

"Good afternoon, Shane!" he smiled at me, revealing his teeth reinforced with braces. His blue eyes twinkled as I stopped in front of him, panting.

"Hey!" I managed to say to in acknowledgement. I tucked my black hair behind my ears and asked, "What's that?"

"Apple pie, this is my first try making it." He chuckled and puffed proudly as he set it on the window. Most guys would blush and deny it but not Buck. "How's your grandma?"

"She's still the same, her mood changes like the wind." I waved my hand in emphasis and he laughed and his Adam's apple moving up and down. I knew Buck ever since I woke up in this place, he was the one who saw me first and he brought me to Grandma Willow. He smelled like bread, his muscled arm was sweaty and almost glistening in the afternoon sun. He was seven years older than me and he acted like my brother or maybe he's just taking care of me like a sister.

"Tell her I'll…" I wasn't able to hear him because in the corner of my eye, I saw a man on the bench reading a newspaper with a cup of Starbucks beside him. I saw him five times today, always in my peripheral vision. Is he following me?

He was always part of the background, so common that you hardly see him that you wouldn't give him a second glance. There were slight changes in his face like he suddenly grew a beard, he changed his coat, and he took off his hat and others I didn't have the time to point out since my mind grew blank and summed it all. I have a stalker.

"Are you okay?" Buck asked, worry reflected in his blue eyes. "You were zoning out. Are you remembering something?"

"N-No. I better go." I waved goodbye and ran. This time determined to lose the guy.

The houses and residences blurred as I passed them, never stopping. I glanced over my shoulder, there was no one following me. I mentally sighed in relief, I slowed down and turned to an alley. Maybe it was just me. Maybe that man wasn't really following me. Maybe it was just a coincidence because after all, this is just a small town.

But before I could really convince myself that I was just paranoid, a gloved hand clamped on my mouth and pulled me in a little dark corner. I stopped breathing immediately, and gripped at the man's arm, kicked his foot off and flipping him mid-air. I wasn't even able to ask myself how I was able to do that when another masked guy's leg came flying towards my head. I didn't have time to duck, I raised my book bag to dodge the kick barely but the force vibrated all over my body and it made the adrenaline suddenly rushing to my every limb.

It was too dark for me to recognize their faces, but there was enough light for me to see their moves. No matter how you look at it, I was outnumbered. I evaded another punch but the man whom I flipped suddenly grabbed my leg, keeping me in place. I kicked and stomped my foot while maneuvering and evading as the other guy attacks, I kicked the lying man's face hard and I heard him groan. I would have apologized but I knew it was stupid. I could have yelled but something in my mind told me to shut up.

I don't understand, I feel like I've been doing these things ever since I was born. My movements were so smooth and natural like I've been practicing my entire life. But I didn't have time to think about myself. At least not right now.

The man wearing a mask took something from his pocket, a little square thing that I recognized as a stun gun when I saw it spark. I gulped and eyed him, careful of his movements. When he moved closer, I took a step backward; keeping my distance with him constant. I heard a sound behind me and realized that the man I kicked in the face probably regained his footing and might will attack me in any second. I really wished I have eyes in the back of my head. And I heard something zap, the sound of electricity. Great, so both of them had stun guns.

I wondered, why use those weapons now and not earlier when they grabbed me? It would have been easier if they just used it when I didn't see the coming. It doesn't make sense.

There was a swift movement behind me, I temporarily left my attention from the masked guy's face and turned fast to see the man with a bleeding nose lunge his charged weapon forward. I grabbed the man's outstretched arm, using his strong momentum to twist his arm, he curled adjusting his body to avoid his arm from breaking and I flipped him. Again. I heard the air in the man's lungs get knocked out of his body as Ms. Gravity remembered to do her job. I planted a foot on the man's chest hard and twisted his arm in an awkward angle and he screamed and let go of the stun gun.

And I realized, the masked man was still there behind me and I almost forgot. I whipped my attention directly to where the masked man was but I saw a redheaded girl wearing a dark coat and hugging the man with one arm. I cannot see her other arm since her back saw onto me. And then I heard the sickening sound of cracking electricity. The masked man dropped on the ground with a big thud and dust lifted into the air. The girl turned to me; her face covered with big dark sunglasses, her skin slightly tan or is cappuccino the right term? She dropped the stun gun to the ground as if the thing was dirty.

She smiled and slid the round sunglasses on the top of her head, revealing her caramel-colored eyes. "Hey, Cam, it's been awhile…" there was something in her eyes; relief and pain. But I don't understand.

I glanced back at the masked man who attacked me and back to her. I couldn't understand a thing, did I just fight using martial arts against two adult men? My throat was dry and I released a deep sigh that I didn't I was holding.

"Who are you?" I managed to croak out.

A/N: Wow. I never thought I'd finish the first chapter this short. But well, can't spoil the cliffy here, can i? Tell me, what do you think?