Who am I?
It's asked everyday, but I'll never have an answer.
I've never known who I was, not since that day. The day they found me lying there, amidst the rubble. What used to be my part time job. Now my reason for not living as much as I should have. My excuse for throwing my life away.
They never found the bodies of my co workers, they only found me. I, myself searched the rubble for them, because my brother was amongst them, but it was futile. They tried to ask me what happened, but how should I know! I was only there! I only saw what happened! So why can't I even remember!? They speculate a terrorist threat, but I know they're dubious. They suspect, they hope, that one day my memory will return to me.
Who knows?
Yet here I am eleven years later, this being the second time I've woken up to my world ending and beginning at once. They simply pat my back and congratulate me, ask me question, and tell me how they never thought I would wake up.
Why would I need to wake up? I thought I was on my way to the woods, to meet Alex. Last time I checked I was fourteen, now they tell me I'm twenty four. Last time I checked I was in the woods, now they tell me I've been asleep for ten years. Last time I checked I had a boyfriend, now he's married someone else while I was drifting. Last time I checked things like this didn't happen, but they tell me they can't explain it."
Looks like the only way to get the answer is to discover it myself.
'Who am I?'
Hey guys, I don't know if you can tell yet but I am rewriting my favorite story, Code: Astrid's Heart. Step #1: come up with a better title XD. But anyway, Yep. Rewriting this is going to take a while. Lately I've had one of those periods in my life where I have to drop something entirely to keep up with everything else. Unfortunately if i'm ever going to fulfill my dream of writing my own stories I had to let go of the fanfiction. Anyway hopefully I'll be able to pick up speed with this FF and get more done! I'll discuss more plans for it at the bottom 👇 of the chapter, above ️ is just a little intro thing I've got in mind. Anyway, enjoy!
"Astrid Hax correct?" The lady at the front desk asked. I get the feeling she doesn't like me very much but she is still very helpful. Smiling, I nod and hand the finished form to her.
"Yes ma'am." I say politely but the harsh look she has doesn't soften. Not like it matters, I doubt I would be seeing her very much at this school anyway. Yep that's right, I'm transfering to a new school today, exciting right? A new start, a clean slate.
"Alright then, here is you schedule and here's a map. Your first class of the day will be starting soon so I suggest you don't take any detours getting there." After taking the papers I glance over it once before quickly scurrying out of the office with my duffle slung over my shoulder.
"That's one part down." I say my voice chaging a bit. When the orphanage gave me the chance to stay at a dorm school, probably because im a problem student, I jumped at the word. Nothing, and I mean nothing, was stopping me from being free of that place, at least for a while.
I look down at my papers and find the one with my dorm number on it, I share a room with someone, but since they are in class I most likely won't see them until later. Perfect time to go and settle in, despite what the lady said I have plenty of time to deposit my things in the room.
Step by step, wrong turn after wrong turn, and hallway after hallway I finally find the dorms. Then, with me taking extreme caution, I find my dorm. I slide the key in the door and close my eyes before I opened it. This it it, my new home, my new life, right in my grasp.
*click* The door opens and the room before me doesn't disspoint. It isn't luxorious or anything, at least it won't be to anyone else. Having lived in a full eight bedroom room since I was 2, it's so beautiful I could cry.
I check the watch on my left wrist, I'll have to run to class. It was definitely worth it, though. Plopping my duffle on the bed I fish out my school-satchel thing the school gave me and slip in the necessities.
Before I leave I him, I can take a quick look around. Snooping around my side, which was obvious because it was untouched, I stood infront of the dresser with a mirror on it. Staring back at me with a giddily happy smile on her face is me.
I had to have inherited it from my parents, but I have the worst facial features. Don't get me wrong a lot of bullies have said I have a fairly pretty face, but the pale skin, silver hair and white eyes butchers it. My hair also has absolutely no sense of pity, so I normally have to settle for a simple ponytail.
I'm rather tall, at least for a girl. However, that's never been very attractive either. It's not very shocking I've only had one boyfriend, and even he left me.
Five minutes later I'm running down the hallways and glancing between what's ahead of me and what's on this useless peice of shit. Oh, I meant the map the woman gave me, my bad. In fact, I was so distracted that I didn't the blonde haired boy in front of me.
(Not until I ran into him at least.)
"Omphh!" Is the noise a blonde haired boy makes when you somersault over him.
"Aack!" Is the sound a silver haired girl makes when you manage to vault her into the air.
(How do you even do that? Must have amazing reflexes!)
"Are you alright?" The boy asks. Before I flare up ,because instead of taking a hit he decided to deflect me into a floor, I bite my tongue. I was the one who ran into him after all.
"Yeah..are you?" I ask standing up and brushing my skirt off. My worn down jeans and jacket is okay and you can't mess up these shoes any more than they already are. The boy mutters an 'a-okay'. "Sorry for running into you, I'm on my way to Mrs. Hertz class, and I'm slightly behind schedule."
"Mrs. Hertz class? I'm on my way there too but you aren't in that class..." The boy trails off as we both turn to survey each other at the same time. Our eyes meet, both widen.
"...Yeah..I'm new here, it's my first day. " I say slowly, there's not many times I'm at a loss for words but this is one of those times. The boy has his hair spiking up with a purple star in the middle. (I've never understood fashion trends anyway) He was shorter than me, and was a little scrawny.
"Uhh..*ahem*, right. That makes sense. I'm sorry I uh, pushed you away...force of habit." He says in an awkward tone. Raising an amused eyebrow at whatever 'force of habit' meant I crack a smile.
"Sure. Anyway...we're going to be late to class.." I say, all feelings of grudge for being pushed down dissapear. (Hey, I ran into him right!?)
"Probably...oh shit! Yes we are, let's run I can show you where the class is." He says and I laugh at his sudden realization. We laugh and playfully push and shoved each other all the way there. He jokes about what Mrs. Hertz class will be like, and I can hardly contain myself. IN the end we are late, but he comes up with a plan.
"Odd, you're late..again! What's the meaning of this!? I have given you too many chances- Oh, and who's this? Our new classmate?" Her attitude changes from angry to welcoming. Meanwhile the boy-Odd I guess- is cringing and I'm leaning back a bit, surprised at her ferocious response.
"Um, right, hi. I met Odd in the hallway, he helped me get here when I was lost, so that's why he's was late." I explain and she nods.
"Alright Odd get to your seat. Everyone else this is our newest student! She will be joining us here for the rest of the year! Will you introduce yourself?"
"My name's Astrid." I say as I look around the classroom. Odd sits down at an empty double desk. Around the room theres a brown haired boy, a blonde kid with glasses, a pink haired girl (Hey it's good to know I'm not the only one with wonky hair styles, although mine isn't optional.), and a girl that looks way too snooty for her own good (But I'm not one to judge). Nice variety this school has.
"Thank you for welcoming me into your school!"
Mrs. Hertz beams and the class murmurs their welcomings, meanwhile I'm mentally breaking down...on the inside. She instructs me to sit next to Odd, for better or for worse, and I deflate with releif.
"Alright, today I want you to take out your text books and turn to page 382.." Mrs. Hertz starts class and Odd pulls out a text book for me from my desk. I smile a 'thank you' and look up to catch the brown haired boy infront of me glancing back at me.
(Not unsettling at all.)
By the time this class was over I had caught the eyes of at least half of the people in the damn class. I grab my bag and pull out my schedule, thank goodness it is promptly plucked from my hands by the ever-so-present Odd.
"Hey! What are you doing?" I ask and spin around to see him scanning my paper. I put a hand on my hip and wait for him to finish his business. You know, with my schedule.
"Yep, just as I hoped." He says and looks up with a grin. My annoyed expression evaporates and I unconsciously remove my hand from my hip, what now?
"What is?"
"You have the same classes as us! Well almost, while we have study hall you have a band class. Pretty neat, what instrument do you play?" He asks and I can't help myself from grinning. Okay maybe Odd isn't so bad.
"She does? That's cool." The brown haired boy says.
"Pretty coincidental huh?" The blonde glasses boy comments. He puts an emphasis on 'coincidental', send a shiver up my spine.
"Astrid this is Ulrich," he indicates to the brown haired boy. "This is Jeremy", he pushes up his glasses. "And coming up behind him is Aelita." Pinky walks up and waves shyly.
Hey isn't 'Aelita' the name of my roommate? Maybe...I can't remember.
"Nice to meet you! Do you mind if I walk to the next class with you? The map they gave me is some kind of ploy to get new kids lost in the halls forever." I joke and the four laugh (Probably out of pity).
"Speaking of which we should probably get going." Aelita reminds us and with that we're on our way to the next classroom. The same thing happens for that class, introducing myself and then taking whatever seat was empty.
After three classes we get an hour long period for lunch. A little bit excessive but I suppose there's a reason. I say goodbye to my four companions and head to find where my next class will be, Band. Mostly I just want so make sure my trumpet it is safe and sound!
Once I speak with the band director a bit and check up on my trumpet I make my way to eat lunch. For the map's credit, it does point out which direction the lunch room is...at least I hope thats the lunch room.
"William, enough with carrying all that by yourself, we have to get to lunch soon and your going to drop them!" A girls voice scolds someone.
"Yumi, we have plenty of time for lunch and I promised Mr. Bennard I'd this for him." The boy, apparently Wlliam, says. I should probably watch out for them, but looking around I can't see them anywhere! Where are they?
Turning the corner sharply, thinking it'd be the one place they weren't, I come right into contact with two stacks of six boxes being carried by William. Well, were being carried, until I collide with them and end up on the ground with boxes falling ontop of me.
(How should I have known he was right there?!)
Thankfully the boxes are empty, but these people look like upperclassmen and I don't think this'll end up like it did with Odd. Remembering the upperclassmen I had to deal wth at my old school made me groan with disgust. My eyes are closed and I rub the back of my head where it was hit.
"Oh hey, sorry about that. You alright there?" William asks and I open my eyes to find a hand offering to help me up. I think for a few seconds before I stand without his help. (Like I'd fall for that trick.)
He did apologize, even though I was the one who ran into him. He shouldn't have been walking with so many boxes like that though. I decide on not saying anything but instead helping pick up the boxes. Once they're all stacked for him to carelessly carry again I turn and look at them.
"Sorry about that, could you tell me which way the cafeteria is?" Looking at them more closely I can see that William is blacked haired and tall. He looks like someone you don't want to mess with in a fight, but at the same time I don't feel like I would find myself in one with him. The 'Yumi' girl has black hair also, in fact she has black everything!
"Mmhmm, it's that way," Yumi says pointing down the hallway. Through a window I can see a separated building that has students hanging around it. Bingo. "We can show you the way if you wait for us."
"Oh, no thanks. I'll find my way on my own." I say hoping I don't sound like I'm egoistic. Honestly I'm just really hungry and want to get moving. Making my way into the cafeteria I happily pluck a tray from the pile and go through the line. This looks like it'll be a good school, just judging by the cafeteria food. It's certainly better than before!
"Where should I sit?" I mutter to myself. It doesn't really matter does it? I don't feel very social today so I'll just pick an empty table to sit at. After all they haven't expressed any seating chart yet so I assume it's free seating.
I look around the lunch room as I eat, trying to spot the different clicks and friend groups. My eyes end up falling on a table near the window. Sitting at it are the people I met earlier, Odd and them. Looking closely...hey Yumi's there too! Wow what a coincidence... I guess it's not a surprise she got here before me. It's not like it was all smooth sailing finding my way here.
Just as I'm about to look away (What? I'm not some stalker.) the boy named Jerey pulls out his laptop. All of them at the table simultaneously become quiet and appear to grow concerned with it. What could be so important about a computer anyway?
Jeremy says something and they immediately look like a well oiled machine. Giving yet also accepting instructions to and from each other, it must be serious. Odd stands up and unconsciously I push my chair back.
What the heck? Why'd I just do that? Force of habit? I remember the crucial moments at the lab, my old part time job. My friends and I would always act most like a team on the very important days.
"Mrs. Hax?" A strained and static-ey voice says from behind me. I shift and find myself looking at a middle-age man in a gym suit. He looks down at me, causing me to stand up immediately.
(Hey, who likes being looked down at?)
"..Yes sir?" I ask hesitantly. Something doesn't seem right. I can't pinpoint it exactly, but it's like that feeling when you're lost in a crowd and can't find the people you're with. You know it's dangerous but nothing is immediatly wrong.
"We forgot to have you sign the last few forms, please come with me." He leads me out of the cafeteria and I breifly wonder what will happen to my lunch, but hey if a teacher doesn't care why should I?
If he's a teacher, something seems shifty about a teacher wearing a gym suit. What does he teach? Gym I guess. What I notice more, though, is that he doesn't flinch, blink, or change tempo with his footsteps. That's impressive, and also very suspicious.
"Um, are you sure this is the way to the office? I mean I know I'm new but I could've sworn it was that way." I say and point in then direction of the main building. He looks back at me and stops infront of what looks like a janitors office.
I let out a surprised yelp when he grabs my wrist and opens the door at the same time. Just so you know I valiantly kick his legs and pound his arm with my free hand, but unfortunately he over powers and shoves me into the closet. Dread sets in with the ominous sound of a lock clicking.
"Hey! What kind of cruel joke is this!?" But something tells me it's not a joke. My stomach sinks and my instinct is to thrash around in the dark, enclosed space. "Let me out!" I yell and pound on the door. What. The. Hell!?
Sinking to the ground my knees make an arrow like shape when I sit. My arms wrap around myself and I breath a little too heavily. While I sat there hopelessly shaking I recall the man's eyes. I know what's wrong about them, there was some star shaped symbol in them.
"Somebody help me..."
Wow, if anyone here read the first chapter of then original (which sucks I don't recommend reading it), then you know that this is similar, definitely a rewrite, but different too. I remember when I first wrote that stir I was needing something to help me escape from egoistic school life. I need the same thing now, and that's why im rewriting this. I really hope everyone reading enjoys, thanks! 3