A/N: Before you read this first chapter, you need to understand how it reads. Right now, you are reading bits and pieces of Alyse's life and what leads up to her 'crossing over'. That's right. It's one of those real world girl meets Albion. Please, just bare with me, it's not going to be what you may think. Anywho, I didn't know how else to show you these snippets without you being so utterly confused that you didn't have a clue as to what was happening, so those lines break the sections up corresponding with the memory. These memories are all from the course of one day, so, yeah. I'd really enjoy any feedback you can give me, since this is my first story. Flames? Go ahead, I might need it. c:
She came on the waves,
Of a hot summer day.
She was drowning, she could feel it. Her hands clawed towards the surface, trying desperately to pull herself up—to do something. Her lungs screamed as she tried to catch a breath, any breath. She imagined she had gulped more than her weight in water. She couldn't go up, she could only go down, being dragged deeper and deeper into the lake's sweet embrace. She saw minnows and trout shooting across her vision, terrified by the intruder in the water. They didn't know she was drowning, they didn't know she needed saving. No one did. How foolish she was, thinking she would matter. No one knew her, no one would miss her. No one would care. A small smile graced her lips over the pain-stricken visage. How pathetic. She was going to die and no one would even notice. She stopped moving.
How could she save herself if she was already dead?
"ALI!"
Alyse was jolted awake, her chest heaving in much needed air. A man hovered above her, his bed-head hair sticking out at awkward angles. Worry was plastered across his face. He placed a hand on her face, running his thumb over the smooth skin of her cheek and he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"You were thrashing around like you were a fish out of water, was it a nightmare?"
Oh, if he only knew.
" What do you mean you have to work?"
"Al, I'm sorry, but Connor wants me to cover hi—"
"Again with Connor! How is it that every single time we plan something, he has to ruin it!?"
"It's money, Ali, we need money. We're basically living off of your check and we both know—you know what? No, I'm not having this conversation with you. I'll see you later tonight."
An ear-shattering silence enveloped the two of them; Alyse knew the conversation had ended right then and there. After a moment's hesitation, he walked out the door.
"… One new message from; two-two-eight, five-five-five, zero-one-eight-three.
'Hey Ali, I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I know we never spend time together anymore I just… I want this—I want us to work. I'm sick of worrying about whether we are going to be able to pay the damn water-bill every month. I want to finally be happy. With you. Anyway, uhm, I love you. A lot. Forgive me?' Beep. No new messages."
Alyse set down her phone, glancing back and forth from the clock, to the picture of the two of them on the wall. They looked happy; his lips were quirked into that signature smirk, chocolate browns twinkling in the sunlight. Alyse was propped up on his shoulders, grinning like there was no tomorrow. She checked the clock again; 12:00 am. Where was he?
"Hey. Where are you? It's only—oh – one in the fucking morning! You were supposed to be here by ten last night! I just— … Where are you?"
Alyse set down the phone, staring at the empty living room in her empty house. It couldn't be true, she just saw him a few hours ago. They had to be wrong. Tears welled in her eyes, the very thought ripping out her heart. Bile rose in her throat, her heart giving a painful clench.
"Not him."
She couldn't accept it, this couldn't be happening. She sped down the dirt road, clad in a black dress, shoes and peacoat. She was going to a funeral—his funeral. Alyse saw an opportunity and took it. Right at that hairpin turn, she didn't turn, she floored it straight down.
She was drowning, she could feel it. Her hands clawed towards the surface, trying desperately to pull herself up—to do something. 'I changed my mind.' Her lungs screamed as she tried to catch a breath, any breath. She imagined she had gulped more than her weight in water. 'No.' She couldn't go up, she could only go down, being dragged deeper and deeper into the lake's sweet embrace.' I don't want to die!' She saw minnows and trout shooting across her vision, terrified by the intruder in the water. They didn't know she was drowning, they didn't know she needed saving. No one did. How foolish she was, thinking it would matter. She moved to this stupid city to make a life with him. No one knew her, no one would miss her. No one would care. A small smile graced her lips over the pain-stricken visage. How pathetic. She was going to die and no one would even notice. She stopped moving.
All that plagued her mind was, 'Here lies Gray Jackson.'
