Elizabeth was sitting in a taxi and looking out of the tainted window as the rain was pouring out on the streets of Hereford. The taxi driver thrown her luggage into the back of the vehicle and ran to the door to escape the rain. As they were leaving the familiar streets behind, Elizabeth was realizing that things will never be the same for her. She tried to breathed evenly to steady her shaky hands. This was going to be a long ride.

After Elizabeth's mother's death her aunt Rosalina took custody of her 16 year old niece and invited her to stay and work at the Farringham School for Boys. Having no choice but to obey her aunt's order Elizabeth packed her bags setting out to start a new life.

Elizabeth was not too overwhelmed when she heard the name of the school. It was not in her greatest interest to be around a bunch of spoiled, stuck up boys. Although she was grateful that she would be staying with a family member. Aunt Rosalina could be moody and strict at times but she was the only family Elizabeth had left.

It was not easy to get used to the thought that she would never see her mother again. Elizabeth open her palm and stared at the amulet that she was holding on to for the entire car ride. It was a family relique that Elizabeth inherited when her mother passed away two months ago. The amulet was a small silver plated locket with a bright blue stone that Elizabeth couldn't name at the base, where the chain was attached. Inside, Elizabeth inserted a picture of her mother. They both had blond hair except Elizabeth's came down to the mid of her back in long waves where as her mothers were braided on the side. Her mother used to tell her that she had her father's eyes, green like the sea. Elizabeth was only six years old when he died. He was a physician and one December night on his way home from a patient, he was crossing a lake when the ice shattered.

Elizabeth remembered the lullaby he used to sing to her every night. Humming the melody to herself she traced the frame of the locket with her finger getting lost in her past when she was brought back by the sound of the car brakes. The taxi had arrived to its destination, the Farringham school. Elizabeth looked out of the window and saw the massive building towering over her. She slowly opened the taxi door and stepped out onto the stoney side walk. She took a moment to close her eyes and inhale "the after the rain" air into her lungs. Taking in the new surrounding Elizabeth made her way up to the door of her new home carrying her own luggage.

Opening the heavy wooden door, Elizabeth stepped into to the building.

"Excuse me sir? I'm looking for my aunt Rosalina, would you please tell me where I can find her?" the older man turned his attention to Elizabeth. He scanned her from under his glasses and raised an eyebrow.

"You must me Ms Miller. Yes, your aunt have been awaiting your arrival. Follow me." Ignoring her struggle with the luggage the man walked a fast pace up the stairs and went around the corner down the long hallway and knocked on a wooden door at the very end.

"Ms. Clarke, your niece has arrived"

the door opened and Rosalina stepped out into the hallway. She was a 48 year old woman with dirty blonde hair tied in a neat knot on the top of her head. Thin wrinkles framed her gray eyes. She was wearing the usual maid's uniform. Elizabeth assumed that that's what she would be wearing from now on as well.

"Ah Elizabeth, it's nice to see you" she smiled and hugged the girl.

"Hello aunt Rosa" said Elizabeth with a weak smile.

"Now, come in and make yourself at home."

The room was enveloped in a faded blue wallpaper and was large enough to fit four beds in it, four small closets and a couch.

"You can have the bed that's by the window" said aunt Rosa and pointed to the very end of the room. Placing her luggage at the foot of the bed, Elizabeth climbed on to it and looked out of the window. From there she could see the wide, corn field that stretched across the school's property.

"Here is your uniform, you can start working tomorrow morning. For now you can relax and adjust."

With that aunt Rosa left the room closing the door behind her. Not willing to spend her entire day cooped up inside, Elizabeth quickly unpacked her bags and walked out into the hall. She ran down the stairs and outside.

The sky was gray and clouds from the earlier rain were covering the sun. Walking up the hill towards a tall tree Elizabeth could see the school and its surroundings better.

Looking around she suddenly spotted a lone scarecrow in the middle of the green field.

"Odd," she thought to herself "why would anyone place a scarecrow on an empty field." It was made of rough rags and hay. It was ugly and strangely looking but something about it attracted her eye. She couldn't look away.

Elizabeth started to walk towards it, with each step she felt her heart beat fasten. There was no logical explanation why this would happen to her. She approached the scarecrow and frowned. Even though the wind was pretty strong it was not moving. She reached out and touched its face pulling away so fast one would think she was burned by it. It felt strangely firm but soft at the same time. Taken aback by this she inhaled deeply and ripped the rough material off the scarecrow's head. As soon as she did that she winced and stumbled back tripping over a root of the tree and falling backwards. Staring straight ahead of him was a boy around her age, with slick black hair.

"H-Hello?" she called and looked a the boy expectedly. He did not respond. She picked herself up from the ground and cautiously walked up to him.

"Can you hear me?" Still no response followed. She dared to take one more step towards the boy and looked into his face. He had piercing amber eyes that were drilling into her own and a sinister smirk was frozen upon his lips. It was charming but at the same time menacing like he was plotting an evil plan. Ignoring the intimidating appearance, Elizabeth tried to talk to him again.

"Why are you tied up? Do you know who did this to you?" The boy neither answered nor did he blink. His lack of action was starting to really alert her. Her mind racing she decided that maybe he was in need of medical attention. She hurried to pull on the ropes that were tying him to the wooden poles. Once the ropes were untied she underestimated her power to hold him up and they both collapsed on the ground. Elizabeth struggle to get up from under his weight and flipped him on his back. He still haven't moved or changed his face expression. She leaned over him to try and check if his heart was beating. For all she knew he wasn't alive. This sudden thought terrified her. As she leaned in to his chest, her locket slipped out of her shirt and came in contact with where his heart would be. Taking no notice of that. she sighted with relief when she heard his steady heart beat. When she pulled away from him he was looking directly at her with a frown but the same smirk on his face.

"AHH" she shrieked and once again stumbled back taken by surprise. The boy swiftly raised his torso from the ground and cocked his head at her.

"What year is it?" was the first thing that came out of his mouth

"W-what.. Uh it's 1913"

"Wonderful" He announced and jumped on his feet starting to walk down the hill towards the school. Recovering from the shock Elizabeth ungracefully raised herself from the ground still looking like she just seen a ghost.

"WAIT" She screamed once her senses came back to her. The boy stopped dead in his tracks and slowly turned his head.

"Care to explain all of this?" she blurred out and stared at him. For a minute he looked at her with an amused smirk.

"What makes you think you can ask me questions?" Taken aback by his rude response she crossed her arms.

"Maybe because I just saved you from being pecked to death by crows?" she responded trying to look as daring as possible. He slowly walked up to her. As he got closer she realized he was a lot taller than her. Before she could protest he lowered his face down to hers, took her hand and brought her wrist to his lips. Not breaking the eye contact he whispered "Thank you, Elizabeth Miller" and with that he spun around and strode away.

"But.. I didn't.." she started but the boy was already too far away to hear her.

"Who are you" she muttered to herself watching as the tall figure moved farther and farther away from her.