Prologue.

We arrived at the underground just after seven, it was more crowded then usual, and there was allot of new faces. Ashlee managed to squirm through to the dance floor while linking arms with us. I felt at ease here, i began feeling the music and dancing, as anti-social i was at school, i could never shy away from the music.
Although i must admit, sometimes i got a little carried away, and Claire and ash would have there little laugh. But that aside, we never ceased to have fun.

"I'm going to get some water!" i shouted over the music. Claire nodded and continued twirling, Regardless if she had heard me or not. I continued to push my way through the heap of sweaty body's to the counter. I propped myself on a stool and scanned the room,
"Do you have ID?" the bar tender examined me suspiciously. "oh no, i, i just wanted a bottle of water!" he pulled a bottle from the fridge. "$4.50 thanks."

As I watched the mounds of people dance a sudden wave of nausea came over me. I grabbed my bottle and started to head outside. I knew it wouldn't make any difference if i tried to tell Claire and Ashlee I was leaving as they wouldn't be able to hear me, i decided to send a text surely one of them would check their phone when they have wondered where i had gone.

I snapped my phone shut and started to head home. The alley way was dark, damp and a heavy musky smell hung in the air, maybe this wasn't such a good idea? Please, Lily Nicole Eve was scared of no one! Well, maybe some people but still, i need the extra confidence.

Slowly I seen the damp floor reflect the lights of the street ahead, a faint scuttle echoed through the alley, i picked up the pace. "Hello sweetie" a filth covered face lurked from behind a garbage disposal unit. I was unable to comprehend words, "grab her!" he yelled, and before I knew it, two other men leaped from the shadows. "grab her pants!" i began to cry, trying to struggle free. The slender one loss grip of my leg, and i managed to kick free.

I tried to run, unable to get away someone caught a grip on my hair. I felt a sharp pain in my spine, as i reached down to touch my stomach, blood? Silent laughter as they dragged me back to the shadows. I was fighting a silent battle with my eyelids, my vision was blurring. And that was it.

I Lily Nicole Eve was dead.

It didn't hurt to die. I wasn't as scared as letting go as I thought I would be. It was rather peaceful.

The only thing I didn't expect... was waking up.

I breathed in, water filling my mouth, I swallowed hard and reached up for air. I managed to struggle to the top of the river, it hurt, my body aching my skin wrinkled. How long had I been down here?

I dragged myself to the river bed coughing, wheezing i began to cry. I was so confused, why was i here. The pain was unbearable, i lay there in the dark of the night on a river bed slowly drifting in to unconsciousness, unknowingly aware that this time and this day was the most important day in history to ever be created.

I awoke to the sound of traffic, i pulled myself off the river bank and stood on my legs, how long had it been since i walked i wondered. It felt strange, like my legs were made of jelly. I walked down the path, exposed, naked for everyone to behold. Car horns yelping I covered my ears in pain, Everything was so sensitive.

I ran in to a man, "sorry" i breathed but barley anything came out, "oh god, let me guess. They're killing all the frogs in the lake so you decided to camp there?" i began to cry, he immediately looked at me apologetically and frantically tried to make me feel better, he took off his coat and wrapped me in it.

"come on, I'm sorry, let me take you home, please? It's the least I can do"

I nodded, all I wanted was to go home. We slowly made our way to his car and i lead him to my home.

Urgently i sprung from the car and ran to my front door knocking repetitively, "hello?!"

A small old woman answered the door, "oh my" she looked me up and down and gave me a disgusted look. "are Mr and Mrs Eve here?" i croaked. She shook her head from behind the fly screen, "no. They moved a while ago. You go on now, don't cause trouble!" as she shut the door in my face.

Moved? How could they have moved. This was our house!

I turned to see the stranger waiting outside his car. I walked back clutching the coat he gave me,

"they're not home" i whispered. "well you got anywhere else you can get cleaned up"

i was thankful a person whom didn't even know me would be so generous.

I lead him to Claire's house a few blocks down, this time he walked me to the door, i knocked hard three times. A woman in her early thirty's answered the door, hello is Claire home? I asked puzzled,

The man beside me greeted her with a nod. "who wants' to know?" she looked at me curiously,

"it's me Lily, her friend from school." The woman placed the toddler she had clinging to her side on the floor. "Is this some kind of sick joke" she asked angrily.

I was confused, "please, i really need to see Claire, can you just tell her it's me Lily?" i pleaded.

The woman opened the fly screen and stepped outside, she gasped as she wiped away the muck on my face. "Lily?" she began sobbing. I looked at the man beside me, in confusion "Lily it's me" i looked at the woman's face, as my eyes adjusted. "Claire?" i was confused "Claire what happened to you?" i cried as i took a step back. "It can't be you!" she reached out for my face again.

I looked puzzled. "Lily, you've been dead for fourteen years!"

Dead. Yes. It was all true.

I seldom believe in magic, but really how else could I be here.

I found myself removing the matter from my hair in Claire's bathroom, so many fond childhood memories. And now, that's all they really were. Memories.

As the warm water flowing from the shower caressed my back, i felt a surge of familiar nausea shockwave over me, like a vivid dream I felt a sharp pain through my back, the sounds of men laughing. Re-living my death was much worse than encountering it. I examined myself in the mirror,

Nothing. I didn't even behold the scar of which lead to my death, it was like I had been cleared of my impurities. Childhood scars from climbing the old tree house were gone, freckles from sun exposure, disappeared.

What had really happened to me that night? I died of course, but was there something more?

I dressed myself in Claire's old clothes. I remained sixteen, while my friends aged fourteen years.

Something was wrong. I felt like i was stuck in a cheesy 80's teen movie.

I made my way down stairs to find Claire silently rocking her baby making conversation with the man. I watched the baby, playing with his mother's necklace enjoying life. carefree and innocent.

I now see how precious life is.

They both stared at me, unknowing of why i stood in the doorway staring.

I smiled as i went to sit by the strange man who had helped me previously, Claire looked in to her cup of tea. "look, i don't mean to be rude, but my husband get's home soon... and i don't know how he's going to react to a sixteen year old and a strange man sitting on our couch."

The man stood and placed his coat on, "but of course" he held out his hand as a gesture for me to get up. "thank you very much for your hospitality."

I found myself in the passenger seat of his car once again. "do you have anywhere to stay, i can take you back to your parent's house?" i tucked my hair behind my ear. "no, that's not an option." He nodded as he started the car and took off down the street.

We reached a halt at the front of a sleek looking apartment building. I followed the stranger inside as he fumbled for his keys. "I'm only home to sleep during the day, I ...work late night's so don't wait up." I continued inside as he held the door open for me. "why are you doing all this?"

He smiled. "there is enough evil in the world. I'd like to think by even helping one person im making a difference."

I held out my hand. "I'm Lily. Lily Nicole Eve." He chuckled as he shook my hand. "I'm Mas. Nice to meet you...Lily."

6.00pm, it began to get dark. I played with my food Mas had prepared me earlier, yet he refused to eat himself. "I'm leaving now Lily. You will be okay, won't you?" i nodded with a slight smile.

I heard a soft click as he shut the door behind him. When i knew he was surely gone i skipped over to the door to find it locked. Why would he lock the door? Was he assuring i wouldn't leave?

Strange.

I brushed my teeth and changed in to the fresh clothes Mas had left on the end of the bed.

Crisp. As if they were new. Did he know I was coming? Of course he didn't. Shame on me. I was being so quick to judge a man who had been so generous to me.

I lay down drifting to sleep. I managed a slight nap before i was rudely awoken by a flickering light in my room. Silently i lay there, watching my room flicker on and off. I peered out the window. It was the streetlight, had there been an accident?

I opened my window. A harsh cold breeze welcomed itself in my room. The flickering of the light stopped. I felt a gritty feeling under my fingers; i run my hand along the window seal, Markings?

Strange symbols i had never seen before, but they looked so familiar. Crudely i was drawn back from my dazed déjà vu moment. There he stood. A man stood under the streetlight, looking right at me.

He did nothing but stare. I found him very intriguing. Was i scared? Completely. Could i look away? I wouldn't dare. There was something strangely familiar about this man. Like an old childhood friend, whom you remember their face but can never approach them on the train and guess their name.

Familiar but i knew, i wouldn't dare approach him. Never breaking my gaze, i slid my window shut.

"What are you doing?" Mas was home. "Uh, nothing. I, just wanted some air, but..." I looked back, the man was gone. The street light was working fine. I knew i hadn't just imagined this scenario.

"but what? What happened?" i rubbed my eyes, "nothing. I'm just tired." He placed his hand on my back and guided me back to my bed, "Get some rest, you've had a big day today." He smiled gently as he tucked me in.

I closed my eyes, Feeling safe. I managed one last peek before i fell in to my slumber. Mas was standing at my window, hands in pocket. Glaring down at the streetlight i had only been staring at minuets beforehand.

I woke late morning to find an eerie ringing of dead silence through the house. Mas's door was shut, he must have been sleeping. I searched the fridge for something to eat. Nothing. The cupboard were bare, grabbing an apple out of the fruit bowel on the table and skimming the bookshelf for some light reading, i found myself bored and in a dull mood.

I've had fourteen years of solitude, i would much appreciate someone to talk to.

Slipping on some jeans and the shirt Claire had given me earlier i gently flicked open the front lock and found myself walking down the familiar street i once innocently called my own.

A droplet landed on my nose, followed by crack of thunder. It came as no surprise, this was usually my luck. The rain was beautiful, i watched as it bounced and caressed the leaves and rose petals nearby. It felt pure, natural. It was the only thing natural i had experienced all week. Rubbing the excess water from my face. I noticed a familiar figure lurking a few houses up.

It was the same man as the night before. Backing away, i began to make my way back to the apartment. I felt so exposed here, why was he following me? Was it coincidence? Of course it wasn't.

I look behind me, he was gone. Relief came over me, a smile played on my lips as i tucked my hands in my pockets. I turned to meet his face. "Alas, you are coming with me." His words, a dead tone echoing in my mind. I looked around for somewhere to run my vision blurred by the heavy rain.

I turned and began running further away from my safe zone. Unknowing of where i would find myself.

Picking up the pace, i found myself becoming scared, angry and anxious. My hands grew hot, as if they were on fire, running i found my legs feeling stronger than ever. Expecting to grow short of breath, i was pleasantly surprised to find i was not tired in any way. Confident i began smiling, running impossibly fast, turning to catch a glimpse behind me, confident i had lost him.

I look ahead of me no one; i resume my original walking pace. Confidently turning myself around i make my way back to the apartment. Upon arriving home i decide not to tell Mas about my scary encounter with the man who is undoubtedly following me.

Quietly i crept up the stairs through the front door. Snapping the lock shut, i heard a shuffle. "Lily? Is that you?" coming from Mas's bedroom, "Uh yeah, sorry i was just about to go out and get some air, but it's raining." I mentally slapped myself. I waited for a reply but i was greeted with a loud snore, thank goodness, he's asleep.

I was going insane. It was too quiet.

I sat, in solitude and in silence for hours on end. Pondering life. So many un answered questions.

There was a knock at the door. It snapped me from my day dream, "who is it?" i asked firmly.

No reply, followed by another three heavy knocks. I opened lock, leaving the security latch in tact.

"Who is it?" i asked once again, with annoyance in my tone. The door began shaking, horrified

I took a few steps back. The whole apartment began to shake, plaster dust falling from the ceiling.

"Go away!" i shouted. "Your coming with me, Lily." It was him, he had come for me. He knew my name. He pushed the door and it broke free from it's hinges as if it were nothing. Stepping over the door, he made his way towards me. Stepping back and tripping over the coffee table, firm arms catching me. "You cannot have her!" it was Mas.

"You have no idea whom you're dealing with, vermin." He held out his palm, "come Lily."

Grasping on to Mas's arms i looked in his eyes for reassurance "Don't let him take me!" i whispered.

"close your eye's" he frowned, i looked at him confused "Close them!" i could hear the man's footsteps growing louder as he began running towards us.

A feeling of burning combustion came over me, a familiar feeling. And within seconds i found myself in a subway downtown. I caught my breath, "where are we, how'd we..." Mas placed his hand over my mouth "be quiet. They might hear us." He scanned the empty subway. "Who might hear us!"

Two men in trench coats appeared standing perfectly parallel to each other "them!" he pushed me onward "run Lily!"

The feeling of adrenaline pulsed all over my body as i began to run, i ran for life i wanted to live, i wanted to go on living. The burning in my hands began again, like a bug under my skin i was itching, the anger building up inside electricity. It felt like a lighting bolt jolting through my body. Skidding across the floor to a complete halt, ripping up the cement behind me, how fast had i been running? Then it hit me. Mas, he wasn't beside me. He had stayed behind. I had to go back, i had to save Mas!

Turning once again around the corner i had once been so eager to leave behind i found Mas fighting a battle with the two trench coat men, throwing each other around as if they were feather light.

Grabbing Mas's head and slamming it in to the concrete posts on which held the structure we were standing under above our heads.

This wasn't right. Mas had helped me; i couldn't leave him like this. I could hear a slow thud, breath i could hear them breathing. It was louder, more consistent than the sound coming from Mas. Could i hear their heartbeats? Impossible. Impossible says the girl whom just ripped up the floor in bare feet.

He wasn't strong enough to handle them both on his own.

Whatever the sound was, Mas's was slowing down and coming to a complete stop. They dusted their hands as i watched Mas take his last breath. I heard the gut wrenching crack of his skull colliding with the hard concrete flooring, and it was done.

I stood astounded "Get away from him!" I screeched.

"Lily, my child." A new face, He smiled at me warmly. "it is time, to come home" i furrowed my brows "I am home! And i am not, ever, going, with you!" i screamed, a gust of wind followed my last breath and with that they had disappeared.

Hastily i looked around. I gasped as i looked upon Mas's damaged body. Placing one arm over my shoulder and propped him up. His dead weight was amazingly heavy. I had helped others up before but this was ridiculous. How had those men thrown him around?

Coming across a vending machine i decided to test out my newly found strength. Gently laying down Mas on the floor i took one step back and kicked the centre of the glass hard shattering around my bare foot, i stuffed my pockets with snacks. I found the lock to the money safe, ripping the lock off i plunged my hand in filling my bra with whatever notes i could find. This should cover accommodation for at least one night.

Picking Mas up i continually dragged him to the exit, just my luck. The escalators were shut off for the night. Step by step i painstakingly dragged Mas up to the surface. There was a motel nearby, i swear the week before it had only been $90 but now, it was apparently $110 a night.

Swinging the door open with my leg i was greeted by a small greasy looking man

He looked at Mas "No vacancy." He said with a Russian accent. "it says there's vacancy at the front!"

I pleaded. "two hundred dollars" i pulled the money out of my shirt as he watched, pleased. "i, i only have $57" he shook his head "then no vacancy" he laughed and gestured me away with his hand.

"look i really need a room, please, i can pay you the rest tomorrow" he looked me up and down,

"maybe we can come to, a, some kind arrangement" he chuckled chewing on his toothpick. I scoffed disgusted, "what do i look like to you!" he rolled his eyes and proceeded to sit in his chair and watch his tv. I placed Mas down on the couch in the lobby. "no money, no couch!" he pointed to the door,

Leaping from the couch i jumped over the counter, he chuckled with excitement pulling me near his chair. Grabbing his neck i looked in to his eyes, "you will give me a room!" i said angrily. Dazed and trembling he lifted keys off a rack, "room 214 is vacant, enjoy your stay at viktors motel inn"

Finally reaching the safety of the room, i pushed Mas on the dirty mattress. I could hear a faint thudding, he was still alive. Reaching for the phone i started to dial out for a doctor. The phone didn't even contain batteries or a power chord. What did i expect?

Latching the windows shut and closing the blinds, i curled up next to Mas and fell in to a deep sleep,

Unknowing of what tomorrow would bring.

I awoke to find night had fallen once again, had i really slept through a entire day? I was still tired, my stomach was gargling with hunger. It felt like i hadn't eaten in years, fourteen years to be exact.

I rolled over to meet an empty space. "Mas?" frantically looking under the bed and around the room, "Mas!" he appeared near the open window, had he been there the whole time ?

"I am here." I breathed out, "thank goodness, i was so worried you wouldn't wake up, and i.."

Within an instant Mas was by my side, comforting me. "I'm here Lily." He embraced me.

Holding him tightly, "I'm so scared, i don't know what's happening" i sobbed. Rubbing my back,

His voiced hummed through my ears. "You risked your life to save me, i, i can't say thank you enough Lily." I laughed at the irony. "you've helped me so much Mas, i don't know what id do without you"

He looked at me seriously, "we must move Lily, we can't spend to long in one place, they can find us." I fumbled with the buttons on my shirt, "who are they?" he sighed. "Micah and Ras, they're brothers." i didn't know anyone by the name or Micah or Ras, what did they want with me?

"what do they want? I haven't done anything, should we go to the police?" he sat beside me,

"Lily i need you to promise me you won't get anyone else involved" i shook my head, "but the police, im sure they can help!" shaking me violently "Lily! Promise me, on your life, on our friendship, you will never involve anyone, these people are dangerous! Promise me you will never trust them, no matter what they say!" i began sulking "i promise!"

Chapter two will be released once i get any good feedback. hope you enjoy reading this as much as i enjoy writing it.