Chapter 1
I wake up in a cage. Or at least what feels like a cage. It's actually more like an elevator. I standing up quickly, taking in my surroundings.
The box, or elevator I guess, is fairly big. It could hold at least ten people, yet I'm the only one here. Me and loads of boxes of various sizes. All with one identical marker, a brand stamped on the side that reads: W.I.C.K.E.D.
It's an obvious acronym, but for what? I shove aside the question, I have more important things to worry about, like. Like what? What should I be doing? Should I be praying? Is this a joke? The questions swirl around my head, making me dizzy as I try to come up with answers. And I can't. I can't remember what my religion is, or what my favorite color is. I don't even know my own face or my mother's face. Do I have a mother?
All thoughts are jarred from my mind as the box lurches to a stop, causing me to fall backwards. Then, the box opens.
At first the light is too bright for me to see anything. After a moment I can make out eight human sized shadows, all of which are peering at me from above.
"Hullo? You all right in there?" asks one of the shadows. The voice is male, and speaks with a heavy accent, a teen probably not much older than me. Wait how old am I? The question doesn't get an answer.
"Yes? I mean, I think so. I can't, I can't remember anything though." I say, looking up at the shadows one of which leans into the box,
"It's a girl." One of the shadows whispers, another male. This one isn't accented though, American. Like me? Am I American? One of them jumps into the box with me, both of their hands up.
This one is also a boy, and he seems to be the leader of the group. Or at least a high-ranking member.
"My name is Newt. Can you remember your name?" he asks; this is the boy with the accent. The first one who spoke, who asked if I was okay. My name? Do I have a name? Yes, I have a name. What is it? I struggle to remember, my brain encased in a strange fog.
"Amelia, my name is Amelia." I whisper, the boy, Newt takes a step towards me.
"Okay Amelia, we're going to get you out of here all right? We'll explain everything in a moment." Newt says, his voice is soft, and slow. It's comforting and I feel (rather irrationally) safe, with this boy who has a ridiculous name.
"I feel dizzy." I manage, before the floor suddenly comes up to greet me.
Voices overhead. One? No, three? Yes, three. All male, one of them I know. It's Newt. My body stills, I hadn't even realized I had tensed up. I struggle to open my eyes. I'm lying in a bed of sorts, with three boys standing above me. One of them is indeed Newt, who looks awfully pleased that I've awoken.
"Amelia! You're awake! Are you all right?" he asks, he kneels down beside me, or beside the bed I suppose. For some reason, this action causes our cheeks to burn.
"Calm it Newt, you'll traumatize the poor girl." Says one of the other boys. This one is tall, and if I do say so, very handsome.
He's tall, and a bit lanky with dark blue eyes and a mess of crimson hair. He looks down at me, and smiles.
"Welcome Amelia, name's Matt. That as you know is Newt and this here is Erik." He says gesturing to the boy behind Matt, whose nearly just as handsome.
"Oh, um hi?" I say, and do a small awkward wave. The boys look at me sharply.
Matt whistles,
"Looks like you're not the only foreigner any more, Newtie." Erik says, Foreigner?
"What are you talking- "I stop, surprised by the sound of the words. That was a female voice. My voice. I'm Scottish?
"She doesn't look Scottish." Newt says simply, as he takes me in. Look Scottish? What in the world do I look like then?
"What's that supposed to mean?" I demand sitting up, eyes narrowing at the boy in front of me. Matt laughs,
"Yep, defiantly Scottish. Box of raisins says they'll get together before the week is over." Matt says to Erik, in an undertone.
"Excuse me? What is wrong with you people? I need to leave; I need to see a doctor. I have- "
"Memory issues." Newt finishes for me, looking grim. "There isn't a way to leave. You're stuck here same as the rest of us," he smiles at me, but it's a scary smile, one that is hollow. "Welcome Amelia, to our lovely little bloody corner of hell."