Chapter 1
Abandoned

The rain pelted up against the side of the old grey building. The building has passed its sell-by-date, it had a sad look about it. The rain wasn't lighting up. A sigh was heard from within the abandoned house which was situated on the outskirts of the town. A young fifteen year old stared outside of the window. It had been two years today since she left Cleveland. She didn't want to leave her friends, family and… Jason behind. But what could she do? She had no other choice, they were going to take her memories. "Oh, Jason!" cried the girl. Her jet black hair swished as the wind came in from the window. Tears clouded her eyes. "Why! Why couldn't we stay together!" she cried harder now. Her long sleeved t-shirt was covered in dirt and tears. She hadn't washed her clothes since last week. The girl wiped her sleeves on the top itself, as if it would make a difference, which it never did. The rain pelted harder. Was it ever going to end?
"Ai, stay calm. They said it won't be long until you go home. Not long now. Not long at all." said the girl out loud. Ai pulled her grey ripped jumper over her. She had to go to the supermarket to 'purchase' food. She had to get soaked to the bone to survive. To survive in this cruel world.

Sirens beeped past Ai as she jumped over large puddles on the pavement. It had never rained like this before. Ai coughed as she walked into the supermarket. Normal, average people did their routine shopping within the store. Ai knew all their faces. They didn't knew hers. Ai coughed into her hand. This cold was getting worst. She noticed two strong men, which stood at the back of the store with guns. Real guns, not the plastic ones. Ai gulped. They must be the new security guards. She must not draw any attention to herself. Trolley wheels squeaked by her. A hurried mother trying to get her shopping done in time for dinner. Ai picked up a box of tissues, toilet paper, bottles of water and a bag of rice. She had been living off rice, spring onions, potatoes and any small animals she could find within the woods. Ai's throat tickled and she coughed some more. When will this cough disappear?, thought Ai.Without anyone watching her, she slipped the bag of rice up her jumper. She strolled over to the counter. She placed the items she was intending to buy on the counter. The Japanese cashier looked Ai up and down. Trying to figure out if he had saw her before. "That will be 571 Yen, please." He said. Luckily Ai had visited her grandma and she kindly gave her some Yen to live on. Unlucky for her, rice was expensive, but she had to survive somehow. Ai passed over the Yen notes to the cashier. He still had a suspicion on his mind about her. Ai stared behind him at the medicines for colds and coughs. If only she had 2,000 Yen. "Excuse me, but have I seen you before?" he asked. Ai shook her head and took her change and shopping bag from him. She smiled quickly and headed out. Before she reached the exit, a hand grabbed her on her shoulder. Ai was yanked back and the packet of rice fell out of her jumper. "Thief! Get her!" shouted the cashier, who must had been the owner of the shop. Ai quickly grabbed the rice and headed towards the rear of the store. They couldn't catch her if she was outside, she had to escape. Heavy breathing was heard from behind her. She was far too quick for them. Ai rushed out into the cold rain. She sprinted into a dark wet alleyway. Luckily for her the security guards did not see her. She heaved a great sigh of relief and disappeared into the darkness, towards her new home, the old school building that was in the outskirts of the town.

Ai yawned. She had to start making her dinner; rabbit and potato stew with boiled rice. Ai took off her soaked jumper and wet muddy shoes. She changed into her comfortable clothes which weren't ripped and her white slippers. These clothes made her feel more at home. Ai chopped up the potatoes she found in the backdoor of the abandoned building. She washed them inside a bucket that had fresh water from the only water supply that was available to her, the outside pump. She washed them in the teacher's lounge that had a small kitchen unit – with sink, a mini fridge and a small stove. The stove and fridge were unusable. Ai then gracefully skinned the rabbit, gutted it, removed its vital organs and then sliced it into pieces. She added these ingredients into a large cooking pot of hot water with extra vegetables and white rice. She placed the cooking pot on a camping stove, which she found in a cupboard, and lit it with a match. The gasoline in the camping stove ignited with the match. Ai caught her index finger of left hand in the flame. She slightly burnt it. "Ouch!" she shouted. She placed her hand in a cup of water which she hadn't used since this morning. The cold refreshing water replaced the pain with a cool sensation. "That burn cream could have come in handy right now." Ai let the cold water surrounded her finger. "Dinner is sure not easy." said Ai. The stew cooked away for twenty minutes. After all the pain from her finger, the stew was totally worth it. It tasted sensational.

Ai patted her stomach, she felt full. She yawned and placed her bowl in the sink. Life wasn't easy, but when you learn how to fend for yourself, it's much easier. She wasn't in the mood to clean the only cutlery and bowl she had, as she changed into her pyjamas which she got from a charity shop, for a cheap price. She yawned and pulled out her, not so springy mattress from underneath the mouldy wooden table. The children's desks from the old school days had long gone, and the teacher's chalk board was damaged beyond repair. The classroom made her feel more at ease as it made her feel younger. She pulled the blanket over herself as she lay down on the mattress. She stared at the ceiling.
Jason, what are you doing right now? Do you ever think of me, or dream about me? , thought Ai. Silent tears fell down her face. What if you're with another girl. Jason please don't forget about me, thought Ai. She pulled out a locket from underneath her top. It was silver and inside was two photographs. One side was her family – Her mother and father, with her cousins and her younger siblings; her sister Emi and her brother Harou. Ai was proudly standing in the middle. The other photograph was of her and Jason when they went on their first date together. Tears continued to fall down her cheek. Hopefully this won't take long, hopefully their memories will return.

Ai was awoken in the middle of the night by the sound of gun fire. Police sirens and shots were heard in the town centre. Ai clutched her blanket closer and she coughed a little as she tried to listen to the gun shots. They grew louder as if they were coming closer to her 'hideout'. Children and parents' screams were heard from the distance. "NOT MY CHILD!" screamed one mother. Gunshots were fired and the mother did not speak again. Ai gulped. Surely the children were inside their houses and not pass the curfew, unless… They entered the house instead. Their children must had 'special' abilities. Ai's body broke into a sweat. Fears invaded her mind. After the Japanese kids' next door sector, Sector JA, stopped searching for Ai, she felt more scared. The children in that sector were probably taken along with others by 'Sanctum 7' who needed children with 'special' abilities. Many of the children did not obtain these 'special' abilities the cult needed and so they were experimented on in order for the secret group to have at least some 'special' children. If the children did not have abilities they would be given some or sometimes worst disposed of. Ai shivered underneath the blankets. She didn't want to think of the cruel, torturous and foul things the group would do to those scared children. Thankfully the gun shots died down and Ai relaxed her hands up against the blanket. She prayed that night to God, that her family would be safe and that her sister and brother would never return to Japan, not until the group, Sanctum 7 was finally vanquished.

Ai stretched as she left out the back of the old school house. She pulled up her hood over her head so the local town folk could not recognise her. She grabbed her handmade bow and arrow and walked towards the woodlands. Different kinds of birds could be heard chirping away to their fellow counterparts. The native birds of Japan, such as the turtle dove, the woodpecker and the thrush were the loudest bunch. Ai took in some fresh air. She loved the clean air filling up her lungs. It made her breathing easier. She loved the outdoors and the wind blowing through her hair. A brown eagle soared above her head, where the tall trees were. She gracefully and carefully followed the bird of prey.

The eagle landed on top of a very old Japanese maple tree. A few badgers and foxes roamed the woodlands looking for grub and small creatures to prey upon. Ai spotted a small rabbit hopping around. She had to get it before the other animals got to it first. She knelt down onto the muddy ground and positioned herself perfectly to her prey. She placed her arrow inside the bow and pulled it back. It pierced the air and flew into the rabbit's neck. Right on the target. Ai never missed a shot. Ai sprinted towards it while trying to race against the eagle, the fox and the rest of the other creatures. She thankfully got to it first but not without a few scratches and screeches by the animals. Ai placed the kill in her bag and decided to head back near to the old school. Hopefully there would be woodland mushrooms and more potatoes sprouting out from the ground. She could hear the cries from the animals, as they had lost their meal. But before she left the animals; she threw the guts and the rest of the rabbits' she had left from yesterday and the week before onto the woodland floor. The animals fought it out on the woodland floor for their meal. The eagle unfortunately won that battle. It flew with the remains to its nest where its young awaited for them. Ai felt cruel but she knew life was much crueller.