Hi, I just downloaded Microsoft Office (because they made it free for students) and found the original version of this chapter had a lot of spelling errors I somehow didn't catch, and they made me feel stupid, so I updated it. Hopefully, this is the error free version. I would just like to clarify one thing: I can spell, I just tend to type fast and make mistakes. Sorry about that.

Chapter One: New Beginnings for a Lost Soul

Darkness. There was no way for her to see anything. Even though she couldn't see where she was going, she somehow knew she should keep walking straight. Eventually, after what seemed like forever of walking, she saw a light, flickering a bit from far away. At this point, she didn't care how far she had to walk, all she knew was that she wanted some light. Once she got closer to the light, she sped up a little, eager to be able to see normally again. Closer and closer she got to the light, and noticed it wasn't just one. There were multiple of what she assumed were lanterns hanging from the walls. She didn't see how far they continued on, but kept walking in hopes of finding someone who could give her an idea of where she was.

Light. She found the light. Slowing down to her original pace, she looked at the walls and the lanterns, taking in as much as possible in. She looked ahead and noticed that the path she was on ended, and split into two different directions she could turn. Once she got to the turns, she looked in the direction both paths led to help her decide which one to take. They looked the same. Since they looked the same, she figured she'd end up in a similar place either way, and turned left. Now she was left to continue on walking. What she saw after a while of walking surprised her, causing her to stop walking completely.

Red. Blood? She stared at the substance on the faded gold walls. She felt a pang of fear, wondering if it was really blood and where it came from. She spun back around and started back in the opposite direction, this time to turn to the right. That didn't have much better results. The other hall was nothing compared to this one. The floors looked sticky and there was barely a sight of the wooden floor under all the red. Suddenly feeling brave, she continued walking. As she kept walking, the hall looked steadily cleaner, but the lights seemed to be getting dimmer and dimmer. That hall came to a stop eventually, but there was no turn. Instead, there was a door. What caught her attention was the small box that looked like something you would put a tiny gift in. Her curiosity taking over, she picked the box up. She pulled the top off. All that was inside was a folded slip of paper, smaller than an index card and a key. She took the paper and key out and dropped the box on the floor. The key, she decided, would stay in her pocket until she read the paper, which wasn't very long. The paper contained one word.

Boo.

She looked at the paper, flipping it over, but only met with blank white. Wondering what this could mean, she pulled the key out of her pocket. The dark golden colour matched the colour of the little designs on the lighter golden walls. She looked at the key, finally connecting it belonged to the door in front of her. Even though she knew whatever was behind the door might be dangerous, she went closer to the door anyway. Before putting the key in the lock, she gently tried to turn the knob to make sure it was locked. Which it was. Then, she put the key into the lock.

She never got to see what was behind the door. Obviously she had been dreaming, but why was she now laying on the ground in the middle of the woods. She tried to sit up, but immediately fell back down, extremely dizzy. Then she heard a voice.

Your name is Serenity. Someone will eventually come along to guide you. Follow them. It is what's right for you.

Confused, Serenity tried to sit up again, this time succeeding.

"What?" She asked, expecting an explanation but gaining none.

"Well isn't that just wonderful." She mumbled to herself after finding she'd get no response.

Slowly, Serenity stood up, holding a tree for support at first, not really trusting her balance. After it was clear she wouldn't tumble over, she walked slowly out of the forest, looking at the moon.

Outside of the forest, the world was covered in white, and there were tombstones everywhere.

This is a graveyard. She thought.

Serenity walked through the graveyard, reading the names and dates on the stones, wondering about each persons past and thinking of how they could've got there. Knowing eventually she would end up outside of the graveyard, she continued walking and reading the names and dates. Nothing stopped her until she came to an awfully familiar name.

Serenity Faith Overland

December 15, 1719 - December 16, 1732

Then she remembered. Her brother Jackson Overland. He took Serenity ice skating, but only one of them ever made it back home. He saved her but she couldn't return the favour to her brother. Serenity sat in front of her stone, wondering why she was buried, but sitting in front of her name and date at the same time. She didn't even know how long she was asleep.

Asleep.

Serenity needed time to be alone, away from her parents. Today marked three years since her brother died, taking her skating after her birthday. She walked on to the frozen lake where her brother died, sitting on the ice, thinking of all the good things they did together that she could never experience again. Tears dripped down her face and onto the ice. She got up from the ice, and walked into the woods where a lot of the time with her brother was spent. The trees above her kept snow from falling onto floor under the trees, giving her a dry place to sit. Somehow, she dozed off, laying on the ground outside asleep.

But when she woke up things were never the same again.

Serenity jumped up as fast as she could and ran out of the graveyard. She didn't want the bad memories back. She didn't want to feel guilt for her brother's death anymore. She ran and didn't stop until she was so far past the graveyard she couldn't see it. Outside of the graveyard was an empty road. She stopped for a moment to catch her breath, and looked behind her. There, a dark figure stood, leaning against a tree.

"Hello, Serenity."

I would appreciate it if you would leave a review, telling me what you thought, any recommendations, suggestions, etc. It took me a while to write this and it's not even that long, but I'd like to know how I did. Thanks.

-Sixx