Life as We Know It

Phase I: Through the window

I sat silently, watching the winds pick up, thunder and lightning rolling in with startling clarity. The rain beat down within seconds, pinging against the glass as I gazed out the window. I watched as the heavens darkened, turning the skies above me almost completely black. I absently wandered if a tornado was not far behind, thinking of the dank, dirty storm shelter underneath the house. I sighed, my shoulders drooping in boredom. I knew I would brave going down there if need be.

I was only 19, I didn't want to die!

I swallowed as the storm strengthened, pounding down on my mom's house as I stared out the window. I moved away after a moment, wariness and apprehension settling behind my breastbone as I moved to the couch. I watched the storm rage outside from the safe distance, absently wandering where my mother was. She had ran to the store over an hour ago! She should be back by now.

I scowled as another thought hit me. She probably decided to stay in the safety of the store, instead of coming home to make sure I was alright. I shook my head, letting out a heavy sigh. Ever since I had turned eighteen, it seemed like my mother had...lost interest in me. I graduated from high school a year early, so I didn't have that to take up my time, and I wasn't leaving for college until the fall. My mother seemed not to know what to do with me. I bit my lip, absently picking up a book off the coffee table, flipping through it for a moment before realizing it was one of my mothers' "Beauty" books, and sat it back down. She always complained that I cared more about my grades than my looks.

Well Duh!

Where were my looks going to get me if I was dumb, ignorant, and ditzy?

I silenced the little taunting voice in my head, the one whispering that maybe I was adopted, or I was an alien. I chuckled a little, imagining my mothers' face if that were true. The second part. The first would explain a lot of things actually. But no, I was a full Carmichael. Had the birth certificate and hospital pictures to prove it. I shook my head, dispelling those melancholy thoughts, listening to the storm beat down on the roof. I actually liked storms.

But this one had me slightly scared.

I didn't know if it was the unusual weather, or the intensity of the rain and lightning coming down, or the fact that every time I heard a boom of thunder, my heart thudded in my chest. It was so uncharacteristic of me, to be afraid of a storm. I didn't know what to think, and that's probably what led me to do the stupidest thing I have ever done in my life.

I went out onto the porch.

I sat in the rocker by the door, bending one knee on the seat and resting my head against my kneecap. My fingers clenched every few seconds, every time an earth shattering boom rendered the air, followed by a pop. It sounded so unnatural, not at all like a normal storm. And believe me, in North Dakota, we got a lot. Especially up near the mountains. The hair on the back of my arms stood on end, my scalp tightening as my body shook somewhat. I swallowed, frozen for a moment as I listened to the rage of mother nature before deciding to get up and go back into the house. It was stupid of me to come out here, especially with weather like this.

Another earth shattering boom rendered the air, my eyes widening as I watched lightning streak across the sky. It was intense, to say the least. And I was mesmerized by the orange tinted bolts shooting above me. I watched one skirt across the clouds, disappearing above me before another appeared. I stood frozen for a moment, watching its descent towards earth.

My eyes widened when it suddenly changed course, heading straight towards me. A scream ripped from my throat as bright white light blinded me, listening to the echo of my screams as heat enveloped my body, scorching me from the inside.

I didn't feel anything else after that.

I woke up in a daze, feeling something hard and cold against my cheek. I realized a moment later I was laying on asphalt. My brows furrowed in confusion, a groan coming out of me as I slowly moved, my whole body aching. I gasped, trying to prop up on an elbow. My whole body shook, and I fell back to the ground a moment later, a small cry coming out of me. I was too weak to even move! I blinked a few times, trying to clear my vision as I looked around. Slight fear coursed through me as I looked behind me, studying the two building on either side of me, watching the cars go past, their lights shining against the brick for a few seconds before disappearing.

I was laying in an alley.

What the hell!? I let a small, terrified breath out, attempting to sit up once more. I finally scooted up onto my behind, the cold of the ground beneath me making me shiver. I swallowed with difficulty, wincing at the slight pain at the base of my neck. I jerked my head around when I heard something sounding like a footstep. My breath hitched painfully, my lungs screaming for oxygen as I stared wide-eyed into the darkness behind me. I swallowed loudly, my breath hitching slightly.

"Is...Is someone there?"

I strained my ears, trying to hear something, anything indicating someone was in the alley with me. A shudder raked my body. Possibly watching me. That had me staggering to my feet, small huffs of breath coming out of me as I fell against one of the buildings, taking a shaky step towards the street. I had to lay a hand against the wall as I moved, not fast enough for my racing mind to conjure up all sorts of images, each more morbid than the last. I softly sobbed with relief when I practically fell out of the alley, almost knocking down a woman walking passed, her arm around a blond man.

"Watch it, gutter trash!"

I ignored the nasty comment, and the disgusted look she sent me before they walked away, both laughing and glancing over their shoulders before disappearing around the corner. I leaned against the front of a building, gulping big breaths as I tried to get my terrified mind under control.

Okay! How the hell did I end up in an alley, in God knows what town!? Where was I at anyway? I looked around, a disbelieving sob escaping me as I noticed the Japanese writing on a billboard attached to the top of a low roofed business. No fucking way! I was in Japan! How the...what...I shook my head in disbelief, not wanting to believe that I traveled halfway around the world without knowing it.

Was this a joke!? Was my mother secretly laughing at me, watching from a parked car? I looked around, half expecting her amused face to greet me from one of the parked cars around me. It seemed like something she would do. She always liked to try to play pranks on me, although this was a little more elaborate than I believed her capable of. I looked around again, slowly making my way towards the corner of the street, not seeing a soul that I recognized. I paused at the corner, laying my head against the bricks before glancing around. I didn't have any clue where I was. I peeked around the corner, noticing some people standing outside a restaurant, even more people further down the sidewalk, seeming to be waiting to get into some kind of club. I swallowed, really wishing I had some money right now. I could get something to eat, wash a little of the grime off me from the alley, and possibly sleep in a little motel. That reminded me. What the heck was I gonna do, with no money, no where to stay, and no clue of how I ended up in this situation. I could easily blame this on alcohol, but I don't drink!

I swallowed with difficulty, watching the three men standing outside the restaurant as they filed into a taxi, disappearing through the streets within minutes. I sank to the sidewalk, folding my arms around my raised knees and burying my head. I didn't know what I was going to do.

"Hey, do you need some help?"

I lifted my head at the question, jerking to attention at the sight of a man standing in front of me, leaning casually against the street sign. I swallowed, my shoulders hunching in defensiveness, crossing my arms.

"Who are you?" I asked quietly, feeling the hard brick dig into my back as I pressed up against it.

The man's hands shot up in surrender, smiling at me. "I just wandered if you needed help is all. You looked lost."

I eyed the man, studying his eyes for several minutes, warning bells going off in my brain. I slowly shook my head, sliding away from him as I spoke.

"No thanks. I'm fine," I stated firmly, swallowing as I turned away from the man, quickly putting distance between us.

"Fine. Whatever you say," I heard him murmur, looking over my shoulder to make sure he hadn't followed me. I felt myself relax somewhat at the sight of him still leaning against the pole, watching me walk away. I quickened my pace, my sights set on the brightly lit restaurant in front of me. I almost felt relief flood through me as I got within a few feet of the front door, feeling my shoulders sag.

I was roughly jerked into the alley beside the restaurant, bright lights flashing before my eyes as my head smacked the brick wall. I felt bruising hands on my arms, holding me immobile. It took a second for me to process this, before I opened my mouth to scream. Whoever had me took advantage of my disorientation, covering my mouth with his hand as I let a scream out. I blinked the brightness away, thrashing and trying to get out of the persons' hold. I heard him mutter a curse, realizing a moment later it was the man who had asked me if I needed help. I let another scream out as I threw a punch at his jaw, the man muffling it once more before smacking me against the wall a second time. My vision went black for a moment, vaguely feeling my back hit the pavement as he threw me on the ground. He dragged me further into the alley, away from prying eyes. My body felt paralyzed, I couldn't move! A choked sob came out of me as I started struggling, listening to the mans' harsh breath in my ear as he leaned over me. A shriek burst from my lips as he ripped my shirt, almost exposing my bra to his gaze.

"Let me go! Leave me alone!" I tried to scream, but the words were lost underneath his rough palm, his fingers digging into my cheeks as he tried to jerk my pants down. I tried crying out, a sob ripping from my throat as I closed my eyes.

The harsh grip suddenly disappeared, my body shaking as my mind registered the sound of a sickening thud smacking the wall. I didn't open my eyes to see what it was, was too afraid to. A soft sob escaped me as I curled up into the fetal position, finally cracking my eyes open to see what happened, half expecting the man and some friends to be surrounding me.

There was no one there.

My sob cut off abruptly in my surprise, slowly lifting my head to look around.

"Don't you know not to talk to strangers."

I jumped as the voice echoed around me, my eyes darting around erratically, my heart thumping in my chest. Oh God! Who was that!

I scooted back, swallowing in terror when I didn't see anyone. My heart almost stopped when a man stepped out of the darkness, appearing only a few feet away from me. He looked down at me with a serious expression shadowing his features, his eyes narrowed slightly as his face stayed mostly in darkness. I heaved in a breath, silently praying this man didn't attack me. I noticed the definition in his arms, the power radiating off him. I could tell he wasn't one to be messed with. I scooted away from him in fear, my eyes riveted to him as my back hit the wall, clenching a fist around my gaping shirt. I saw his muscles move, and flinched, ducking my head as I squeezed my eyes shut. A moment later something practically smacked my in the face, the fabric hanging off my head for a moment before I pulled it off.

It was a shirt.

I jerked my head up, my breath hitching in my throat at the small kindness. I scrambled up onto my feet, my gaze darting left to right.

"Hello?"

Silence greeted me, my ears ringing with the intensity of it.

The man was gone.