Chapter 1

"Never have I fallen, but I am quick on my way. You hold a heart in your hands that has never before been given away".
-Rex A. Williams, Never Have I Fallen

She knew she had to hurry, and she was trying. Though why she was rescuing a strange man that she just met she didn't know, but Mika felt a need to help him. There was obviously something wrong, as he couldn't really remember what happened to him. So maybe he had a serious case of amnesia. In that case, she knew it'd be wise to take him to a hospital, but there wasn't one for miles around and his injuries could've been critical. But they didn't seem to be. He admitted his back was mostly injured (From a fall perhaps?) and of course he had the amnesia, both of which would probably go away with time. Either way, Mika was determined to help him.

She assumed it was probably something her father had drilled into her head as a child. Trust no one, but if they're need of help, by all means, help. It was a lesson she didn't forget, even if she didn't get visitors often. Besides, she was curious about this stranger named for the Norse god of mischief. The girl knew her myths, that was for sure, and figured if he was anything like his namesake, she'd need to keep an eye on him. Finally she arrived at the house and got into the car, which was simply an old truck that once belonged to her father.

Mika felt like she almost tore the door off the driver's side of the truck, as she was in a hurry to get back to the church and find Loki. Hopefully he'd still be there…

Meanwhile, Loki hadn't moved. He didn't feel like moving all that much, simply because of the pain he knew would come with it. Hopefully the girl, Mika, would be back soon. He stared up at the ceiling and closed his eyes thoughtfully, once again trying to remember. Try as he might, he failed. It was almost like there was a block in his mind, keeping him from remembering anything. Maybe it'd go away with time…but what if it was permanent? He almost felt himself panic at the thought, but kept himself calm. It couldn't be permanent, amnesia typically wasn't, was it? Exhausted from the effort, he felt himself pass out again…

"Wonderful…he's out again" Mika rolled her eyes in annoyance.

At this rate, she was never going to get Loki back to the house. She knew they couldn't stay there, but she couldn't carry him (nor had the heart to drag him) to the truck. So all she could think to do was wait. Mika sat down next to him and decided to wait for a time. Hopefully he'd wake soon and they'd be able to go home where she could take better care of him.

It brought back memories of her childhood to be honest. She'd find an injured animal in the forest and bring it home with her for her and her father to take care of. One pet, Inari the fox, had made the small house his home. He hardly ever went inside though, preferring to stay under the outside porch unless there was bad weather. Only then would the little black fox make his way inside.

But this time it was different. She was bringing home a man…a man! God, if her father was alive today…Mika grinned and then chuckled at the thought. Her laughter was brief though, as she remembered he always thought she'd never do something like that. Sighing, she looked down at the one she was finding herself taking care of.

He didn't look troubled, but there was something going on under his calm, peaceful demeanor. Like his body was passed out, but his mind was still trying to process something. She wondered if that was how all people looked when they were unconscious. Mika found it, for some odd reason, personally troubling. Part curious, part concerned, the young woman reached out to touch him, but was surprised when it felt like he pulled away from her touch. Something wasn't right…

He saw many different things, felt different emotions. Anger, neglect coursed through him, rendering him to nothing but a creature whose misery shook him to the core. He felt his sanity destroy itself, feeding that misery. In a way it frightened, liberated, and felt so familiar to him. But how? How did he know it? Who was he? Where was he from? Where was he going? These questions and more burned in him, making his mind and heart ache at the same time until cold darkness surrounded him and once again he was left with nothing.

Loki cringed inwardly, fearing what he'd feel next. His breathing was slightly labored and his whole body wracked with pain. He wanted to scream, to call for help, but nothing would come out. He felt paralyzed and helpless. He still didn't know anything and every time he tried to remember, bad things would happen. What was the point?!

Then, out of the darkness, he felt something warm brush against his face. It felt strange and he pulled away from it for just a moment, fearing it too was something negative. But this touch, though it reached him in this strange state of unconsciousness, didn't feel bad. Rather, he found himself enjoying it. When it pulled away, he opened his eyes…

Startled, Mika jumped away from him, her blue eyes wide and heart racing. For a brief moment she saw Loki's eyes flash a bright emerald green and then go back to their own blue tinge. Odd…

"Are…are you okay?" she asked, "You just scared the hell out of me".
"I'm…I'm fine. For the most part, at least. Did you just touch me?"
"Um…uh…"
"It's okay if you did. It's weird 'cause I felt it".
"But you were unconscious".
"I know. What makes it even stranger is that I felt like…like I was someone else".
"Someone else?"
"I don't know. I guess I'm trying too hard to remember anything. I take it, we're going back to your home, right?"
"Yeah" Mika looked just a little freaked out but was starting to calm down.

Sure he was strange, but he seemed nice, almost harmless. In fact, when he was out, he actually looked, albeit unwillingly, vulnerable. Right now he looked unsure of himself and the world around him, but underneath that she could feel something greater. It almost made her worry about what exactly she was getting herself into. Mika helped him to his feet and found he was actually much taller than she was. It was hard not to feel intimidated for a moment, but his slight smile made her feel more comfortable and she found herself not wanting to let go of his hand.

They stared at their entwined hands for a moment before awkwardly breaking contact and looking away.

"Sorry" she said.
"Oh it's alright. I like your hands actually. They're tiny, like the rest of you"

Mika laughed and felt herself get hot. Granted, she'd been called small and short before, but coming from him it just sounded…funny.

"Thanks. Let's get home before I change my mind about bringing you in".
"You wouldn't".
"Don't test me".
"I know you wouldn't".
"How?"
"You're not the type".
"The type?" Mika puzzled.
"The type of person who would leave another person behind. It's a gift and a curse I think".
"Yeah. Dad always said it'd get me in trouble one of these days. Now c'mon, let's go home. Hopefully we can do something about your back. Does it still hurt?"
"The pain is less, but not much of an improvement".
"Still uncomfortable, huh?"

Loki nodded and followed her out to the truck, his thoughts the same as hers: What were they getting into here?

A/N: I know, not as long as the prologue, but I tried. So anyway, I'm doing something unique with this story. Usually I put in song lyrics at the start of each chapter as music is a big inspiration for my stories, but this time, I'm doing love poems and stuff. Anyway, review guys, really. They're a big help to me. The more reviews I get, the more I'm motivated to make a new chapter. Thanks a ton.
-Amari