Part One

Chapter 1

The high pitched shrills and voices of unseen girls wake me up, and cause my head to pound. I moan, roll over on my side and gasp as I lean my weight on my wrist causing it to burn with great pain. A pitiful noise leaves my mouth protesting everything that's occurring, from the whispering voices giving me no peace, to the horrible agony I'm feeling in my body.

I flutter my dry irritated eyes managing to open them. The room is dark making it harder to see with my already blurry sight, but I'm thankful it's dark afraid the light would cause my eyes to ache. Tears fall down my eyes onto my cheeks as I blink repeatedly trying to regain my sight. My throat I realize is on fire burning me alive from the inside out. Swallowing heightens the pain so much I fear I'll faint from it alone. I focus my mind away from the pain to breathing through my noise.

I sit up, and stretch out my sore limbs. My hair falls down around me as I sway from drowsiness. Looking down at myself the knowledge of being naked makes its way into my mind. I shriek horrified! Pulling the blanket on the bed I cover my body, all drowsiness replaced by alertness. I look around the room my eyesight now keen enough to see the crowd of women surrounding me.

They're all to close, their faces devouring any breathing space and privacy I have. I concentrate on keeping myself together, on not crying, showing no weakness in front of all these women. Looking closer I notice most don't seem to look any older than twenty-five. They're all different in size, shape, and height. The clothes they wear are risqué, revealing skin. However, there are exceptions in the crowd; few do were the normal attire of jeans and a t-shirt. But each one looks different in her own way, and still there's something that holds them all together. They radiate off a tranquil power. Something that speaks mess with me if you dare!

I accomplished to maneuver my eyes away from the crowd of women, and looked around the room. The room like I said is dark the only light coming from a lamp on the other side of the room that is hidden by the crowd of women. One my side of the room the window is covered by long sparkling purple drapes. The room is large maybe equal to the size of a master bedroom. The walls are tall and painted a dark gray, and paintings are hung all over. Paintings of mythical creatures and raging fires, of gods in the sky and fields of flowers, but mostly all are abstract.

The floor is covered by a dark brown hardwood floor instead of carpet, going throughout the room. The furniture is all black, even the bed I lay on is black. The color scheme doesn't really work for me, but it does gives of a warm vibe if nothing else.

My attention was drawn back to the crowd as I hear someone scream.

"What's going on here? All of you people out right now. NOW!"

I heard a few curse words being thrown at no one in particular. Pushing through the crowd of women, an average height girl burst forth. She appears to be still in her teens, maybe seventeen or older. She was dressed like the others except for the fact that she had a Gothic appeal that was very revealing.

A black corset with purple lacing hugged her curves showing off her ample cleavage. Her mini leather skirt hung on to her like second skin. She wears black leather boots reaching just under her knees; with the heels colored purple to match her corset finished the outfit. Finally, she pulls off bed hair like no other can. Everything about her was dark from her clothing to her jet black hair and black eyes. I was sure that her attitude matched her outside appearance perfectly. And this room was without a doubt hers.

As her eyes meet mine I saw mischief, someone who didn't exactly fit in, and doesn't follow rules. In my mind I directed myself to stay away from her. She was about to speak when another woman emerged.

She was in-contrast to the Gothic dressed girl, tall and elegantly dressed, modest unlike the others and held a quiet grace. Her red hair was pulled into a side braid falling to her waist. Her navy blue cotton knee dress fit her like a glove; she gracefully swayed as she made her way through the crowd. Her pixie like face had enormous hazel eyes, which shined with wisdom. She'd be the prettiest out of the bunch if it wasn't for the scars slashing down the left side of her face.

I stared at the horrible scars as she walked up towards me. Her face lit up as she fixed her gaze on me, her bright smile reaching my heart.

"Sister-kin," She spoke placing her hands on my shoulders. The others repeated her, all saying sister-kin together. "I am Kimberly of the Fallen."

I looked up dumbfounded. I didn't understand the whole sister-kin thing. None of these women could possibly be my sisters. And not knowing exactly where I was was starting to worry me. Had I been kidnapped by a crazy cult trying to brainwash me?

The urge to ask her what was going on was running through my mind, but my throat burned and I decided otherwise. The woman, Kimberly, reached out for my wrists once she noticed my scars, and I for the first time examined them. Scar on scar left my skin bumpy and disfigured. I had no clue how'd they'd gotten there, but the pain and red toned skin told me it occurred recently. I watched as she placed her right hand over both my wrists. For a moment nothing happened, but then a warm bright light appeared over my wrists. The light made my wrists warm, and tingly all over, and to my astonishment once she removed her hovering hand the pain was gone. Her hands moved to my throat then down to my ankles healing me of all pain as well.

I sat there, thinking, trying to accept what had just occurred. My eyes wandered back to my wrists. Looking down the scars were still there staring up at me. In that moment I wondered how they had gotten there but no memory came. Looking back up at Kimberly I thanked her, my throat hoarse, but free of pain.

She nodded turning to leave, motioning for the others to follow her lead. But before she could I stood up, pulling the blanket over my body. "Wait," I pleaded. "I want to go home now, but thank you for taking care of me."

I still didn't know what exactly what had happened to me but from the looks of it I had been through an accident leaving me with little to no memory of anything. One of the women had probably found me brought me here and cared for me. My family was probably going crazy with worry.

"You are home, sister." she spoke not bothering to turn around, but did glance at the gothic girl speaking to her with her eyes. The girl just nodded seeming to understand her body language and what her eyes spoke. I watched as she along with the rest left, leaving me all alone except for the gothic girl. She walked up to me, hips swaying and all.

" So, so, so, you're my new roommate." she said with little to no excitement. I ignored her statement knowing I could never converse with her and coexist.

" Could you just explain what's going on because I really don't remember much, and I'm starting to panic." I begged her.

For a moment sorrow seemed to flash in her eyes. She slowly walked over to her bed on the other side of the room, hidden by the crowd of women before. Her side of the room was a copy of mine. She must have been the one to decorate it. She sat down on her bed pulling off her boots and leaving them on the floor.

" First things first, I'm Elly by the way, it's spelled E. L. L. Y. But it's pronounced L.E. most of the girls don't understand why I pick that spelling, but whatever. And you are?"

I hesitated trying to remember my name; I thought hard the name on the top of my tongue. " Jolisa!" I spat out finally remembering. " Spelled J. O. L. I. S. A. and I think my mother must have chosen that spelling, but I'm not sure."

Elly burst out laughing. " Sorry your face when you said that it was so funny." She spoke through laughs. " Okay, serious time," Elly stared at my eyes. " Look down at your wrist Jolisa how do you think that happened, try and remember just like you did with your name. But a warning, the memory will probably be painful to re-live."

I nodded closing my eyes trying my best to remember. At first all I saw was darkness, nothing. I thought harder imagining the scars asking myself what happened. Slowly I conjured up images. Water. Trees. Me looking up at the sun. I could feel that I was afraid. I was also falling down, and struggling. Then I felt pain so much pain. I tried to pull out of my mind afraid, not wanting to remember, but I was stuck. Now I saw blood. Lots of blood everywhere, and then I saw myself. I was floating, just floating in my own blood, motionless. Again I tried to pull out of the memory, and succeeded.

I had fallen on the floor; Elly was looking down at me with concern. " Jolisa you okay!?" She helped me sit up. " Don't worry you don't have to remember right now just relax." I felt hot tears running down my face. My entire body was shaking.

" Elly, " I cried." What happened, what happened to me?" The tears seemed to go on forever. I didn't want to remember because I felt that something horrible had occurred to me and the feeling alone had me falling apart into pieces, but I had to know.

" I don't know the only one who does is you. The only thing I can tell you is that... you're dead."

" No," I responded my head dizzy the room spinning the floor shaking. " No."

Elly caught me as I fell no longer in control of my body. " NO Jolisa! Don't you dare faint I'm not going to be blamed for this." I felt as Elly wrapped her arms around my stomach and pulled me up along with her, dragging me to a door. Walking through the door I felt cold tiles below my feet. Heard as Elly lifted me into something also cold, and sat me down. Then water began to pour down on my head. I couldn't seem to mind being naked in front of Elly I was just too weak to deal with everything.

" Huh, Jolisa come on don't faint just breath, just breath." I wanted to do what Elly said so bad she was being nicer than I expected her to be, but me being dead, no that could be right. " I mean I haven't even told you the coolest part yet, your not just dead," Oh, no not that word again I thought.

" You're an angel, cool huh, so don't faint now. Wake up so I can show you my wings." Elly sounded so happy and serious but sadly my mind and body didn't want to believe any of this. All I wanted was to go to sleep.

Elly watched as Jolisa finally blacked out. She sighed falling to the floor hanging her head over the tub. " This isn't going to be as easy as I thought."