After so long here is chapter 4. I hope it will keep you entertained until next chapter. please please review :D xx

Chapter 4

"Luce, oh thank god, there you are!"

Luce had found herself dropped into an alternate universe it would seem, since these people around her knew her but she didn't know them.

She stood in the corner of a small, neat living room in what looked to be a new house. Next to her was the fireplace and in front of her were stairs to the next floor. Behind her was the front door. It was like she had just walked in. She cast an awkward glance out the window next to her. It was snowing and opposite was a field that stretched on for miles she guessed. There were lights on around the room and now she was more aware, a christmas tree in the opposite corner, twinkling fairy lights wrapped around it.

"So? Where have you been? Did you get the foil i asked for?" A petite older woman with faded blonde hair and wearing a red cardigan with leggings, stood in front of her, her wide blue eyes and thin mouth eager in excitement. Her rosy cheeks glowed in the dim lighting. Luce could smell alcohol on her. She had a sort of faded English accent. Almost transatlantic.

"Um," Luce half began to ask who they were but before she could speak the woman cut her off.

"Never mind, dear. I'll get Jackie to go out. Come sit down, you look frozen."

She was led to a lounge chair next to the christmas tree and handed a hot cup of tea. Luce smiled as she took it and sipped. It was nice and she realised she was cold. Clearly winter and all she wore was a thin v-neck sweater with jeans and sneakers. Her hair was down and just over her shoulders. As she looked, it was a deep chestnut brown. Not quite as dramatic as the black she had before, but certainly different.

"Thanks," muttered Luce after the woman left her. She was trying to understand where she was. Obviously in her past, but that didn't help much. She decided to listen out for names.

"Oh Jackie, dear, would you be a doll and go get some tin foil for the turkey?" asked the lady who had first spoken to Luce. The girl who seemed to be Jackie was no older than herself, had long blonde hair with the odd curl in place and wore a short pink strapless dress with fur boots. She grabbed a jacket from the end of the stairs, grunted as a response and stomped out of the house. Well, that was interesting, thought Luce.

So one person down. As she sat there, taking in her surroundings, she looked at the other people around the living room. A couple sat on the couch opposite the TV, holding each others hands and looking into their eyes. Couldn't have been older than mid 30's and seemed the homey type. However she had no idea if they were from this home or just friends of the family. Also she didn't know if she was a friend of the family or in the family. She continued to sip her still hot tea and gazed at the carpet. Midnight blue with stars. The TV was playing some old comedy.

"Mom, do you want me to bring the- Oh, hey Luce, I didn't hear you get back." A young girl about 16 came down the stairs but stopped when she saw Luce. She smiled excitedly and after a second, jumped the last few steps and bounced her way over to her.

"Marianne, what did i tell you?" said the older lady, who seemed to be her mom. Clearly the lady wasn't as old as she appeared to be.

Marianne looked sad for a moment and bowed her head, "No running or jumping. I know, mom."

Her mom smiled, "Only when we have guests, sweetie. When they leave, you can jump all you like, so long as you don't break anything."

Marianne cheered at that and yanked on Luce's arm to pull her up. She had to quickly put her tea down before it spilled all over her and went along with Marianne through the living room and up the stairs to what appeared to be her bedroom. "Luce?" Luce jumped a step back and stared at Marianne. "Hey, what's wrong? You seem really...jumpy."

Marianne's bedroom was pretty; with light pink walls and a subtle yellow flower print carpet and matching bed spread. Luce went to sit down on the bed next to Marianne. "I'm sorry. I'm.. just tired, i guess."

Marianne smiled sympathetically for a second before casually lying down on her double bed. Luce stayed sat up and stared out of the window the bed was facing.

"I shouldn't be here," Luce said wistfully, looking out at the fields surrounding the house.

Marianne looked wide eyed at her... whatever relation Luce was supposed to be. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... oh i don't know what i mean," sighed Luce, now looking down at Marianne with a weak smile. "I'm just being stupid, just ignore me."

Marianne smiled against and sat up, "Okay," she said cheerily, "Wanna play a game?"

Luce looked helplessly out of the window one last time before nodding lightly. "What kind of game?"

Marianne bounced up off the bed, "I dunno. Erm, how about truth or dare?" Luce looked sceptical.

"Don't you need more than two people to play that?" A lost look from Marianne said yes, but she didn't care. "Ugh okay then," Luce said reluctantly, "You go first."

From the looks of things, Luce didn't think it such a good idea for Marianne to go first. Especially if it was truth.

"Okay," she said, "Truth."

Snap! Thought Luce. Just what i was trying to avoid.

"Okaaay..." mumbled Luce.

"Why are you acting so hesitantly today? Yes i know big words." Marianne added with a grin.

"I dunno," said Luce, "I told you, i'm just tired."

"Tell me the truth! I'd know my cousin. I know you. You're always so bubbly and cheery. You're never this removed from reality.. so come on," she added when Luce wasn't showing signs of giving, "Give!"

"You wouldn't believe me even i did tell you. It's not something that just pops up in everyday conversation."

"It's still part of the game so come on! Pleeeease?" begged Marianne.

Luce folded her hands whilst she fought the torment inside of her, telling her she shouldn't say anything because if she did they'd freak out and she'd have to explain the shadow that would appear through the window as soon as that happened.

"I..." she looked to the window as her mind wandered through questions like "why am i here?" "what do i do?" "When will Cam or Daniel catch up?" and lastly, "Can i stay here?"

No shadow appeared but she knew she wouldn't be able to stay in that parallel world she'd appeared in. it wasn't her world. It wasn't her true family and she knew as much as they wouldn't know any different, Luce would. She'd know she didn't belong in their time. That out there was her real family and her real friends. Back... there.

"Luce?" Marianne sat in front of her with her legs crossed and a weird expression of expectance on her young face.

She shook her head, "Yeah? Sorry. Okay i'll tell you. I won't get to stay anyway," Marianne stared at her, confused. "Okay so i'm from a different world. I've some how been brought to the past when i stood through a shadow, well, they're called Announcers, but yeah."

A blank face from Marianne made the silence that came almost heartbreaking. She knew the explanation was lame. So lame in fact even Luce herself didn't understand. She didn't think she ever really would.

"Huh?" was the only response she got from her cousin after that ragged truth.

"Yes, well. I guess it's my turn now... Truth or-"

"What was that?" asked Marianne, coming together in mind and voice once again.

"That was my truth," Luce answered honestly. That much was true.

"So you're what, an alien?" she asked incredulously. "Are you freaking kidding me? What have you been-"

"Marianne, i'm not joking." Luce cut in. "I might have a shitty way of explaining the current situation but lying is not what i'm doing. I really probably should go.. I'm-" Her palms were sweaty and suddenly she spotted an eerie darkness outside of the window. And it was only 4pm.

"Shit!" cursed Luce before her so called cousin could reply. "I'm so sorry, i have to go.."

"WAIT! Where are you going?" asked Marianne, a desperate plea in her voice for answers.

"Home." was all Luce could say. Although that wasn't really the truth. She had no intentions to go home just yet. She still needed to figure out about Daniel and Cam. And Miles. Thinking of him made her heart hurt suddenly. She'd left them all so suddenly. They must be so sad.

In what felt like a millisecond, a shadow appeared, she stretched it, not looking back at Marianne who was crying. She stepped through the portal and in a blackness that swallowed her whole, she wished to go some place calming.