1Author's note- Hannah time! Ok so remember if u review, I'll read n review 1 of your stories of your choice, or I'll write you a one-shot, with whatever idea you want, or you can ask for something else! sorry this has taken a while, I have been away and have had some writer's block, so I decided I'm just gonna see how it turns out. Also let me know if the characters are a bit off in any way. I don't mind criticism. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: If HoaLotsAtla owns anything, it's Hannah and her ideas otherwise the rest of the story goes to its respected owners. Good day to you now.
Hannah POV:
Apparently, I got the letter six weeks, after my favorite cousin was considered missing. Who ever thought you could've grown up from ten to thirty-five in the matter of the time it takes to read a letter. Yeah, I grew up fast. Now, when I play a game of kick ball, it seems so trivial, whimsical, childish.
British people. Ugh. How rude of them to give us a letter six weeks after Nina went missing. It's been two weeks since Gran and I got the letter. Today's the funeral.
Speaking of the last two weeks, they've been really rough. Gran had a heart attack when we got the letter. I had just got home from school and saw Gran on the floor. . .
Flashback
The day has been so long! I have so much homework to do, thank goodness for grandma's homemade cookies! Mmm, I can taste them already, I thought to myself.
I was a fifth grader at Memorial Middle School. Today was Friday and as always they loaded us with homework since we had all weekend to do it. Blah. The only teacher who didn't give us homework was Mr. Mercer. He's the best. He let's us watch cartoons for social studies.
"Gran!" I called to the seemingly empty house, "I'm home!" I continued walking through the house, confused as to why I didn't get a response, nor did I smell any chocolate chip cookies.
I dropped my bag next to the door, and quickly took off my flip flops -which were much better to walk in, considering it's May, but that's not important. I went to the kitchen, passing the living room and the dining room.
Knowing she would be in there, I said, "Hey, Gran, I'm home,"
I entered the kitchen expecting, a big hug instead of a verbal "hello".
But that's not what laid before me.
I entered the kitchen seeing the kitchen perfectly clean, the stove off, but the water was running. I spun around thinking Gran was trying to be sneaky, or she was engrossed in her daily crossword puzzle, or if none of those, just zoning out.
Instead I saw something I never expected. Gran was laying on the floor, her eyes closed, and her breathing was ragged, a letter was laying a few feet away few feet away from her unconscious body.
I screamed and panicked. I may have passed out for a few seconds, because next thing I know, I'm on the floor. Geez I'm ten years old, lost my mom at seven, and I was expecting to see my Gran baking cookies, and giving me a hug. What do you expect me to do? What do you think I was thinking? I'll tell you.
My mind was racing with one sentence. She's dead. She's dead. She's dead. She's dead. She's . . .
Since I was still in shock, and my mind wasn't working expect for repeating eight letters filled with misery, those two words that make up one horrible sentence, I did the one thing I was taught to do in an emergency.
I let out the loudest, high-pitched, blood curdling scream, ever.
And I did it again, and again, and again.
Just as I was catching my breath to release another scream, heard pounding at the door. I ran out seeing my neighbor, Gary, he was about fifty-ish, and he watches out for us. I started thinking about what my appearance was like to him -sorry, I can't help it.
Well lets take a guess. My crazy wavy blond hair was all tangled. My brown eyes were wide with fright, probably giving off the illusion of a deer caught in the head lights. My face was as pale as ghost, and that must be kind of creepy considering I'm really tan. I must of been shaking like I had hyperthermia, and I must of looked very fragile. Who would of thought that me, fearless, smart, and the fashionista of the middle school, would look like this?
"Hannah, what's the matter sweetie?" Gary asked gently.
I couldn't respond. I was shaking and whimpering too much.
"Shhhh, don't cry, take some deep breaths," he instructed.
I didn't know I was crying. I brought my hands to my face, I felt something wet, I pulled my hand back, and stared at the tear, startled.
Then I tried taking deep breaths, I failed, and instead started taking huge gulping breaths again. He seemed to notice this, and realized that he should probably just figure out what's making me like this.
Gary sighed and said, "Okay, why don't you just show me what happened?" he suggested. I nodded and walked numbly to the kitchen. When we were there, I looked over at Gran and started sobbing. He jumped surprised by a new round of tears and turned to see what I was staring at.
I watched his reaction. His eyes went wide, he gasped, and what could be called an "oh" sound.
I looked at the clock and realized that I should go check the mail, it would've been here a little before I got home. I sighed, and really didn't care. I was more focused on how this could've only happened in three minutes.
I was shocked out of my numb thinking by almost being trampled on by Gary. I turned around and watched him scamper to our phone and call 9-1-1. I heard him tell the operator that Gran was barely holding on.
I walked to my room denying how drastic the situation really was. I turned on my computer and just let my fingers type. I got about ten minutes in, before Gary asked me if there was any place I could stay for the night.
I thought about it for a minute. I didn't want to invade in anyone's space, but I had to stay somewhere! I decided I'd go to Angela's. She was the one who is sympathetic, yet not too much. Someone I could vent to and she would cheer me up.
I went to her place and we had chocolate ice cream while watching chick flicks. At school she was the queen, we were best friends. She had brown curly hair with wide, innocent, blue eyes. Thank goodness that she has a mind as well, I can't stand stupid people.
We watched Letters To Juliet and Dear John before we had to go to bed.
****SATURDAY****
At about noon-ish I went to see my Gran she was coming in and out of consciousness, every time asking about some sort of letter. I had no clue what it meant.
Gary brought me and told me that she had a heart attack. He said she would be okay. Thank goodness. When we left Gary whispered something to my Gran since she was awake. Then he showed her a piece of paper and she closed her eyes, and shook her head sadly.
"I can't believe it," she whispered.
"Should I tell her?" He asked.
"No, I will, when I come home, which will be tomorrow. Can you get her a place to stay for tonight though?" Gran asked Gary.
"I told um, Angela's mother the situation, she said she could stay there again. So I'll bring her over there after this," Gary told Gran.
She nodded, and whispered, "thank you."
He nodded and we left.
Later that afternoon, after a few hours of playing we watched more movies. This time it was Matilda, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, and then we watched season one of Vampire Dairies! We also had strawberry ice cream this time.
That night I couldn't sleep. I was afraid of the dark. Well not really the dark, more like what's in the dark. After watching Vampire Dairies, you start thinking that Katherine, may come out and kill you. Okay few things you should know about me.
1. I believe in the impossible, ghosts, witches, werewolves, and of course vampires.
2. I love fantasy, reading, and writing.
3. I am not your average girl. I have seen a ufo, and I believe my mom's ghost, as well.
Flashback in a flashback,
We were watching New Moon. By we, I mean, my mommy, Gran, Nina, and I. Gran was by the window. The werewolves were out, and Gran didn't like werewolves. Nina was telling me why she believed in the supernatural. We both were only paying half attention, considering we had both seen the movie many times. And I'm five!
"Hey! Fireworks!" Gran said excitedly. Then her face fogged in confusion.
Nina got up excitedly and held me up so I could see, she was eleven, so we could be left alone together, which means she watches out for me no matter what.
Mommy went to the window with Gran, and Nina and I went to the door, since it was our height.
"Are you sure that's a firework, Mom?" Mommy asked Gran, we had been watching the 'firework' for a few seconds and it still hadn't dissipated.
"Not anymore, am I dreaming?" Gran asked no one in particular.
"Not unless were all dreaming the same thing," Mommy said.
"Actually, if this were a dream, then we could see what Gran was seeing since it was her dream. She could have her mind make us confused as herself," Nina said, logically. While Gran smiled proudly, and Mommy looked lost.
"Nina, you over-complicate things too much," Mommy said, and Nina grinned.
"No she doesn't, she just thinks logically, and outside the box," Gran argued.
"She's like her mother in that way," Mommy said, talking about her sister who died two years after I was born. I loved Auntie Katrina. I turned my head towards Nina knowing how sad she gets when someone brings up her parents'.
"Yes she is, but that's a good thing," Gran said looking over at Nina worriedly. Nina forced a grin.
After that all was silent, then Gran spoke up, "So, I'm not dreaming?"
"Don't think so," Mommy said, at the same time Nina said, "probably not; nope."
"So, what is it?" I asked. Everyone looked at me.
"I don't know," Gran said.
"Ha," Nina laughed, "it's a ufo! An unidentified flying object!"
"I think it is," Gran said.
"Why is it just hovering?" Mommy asked.
"Maybe it's aliens," Nina said seriously and thoughtfully, "I mean why would a space craft just hover, what's with a the red and green lights on the side, and I have never seen any military craft formed in a circle, so the question that we can never answer is, what is it?" Nina finished.
I cannot believe someone used logic to prove that the supernatural is real.
Every time after that, Nina told me she stayed up, and the space craft was there. And one day, it just disappeared.
Ufo flashback over
So yeah, don't judge me. Eventually I feel asleep, convincing myself (not really) that Katherine wasn't standing right next to me, about to kill me in my sleep.
****SUNDAY NIGHT****
We had been sitting and talking, reading, and I finished the odd horror story I started. It was about a girl named Zerlina, who turned into this sand monster. I never knew I could write something like this. Or something so descriptive.
I had just finished singing Nina and I's second favorite song, that isn't in anyway related to The Band Perry, also known as 'Someone Like You' by Adele.
When Nina and I sing, were deep into the song. We're not ourselves. I think that's what I miss most, Nina and I's singing sessions everyday after school.
Anyways I was explaining how Nina and I are different, when singing. You see were almost always mumbling, but once we got into singing, Gran used to tease us by saying that she could her us outside, it was true too.
Nina is a great person, though. She made those sessions for me. When she got into new music we sang it, along with the old too. No matter what it was. Those sessions were much better than the therapy I had gone too. Gran took me out because Nina's sessions were better than that. . .
Another flashback,
Nina was in seventh grade, working on her physics homework. She had major trouble with physics, and I didn't want to interrupt her, but I was mad! That mean guy stole my pudding cup! (A/n Hannah is in third grade) Then when I threatened to tell on him he said, that I was only like this because my 'STUPID' parents were dead!
Argh! Ugh! And I don't even have my therapy sessions today, so I can only vent to Nina, who I hate interrupting because she's nice, and will do anything for me.
"Ugh! Stupid homework," I heard Nina mutter to herself, and I giggled. I couldn't help it she's funny when she's frustrated.
Her head snapped up. Then she sighed with relief.
"Hey, Hannah, it's just you, Gran's bowling and won't be home for another hour or two, and I'm assuming Mrs. Smith dropped you off. One more thing, don't ever laugh at me again, or you'll get it," Nina said, smiling at the end.
I giggled again when she turned her head away and frowned at her homework. She turned back to me, smiling.
"Now what did I just say?" She asked.
"Not to laugh at you," I told her.
"And what did you just do?" She asked me.
"I giggled at you," I said, confident. She told me I couldn't laugh, not that I couldn't giggle.
"And isn't that the same as laughing?" She questioned.
"Nope," I said, smirking.
"Well, it's in that category, and since your much more entertaining than my homework, and I can tell something's on your mind, you better start running. I don't care where. And I'll even give you a ten second head start," she told me.
"1, 2, 3, 4. . ." she started counting, and I dropped my bag running outside laughing.
I ran to the side of the house waiting for Nina to appear, I zipped up my hoodie, since it was a crisp fall day. Seconds later Nina came out.
"Better start running!" She shouted to no one, except for the person she was playing with, me.
I ran before she could investigate, unfortunately I didn't take into consideration the noise the crunchy leaves would make, and before I knew it, she was on my tail.
She tripped over a mole hole, and I laughed, getting away. Then I realized a place to hide so I went around the yard to the basement door, I unlocked it and pulled it open. Unfortunately Nina was in and locked it before I could notice.
So I ran through the bathroom, and spilled water. She fell, and grabbed my ankle. I struggled and she finally pulled me back into her laughing.
Her arms around me tightly, she said, "okay, maybe I am funny, but what's up? Your down, sad, blue, take your pick. My point is what's the matter?"
Geez, she can read me like a book.
Nina's awesome because she knows exactly when to be funny, and exactly when to be serious.
So I told her about the pudding guy. Crying at the end about my parents' death.
She didn't say anything just let me go, after giving me a squeeze. She log onto her account on her computer, which was downstairs. She went to the internet, then type in 'youtube'. There, she typed in 'Missing' by Evanescence.
Before she played it she turned to me, "when I went through what your going now, I was addicted to Evanescence. I still am, even though there songs are weird, and rock n' roll, I guess you could call them. Anyways, there songs are about depression and how to get over it. Each day I would come down here, alone in the house, and I would sing along, and slowly I got over it. 'Missing' is about exactly what the title says. Something is missing from my life. This described how I felt. I also liked 'Hello' and 'Lithium' when dealing with the pain of my parents. Anyways I like all there songs, not all are about depression, but all have their own little way to connect with it. As I listened to them more and more often, they became one of my favorite bands. So without further ado, I give you 'Missing'."
She played the song and I realized, how right and true to me it felt. When it was over, Nina played it again this time singing. Then she pulled up song after song, singing to each one.
We did that everyday, with me learning the lyrics to all of them.
One day I asked her why she likes 'If I Die Young' by The Band Perry. She brought up the lyrics, and skipped to a part. When she played it, I heard,
"If I die young, bury me in satin The sharp knife of a short life, well And I'll be wearing white, when I come into your kingdom
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song
I've had, just enough time
I'm as green as the ring on my little, cold finger,"
She paused it and said, "that's how I want to die," then she continued the song.
" I've So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell them for a dollar
never known the lovin' of a man
But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand, there's a
Boy here in town who says he'll love me forever,
Who would have thought forever could be severed by
The sharp knife of a short life, well,
I've had, just enough time
What I never did is done
They're worth so much more after I'm a goner
And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'
Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'"
She paused it again, and said, "that's true."
That's what our favorite song became.
That year for her birthday, I got her a green ring.
On her card I wrote,
"'If I die young, bury me in satin The sharp knife of a short life, well And I'll be wearing white, when I come into your kingdom
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawnSend me away with the words of a love song
I've had, just enough time
I'm as green as the ring on my little, cold finger,'
Wear the ring, think of me, and listen to this song everyday. :)
Happy Birthday!
Love,
Hannah"
End of music session flashback,
Since the Adele CD had ended, I put in The Band Perry album. Thinking about the last time Nina and I saw each other. . .
ANOTHER flashback in a flashback,
"Promise me not too give Gran too much trouble, and call or email me everyday?" Nina asked me.
"Only if you promise to reply to my calls and emails, come back, wear the green ring, and listen to 'If I Die Young' everyday," I said firmly.
Nina grinned, "I promise," she held out her pinky finger, looking at me expectantly.
I looked her in the eyes and said, "I promise," then I connected our pinkies.
End of a much shorter flashback,
I skipped the songs to track three, and started singing,
"'If I die young, bury me in satin
Lay me down on a, bed of roses
Sink me in the river, at dawn
Send me away with the words of a love song, uh-oh, uh-oh. . .'"
When I finished the song, Gran looked sick I ran to her side worried. . .
End of the really long flashback,
That was when Gran confessed everything.
I read the letter ten times to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
But it said the same thing every time.
Dear family members to Nina Martin,
My name is Trudy. I was Nina's house mother. I am so sorry that you have to find out this way. Nina was a great girl I don't know what she did to deserve this. Nothing, I think. Now you are wondering 'what the heck?' , at least I'm guessing.
Nina has been missing for four weeks. By the time you get this, six weeks, if we don't find her. Which I hate to say but we probably won't.
She went without a trace. No one knows what happened to her. Her file is a cold case now.
I know this is long over due, but we didn't want to worry you. I am so sorry. We think she is dead. I am crying while I write this. I consider all the kids at Anubis House my family.
Speaking of the kids -Amber, Mara, Patricia, Fabian, Mick, Alfie, and Jerome- Nina became really good friends with them. And if you don't mind, we would like to come over to America, to be at the funeral. Of course if you don't mind.
My sincerest apologizes,
Trudy
After that I locked myself in my room only coming out for food, school, and the candle lighting in memory of Nina. Otherwise I have been locked in my room for the pass two weeks listening and singing to Nina and I's music.
My friends are coming as well. Great, just great more pity. Why say it when you don't mean it?
Sometimes I want to shout to everything and everyone, "Leave me the fuck alone!" And I've never swore.
And just to day I find out those stupid Brits are coming.
Great, just Great.
A/– 1. I had a heck of a time naming this ch. Many possibilities for this. 2. There will be more to this. 3. Remember the reviewing deal, that now applies to all my stories. I don't care how you review, just do it. 4. What do you think? 5. I made this extra long since I won't be back for 2 days and I haven't updated in awhile. 6. Longest ch. Yet! I stayed up till 12:30 and I'll be goin away with my bestie tomorrow. 7. I have a 'Year without Rain' stuck in my head! Driving me nuts! 8. If I don't finish this in time for the contest, it'll just become a normal story, I will not discontinue this! 9. If YOU like reviews then why don't YOU review? Huh? Thought so. 10. If you favorite, etc REVIEW! And to all my dedicated reviewer's: THANK YOU SO MUCH! the review deal applies to you too! 11. BYE! REVIEW!
Signing off,
HoaLotsAtla