A/N: I leave you to this 5th chapter that I dedicate to one of my favorite authors; GoldAngel2.

Title: Who am I?

Chapter 5: A false illusion

"Perhaps, it is the solitude that makes us contemplate our past. Or maybe, dear child, it is our mistakes that haunt our reality and present. Whatever may be haunting you, you can come to me for guidance anytime." Francoise looked at the priest in front of her, his face filled with kindness. After hours of solitude and more painful memories that Francoise could now remember; she decided to confess to Joe. His face had immediately covered in unmistakable concern. "Why didn't you tell me, Francoise?" Francoise couldn't exactly explain the memory lapses she was having and everything else and so she just shrugged. After pestering Francoise for a few minutes about the matter, Joe discontinued seeing as he would not succeed. At that same moment of disillusion an idea struck him. The soothing sound of church bells rang in the morning silence. The sky was a brilliant azure streaked with clouds that seemed to cross the orange horizon. Blanketed in sunlight was the church, Joe could see it from the window of his room. Tainted glass reflected lights of many colors on the wooden floorboards which were now old and worn. Joe had convinced Francoise to accompany him to church that morning, he was convinced that it would sooth whatever was troubling her thoughts.

Francoise looked out the window of the car that was driving them to the church. The day was of silence, like all Sundays were. All the excitement of the previous day had died down only leaving empty streets, and shadows of what had been. Francoise wasn't at all jovial at Joe's idea. She didn't think that it was normal what was happening to her and that somehow, even though she knew that she was perfectly sane, the priest would not think the same. Could it be that, those flashes were occurring to her to scare her? Francoise wondered as she tried to imagine the empty streets filled with busy shoppers and workers bustling about. She couldn't do so, it was too eerily quiet. Francoise felt a twinge of regret having accepted Joe's invitation to the church meeting. What was it about the whole ordeal that was making her so uneasy?

So here she was speaking to the priest that had listened to her without any interruption tell of her troubles. Francoise felt as if she had been relieved of a heavy burden when she finished. She found herself waiting for Joe in the car, thinking about the words that the priest had said to her. Joe tapped Francoise on her shoulder, making her flinch. "Francoise, Cynthia invited us to her father's annual celebration next week, would you like to come?" Francoise flinched once more and then nodded silently, which brought dread to Joe.

What could be happening to her, did I do something wrong? Though Joe as he stared at the clouded sky, streaked with darker blues. Silence covered both like an inescapable veil. Joe looked outside once more, avoiding Francoise hurt gaze.

Francoise hummed lightly like a lonely sparrow, lost with sorrow. She had heard the melody from her assigned maid who had hummed it while she cleaned Francoise room, unaware of Francoise's presence. She had spoken to her previously, learning that the tune was of Christmas and was titled; Greensleeves. Francoise complemented the tune with her tears that were absently forming in her hazy azure eyes.

Even though she had been liberated of the burden of carrying around the secret of whom she was, there was still an obstacle standing in her path. Nothing could seem to lifts her spirits, not even the warm gaze that Joe carried as he looked back on the church at the time of their leave.

Joe nudged Francoise gently and said; "The part begins tomorrow at five in the afternoon, I will be out at that time so a limousine will bring you there. I will be joining you later on after that."

Francoise realized that she had indeed agreed to attend a party that Cynthia's father was hosting, what had she been thinking? Absolutely nothing, she knew. She was only preoccupied with clearing her mind, her conscience. She had failed, miserably.  Perhaps she could read quietly in the library at her return in the mansion.

Soon enough, the mansion came in view. Francoise thought about it for a split minute, she realize something. This mansion that she had only arrived a few weeks ago had become her home. More than anything now, she yearned to read in the library, to be left alone.

Alone

She was always alone.

Francoise had never felt full in affection, never felt completely satisfied with the amount of attention that she received. She was being selfish. Francoise sighed and looked at the window for the last time before she got of the car and walked into her beloved library. She expected to see sparrows, robins, and other scenery. Instead she saw a black hand, gloved. Heading towards her. Before she could register what was happening she heard her name being called in a distance, muffled.

"Francoise, run!"

It was Joe and he was being grabbed by two other men in masks. Francoise couldn't move an inch, she never had a chance.