Disclaimer: The ideas and themes expressed in this and the following chapters are not the beliefs of this writer, or this site. If some of the things in here seem racist, that's because of the time period that this piece is set in. Please don't be offended, as I think Slavery and racism is very wrong. Also am a Christian and do not really believe in reincarnation. There is a heaven and a hell. That is what I believe. I will be more then glad to talk about that with anyone who wants to. Thank you.

Chapter One: Southern Belles

Shannon was in and out of conciseness for the next few days. She would wake up and forget where she was and would ask, again and again, what year it was. But no matter how many times she heard the answer, 1860, she would faint again.

When she was awake, her mind was spinning. On the one hand, this world made prefect since to her. She could remember growing up here, in Tennessee with her mother, father, brother, and sister. She could remember everything about this place and this time. But on the other hand, she could remember the other life. The plane crash, the island, and she even remembered the second the monster had her. This memory sent shivers up and down her spin. How could she remember two times and two different places? How could that be?

The word "reincarnation" never entered her mind. She had never believed in such things. She'd never even believed in an after life. So this was so new and strange to her. She almost wished she could really just be dead.
A week after waking up for the first time, she had managed to stay awake for more then five seconds. She sat in her bed, her blonde hair a mess of tangles. The doctor was sitting next to her, an old man who spoke softly. She had long ago stopped talking about the other parts of her memory. She didn't like everyone looking around at her like she was crazy. She WASN'T crazy.

"Well, Miss Shannon," the old doctor said, "It seems you are doing much better. Do you know where you are? Tennessee, that's right my dear. And this house? Yes, yes, your father's, very good. And what is your father's name?"

She almost shuttered at the idea, even though she knew that it was true. At least, it was true in this world. In this reality. "John Locke," she answered,

Yes… Shannon Locke. It was sickening. Who in their right mind would merry a man like John Locke? Well, her mother had given her that answer.
"Very good, Miss Shannon, I think you'll be ok." The doctor said, packing up his things. "No more illusions or anything I trust?"

"No Doctor," Shannon lied. "Nothing like that. I do thank you kindly for helping me." She smiled and almost laughed at the way she talked. Tennessee... who would have thought? Every time she talked she almost looked around to see whose voice that was.

"That's good to hear, Shannon. We were all very worried about you. I imagine you've just had a little too much at the parties." The Doctor stood up and nodded. "Well then, send word if anythin' else goes wrong, right?"

Shannon nodded. "Of course." She waved to him as he left then collapsed onto her back. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. It felt so strange... yet, oddly comforting. This world, a world ladies and knights, seemed to fit her. As her memory rolled from moment to moment, she recalled some of the parties the doctor had been talking about. Big flowing dresses, laughing happy music, it made her feel like a princess.
There was a knock on her door and Shannon sat up again, pulling the covers over her chest. "Come in," she called lightly.

The big doors open and her sister stuck her head in. Shannon almost screamed when she saw her. In stepped Kate, long black hair hanging in light curls. She was dressed in a large green dress that made her eyes stand out. (A/N: Here's a link to what some of the dresses look like. Just for your aid. http/ ) she smiled and moved over to Shannon. "Well, you are up at last."

The black haired girl seated herself at the head of Shannon's bed and hugged her tightly. "We were ever so worried 'bout you. You really shouldn't 'ev scared us like that. We thought we would have to cancel the wedding."

Oh, yes, that was right! Kate was getting married... Kate was getting married to Jack. The thought made her want to be sick. Wasn't it bad enough she had to deal with that relationship in one life, and now she had it again. "Well, I'm very glad you didn't have to." She kissed her sister's cheek and smiled.

An idea struck Shannon and she said "Jack must be glad to merry you. After all that time on the island."

Kate raised an eyebrow at her sister. "Island? What are you talking about, dear?" She looked very worried. "Do you want me call the doctor back?"

"No, no!" Shannon said in a hurry. "It's alright. Just rather tired. I'll be fine." She smiled, but inwardly sighed. So, Shannon didn't remember their life before this place. Was Shannon the only one? Would Jack remember? What about Locke? She hoped Locke wouldn't. That would make things very weird. "I am rather hungry, though."

The black haired girl smiled and nodded. "I've already got cookie sending you up food for you. Good soup and everything to make you feel all better." She hugged Shannon tight.

"Oh, you are a dear," Shannon made herself sick with the words. At least, the Shannon from the island did. This Shannon was being honest. It was strange feeling both things at once. As she hugged her sister back, the door opened. They let go of each other and looked as a small black girl walked in with a tray of food.

Shannon felt her heart sink. A slave... of course, she knew they had slaves. It was just hard to actually see one. It made her feel awful. Slavery was wrong; she'd always known that... at least, she thought she had. As the girl put the tray in front of the blonde, their eyes met. The girl was so shocked she jumped, causing the tree to almost fall off the tray.
Kate caught it in time and slapped the girl across the face. "You useless thing! Get out before I whip you good!"

The girl yelped and ran out of the room. Shannon watched her with pain filled eyes. Yes... slavery bad. Kate was smiling again. How could she go from zero to bitch that fast? But of course, this was a different time, with different ways. She was different. And Shannon would have to learn to live with it.

She smiled at her sister and sipped the tear her sister handed to him. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe

The next two weeks were hard on Shannon. It was not easy to fall back into the habits of the south when you used to be a snotty little rich girl who had never even been in Tennessee. But everyone just thought it was a result of the fainting spells she'd be having, and took it easy on her.
Shannon soon found out John didn't remember anything about the island as well. Neither did Boone.

Boone. When she had first seen him, she'd grabbed him and cried into his shoulder. The boy had been shocked but hugged her and told it was ok. It had just been a dream, whatever it was that was bothering her. But it hadn't. None of it had. Boone had died. And so had she. But yet, here they were. In the south, brother and sister who had never screwed up their relationship.

Helen, her mother, was a very sweet lady who knew how to run the house and slaves well. She had long blonde hair, Shannon's blonde hair. John would smile at her and hug her all the time. Helen always had a smile on her face. Shannon wondered if that smile was real.

Jack stopped by very often. Same old Jack. He had gone to school, and was learning to be a doctor. This didn't surprised Shannon in the least. Kate and Jack would sit on the front porch all afternoon. At dinner, Jack would talk to John about this and that, but mostly about the recent election of Lincoln. Shannon didn't listen to such things. Political talk bored her, and she knew ladies didn't listen to such things, either. Instead, she talked about the up coming wedding, only two days away.

Kate was a glow with wonder at the thought of getting married to Jack. She laughed all the time. It was a different side of Kate to say the least. "It'll be wonderful!" she kept saying.

And the church did look wonderful on the day of the wedding. Candles were lit, flowers strung across the wall, and Kate standing with Jack, looking perfectly perfect. One part of Shannon wanted to throw up, but the southern part of her, which was growing stronger and stronger with each passing day, smiled for her sister.

As Shannon watched them up there, the preacher going on and on, she looked around the room. She caught sight of Claire! She smiled and waved to the girl, who waved back. That's right, Shannon thought, we are half cousins here. And there was Charlie sitting next to her. Some things never change, even in death.

Her eyes caught sight of someone and she turned her head. But there was no one she knew over there… maybe she was just imagining things. It didn't matter anyway. She had just realized something. As she sat there, watching Kate and Jack get hitched, she suddenly understood that she was free here. She didn't have to worry about anything in her past. She could move on. Start over in a new world, just like she had always wanted. How could this be a bad thing? She would be able to move on.
Or at least, that was what she thought.

END CHAPTER ONE