One-hundred-and-fifty-two years ago, Rowena Lesley was born into the world. It was the year 1997, thirty-eight years after the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center was founded. The day when Jeremiah and Violet Lesley had their first child was a cold day, ice covered the roads and snow fell from the sly softly.
The day Rowan Lesley was born changed the lives of everyone around her. There was a joy that could only be brought by new life; it radiated a purity that brought together the Lesley family. It stopped the usual agonizing pain that came with being in the same room, and it stopped the constant fights that would break out around Christmas. To the Lesley family, Rowena Jessamine Lesley was a blessing.
But as the years went on, and the little girl became a teenager, that purity began to fade slightly. The family continued to fight, and being around each other caused a riff. But, somehow, through all the turmoil through the family, Rowan still managed to create peace with a few simple words. By the time she was fifteen years old, Rowan could end a fight within her family with a slight smile and a joke. Everyone around her knew the power she had, it was obvious if you spent longer than two minutes with her, but no one understood it more than Noah Martin.
Noah Martin had been Rowan's best friend since they were infants. The two were practically attached at the hip; both of them knowing secrets about each other that their parents were ignorant to.
One of those things that Noah knew, was that Rowena Lesley absolutely loathed how powerful her words were. She hated that her entire family seemed to fall to their knees every time she even breathed in their direction. She hated how, in the eyes of Jeremiah and Violet Lesley, she was absolutely perfect in every way.
While most teenagers would rejoice at the thought that their parents would practically bow to their every word, Rowan felt the weight upon her shoulders. Which is why she was incredibly thankful for Noah.
The two of them had a habit of causing mischief. The two of them would preform elaborate pranks against others, never as far as to hurt others, but enough to keep it fresh in memories. And because of Rowan's more than obligatory parents, the two friends never got into much trouble.
At least, they never got in trouble with their parents. It wasn't until January twenty-third 2014, when a simple joke turned into something that became extremely problematic.
"Is this really such a good idea?" Noah whispered quietly as the two crawled through the vents.
"Since when did you become a wimp?" Rowan scoffed, huffing as a half-dyed auburn lock of hair fell into her face.
Noah smacked her leg, ignoring her sharp cry of pain as he spoke, "Since we decided to break into a government facility, just to steal some sort of chemical."
Rowan rolled her eyes. "It's not a big deal, my father works here."
Rowan turned left at a crossroad, hoping it was the right way as Noah let out a sound of disbelief. "That's worse!" He hissed. "It's one thing to not get into trouble with your parents, it's another if your dad's boss is involved. If we get caught-"
"We won't!" Rowan assured. "It's fine, okay? Relax!"
Rowan turned her head, only to witness her best friend give her the most disbelieving look he had given her. "Relax?" He hissed. "Relax? You want me to relax when your father could loose his job!"
Rowan rolled her eyes, their blue ones locking onto Noah's brown ones. "Don't be a baby," she mocked, turning her head again and crawling forward.
Two minutes later, the two reached a gate that looked out into a lab. Rowan frowned, her eyes scanning the area with confused eyes. "This isn't the lab dad described." She muttered lowly, ignoring Noah's pleas and pushing the metal barrier.
It surprisingly popped right open, creating a loud clang as it flew off. "I have a bad feeling about this," Noah whispered as Rowan jumped down into the lab. Her blue shirt was loose, and her jeans hugged her body, preventing her from doing more extreme movements.
"You always have a bad feeling," Rowan scoffed, her eyes running over the lab with interest.
Noah climbed down after her, his sneakers making a squeaking sound as he skidded on the smooth tiles. "Rowan, listen to me." He pleaded, rushing after the auburn haired girl who was exploring the abandoned lab. "There's something off here..."
Rowan rolled her eyes once more before turning around, crossing her arms across her chest. "Please, enlighten me on your hypothesis on why this place gives you a bad feeling."
Noah opened his mouth, but no sound came out. His eyes flickered around the room, frantically searching for anything that will help his case. Rowan smiled smugly when his brown eyes found hers again.
"I'm waiting," She taunted, a teasing smirk on her face.
Noah glared at her, sparks of anger glinting in his eyes. "Rowan," he growled. "Stop being an ass and think about it. You made a wrong turn in the vents and now we're in the restricted section of the lab!"
Rowan furrowed her eyebrows. "How do you know it's the restricted section?"
Noah pointed to a large sign that held the radioactive warning symbol on it. "Huh," she mused. "What do you know..." her eyes slowly trailed over to a cabinet that stood next to it. Glass doors showed vials of blue liquid that seemed to glow with a beautiful light. As if she was in a trace, Rowan found herself in front of the cabinet.
"Rowan?" Noah hissed. "Rowena?"
Rowan ignored him, quickly she opened the cabinet and grabbed one of the vials. Her eyes followed the smooth liquid as she twirled it around, the blue substance giving off a slightly burnt smell. "What do you think this is?"
She turned to see Noah's hands in his hair, gripping it tightly as he muttered ineligible words. After a few seconds, he looked up. "What the hell are you thinking?" He hissed. "'Hey, let's grab a vial of unknown substance in a room filled with radioactive material!' How stupid can you get today?"
Rowan rolled her eyes. "Can you chill, for like, two minutes?"
Noah stormed over to her, gently pulling the vial out of her hand before smacking her on the head twice. "Chill? Chill?" Noah hissed. "You are playing with chemicals that could turn you into a frog, or a rabbit. Hell, this-" he held the vial up between them "-could be a substance that could cause you hallucinate so vividly, that someone could shoot you!"
Rowan stared at him. "You're imagination is endearing." She deadpanned, grabbing the vial and walking around him.
"What are you doing?" Noah demanded.
Rowan smirked and shrugged her shoulders. "Just ... havin' a good time."
Noah started towards her, and she easily dodged him. Her body weaving around lab tables as she stared at the blue substance. "Rowena, put it down." Noah commanded.
"Don't order me around," she spat.
Before another word could come out of Noah's mouth, the door of the lab began to open and voices flooded through. "Shit," Noah muttered. The two teenagers rushed towards the nearest cabniet that held lab coats.
Rowan flinched as a burning feeling covered her hand. She glanced down, only to see the blue substance's vial have cracked and cut her hand. Blue glowy liquid covered her hand and panic instantly flooded through her.
"Noah." She whispered, her voice failing at hiding the anxiety that was crawling up her throat. "Noah, Noah we have a problem."
The brunette glanced down, only to see the blue glowy substance everywhere. "I told you so," he hissed, grabbing her hand.
"Not the time," she shot back. "I have a paper cut on my hand."
Noah cursed quietly before he pressed his ear to the door. "They're talking..."
Rowan pressed her ear up to the side, closing her eyes and focusing on the voices. She heard a masculine voice. "...serum on the wall," he was saying. "We don't really know the effects it has yet, but once we figure it out everything should work."
"Sir," a british female voice spoke up. "Sir, look."
Noah and Rowan tensed, their eyes locked together. "Someone was here..." the man growled. The sound of footsteps filled the area, and Rowan held her breath. "One of the vials are gone." He yelled, a loud thump following. "Someone get the chairman, we need to find them."
The sound of frantic footsteps rushing out of the room filled the air. After several quiet moments, Noah cracked the cabinet door open. Rowan could just make out his tan face and maroon shirt through the florescent lighting.
"It's clear..." he whispered. "Come on, let's get out of here."
Rowan nodded and the two rushed towards the vent. Noah knelt down, clasping his hands to give her a boost. She carefully put her booted foot in his hands and he heaved her upwards. She grabbed the edge of the vent and hulled herself through, turning sideways so she could grab Noah's hand and Hull him upwards.
"Leave the gate," Rowan hissed when Noah touched it. "They don't know that we're still here."
Noah nodded, and the two began crawling back towards the outside world. "Do you still have the vial?" Noah questioned.
"Yeah." She murmured. "My hand is covered in the stuff."
Noah didn't say anything else. The two crawling through the vent in utter silence.
Rowan had to admit to herself that she was extremely nervous at the fact her entire hand was covered in the mysterious blue substance. Not only did it coat her hand, but the sharp glass (why the lab used glass instead of plastic would forever be a mystery) cut her finger when she cracked it. The man in the lab had said they didn't know what the stuff did, for all she knew, Rowan would be dead by morning.
Eventually, light flooded through the dark vents. The two crawled out, Rowan breathing in the fresh winter air. The town of Orleans, Massachusetts didn't really get snow in the winter, so the two teens walked towards the 2010 Ford Fusion that was parked on the side of the road.
"After you wash that up, do you want to go to the Sparrow?" Noah questioned, unlocking his car and opening the drivers side door.
Rowan pulled out her iPhone 5, checking the time. "Can't," she muttered. "I have a hair appointment in 20, and it would take that long to get a coffee at the sparrow."
Noah snorted and climbed into the car, Rowan following. "You're not wrong." He laughed. "Do you want me to drop you off?"
Rowan stared straight ahead, looking at the busy Orleans streets. "Nah," she muttered. "Take me back to my house."
Noah gave her a nod and started his car, the soft music of owl city floating through the speakers. The drive was short, Noah knowing all the shortcuts around the Orlean roads. Five minutes later, Noah pulled up in front of a dark colonial looking house.
"You going to pull up in the driveway?"
Noah pretended to strain his eyes. "You mean that long road?" He joked. "I'm good. You need the exercise, anyways."
Rowan rolled her eyes and opened the door. "By Noah," she called, slamming the door shut to begin her long trek up her driveway.
"Text me if you get special powers!" He yelled from the rolled down window.
"This is reality, not spider-man!" She yelled over her shoulder.
Noah let out a loud laugh and drove away, leaving Rowan with her blue hands to head into her house. The blue had begun to dry, creating a weird dry look.
Sighing, Rowan pushed open her front door, thanking god for the absence of her mother. She quickly rushed towards the lower floor bathroom, opening the door to the white modern area. The shell shaped sink was to the left, and Rowan quickly pushed it on, letting the water run over her stained hands before she Lathered her hands with soap.
Rowan watched as the blue fell off her hands like paint, running over the white sink and staining it in places. A log jagged cut was diagonal across her palm, right below the paper cut that was in between her thumb and forefinger. The blue soap fell down the drain and Rowan closed her blue eyes.
A few moments later she opened her eyes, staring at herself in the mirror. Her blonde roots was a large contrast between her auburn hair, and her face was a pail white with some freckles speckled across her nose. Her blue eyes were striking, almost ice. She turned off the water, wiping her hands off on the towel before leaving the bathroom.
Once again, she left the house. With her keys in hand she walked to her dark grey 2011 Subaru Outback. She climbed in and started the car, letting the warm air filter through the heater as the sound of Imagine Dragons blasted through the speakers.
Rowan put her car in drive, buckling her seat belt as her foot pushed down on the gas. The car rolled down the rocky driveway, creating a satisfying crunching sound. Rowan mouthed the words to Radioactive as she looked both ways and pulled out of her driveway, making her way downtown.
Three songs later, Rowan pulled into the hair salon parking lot. She turned her car off and climbed out, grabbing her wallet from her cup holder before she slammed the door close and walked to the glass door.
"Rowan!" A cheerful voice greeted.
A beautiful girl with purple hair came bounding up to rowan. Her smile was pearly white, warm and welcoming, and her clothes were stained with paint.
"Hey, Felicity." Rowan grinned, giving the girl a hug.
"You here for a tidy up?" Felicity questioned, twirling Rowan's half blonde and half auburn hair.
Rowan nodded, a grin covering her face. "And a little trim," she stated.
Felicity nodded her head. "Gotcha."
Felicity led the way to the far side of the room, letting Rowan sit down before she put a coverup over her. Felicity made a quiet conversation as she mixed the colors together, telling Rowan about how her girlfriend and she moved in together. Rowan smiled along, listening patiently.
Three hours later, Rowan's hair was died fully auburn once more, and her hair was neatly trimmed to her shoulders. Rowan gave felicity a quick hug before she left, promising to call.
As rowan exited the hair salon, she spotted a strange woman standing in the middle of the parking lot staring at her. She stopped, her eyes locked on the strange woman.
Her hair and dress were bleach white and her feet were bare; her piercing eyes were a light purple that seemed to radiate a deep fire that made Rowan's stomach drop. Rowan was unsettled as she began to walk again, wanting to reach her car as fast as possible.
The woman stepped forward. Again and again and again. Soon, the woman was following her at a fast pace. Rowan quickly unlocked her car and threw the door open, climbing into the car and slamming the door. She locked the doors, looking down as she stuck her key in the ignition, twisting it to turn it on. When she looked up, the woman was at the window.
Rowan shrieked. She rolled down the window with a glare. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
The woman looked at her with a confused expression. "Talking to you?" She responded, tilting her head slightly like a dog would. Her voice reminded Rowan of the description that Stephane Meyer gave to Alice Cullen in her book. Bell like.
Rowan stared in disbelief. "That's not talking," Rowan exclaimed. "That's... stalking. Sending me into cardiac arrest. And just plain creepy!"
The woman gave her an amused smile. "Rowena Lesley, you are an interesting woman."
"How do you know my name?" Rowan demanded.
The woman didn't answer. Instead, she was staring at Rowan's hands. "Didn't you have a cut on your right hand?"
Rowan looked down. Her right hand, the one that had been pierced by the glass vial, was perfectly smooth. Not a trace of the long cut that had been their previously, nor a trace of the paper cut.
"How did you know about-" Rowan looked up only to find the woman gone.
She stared at her opened window, feeling the blood drain from her face and her stomach drop to the pit of her intestines. Whoever that woman was, Rowan was terrified.
With a shaky breath, Rowan rolled her window up and began to drive back home. As the next song by Imagine Dragons began to play, Rowan let out a loud noise of frustration, turning the radio off and grabbing her phone.
She flipped it on, finding her contacts and looking at the road continuously. Finding Noah's contact, she hit the call button, listening to the sound of the dial tone.
"Hey, Rowan." Noah greeted. "Get your hair dyed?"
Rowan grinned uneasily as she used one hand to make a sharp turn. "Yeah, back to auburn."
"Cool." He stated. "So what's up?"
"The weirdest thing happened to me in the parking lot," she started. "There was this lady standing in the middle of the parking lot, and she decided to follow me to my car."
"What?"
Rowan let out a dry laugh. "Yeah. And then she knew my name, and about the cut on my hand, which is gone by the way."
"The paper cut on your hand is gone?"
Rowan rolled her eyes, not bothering to tell Noah that she had two cuts on her hand. "Yeah, love how that's the thing you focus on."
Rowan could feel Noah's shrug through the phone. "What can I say?" He joked. "But, seriously, this lady knew your name?"
"Yeah-" Rowan turned her head before letting out a high pitched shriek and dropping her phone, hearing it fall to the ground with a thump. She instantly slammed on her breaks, stopping in the middle of the deserted road.
"Rowan?" Noah called frantically. "Rowena?"
"What the hell?" Rowan she shrieked as the new guest reached over to grab her phone and hang up on Noah at an inhuman speed. "How did you get in my car?"
Sitting in the passenger seat holding Rowan's phone, was the woman from the parking lot. "Crazy lady isn't a nice name." The woman tutted.
"Yeah, well appearing in someone's car isn't a nice thing to do!" Rowan yelled. She instantly turned around, using one hand to unbuckle herself and the other trying to open the door.
"That's not going to work," the woman sighed.
"What do you mean?" Rowan shrieked. "Let me out of my car!"
"My name is Athaiah Verleden." The woman said, ignoring Rowan's shrieks. "You're an interesting girl."
Rowan stared at her. "Thanks," she stated sarcastically. "Now let me out of my fucking car!"
"I think you'd be good for someone," Athaiah mused, continuing to ignore the frantic teen.
Rowan gaped at her. "You break into my car and then try to match me?"
Athaiah rolled her purple eyes. "You're so dramatic."
"But it's exactly what you're doing!" Rowan cried.
Athaiah scoffed. "I never said I'd set you up," she pointed out. "Only that I think you'd be good for him."
"Oh? And who is this mystery boy?" Rowan asked. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and fear was slowly closing her throat, making talking an effort.
Athaiah smiled. "Joshua Stanley."
Rowan frowned. "Joshua Stanley?"
Athaiah hummed, her fingers trailing over the radios power button. She softly pushed it, and instead of Imagine Dragons, it was a voice singing. It was soft, almost peaceful.
"His voice is melodic, don't you agree?"
Rowan didn't answer. "How did you do that?"
Athaiah rolled her eyes. "So many questions," she sighed. "Originally, I was going to explain everything to you, but I don't have the time to go through all of your questions."
Rowan frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Athaiah grinned. "See what I mean?" She joked. "It's okay, I'll make sure I give you a fun little pamphlet that explains things."
"What?"
"Goodbye, Rowena Lesley." Athaiah said. "Good luck, follow your gut. Make me proud."
"Goodbye?" Rowan cried. "What are you doing? What are you talking about? Who are you?"
Rowan began to grow more frantic, the fear in her gut growing more and more as Athaiah gave her a mischievous grin.
Athaiah rolled her eyes. "Questions upon questions." She groaned, raising her hand. "I'm tired of them."
With a snap of her fingers, Rowan's vision went black.
haha welcome to my first official story on here! I've written a couple things on Wattpad and decided to move some stuff to here as well... I hope you guys like it!