Chapter One
Part One
The girl's eyes slowly opened with a painful groan escaping her throat. Her head banged with the throbbing pain of... she thought, thinking too much. It was the feeling you would get after studying for hours for a test, reading your assigned book report novel, then spending hours on the computer researching social studies notes. Or at least, that's what she supposed it was... Her mind was foggy, blank, a clean slate like an artist fresh putty, ready to be molded into something new.
Where am I? she thought, rubbing her head with the ball of her palm. Better yet... who am I? Her hands fell to her side in hopelessness but there, she felt a cold metal scrape across her fingers and noticed a shining chain, hanging from her belt loop of her plaid, pleaded skirt to a black leather wallet protruding from her pocket. Lifting it curiously, she opened the pouch to find some cards slid into slits inside. "A student I.D Card..." she smirked and removed it quickly, checking the picture and the different identifications. "Valentine, Rain, Age: 16, Date of Birth: February 14 1990..."
Rain, as she concluded, stood from her spot and further examined the wallet as she began to exit the ally, finding a few dollars of cash money and some spare change which she found could come in handy.
Rain continued out the mouth of the ally, her hands in the front pockets of her sweater. She had no clue where she was or where to begin. She had only a little bit of money, definitely not enough for a hotel but maybe just enough for a hot meal and something extra... maybe.
The lost girl ran her fingers through her jet black, shoulder length hair as she passed a shop window, catching a glimpse of herself. She examined her eyes and found they were a dull purple, holding some type of hidden wisdom in which she over looked for the moment. Her grey and black socks reached the middle of her thigh and a pair of black combats clunked on the pavement, however, they kept her warm and cozied her feet.
Rain's arms tensed as a cool breeze swept past her, causing her to pull her red and black sweater close to her body, the black sleeves with red wrist trim tucking over her clenched fists. Her steps hurried down the sidewalk and she ducked into an antique book shop. The smell of mold and dust drifted up her nostrils and into her lungs, causing her to let out a small cough.
"Welcome," a soft voice said from the shadows. "How may I help you this chilled day?" The greeting was that of a male, an elderly male that held the knowledge of books centuries old.
Startled, she turned abruptly on her heels and faced the shop owner. Rain first noticed his skin tone; it was a sooty grey, much like ashes or the dust collected on the ancient books themselves. "I was just escaping the cold... I'm sorry for my intrusion..." she apologized with a slight, embarrassed smile and proceeded to the door, pushing it open to hear the gentle ting of the bell above the door frame.
"Wait, you are no nuisance. Please, I'll be happy to offer you shelter. I'm afraid a cold, bitter winter is coming our way and I don't want you caught in it." As the man stepped further into the light, Rain found that his features were carefully chiseled, capturing the golden glow of a flickering candle melting on the counter. He wore a creased, neat and clean suit of black while the frilled cream collar underneath melded into the rest of him with a conductor's uniform look. His stance was straight and erect, poised and as though he were of high society around these parts. "I am Roland, and welcome. Come, I have tea prepared in the back."
With reluctant steps, the young woman followed Roland through the many bookcases and a velvet curtain, opening into a small kitchen area with simple mahogany furniture and a wood stove.
"What is your name? If I may be so bold..." he asked her as she took a seat at the table, resting folded hands on the red cloth covering the wood table top.
Her eyes stayed focused on her clasped fingers, trying not to make contact with the ghostly appearance of the book keep. "Rain, Rain Valentine..." is all she said.
