Lost Forever

Chapter 1

I open my eyes, blinking hard against the bright light.
"Where am I?" My voice sounds scratchy. I'm freezing cold. I look down to see snow all around me. I'm sitting in it. I quickly stand up.
"Stella?" I call. I have no idea where she is, but just a second ago, we were walking home from school together...
I turn around frantically. I can't see anything except snow. Lots and lots of snow. Falling from the sky, blowing across the ground. My feet are numb, covered by the six inch deep snow.
I have no idea what is going on, but I have to get out of here before I freeze to death. I wrap my bare arms around myself and shiver.
The wind howls in my ears as I start to walk. I don't know where I'm going, but standing won't do anything. I'm pretty good under pressure, as I found out a year ago when my little sister had a severe seizure. Turns out she has epilepsy.
Tears spring to my eyes as I think of her. "Taelor," I whisper, hoping that saying her name will bring me some form of comfort.
I'm SO cold. I look down at what I'm wearing, and see a faded green t-shirt and jeans. On my feet are a pair of neon pink tennis shoes.
I don't know where any of this came from, because I hate pink and green. I would never have bought it.
The wind blows harder, sending gusts of snow at me. The flakes of ice bite into my skin, and I rub my arms, which are quickly turning numb.
"Hello?" I yell into the cold, empty air. "Is anyone there? Please help me!" My curly blond hair blows into my face.
Wait, curly blond hair? I have brown hair!
"What is going on?" I ask no one in particular.
My feet drag through the snow, leaving a trail behind me. Through numb lips, I mutter, "At least if someone comes over here, they'll see the trail and hopefully follow it."
It's a long shot, though, and I know it. 'And I will probably die before anyone finds me,' I think, as my (newly) blond hair whips my face.
Whoever I am.
The cold seeps through me, and I realize my hands are numb. I need to try and stay warm.
I start jogging and clapping my hands together. 'High knees,' I tell myself, sounding like my old gym teacher, Ms. Johnson.
My hands hurt from clapping, and I'm dragging my feet again. I'm really tired. It would be so nice to just lay down and sleep... The snow looks so inviting.
I shake myself. "Get a grip!" My numb lips make my voice sound weird. I put my hands up to my mouth and blow, trying to warm my purple fingers.
"Someone please help me," I yell into the cold snow. "Please," I say more quietly. "I don't want to die. I want to see Stella again. And Taelor. And... my mom. I really want my mom. Please..." My voice trails off. I think I see something!
I start running, my frozen feet pounding against the snowy ground, towards whatever caught my attention.
"Hey!" I yell. "Help! I'm over here!"
I don't stop yelling, don't stop running, don't stop hoping as I speed off.
It's a small building, with a few cars and (surprisingly) a tiny airplane to one side. I don't hesitate to run through the partially open door.
"Is anyone here?" I call breathlessly.
Three women and one man look up suddenly, quite surprised.
"Who are you?" a red headed lady asks.
"Nicole Rose," I say, as tears course down my cheeks.
"What are you doing here?" the man asks. "We're in the middle of nowhere in Norway."
"I have no idea. I woke up in the snow almost an hour ago. The last thing I remember is walking home from school with my best friend... What day is it?" I ask quickly. The last day I remember was March 8th, 2014.
"April 3rd. But... How did you get there?"
"I have no idea," I sob. "This is 2014, right?"
"Um, no, 2015."
"What?" I gasp. "No. So I've been missing more than a YEAR?!"
They're still hopelessly confused.
"I'm sorry," says the third lady, who has not yet spoken. "What happened?"
I sigh. "Okay. So, the last thing I remember was walking home from school with my best friend on March 8th, 2014. I woke up about an hour ago, wearing clothes I would never wear and sitting in snow. It's more than a year later than the day I last remember, and I have a nagging feeling that I never made it home. Which would mean I've been missing this whole time." My voice cracks on the last word.
They sit in silence for a minute, and then Blondy says, "You're sure you aren't making this up?"
"Yes, I'm sure!" I explode.
"Okay! Calm down! We can get you home. I'm Melissa Parks, the red-head is Jessica Simmons, the brunette is Shayla McGee, and the dude over there is David Forde. We're scientists. We were just following up on an old experiment from a few years ago, and we are headed back home, to the U.S., this afternoon. You do live in the United States, right?"
"Yes," I say, my voice thick with tears. I want to hug her. "Thank you SO much!" I say. I can hardly get the words out through my tears. The heater buzzes loudly in the corner by David Forde.
They all still seem somewhat mystified.
"Wait, so you've been missing for over a year?" David speaks for the first time.
"As far as I know, yes. And... not to rush you guys, but my mom hasn't seen me in 13 months. I don't want to make her wait any longer."
"Oh! Yeah. Let us just finish packing up our stuff and we'll be on our way to the States," Jessica says.
"Thank you so much," I say again.