Reborn

Chapter Two

And she ran. She bolted out of her apartment, into the same alleyway she had escaped to the night before. The night the creature had bitten her.

The sound of her feet slamming against the concrete was as heavy as her heart slamming against her ribcage. Her body felt as though it was shifting into a larger, stronger form. She stopped running and leaned against the brick wall that shaped the alleyway.

Lia was gasping for air as she tried to calm herself from the fuel of anger and horror. Her fists slammed against the bricks, a roar uprising from her lungs. Dust and rocks fell from where her knuckles had slammed the wall.

Everything around her became more audible; the sound of rats scurrying in the drains, sirens ringing as police sped to their next destination. She pressed her forehead against the cool cement barrier. She felt sweat dripping from her head, down her nose. She heard the droplet fall to the ground and it echoed in her ears.

She then felt a presence behind her. Spinning on her feet, a tall figure ran at her, grabbing her arms. Lia tried to fight back, but the strength of this person was too overwhelming, and her body went limp. His arms wrapped around her, feeling as if they were crushing her small bones.

"Cordelia," he breathed. "Calm down. You need to calm down."

She tensed again, trying to react to this stranger, yet unable to move. "Let go of me!"

He brought his hand to her forehead, and in a simple touch, Lia was knocked out.

***

Lia woke with a jolt, causing her to hit her head on an unknown source above her. She yelped, raising her palm to her forehead and pressing her fingertips against where she had hurt herself.

She opened her eyes and took in her surroundings. She was in a small bedroom, one that seemed to belong to perhaps a little girl, or whatever child liked the colour pink. The walls were a light rosy colour, and the furniture around her was white and polished. On top of most of the dressers were little figures of horses and cats, alongside of boxes of what looked like makeup and powder. The bed in which she was lying in was soft and cuddly, warmer and much bigger than any bed she'd slept in before. Lia was baffled; where was she? How did she get here?

She looked up, trying to discover what she'd hit when she woke. It was the bed designs that curled around the base of the bed. It was white wood that swirled in patterns around the mattress, causing it to look like thick white vines were holding the bed and it's blankets together.

Lia sat for a moment, admiring the room in shock. She had never in her life, been in such luxury. At that moment in time, she didn't care where she was or how she had gotten there. The feeling that this place gave her wasn't unnerving at all; it felt safe. She didn't feel that she was at harm's touch.

Suddenly, the bedroom's door opened, and Lia immediately jumped out of the bed, ready to defend herself.

The woman who opened the door laughed warmly and spoke in a kind voice. "There is no need to fight, little one. You are safe here."

"Where am I?" Lia demanded. Who the hell was this chick?

"You're in my home, Cordelia. I suppose you have many questions; in time, I will answer them. I promise you that you have no need to be scared or defensive; I will not hurt you. But for now, we can't speak for very long. You've woken up just before dinner." The woman smiled and held her hand out, expecting Lia to shake it.

Still guarded, Lia relaxed her body and shook the woman's hand.

"My name is Lucinda. It is wonderful to finally meet you, Cordelia."