Half-Life

prologue

Three spirits saw the most unfortunate thing, a young girl, dying on the pavement. She was only half alive, the three spirits knew that she deserved a better life, so in their own good will, they sacrificed their lives as spirits in an ancient ritual, to give life to this girl. Of course, this would have consequences.

Loralei remembered everything from that day. Upon the final death of the spirits, she began to heal. Only, she was bearing changes. Her sky blue eyes were darker, her brown hair had turned white and her skin stayed it's natural ghostly pale.

She was missing for a week, no one could find her. She came across an elderly witch living alone in the woods, the old woman taught her to use her new power.

The girl could be a solid form, transparent, or entirely invisable to the eyes of men. She held the ability to phase through solid matter, and needed far less sleep, water, and food than before. There were of course downsides to this. If her emotions became to hard to control, her telekinetic abilities would go out of control. Along with this, she could no longer ever have children with any sort of living person. Very few species existed that she could actually procreate with.

She was also socially shamed. When she arrived back home, her mother was furious. She had assumed once she saw her daughters hair that she ran away to do what she wanted, and so the cover story became her new reality.

She had been kidnapped and given drugs that made her lucid. She mentioned that when she woke fully, she managed to escape, taking her three days to get home.

The doctors dubbed her new hair as an autoimmune disorder caused by sudden and extreme stress. They explained that she would no longer ever be able to tan, or have her natural hair back. For two years she was a science experiment for doctors, no one knowing what it was and none of the procedures working on her. She refused any type of blood drawing or surgery though.

After what happened to her she had noticed that her blood was much thinner than before, but she could not get cuts or injuries. She could still feel pain though. Her heart beat was much slower and her need for oxygen, was significantly decreased.

Eventually they gave her disease a name, one that has been only a myth throughout history. Marie-anne Toinet syndrome.

By the age of 17, she and her sister Bella were hating each other as usual and things had gotten back to normal, as she had not once showed any signs of decaying health, if anything it had gotten better.

When they decided to move in with their father, Bella was reluctant, but loralei was thrilled. Her skin would no longer burn so badly as it did in Arizona. She would see her father, she would see her old room up in the furnished attic of their home. She could have a fresh start.

Loralei Mallory Swan POV

Mornings, the worst part of the day. My day will be better soon enough though. I got up with ease and dressed myself comfortably for the long journey home to dad.

I couldn't help but admire my new gauges in the mirror for a moment before taking my bags out to the car. I put my bags in the trunk, most of it is only clothing because I visit dad far more than Bella does meaning I have my own room and everything I love in it.

The airport was chaos as usual but it was all worth it when I saw dad waiting for us. I ran to him and hugged him tight. He smiled and then hugged Isabella as well.

The car ride though, was far more awkward than I had expected. Bella sat in the front and some with such a bland tone. When we did reach home, I ran upstairs to my room, my safe haven. I quickly got to work unpacking. I'm home.

My room looked so perfect, I breathed in the forest scent of a fresh rain. My room has always been the nicest. now I actually get to stay here.

I curled up in bed and smiled once I was done, home had never felt so good.

While dad showed Bella her crappy truck of a homecoming present, I got comfortable in my space. When I heard a knock at the hatch to my room, I unlocked it and pulled it open.

"Hey kiddo, I got you something too. Tonight I'm gonna take you to get those tattoos you really wanted to get."

"Really?!"

He nodded and I squeezed him tight.

My night was a bit uncomfortable but in the end it was so worth it.

The witch taught me all about the gods, and explained that my gift was given through the Norse gods.

I thought it would be appropriate to mark my thankfulness to the gods. When we got home it was midnight and I slept like a baby. Let's just hope school isn't too bad tomorrow.