Between Two Worlds

Chapter One: A Fateful Encounter

Adira stood at the edge of the cliff, her long brown hair whipping her face in the strong wind despite her putting it in a messy bun. She closed her eyes and spread her arms wide, feeling the rush of air beneath her new wings. Every elven royal gained their wings when they were a child by some sort of test the elders put them through. Adira didn't gain hers until her 18th birthday a few years before she would be crowned queen. Her wings were the brightest shades of blue and white and shimmered in the moonlight while sparkling in the daylight. Adira was different from the other elves, for she possessed angelic qualities that were given to her as a gift from her godmother before she passed.

As she soared higher into the sky, she spotted a figure in the distance. It was a fallen angel, with black and grey wings that seemed to absorb the light around them. Adira had heard stories about fallen angels. They were angels that fell from grace when they failed to protect their humans and depending on the color of their wings would determine how far they fell from grace. She, however, had never seen one in person before.

Intrigued, she flew closer to him while trying to stay hidden. She was always told to stay away for they could hurt her and the pain would be much stronger than anything else you'd ever feel. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she was practically shaking the closer she got before she tripped over herself and started to fall. Quickly, picking herself up the fallen angel turned to her, and their eyes met. There was something in his gaze that made her pulse quicken, a hint of danger, desire, and curiosity above all else.

"Who are you?" she asked, hovering in the air in front of him.

"I am Kai and you are?", he replied, his voice low and husky.

Adira felt a strange pull towards him as if he held some kind of power over her. She landed on the ground, folding her wings behind her.

"What brings you over here?" she asked, trying to sound casual and dodging his question.

"I am seeking redemption," Kai said, his eyes never leaving hers.

Adira felt a sudden urge to touch him, to see if his skin was as soft as it looked but she knew that was impossible. They weren't supposed to mix, for it was forbidden by the laws of their respective worlds.

" I must go." She said, taking a step back and beginning to rise allowing her wings to take wind. "But I will see you again."

Kai nodded, and Adira took off into the sky, her heart heavy with a longing she couldn't name, She knew their encounter was just the beginning of something that could never be, but she couldn't help feeling drawn to the fallen angel and his mysterious ways.

Meanwhile, back in the small town of Willow Creek at Willow Creek Hospital, Juliette Carpenter lay still in her hospital bed, her body limp and lifeless. She still had her gorgeous blonde hair with her tanned skin and her brown eyes were hidden underneath her eyelids as she lay unconscious. It had been five years since she had slipped into a coma after her tragic accident, and her family had all but given up hope of her waking up. Her mother Erika had decided to pull the plug, but her other mother Kaitlyn was not ready to give up on their daughter.

Jacob, Juliette's brother, refused to accept that his sister was gone. He had spent countless hours by her side, talking to her as if she could hear him. He had even brought in a therapist named Mary to help him cope with his grief at Erika's request.

Kaitlyn watched as Jacob left the hospital room, his face etched with worry and despair. She knew that he was trying to hold onto hope, but she also knew that it was time for him to move on.

"Jacob, please talk to me," she said, putting a hand on his shoulder. Kaitlyn was always very soft-spoken and easy on her kids. She knew that Juliette and Jacob were extremely close despite the obvious personality differences. Juliette was always quiet and reserved while Jacob was always planning something spontaneous to drag her into. Her light brown hair was in a messy bun with her hair everywhere and hiding behind that were her caramel brown eyes overwhelmed with sadness and fear.

"I can't do this anymore," he whispered, tears streaming down his face. He ran his hands through his blonde hair and tried to hide his face as he was always bullied in school for crying. "I can't watch her suffer like this, Mom." Jacob sat on the hospital bench exasperated.

"We have to let her go," Kaitlyn said, her voice breaking as she sat next to him placing her hand on his knee. "It's what she would want."

Jacob shook his head, his eyes pleading with her to understand. "I can't lose her, Kaitlyn. She's my sister." He continued to plead with his eyes, his tears overflowing.

Kaitlyn pulled him into a tight embrace, her tears falling freely. "I know, Jacob. I know"

As they held each other, Mary walked into the room. Mary has been trying to find solutions to give Jacob hope for a better future without his sister and navigate the trauma and pain he's going through. One of her friends, Dr. Amelia Patel was a scientist in psychology and had undergone several experiments for people in comas to come back through a process called neuro-subjective stimulation therapy, or NSST. It would require someone sending one person into the psyche of another to bring them back into reality.

"I have an idea," Mary said, her face brightening.

"What kind of idea?" Jacob asked, wiping his tears away furiously.

"There's a new experimental treatment that might be able to help Juliette," Mary explained. "It involves entering her subconscious mind and trying to awaken her from the inside out."

Kaitlyn and Jacob looked at each other, hope flickering in their eyes. "Is it safe?" Kaitlyn asked.

"It's risky, but it's the only option left," Mary said. "I know someone who can help us."

"Who?" Jacob asked, his voice rising with excitement.

"Her name is Dr. Amelia Patel," Mary said, pulling out a small book.

~~~TO BE CONTINUED~~~