From Despair Comes Hope (The Strange Case of Devin Sola Book 1)

Sunrise Sunset

"You need me to fix Devin." I state, my mind reeling. "What do you mean, you need me to fix Devin? He doesn't look broken."

Ricky speaks up. "That is for Chris to explain. Get dressed – you'll find clothes in the closet over there. They'll be in your size. Come downstairs when you're ready."

Devin disappears, literally, and Ricky leaves. "Devin?" I call out. I want to be sure he isn't sticking around, just invisible. After getting no answer, I breathe a sigh of relief and go to the closet. My eyes widen as I open it to reveal every piece of clothing I could ever possibly want. There are little black dresses with tutus in every color of the rainbow to fluff the skirts out. Striped tights, fishnet tights, skinnies, band shirts, boots in every type, including the ones my favorite lead singer wears with all the buckles up the legs. A light bulb suddenly goes on in my head.

"Motionless in White! That's who they remind me so much of. Weird that names I've heard so far match theirs too – Chris, Ricky, and Devin. Such a weird coincidence." I mutter as I pull a short black dress with a scooped neckline and tiny cap sleeves from the closet. I choose a blood red tutu, matching under-bust waist corset-type thing, and black fishnets from the closet, along with the boots I spied that looked like Chris Motionless' boots.

Crossing to the dresser, I lay the clothes down and dig in the drawers for bra, panties, and socks. Strange as it is, I wish I could take a shower. A soft clearing of a throat catches my attention. I turn glad I am still fully dressed.

"Devin?" I ask, because no one is there.

"Yes, may I?" He asks, obviously requesting permission to materialize.

"Yes." I am intrigued. I wonder why he is able to materialize and disappear. He materializes and I smile. For some reason, even though I barely know him and he is the reason I'd been taken from my own apartment, I rather like him already.

"I was wondering if you might like to get cleaned up a bit?" He asks. I nod. "Follow me. I won't disappear, I don't think. If I do, I'll keep talking and you can follow my voice."

"No, actually, I can't." I hate to admit it, but that is one thing I'd never been able to do, at least not that I can remember. "I can't actually hear."

"Oh?" Devin tips his head to one side and studies me.

"I've been deaf since I can remember. I, um, I'm telepathic. I use that to hear what people are saying to me." I look a bit sheepish. I put air quotes around the word hear, since it's more of a mind reading thing.

Devin grins. "So the rumors are true! You truly are special!" Then he sobers. "But even as special as you are, I'm not sure you could actually help me. But again, that's Chris's place to tell you. Come, let's get you to the shower."

After he leads me down to the bathroom, he leaves me alone. When I am showered and dressed I wander down the hallway toward the stairs. Taking the winding staircase down to the first floor, I attempt to orient myself, failing miserably. Devin appears and points silently to a hallway. I smile at him and nod my thanks. Somehow, speech doesn't seem appropriate here.

At the end of the hallway is a set of ebony double doors. I know that I am supposed to enter those doors and find out what I am doing here. At the same time, I didn't want to. I want to go hide in that hideous pink room and just pretend that none of this is happening to me. Damn my parents and damn the gods who refuse to completely strip me of the powers I hate.

I face the doors, take a deep breath, and push them open. 

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Title: Sunrise Sunset by New Years Day