Almost Fifteen Again

Prologue

Dear diary,
     Have I got a story for you; it all begins in the year of 1910...

     Just a few more minutes and it was going to be my birthday. I couldn't believe it, I was turning fifteen, the big 1-5! I'd finally be allowed to train to ride the family horse on the road...or I would have if the night hadn't gone sour the way it did. Everything had started out great with the music, food, my family, and friends, but that all changed right after my big introduction, "Okay so, I dedicate this next performance to my best friend and the birthday girl, Charlotte River Blue!" I blushed as Carry, my best friend, used my full name. There was no doubt in my mind that she was the greatest person in the world, or at least that night. She turned fifteen the year after because I was born a year before her, and let me tell you, she could not wait for my sixteenth birthday. She so desperately wanted me to be able to give her a ride on my horse to and from school because she hated walking. "Happy Birthday Charlotte! Okay here we go..." I smiled as she began playing a fascinating wood carved instrument that she made herself. She loved to carve and make objects out of wood, especially instruments, like the flute she was playing that night. The melody was so beautiful and soft like a fluffy pillow.

     I paused a moment to take in the scenery around me. Everyone looked so happy talking, dancing, and even just sitting down in the grass listening to the music. The night just seemed so perfect, as if everything else in the world had stopped so that I could enjoy the wonderful moment at hand. I was interrupted from my thoughts when I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning my head, I tried to catch a glimpse of who it was, but no one was even close enough to me to tap me on the shoulder. I looked more around the party expecting to see someone running away, probably my younger brother Christopher playing a trick on me. Carry was standing in the middle of the field, most of the other guests were sitting around eating their food, and a few were slow dancing to Carry's music. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary.

     Then I looked down and I saw a cloth with something written on it. It said "tonight you, charlotte river blue, will die, but you wil(smudge)ve ag(smudge)n" The smudges made it hard to read, but I later found out that it said "tonight you, charlotte river blue, will die, but you will live again." At the moment however, all I could think was: 'What!' Confusion and fear hit me hard. 'I will what!' Not only was my life being threatened, but all I could make out of the smudged words was that I'd also have to do something again. 'What does that even mean?' My whole body was shaking and I could slowly feel a scream working it's way up through my throat. I looked at Carry only a few yards away from me and I knew that she could see the terror in my eyes. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. Carry suddenly stopped playing her instrument and just as she did the scream escaped me.

     "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Everyone froze and turned towards me with looks of concern, confusion, and shock. My parents, sister, two brothers, and Carry headed over to me. Carry reached me first because she was the nearest to where I was. Still standing in shock and unable to do or say much, I just handed the cloth to Carry. She then screamed after reading it and passed it on to my family with a shaking hand; and this ladies and gentlemen is how the circle of screams and shrieks began. Pa, being the protecter of all of us, pulled me close to him and whispered to me, "Sweetie I need you to go inside the barn. Lock all the doors, take your sister, brothers, and Carry with you, okay?" I nodded stiffly, turned to Carry, and gripped her hand tightly.

     My siblings ran ahead, as soon as Pa was done speaking, to lock doors. As for Carry and I, we walked at a bit of a slower pace to try and calm me down. When we walked in the barn Jimmy, my older brother, was setting up hay barrels as seats for everyone. When he finished the three of us sat down on the hay barrels while Julia, my older sister, and Christopher finished locking doors. When they finally entered everyone began asking if I was alright, but still being shocked and very worried I didn't answer them. Out in the field I could hear Pa yelling at everyone to go home. I distinctly remember him saying, "Mark my words, that if one of you are the villain which has threatened my daughter tonight, then it is you who will die and NOT my daughter!" After a while my parents came in and sat on a barrel across from me.

We all sat there in silence for a good thirty minutes straight before I finally spoke, "I'm need to use the restroom. I'll be right back." My parents immediately jumped up saying that someone needed to go with me."Ma, Pa, the restroom is right there, down the hall. You can see it from here. But, if you really wish for someone to come with me I'll take Julia and Carry." They were the only ones not freaking out and I needed that right then because I was starting to freak out. Thankfully Ma and Pa agreed to having just Julia and Carry go with me, but they also said that they would have their eyes on us the whole time. At the time I thought that they were being a little too paranoid; Pa had already asked for the sheriff to come by and investigate. However, knowing what I know now, I don't blame them anymore. They were doing their best as parents; there was no possible way that they could have known what was about to happen only seconds later. It wasn't their fault.

     I turned away from my parents, walked down the hall, and through the restroom door. As soon as I entered I wished that I hadn't. Our barn restroom had two doors to it. The front one you can see from the main area, where my family is watching me from, while the back one can be accessed through another hallway. The other hallway also has a back door leading to the outside. That's how they got in. The next few seconds happened so fast; they put their hand over my mouth, pulled out a knife, and slashed me in my neck, stabbed me in my side, and then struck me twice in the chest before I could even react. Finally, they let go of me and took their hand away. They had just enough time to escape through the backdoor before I let out the loudest blood curtailing scream I could muster. I collapsed to the floor and began coughing up blood. The last thing I remember seeing before I blacked out was my family and Carry in tears wondering what to do.

     "Whaaaaaaaaaa! Whaaaaaaaaaaa!" A weird noise came from my mouth. I opened my eyes and looked up to see a woman and a man smiling at me. "Okay, we've decided her name is going to be Harper Lee Jennings!" The woman exclaimed still smiling at me like I was the most precious thing in her world. This was the beginning of my second life. The day after Charlotte's death was the day that Harper was born, my original birthday. At the moment of my new birth I don't remember anything from my past lives, but as I grow memories slowly come back to me. Then on the night before my fifteenth birthday I die, again. Charlotte and Harper were just my beginnings.

Thanks for listening Diary.

Love,
Alena