Life or Death

Chapter 1 ~Gracie~

Before? I hardly even know anymore. It's so hard to look back to see and feel what I once felt and saw. I remember trees, I don't know what kind.

I also remember the smell of smoke and screaming. Oh god, not the screaming... Gracie get a hold of yourself, just breathe, just breathe. God, I wish I was home happy and smiling without a worry in the world.

Of course, I can't go back 2 or is it 3 years. All I know is my home and old life is gone, I'm here, alone, in a cage, going crazy.

Thinking back is hard. All I remember before I was brought here is running into the woods with my older brother. His name was - I don't remember... Why am I here, where is here anyway?

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Ugh, this sucks. No not the ridiculous outfit I wear, but instead the way my hair is right now! Yikes! Just touching it gives me the heebie-jeebies. My clothes are also awful they look like the were made years ago and the last person to wear them had a couple accidents in them, yuck!

"Gracie Roberts!" A male voice said. Oh, not them. By them I mean adults about 32, I guess maybe older. But I have to answer him,

"Yes?" I ask politely, because if you ask me they have no manners.

"We are searching the area for weapons. So move out of the way!"

Then they just burst in! I don't know how many people, but it's a lot more than one! Oh wait did he say they are searching my room?! Oh no this is bad! This is very bad!

"Gracie?" A faint voice is whispering to me,

"Yes?" I whisper back.

"Where are you, Gracie?" The voice is a little louder,

"I'm in my cage, alone..." I answer. Suddenly my cage is on fire! Not like a little one but huge and roaring! But the worst part is someone knocked me out...

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I don't know how long I've been asleep. It feels like a few minutes, why doesn't it feel longer? Ugh, my head is pounding. Who knocked me out? Why was I knocked out? Where am I anyway?

Wait! This is NOT my room! My room doesn't have anything in it but my cot and desk! This is like a fairytale! A huge comfortable bed, a huge closet with thousands of outfits, not just one dirty one! Oh and there is a balcony! It's beautiful, I mean truly amazing!

"Miss Gracie?" Is a voice calling for me?

"Um, yes?" Of course, I had to answer.

"They wish to see you." Who wants to see me?

"Who may I ask wants to see me?" The voice, possibly a young woman, answers,

"Why your brother and sister-in-law of course!" Wait, my brother?

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I open the door to the room, I think it's the door the woman was talking through. No, it's not darn it! It's the closest!

"Miss, may I come in?" I look around, um was that dress always on the bed?

"Uh, give me a second to get changed." Wait I just noticed I was in a beautiful, silky nightgown. Yep, I need to get changed.

Ugh, this dress is tight and uncomfortable.I hate the texture of it, it is so itchy. But if I get to meet my so called "brother" that I remember so little about, I'm willing to do it!

"Ok, you can come in now!" I call to the young woman who is still at the door. When she walks in I'm kind of confused. She doesn't look anything like what I thought. She's way older, not your grandma but more like she just turned 39.

"Oh no! We must fix your hair, it's a mess!" She talks with the soft delicate voice,"Just sit in the chair by your vanity, miss." I haven't even noticed the big white vanity. I start walking to it when she talks again,"Miss Gracie you are not happy to see me?" Um, should I say yes or no?

The room is turning white when I sit down! What is going on? Oh no has all of this been a dream? No please no! I need to see my brother! What will happen to me and him?

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"Miss Roberts! Get up and ready to go to your new cell!" Ugh, do they have to yell through a microphone? It really gives me a headache!

"Yes, sir!" Why am I so polite?! "You are a man right?" Or did I just make a huge mistake?

"That is not any of your business! Now get up!" Okay, okay I'm moving! Jesus that was rude! Okay, let's see I just have to wake up and see where I am. Of course, I wouldn't be in my old cell after it burned down. Oh, I hope I will get back to my dream. I wonder if the light here was the white thing that consumed me... I wonder.

I'm up now and getting blindfolded. Most likely so I don't get any ideas of escaping. Um, should I tell them that I can still see out of it? No, I can use this to my advantage! Maybe I can escape without them knowing! Oh please don't pull it down! Whew! That was a close one,

"Get up you idiot!" A man is yelling at me now. I stand up, off course I am half their height but then again I'm somewhere around 17, right? I can't tell at this point.

When we leave the room there's light from the windows? There are windows! Oh my gosh, there are windows! That means there is a way to escape! Oh, but will my life be the same out there, in the world? I just want to go back to the dream and live there. It looked so peaceful, the only thing I don't think I can do is see my brother again...