One Way Out

Chapter One: Who Am I?

Mystery POV

Just a minute ago, I had been seeing and feeling everything, everywhere. I had felt and known nothing but joy throughout my existence. Then, everything flashed white, and suddenly, I saw only one scene.

A field, no wait.... A prairie, the tall dry grass swaying in the West wind. Unknown to myself, I smiled. This was one of my favourite places in the world.

Suddenly, I realised with a shock that I could move. I stood up clumsily, used to seeing the four-legged animals of the plains stepping up from the ground to stand proudly. But, to no avail. I fell suddenly, my two large feet slipping out from under me. I hit the hard ground with a thump, feeling a sensation that was quite unpleasant. I decided to call it pain, for no real reason other than it seemed to match exactly what I had just felt. Apparently, I possessed other limbs as well: I had arms and hands, with five fingers on each hand.

Was it possible? Did I......... exist?

A sound came from my mouth as I fell again; another failed attempt to stand. Perhaps, though, my arms would be of some use. I pushed up off the ground with my hands, arms, and legs together, and stood up. I balanced precariously, tipping back and forth. As if by instinct, I held out my arms like the soaring birds of prey to steady myself. Then, I stopped rocking and finally felt confident on my feet, almost as though I had stood using these foreign limbs my whole life.

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Chime and Charlie's POV

She slammed the handle of her best friend's ornate steak knife into the table, steaming.

"This is the LAST TIME, Charlie, you hear me?! I just can't live with this anymore!"

Charlie Kanahin stuffed his right hand into his jean pockets awkwardly, ruffling his blonde curls with his left. He was always thinking about Chime Belmont.

"Where will you go, Chime? You have no one left but me. Need I remind you what happened with your last job?"

Oh, god, do I love her.

She put her head in her hands, fingers running through chocolate mousse-coloured hair, remembering.

It had been ages since she had a job, any at all. She had quite the knack for getting in trouble, even of she didn't do a single thing wrong. One day, when it had all just gone wrong again, she ran. She ran, and never stopped; running until she fell over in the tall, swaying prairie grass that was as foreign to her as light was to the night. That morning, Charlie had gone out to check for prairie dogs, and found his best friend from college lying in the grass, cold almost to the point of death. In complete shock, he had scooped here up in his arms and ran for eight miles to the nearest hospital; something there is no way he should have been able to do in a regular situation.

He had burst into the hospital, herself in tow, breathing hard. As soon as they brought in the stretcher to take me away, he collapsed on to the floor, exhausted. Ever since then, she had lived with him, providing for each other whenever possible.