Always

Chapter 2 - New Life

"Hello." A sweet voice said to the young man.

"Who's there?" Jace said as he suddenly finds himself surrounded in white. At least as far as he can see, it's all white. He doesn't even know if it's a room or not. Not even how he got there. Yet he feels he has heard that voice before.

"Hello?" He asked when he didn't hear any reply and continued looking around for the source of the sound. Yet as the time lingers and no reply came, he didn't say anything anymore. He just stood there and observed his surroundings again. As more minutes pass, he hesitated if he should leave his place and look around the area.

'Where am I?' He thought to himself.

And as he was about to take his first step, he felt a presence near him. The moment he turned, his surroundings has changed from pure white to a vast clearing with a nearby forest. The ground he's standing on turned green from the grass. Above him was the clearest sky he has ever seen, not a cloud in sight. He almost didn't see the beautiful lady standing near in front of him because he was enthralled by where he's at.

Jace was surprised for a bit but he wasn't afraid. He knew he's supposed to, because she came out of nowhere, but he really wasn't. He even felt like he knew her. And with the gentle smile she's wearing on that gorgeous face, why would he be scared. He felt peaceful in her presence.

He didn't know how long he stared at her, he didn't even realize he was drawn by her smile and his face also lit up with it. She didn't even seem fazed with Jace staring at her. She stood there with hands behind her back and was still smiling. Like she was expecting this and was happy she finally met Jace.

"Hello." Jace suddenly said breaking the silence. The beautiful lady just nodded and pointed something behind Jace. He turned and flinched when he saw the huge four story building that suddenly appeared behind him. He knew it wasn't there earlier. He doesn't know if it's one you'd classify as a mansion but he thought it's too big to be called just a house. As he looked closer, he saw that age has taken its toll on it. It isn't some rickety old building that will be destroyed with just a touch. It's gotten old from all the years it withstood, evident in its outer appearance. Some of the wall coatings are peeled off but it still looks good in Jace's opinion. It isn't as beautiful as it was when it was new but he still feels something from it. It felt home.

He doesn't know why, everything around him felt so familiar. He's gotten curious that he wants to take a look inside. He hesitated if he should ask the lady if he could enter. Remembering she hasn't spoken a word ever since she showed up, he dismissed asking her and started for the porch.

The moment he touched the door knob, his surroundings turned to white again. But the beautiful lady remained. Jace turned to her curious than ever.

"What just happened?" he asked. He was hoping that this time she will respond. And she did.

"It isn't strong yet but it's there." She said as a matter-of-factly, confusing Jace with her answer. But he now knows that it's her when he heard the sweet voice uttering 'Hello' earlier.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" he asked again then followed another question. "And who are you?"

"It will be relevant soon. I can't answer anything because all I know is what you know." She answered like what she said clarifies everything.

"You know you're not making any sense right?" he asked again with skepticism. She just smiled at him again like she finds Jace's confusion to be amusing. Jace didn't know if he's starting to get irritated by the non-sense answer he's getting but he did know that the beautiful lady is telling the truth. He just knew. Jace was about to ask her again when she said something that made Jace even more confused.