When the Rain Falls

Chapter One

6 months later

Slowly, I opened my crusted eyelids, revealing puffy eyes and tear stained face. My eyes snapped open revealing some moonlit rays filtering through the curtains into my room. The soft patter of rain against the roof is the only sound I can hear.

I swing my legs over the side of the bed, untangling them from sheets, resting my bare feet on the cold floor. A shiver goes up my spine and goosebumps spread down my arms, just to make the situation stranger.

I am wide awake from a nightmare, one that caused me to wake up crying. I numbly walk to the window, I don't know why. The rain makes odd streaks down the glass. It bounces lightly off the concrete sidewalks and the asphalt road. The wind blew the trees back and forth. I suddenly feel lost, sad, and confused all at once. Why do I feel like only part of me is really here?

What the hell, Katie, that doesn't make sense, I think to myself.

There are dark storm clouds in the sky, and I see a flash of lightning far off in the distance.

In the sudden flash if light, I see the glimpse of a pale face in the window, before it vanishes completely. I widen my eyes. It must have only been my reflection.

Another flash of lightning illuminates my room once more and I see the face again. It's me, but not me. The girl who cares more about her grades than boys, the organized straight A student, the emotionally stable wallflower that would be nothing without her sister-- Katie Parker. That's who I am. But that's not who's staring back at me.

Slowly, I draw a question mark on the window.

I suddenly hear a noise downstairs. I freeze, and the refrigerator door softly closes. I turn towards my door and turn towards the stairs. I quietly tiptoe down the stairs, my bare feet inaudible against the carpet.

I gasp. Standing before the kitchen counter, is a girl with long brown hair, shockingly similar to mine. A slender face, with deep brown eyes. When she realizes I'm standing there, she gasps and steps back, and we stay there looking at each other. She looks guilty, like she just got caught, and looks at the floor.

"Emily?" My voice comes out barely as a whisper. I've missed her so much.

Her eyes tear away from the floor and gives me a half-hearted smile, but it doesn't reach her eyes, which hold so much pain. "Did you miss me, Katie?"

She holds her arms open for a hug, but I stand in shock. My eyes glaze over with tears, after 6 months, she shows up letting me think she was dead?

"Say something, anything," she pleads, her arms slowly lowering her hands to her sides.

I don't, I just run straight at her, and squeeze her in a bear hug, and I don't let go because I'm scared that if I do, she would just disappear again.

"I've missed you so much," I mumble into her shoulder, finally letting the tears soak the shoulder of her shirt.

"I've missed you too; how do I live without my twin?"

I pull away and look at her in the eye. "I thought my twin was dead. How am I supposed to live without her? And to know I might never see you again? You ran away, Emily, you left me with a note saying 'Ill be back', for six months! The least you can do is tell me where you've been and why you left me with them." I look up towards my parents room. They always loved Emily. I'm sure they wished I was the one gone not her.

She looks pained as she answers. "Don't be mad, please don't be mad at me, Katie, please. I can't tell you, for your own sake, it'll put you in more danger-" she clamps her mouth shut.