Would You Believe Me?

PENNY

"Penny! Come on, dear. It's time to show your old man what you got." said Penny's father, Delton. Penny raced outside, her scarf flapping behind her.

"Coming, dad!" She shouted. Penny was an Austrailian girl, so her voice had a bit of bounce to it. She was 5"9, blonde, and her cheeks were coated with freckles. Her brown eyes always held light in them, and they outshined any other light that dared to test them. She was as kind as she was outgoing, and nothing could hold her down.

She raced outside to meet her father, finding his standing next to their family airplane. It was painted black and gold, and had the words "Windy Day" painted in white on the sides.

"You're going to let me fly it?!" She gasped, her eyes widening. Her father laughed and nodded.

"It's your birthday! You've finally turned 20 years old, and I think it's time." He smiled warmly. Her father was 51, so he had no reason to fly the plane anymore. Penny squealed in happiness and climbed into it, raring to go.

"Alright, Pen. Remember, a storm is rolling in. So, what do we do?" He asked with a cocked eyebrow.

"Don't go out too far, don't fly for more than 6 minutes, and stay low," she said before clearing her throat, "but not too low, of course." She grinned. Her dad nodded and gently patted tthe side of the plane.

"That's my girl! Start her up, Pen. Stay safe, I'll be on the porch." He said before turned around and slowly walking off towards their wooden porch. Penny couldn't hold in her excitement! She quickly started the plane up, and grinned at the way it sounded. Within minutes, she was off the ground, flying with a grin that stretched from ear to ear. Whenever she got too out of line, her father's words echoed in her head.

"Alright, not too high, but not too low. Remember to keep straight, don't turn too fast, and always remember to watch for-" she couldn't finish her sentence before a crack of lightening struck her plane, and the entire world plunged into darkness.

Penny awoke with a start, gasping for air. She was in a bed.

"What? Where am I..?" She asked aloud, looking around. As she took in her surroundings, she noticed she was in a hospital. She looked at her bedside monitor. Everything looked fine! (Then again, she had no idea. The last time she was in a hospital was when she broke her leg in the 7th grade.)

"Penny! My dear sweet child!" Her mother, Andrea called as she ran in. She fell onto her bed, hugging Penny tightly and sobbing.

"Mom, what's wrong? What happened?" Penny asked with worry, her eyebrows furrowed.

"You don't remember? Penny, the plane you were driving was struck my lightening in that God awful storm that rolled in! We we're too busy watching you have fun to notice it was over us. I'm so sorry!" She sobbed, wiping her eyes.

Penny frowned, gently taking her mother's hand, "Mom, I'm fine. I feel as healthy as a horse!" She grinned, motioning to herself. Her mother showed a flicker of confusion laced with worry before covering it up.

"I know, dear. Now, I'm gonna go talk to the nurses, alright? We'll get you some food." She said with a nervous smile before standing up and walking out. Penny sighed, rubbing her eyes. She didn't even notice what she was doing-!

Before she could continue to argue with herself, she noticed a file sitting next to her bed. She picked it up, looking at it. It had her full name on it, so it was pretty obvious it was hers. She opened it, revealing the notes a doctor took.

"Patient's veins showed signs of new structure that radiate atmospheric particles. Radiation from the crash? Extra notes: patient shouldn't be alive. Fell from 45 feet, electrocuted. Found with simple bruises and cuts."

Patient shouldn't be alive.

Penny's hands shook before dropping the folder. She was supposed to be dead? The air around her seemed to come to live, moving and bending around her. It popped and sizzled with energy. She looked down at her hands and jumped when blue sparks shot out of her fingertips. She closed her fists, attempting to make them stop.

What's wrong with me? What's happening?

She thought with dread. When she heard the door begin to open, she sat the folder back where it was and put on her best smile. It was nurse bringing in a tray of food.

"Here you are, dear! Your mom said you might like something to eat. I heard you had a bad accident!" The nurse frowned.

"Yeah. A bad accident." Penny swallowed, looking at her food.

She was supposed to be dead.