Smoke and shattered mirrors

Chapter one: From socialite to unknown

A voice said softly," wake up, Merci."

 My eyelids fluttered open. The car lurched forward even faster, making my stomach do strange somersaults.  

I half-expected to wake up in my dirty white bed from the orphanage's sanitarium ward and be yelled at by my guardian for being lazy and oversleeping till noon, to wake up from the miraculous dream that a woman claimed me as her neice and signed the paperwork for my own freedom. But as my...Aunt squeezed my hand tighter, I knew I was already awake. Wide awake and well.

I would've remembered this if i wasn't diagnosed with a so called mental immobility called amnesia. I didn't speak for nearly a month. The hospital didn't know who to call and what to do with me.

It felt strange. Not knowing what my life had been, who I am and what had happened to me. It's like that part of my existence never existed.

My Aunt introduced herself as Caroline St.Mitchell and she says my name is Mercicus Love, the eldest daughter of Christopher Love and Elizabeth Renner-Love and that I have a kid sister named Sophia Nicole Love .

When i asked where they are and why haven't they claimed me, she drew a sharp breathe and explained the implication of my question.

They were all dead. 

My Aunt explained that nine people died, my Family included, on a freak accident that happened on the night of my sixteenth birthday. The night I went missing.

It explained everything. My nightmares. My troubles. Me.

"You were a swimmer." Aunt Caroline smiles. "Worchester Heights' best freestyler"

 "Really?" I gasped.

She nodded then opened her cream colored purse and fished out a small stack of photos."Here. It might help you remember something."

"thank you" I said, and gingerly held the photos in my hand like diamonds.

the first picture was a younger me in a blue one-piece swimsuit holding up a large golden trophy over my head and a big smile pasted on my lips. I must've been happy that day. It showed in my eyes.

 "Where was this taken?" I asked her. Trying so hard to hack into my brain and find something. But as usual, i was clueless and oblivious to myself.

"Your first swim meet. I think you were about nine that time." Aunt Caroline said.

Nine? that explains the braces.

I ran my tongue across my teeth, sure enough, they were as straight as they could be. Something I haven't noticed before.

I placed that picture aside and saw the one behind it. This time, I didn't  have any braces on. I was laughing along with two gorgeous girls. The one beside me had sleek black hair and dark eyes, she also looked tanned. The other girl has vivid red hair and jewel blue eyes, she had mats of scattered freckles on her cheeks and nose. All of us wore a party hat, and it looked like a good time.

"That's Kylie ann Parrs, your bestfriend." She points at the black haired girl.

"What about this girl? I asked.

"Um....well.. I guess you stopped talking to her." She replied," That picture was taken about three years ago."

"Did we fight?"

"I don't know,Merci. You and I don't talk much. That was your Mom's job."

"Oh." My voice croaked.

The next photo surprised me, actually, i wasn't even in it. It was a picture of a boy i've never seen before, then again, I haven't seen any of the people on these photos. He wore a blue and white letterman jacket. He was handsome and gorgeous. The highlights of his bronze hair caught the sunlight, making it more swoon-worthy.

"Who is this?' 

She chuckled."That's Brandon Asher,Merci. He's you're ex-boyfriend."

"My what?' I exclaimed. 

"You two broke it off about two weeks before you went missing. You said it 'wasn't working out anymore'" 

Of course, I don't know if i really did say that or my Aunt is just making stuff up. The only bond we had was based on a 5 hour flight.

As if i've been struck by lightning, a sudden scene wedged it's way into my head. Forcing me to close my eyes and i wasn't in aunt Caroline's prius anymore.

I was in a cherokee with that boy named Brandon.

"I can't do this anymore,Brandon. This isin't good for both of us and you know it." I hissed.

His almond colored eyes looked furious and menacing as mine. "Is it because of him?"

I stared him down, as if it was my answer. It was enough because he bursted out the car shouting," I trusted you!"

I blinked rapidly before the memory hit a dead end. The car eased forward faster.

"We're almost home." Aunt Caroline announces then added,"You're almost home."

I felt my knees shaking as I peeked out of the window and saw the lights of Worchester Heights.

There were cooblestoned sidewalks and designer shops. The people were unaware of me watching as they continued on with their day. Students clutched their iphones and blackberry while walking on the sidewalk.

"Did everyone assume I was dead?" I asked.

"Yes. But... They ate their words soon." She answers.

"Was I mean?"

She sighed." More like,um, headstrong... you always like getting things you're way."

I nodded as if I understood. But I remember the burning anger that Brandon displayed.

What did I do to make him so mad and upset? And who was 'him'?

The car pulled over in a very pristine mansion. The gates were freshly painted white and the house was surrounded by thick green hedges. I could easily see the thorns peeking out of them when I left the confines of the car.

"We're here." Aunt Caroline said in a delighted manner." You can go inside now, dear. You're cousin is waiting for you."

I nodded and headed inside. Some landscapers and maids greeted me, one was even teary-eyed at the sight of me.

Sure enough, an older boy sat on the couch. His feet up on the mantel and gave me a wave.

I stopped cold on my tracks.

We look so much alike. The same honey brown hair and eyes. Our noses looked identical ,on his nose was scattered mats of freckles up to his nosebridge while two small beauty marks invaded that same spot on my nose.

He smiled devilishly before saying," Welcome home,cousin Merci. How the hell did you stay alive?"