Free Spirit

Simple Twist Of Fate

Waking up to the peaceful sound of birdsong, and not the spine tingling presence of ghouls, was a pleasant change of pace. I sat up in the comfy bed, in the nice room, in the big house Azazel had brought me to. I had slept all night and I still couldn't feel any ghosts nearby.

I'd eventually find out why but right now my stomach was making me aware of how hungry I am. I quickly got dressed in the only clothes I owned and stepped out of the room onto the pristine landing.

Where now?

I decided downstairs would be the best place to start. There was nobody around, the silence of the house was eerie and grated at my nerves, too much time on the run probably.

"Joel?" A voice called when I reached the bottom of the stairs.

I turned around to be met by a short, cheerful looking woman in jogging bottoms and a flowery t-shirt. Her dark hair was pinned back with pencils.

"Hello?"

"You're finally up, you must have needed that sleep, hon'."

I was surprised by her attitude, most people saw my scruffy complexion and bright white hair, and tended to be more judgemental.

"Yeah, I haven't had a good night's sleep in years."

The woman chuckled heartily, "A night? Try two days." She laughed harder when my jaw dropped. "Like I said, you must've needed it. Breakfast is in the dining room, down the hall, second door on the left, after that you should make your way out back." 

She pointed down the hall and I smiled away my confusion. I wasn't about to turn down a free meal.

"Thank you... erm."

"My name's Barbelo,  you can call me Barb. Run along now, or it'll be cold."

She shooed me away and walked off in the opposite direction. So I was going to the dining room alone then. I made my way down the hall and entered a brightly decorated dining room; painted murals on the walls that looked like the countryside, floor to ceiling windows bathed the room in light, oak table and chairs filled most of the room. There was nobody inside but a breakfast had been set up on the table, I assumed it was for me.

I sat down alone to eat and contemplated my life while I scoffed down sausages and bacon. I was used to living a crazy lifestyle but this felt unreal. When I finished my food, I did as Barb suggested and headed outside, maybe I'd find answers out there.

Three girls, somewhere around my age, were standing around gym mats when I stepped out. They were watching two men fighting, but that wasn't what had my attention, to my stunned surprise the girls all had bright white hair, just like mine, they also looked puzzled to be there.

The two men were sparring, dodging and jumping the others attacks while simultaneously trying to land a punch on their opponent. They were moving with incredible speed, I'd never seen anything like it. They both looked around the same age as Azazel- middle aged but somehow not. They wore workout gear with golden trim, an odd choice but each to their own. I joined the girls and watched the men try to get the better of each other, neither seemed able to get the upper hand.

Several moments later they ended the fight on equal ground and turned to the four of us.

"Your turn."

I raised a brow when one of the men spoke, he had salt and pepper hair and a well trimmed beard. I frowned at his meaning, eyeing the mats suspiciously.

"Joel will face Lenna, while Althea will face Bridget."

My frown deepened when the pairs presented themselves, the girl in front of me was beautiful. Her white hair was pulled back into a ponytail and her green eyes were piercing, intelligent but not unkind. She didn't have the same haunted look the rest of us seemed to have, why was that?