By: Ahro
PROLOGUE"What are you doin?! Come on we're gunna be late!"
Seven years have passed since then.
"Look. I know a shortcut. Come on. If we take it, we won't miss the bus."
I had just moved to this place. And my first day in this new, quite little town, was a day I would never forget.
"Look, see we made it. The bus is commin down the street right now."
Yet, I have forgotten.
"Hey. Come on!"
Just like I had almost lost my entire identity. But something is calling me…
"Chihiro!"
…something… is calling me back…
"Chihirooo!"
…something……
***
RIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGGG!!!!
"Hey, Chihiro. Wake up. You slept threw the whole class. It's strange how Professor Kawishina let's you get away with everything."
The girl slowly lifted her head. Eyes fluttering open, she quickly winced as the unnatural bright light flew into her open eyes. Her vision blurred but soon returned to normal as she looked up to her friend and classmate.
"Let's go." He said as he picked up her book that had carelessly cascaded to the floor as she slept.
Rubbing her eyes and swiping away any sleep spirits from her eyes she looked about the familiar classroom. The teacher had left, as well as the students. The room was empty except for the two. She got to her feet slowly, stumbling a bit as she slipped from the tiny desk. She had been sleepy for a long time now. Her subconscious seemed to want to pull her into the dream world more and more each day. What did it need to accomplish so badly that it had kept her from driving, and doing normal everyday chores?
Her parents had become worried at the suddenness of her illness. She was taken to a doctor, who could only prescribe a special type of drug that would help to cure her sleepiness. It didn't help. Instead of any normal persons six hours of sleep, she found herself adding a good 10 more hours onto that. Something was strange but no professional doctor was able to figure out what was causing her ailment.
"What time is it?" Her voice came out in a rasp.
"It's time to go home. It's 2:30. I'll walk you to the bus, but then I need to stay after for some work I needed to make up." He explained as she made her way to the door.
"That's okay, Sano. I can make it. I'll see you later."
"Are you sure?
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I haven't died yet." She said with a slight smile.
"Erm… okay. Talk to ya lata, Chihiro."
"Yeah. Bye." She finished off quietly as she watched her friend walk down the dimly lit hallway. Adjusting her books in her hand, she retreated off in the other direction. The sun that escaped from the outside and threw the windows lit up the floor. Once students and faculty had left the building, lights were shut off quickly, allowing for the natural light of the sun to bright up the paths of those who remained. Her eyes grew heavy. She looked to the outside to see the soccer team out on the fields practicing for their big match tonight. The parking lot was emptying, as the underclassman rushed onto the buses. She knew easily that she wouldn't make it to the bus ramp in time.
"Maybe I'll walk home today. Mom and Dad won't know the difference if I take that shortcut."
The street was lined with cars. The roar of people talking and engines humming was too much for such a walk. Her eyes hurt from the bright sun, and the sounds were too loud for her to withstand. It was the warmest part of the day, and the heat of the sun boiled down on the bare streets. Sweat dripped down her face as she walked.
Soon familiar homes and small business's came into view as she rounded the corner, and as she did, she was met with a cool brisk wind as it whipped up into her face from the damp street Sano had shown her earlier. Her attention was quickly drawn away from the street, and back to where she had come. The main road had become bare, and each and every tiny brick making up the sidewalks had lost its occupant.
"That's strange." Her voice escaped her. It wasn't her affair to what other people did, so she turned her back and walked down this new street.
Her memory was vague on this side road. She had only caught glimpses of it as she walked up it that morning, as she was still slipping back off to sleep the whole time. What was wrong with her? Why did everyone else look so healthy, and yet she remained tired, all of the time? Why? She wondered as she walked down the forgotten street.
Apartments lined the street up and down on either side. She remembered vaguely that this street once held a river running threw it. What a shame to have to turn such a beautiful river into a real estate paradise.
No sign of life still remained as she continued on down. What was this strange feeling, and why now? She thought as she stopped. A quick gasp came from her. She suddenly couldn't breath. Her eyes widened as she tried to bring oxygen to her lungs. A tiny ally seemed to almost beckon her over to it. She ran half hobbled to it, still short of air. Death was coming for her and there was nothing stopping it. She stepped into the ally; the air then became thick and moist. Her breathing stopped completely. A purple flash drew her attention towards it. Why was she still awake and moving? She felt her chest. No movement what so ever. Fear had yet to swipe over her. The flash lit up once again. Moving now towards it, she rolled over garbage bags and a trash can to finally find a small, purple in color, hair elastic. Her hand outstretched towards the shimmering object and upon contact, her breathing returned. Her heart began to beat at its normal rate. Sound had been replenished as birds chirped and the sound of cars whizzing up and down the street could be heard again as usual. Footsteps behind quickly grabbed her attention as she stood up and swung around to see who had come.
"What are you doin down there? Your not suppose to be down there. Go on home now." An old man cried down to her from the street sidewalk.
"Ahh, sorry Sir." She returned as she quickly ran back up from the ally and onto the sidewalk, finishing with a quick bow to the elderly man as she walked back down the street. "How strange." She thought as she finished her walk home.
The familiar blue house she had come to call her own came into sight at last. The walk seemed to take much longer than expected even on a normal walk.
"Great shortcut, Sano." She thought to herself with a slight chuckle as she loomed over the counter in the kitchen to look around the bend to see if anyone was home. "Hey anybody home?" She called out. With a loud bark from upstairs, an albino german shepherd came flying down the stairs. Tail wagging hysterically, tongue flying out of his mouth as he came to great her. She bent down to hug the animal.
"I missed you two, Saika. Where are mom and dad?" She asked, not entirely expecting an answer from the animal.
"Oh, hunny your home." Came the familiar voice from the washroom. "How are you feeling today? Were you able to get any extra help from your teachers during the times you missed class.
"Erm… yeah, mum." She said as she tossed her book bag on the counter and made her way to her bedroom.
Turning on the radio she unchanged out of her school uniform and absent-mindedly took whatever was inside of her pockets out and tossed them on the dresser. Rummaging threw her closet; she pulled out a black spaghetti strap tank top and a pair of navy blue baggy jeans. Going to her nightstand she carelessly fiddled with some necklaces and bracelets and tossed them on. She then walked to her dresser once again and rummaged threw the scattered hair elastics and finally grabbed one. Quickly throwing up her hair into a high ponytail she brushed it out and walked out onto the roof.
Each day she would come home from school and come to the shady side of the roof and fall asleep. This time though, she chose to bring out her radio as well. Finding a nice place on the warm black rooftop she settled down turned the radio up a bit and drew her blank gaze to the sky. A cool breeze picked up sending her hair flying. She brought her hands down and around the back of her head, and allowed her fingertips to graze over the elastic, which quickly made her, shoot straight up. Her hand remained settled on the tiny piece of thread. A white shimmer amongst the clouds drew her attention up once more.
In a quick motion she jumped down to her balcony window, then climbing down the side vines she reached the ground. Not sure of what she was doing, or where she was heading too, she knew she needed to leave. Someone was in trouble. Someone was calling out to her. Someone…