Preface

They say a child's mind may not remember many of their childhood memories even after a few years. They're wrong about me.

They say a child remembers more of the details of their past than average adults, who only end up remembering the main ideas. They're right about that.

When I turned 14 years old, my twin sister—my other half—was taken away from me. Mom and Dad both said she ran away, but I knew the truth. She even left me a note that night—that night we both turned 14.

The note was crude and small. The only words I could make out were:

Beware the piksys.

Who knows, it may not even be hers. Maybe it's just the kidnappers' idea of a sick joke. But that was all I had of her—the note and the memory that I was not always alone. I once did have a shadow, even if it now has disappeared. I still had the memory of my older sister, the other half of my heart, the one who knew me for who I was, not for how others chose to portray me.

Even if she was older than me, she always felt like the younger twin—always being carefree and even had a babyish look about her, with her flowing golden hair, big blue eyes, and constantly rosy cheeks. Meanwhile, I was usually mistaken for the elder—always taking on responsibility and always having a book in hand while Alice was always running off somewhere with her friends.

Now as look back at that night, I ask myself if I could have prevented what happened, if I could have saved her in some way. But no, there couldn't have been a way. If she really was taken by pixies like the note said, I wouldn't have been able to fight them off back then, at 14, when I could barely lift a couple of Alice's shopping bags, let alone take on a bunch of pixies.

No, I couldn't have prevented them from taking her away. But then again, there's always the chance of hope, that'd forgotten something that could have helped me save her. Too bad the memory of that night is forever etched inside my mind—every little detail to it's littlest form, etched in forever.

This is what happened—what I remember at least.

* * *

Chapter 1:
A Strange Dream

It all began with a dream…a dream of riddles and rhymes…but nonetheless, a dream… a dream that changed everything…

* * *

Right before me stood a tall ominous door with a silver knob in the center. After quite a push, I went thru and walked down the dark path ahead. It was so dark that I feared I'd gone down an underground tunnel and it seemed the farther I got from the entrance, the darker the path became.

"Hello?" I called out, my voice echoing all around me. I had stood alone silent for a moment, heart bumping hard, and turned to look behind me. But it was just as dark there and I could hardly see my hand right in front of my eyes. Suddenly, I turned back around. There was a light of some sort coming from the end of the tunnel—a very bright and blazing whiteness that alienly glowed like the sun. A whisper in a sudden breeze around me urged me to go on. I moved on, towards the light, squinting to try and see something or make out any movement.

Then, finally, my feet found their way to a clearing in a forest, as if I had been walking in the midst of the tightness of trees and have just found my way out of the thick maze. The meadow before me was quite large, with wildflowers of all different colors dotting the long grass. Somewhere nearby, I could hear the bubbling of a stream.

I walked slowly, awestruck, thru the soft grass, swaying flowers, and warm gilded air. As far as my eye could reach, it was all the same—level groung; darting tiny figures with yellow, or dragonfly blue, or rainbow plumage; a barren blue sky; and emptiness. Surprisingly, there was not a breath of wind in that cool bright air. It was a very quiet and lonely place. But I had barely a moment to enjoy it before my peaceful state was interrupted.

All of a sudden, shadows started erupting from the ground. They started from behind me, from the tunnel, working their way in. and as they passed by, the once green grass turned to ashes, the lifeless flowers dropped dead to the ground, and quietness overcame the darkened area, not a chirp or twitter to be heard. I turned the other way, away from the darkness, hoping I could find someone else and get help. And just when I was about to give up hope, I looked up and spotted a tiny girl with pale pointy ears and a pair of delicately sparkling pink wings—a girl who could probably have fit in the palm of my hand—lying in one of the faraway trees, beckoning to me in a tiny finger. And who was I to argue?

I ran as fast as my legs could carry me; past the fear struck birds, past the flowers slowly fading away their lives, and past the lonely trees, gradually giving in to the darkness, until I finally reached her. And when I did, she did not even comfort me, she just stared a me in those big violet eyes of hers and said,

"the darkness is coming.
yes, evil is brewing.
Remember to hold on to your things of value,
hold them oh, so close to you.
For we all need your help, and that's no lie.
For if you don't, they all will die."

Having understood barely a word, I stared in utter confusion at the imposible creature before my eyes.

"But how am I supposed to get out of here? And who are you? And what does that even mean? And—"

But before I could ask another question, she cut me off, saying,

"The darkness will soon be upon you, unless you hurry.
and it shall overtake you, all in a blurry.
so if it's back you want to go,
dive right in the portal of woe."

Again, I looked at her in confusion. But this time, she was pointing behind her into the midst of trees, quickly sprouting to cover—wonder of all wonders—a shimmering portal. As I jumped forward, I heard the girl's whisper in my ear,

"Remember, fair maiden, remember me.
You're the one who will someday set us all free.
But if you fail to hold on to your friends,
then surely, yes, surely, you'll never see your sister again."

With that, the mysterious stranger disappeared from my view and dove into the hole. I quickly followed, allowing the darkness to pull me under.

A/N: Remember to review please!!!!!!!!!!
The sooner the better.

PS: I'm sorry if you find any typos but just try to work it out. Either this computer or this network hates me and it just takes words, letters, and even spaces out. So if you find any I'm truly sorry. Just try to make the best of it. And it's okay if you hate it, just remember to actually review if you actually hate it. And if there's the slim chance that you actually liked it, please tell me! Also write if you have any questions if the story's confusing you so far or if you have any suggestions about it. Please review.

Arrivaderci, (i don't care if its mispelled!)

Lyla.

PS: the little winged girl isn't a faerie, she's a will-o'-the-wisp.
Review please!