Shattered Time

Hello everyone=^_^= This is my first fanfic I've written for Pandora Hearts so...I really hope you'll enjoy it!

Break: Well of course they'll enjoy it because I'm there! *grins*

Rei: And me, too!

snowdreams: *sweatdrop* Right…now time for the disclaimer! *clears throat* Pandora Hearts (sadly) doesn't belong to me but to Jun Mochizuki and the only thing that belongs to me is this story and my OC Rei!

Anyway, reviews are always appreciated and they make my day.

Now onwards with the story! (:

*Edited on 5/27/12. Re-edited on 16/6/12. I re-read the other chapters and wasn't satisfied so I'll be editing the others too. There will only be minor changes.

Chapter 1: Prologue

Darkness surrounded her.

How long had she been in here? She had completely lost track of time.

Time.

No, 'time' didn't exist in this place…

A faint sob broke the silence. White petals started to flutter down with a passing breeze. Turning, Rei saw a young girl on the ground.

Hair as white as snow cascaded down her milky shoulders, dress in the same shade. With her long eyelashes and doll-like features, she was a picture of magnificence. Beauty. Yet her eyes held nothing but a haunting sadness.

Eyes that Rei couldn't look away from.

Then there was red.

Red streamed down her arm as the girl gripped a pair of silver scissors. It stained her hair, face and dress. Tears, like tiny glistening diamonds, slid down her soft cheeks from lowered eyes.

She tightened her grip. More blood spilled.

Gazing up, her azure orbs bore into Rei's jade ones and her lips curved into an angelic smile.

"My name is Alyss."

Alyss?

The next second, the smile turned ugly and malicious, distorting her innocent face. Throwing her head back, her body started to shake with maniac cackles.

The blood continued streaming, creating a spreading pool of crimson as the cackles filled the darkness...

"Ahhh!" Rei Kisagari awoke with a jolt. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Her blanket lay in a twisted heap beside her, forgotten. She ran a shaky hand across her face.

That dream again. It was already the nth time she had it. It was always the same thing-darkness, petals, the girl, then blood.

"A dream, it was just a dream." She reassured herself. Despite those words, she couldn't stop trembling.

It had felt so real. The girl, the iciness of the place, even the nauseating smell of that blood…

It had felt as though she was there.

"My name is Alyss."

Who was Alyss? Why couldn't she stop dreaming about her?

Those were the questions that she woke up everyday with but had no answer to.

Maybe I'm just stressed with school. I just need to relax.

She nodded firmly. A good hang out with her friends and chill-time was what she needed. Glancing at the digital alarm, she let out a curse.

Crap, I'm gonna be late!

She hopped in and out of the shower in record time, and five minutes later she was dressed in her school uniform and prepared to go. Heading down the stairs, the first thing she saw was her aunt sprawled on the couch in the living room, snoring away. Her mouse brown curly hair was in an unruly mess, clothes crumpled. It was obvious she hadn't bothered to bathe in days, relying on cheap perfume to cover the smell. Peanut shells and snack bags littered every area of the floor. A half-empty beer can lay discarded beside her body, along with another pile on the coffee table. The room reeked heavily of alcohol and perfume.

Rei grimaced. Great, more work for her to do after she came back. She was already used to being the 'housekeeper' and coping with her alcoholic aunt ever since her parents passed away two years ago in a car accident. Recalling it brought a pang in her down, even though no one ever said it, she had always known it was her fault. She remembered the moment clearly as though it was yesterday.

-Flashback-

Rei glared angrily at her parents through held back tears. "You promised! You promised you'd stay with me this weekend!"

Her parents, dressed in their expensive business suits stood at the door, faces torn between guilt and indecision.

"Rei, we're sorry but there was suddenly another important meeting this afternoon and…" Her mother started.

"Forget it! You're always making the same excuse; always breaking your promises to me. All you care is your work! I'm not important to you!" Rei cried. She felt betrayed, unwanted. Her parents hardly spent even ten minutes at home. They were always flying to someplace or having meetings. Every time they promised that they would spend some time with their own daughter, only to break it in the end. She couldn't take it any longer.

She continued glaring until her mother sighed.

"Alright, we'll cancel the meeting and stay with you, okay?"

"But honey, the meeting…"

Instead of feeling happy, Rei felt disgusted instead. She hated how they sounded as though it was so troublesome to spare some time to be with her. It made her feel terrible….likeshe was the selfish one and not them. Her father was clearly more concerned with the meeting than his own daughter.

"Forget it! Just…just go! I don't want to see you again!" Bursting into tears, she fled up the stairs to the comfort of her own bedroom.

-End flashback-

Never did she know that that was the last moment she'd see them. Just hours later, they had gotten into a car accident. Both perished right on the scene. Rei was inconsolable for weeks. She kept to herself, grief and guilt choking her everyday like a poison. She had been stubborn, selfish and they had paid the price for it.

If only she hadn't throw a tantrum. If only she had been more adamant to let them stay with her. If only she hadn't said those words.

If only, if only, if only.

But after weeks of self-blame and guilt, she knew it was pointless. They weren't going to come back.

Accept it, Rei had thought to herself. Accept the reality, even if it's painful, torturous, or unbearable…accept everything. Because nothing can change no matter what you do now.

That was why Rei forced herself to smile. Not for her sake, but because she knew her parents wouldn't want her to be in a grieving mess. Her aunt moved in to live with her after that, the only close relative she had. Money was not a big issue because Rei's parents were considerably rich, but she hated how her aunt squandered it carelessly on alcohol. By no means was she a great housekeeper (she had never lifted a finger in the past), but if it meant retaining at least their house for them, she would gladly do it.

She did her best-cooking, cleaning, tidying it even though she knew her aunt would ruin it again.

Opening the front door, she stepped out. The fresh morning air perked her up almost instantly. Tucking a lock of long blond hair behind a ear, she peered at the sky.

Today was going to be different. She could feel it.

Please tell me whatcha think! Reviews are absolutely loved like velvety hot chocolate and awesome marshmallows! (: