Time

Chapter One: Times change

Even now I know why I am here. Everyone has left me now. Why am stuck here, in this hell? They thought I deserved to be here. Why they left me here, but maybe I should start from the beginning, right?

Crystal eyes flickered open, a small form sitting up from the restraints of sleep. Small limbs raised over wild night black hair. Turning to the clock the form smiled wide.

'Today's the day!' The thought rang in her mind.

Swinging her legs from the bed the girl made her way to the bathroom down the hall. Looking in the mirror the girl groaned at her dishevelled hair, turning which and every way it pleased, grabbing a brush the girl smoothed out the locks. Her eyes focused on the small freckles over the bridge of her nose, crystal eyes meeting the matching pair in the mirror. With a final smile the girl straightened her night shirt, before turning and making her way down the stairs on their house.

A form was working away in the kitchen, eyes fixed on the task at hand. Soft humming could be heard from the woman standing at the counter. The small girl approached behind the older woman with a soft smile on her lips.

"Samara? It's not nice to sneak up on people, I've told you this, right?" The woman's voice was calm and serine.

"Yes mama." The girls voice was startled. "It's my birthday mama!" Her voice became excited.

A smile broke over the older woman's face as she turned wiping her hands on a rag, before discarding it back on the counter. "Yes, yes it is baby girl. You know what that means?" She asked taking Samaras' cheek into her hand. "It means today is the big day, now go upstairs and get changed. Your friends should be on their way over." She stated before kissing her forehead and sending her on her way.

Samara nodded before turning to make her way back up the stairs. She was excited for today, ever since she was little she was told that 15 was an important age. Reaching her room she saw a younger girl sitting on her bed, a wide smile painted on her lips.

"Hey! Samara, happy birthday sis." She exclaimed getting up to hug her sister.

"Ah, thank you Sango." She replied returning the hug. "Mom wants me to get changed for the party, you should too." She pressed with a smile.

"Nah, I think first I will take a nap, then I'll get ready!" The iconic idiotic smile plastered to her face. "Just had to make sure I told you happy birthday." The smile was replaced with a genuine soft one.

"Thank you monkey. That actually really means a lot to me." Her voice was soft, eyes following her sister as she made her way out of her room.

"Now to get dressed." She told herself.

Turning to her closet in the corner of her room, she chewed on her bottom lip thoughtfully. 'Fun? Casual? Or fancy?' she asked herself with a soft groan. 'Casual it is!' her mind was made up. Taking a simple black half sleeve shirt with a red dragon on the front, along with nice fitting blue skinny jeans.

Once dressed Samara made her way to her full body mirror beside her bed. Looking into the mirror, she smiled to her form, for once happy with the way she looked. 'Perfect!' She thought her smile widening.

The doorbell rang causing her to shift her attention to the door. "They're here." Her voice cracked with joy as she made her way back down the stairs.

"Come in girls, Samara will be down in just a moment." Her mom explained smiling to the two girls making their way inside.

"Thank you Ms. Sani!"

"Caliene! Enara! You two made it!" Samara's voice was excited as she made her way to her friends hugging them tight.

"Well of course we came dork." Enara explained with a soft smile.

"Happy birthday Samara!" Caliene said with a wide smile. "We wouldn't miss it, had a good morning?" She asked, her brown eyes focusing on Samara.

"Yeah, slept in for once, and still managed to get ready in time." A grin broke over her face as she lead her friends to the living room.

"I take it Sango is sleeping?" Ena asked plopping onto the couch with a grin.

"Gee, how did you know?" Samara mock asked before taking a seat beside her. She patted the open spot beside her, motioning for Cali to take a seat.

"Every time we come here, she's either sleeping or off doing something stupid." Cali protested as she crossed her legs.

After a few hours of Samara, Enara. and Caliene talking and laughing. Sani came to the room smiling to them. "Alright everyone, time to cut the cake!" Her voice was still soft even when excited.

Excited, the three girls made their way to the kitchen with the older woman. Samara stood at the head of the table beside the cake. Enara came to her left, Caliene to her right. Ms. Sani stood behind her lighting the candles.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Samara! Happy birthday to you!." All of her family sang together for her.

"Make a wish and blow out the candles baby girl."

"Yeah Sam, make a wish!"

Samara took a moment before holding her breath then blowing out the candles over her cake. Coming up the lights flickered off. "Huh?"

Falling back Samara felt her eye lids growing heavy, the room fading from what remained of her vision. 'What is going on?' Was her last thought before blacking out.

Everything went black, my mind floating in an empty abyss. Why was this happening? I was only a little girl after all. Did I do something? For some reason it seemed time stretched on forever, neither awake nor asleep, yet still unable to move my body at my will. Was this hell?