Deathly cold. I'm so cold. What's happening to me?
I opened my eyes, breathing out raggedly as my breaths come in short gasps. I can't move, i'm too cold. Yet, there is a flare and I'm heating up. It's too much, it's too warm, and it fades to icy coolness. Back and forth until I can't feel anymore. I can't hear anymore. I can't be anymore.
My eyes blearily blink open to see bright lights. I see others around me, but I can't really tell what's going on. I feel myself being moved, and I try to look around, but it hurts so badly.
I drift in and out of consciousness, unable to tell when in my confusion and shock. Sometimes I see people in my vision, they crowd over me and I close my eyes again, trying to block them out once more.
I feel a cold chill crawl up my spine ever so slowly and I start to fade, but then a memory burns in the back of my mind and slowly makes it's way to the forefront of my brain. It takes over and i'm experiencing it all over again, the same pain and anguish.
≈≈≈≈≈≈
Running. I'm breathing heavily as I run down the streets.
"Come back here!" Someone yells after me.
"No!" I found myself screaming. I run faster, forcing my tired legs to move. Things whirl by in a blur.
"No one can save you!" Another voice laughs. I risk a glance behind my shoulder to see that they are catching up. I can't let them catch up. If I do... I felt sick and kept on running.
"Almost there." I mumbled out of breath as I continued to run. I could see the neighborhood in the distance, if I could just reach it.
I prepared myself and looked at the metal fence that was blocking me and my chances of freedom.
"One chance." I whispered. I leaped, and landed on the fence, my arms being able to grasp the top part of the tall fence. My feet found a foothold, and I struggled to get up and over.
I gasped when someone grasped onto my foot.
"No!" I grunted as I tried to shove them off, but their grip was firm and they tried to tug me down. I held onto the fence with all my strength.
"Someone help!" I screamed as I struggled desperately. They tugged at my foot again and my fingers slipped.
Landing on my back, the breath knocked out of me, I slowly start to get up. One of them grabs me by my hair, lifting me up and I feel anger and pain as I try to get free. I scream at him, "Let me go!" Struggling fiercely against his hold. I break free and climb up over the fence as fast as I can manage, kicking back at my attackers whenever they try to grab onto me again. I drop down on the other side of the fence and glance back to see they are also climbing the fence.
I break off into a sprint towards my house, when I see the neighborhood I run into it and make my way to the front door and burst into the house. My fingers numbly close the door and lock it, I sigh shakily and then call out, "Mom? Mom, where are you? I need to tell you something." "I'm over here." My mom calls out, a little too cheerfully.
Growing suspicious, I carefully make my way to the kitchen ever so cautiously. I peer around the edge, and without any thought, I fling myself into the open running forward to get to my mom's captor. A person catches me, grabbing me by the waist, and tugging me away. "Mom! What's going on?" I glance around. There's my dad as well as my older brother. They all have subdued looks along their faces. I catch my brother's gaze, but he merely shakes his head in defeat.
"Well, well, so you do have another member to your family? Lying is it? I can play games too." The man that had been holding my mother moves away from her, cocking his gun and laying it against my brother's head. Troye, my brother, closes his eyes, bracing himself. The others just merely look at him, in utter defeat.
"You can't just do this." I hiss at my parents, disgustedly. "You're letting them believe that they've won?" I shake my head at them.
The man casts a curious glance at me and then starts to walk over. "You, my little flower, have some spark." He gives a slight laugh."Why can't you all show more compassion? Where's the show? The grand finale?"
My mother glares up at him, "This is all just some game to you?"
The man lazily casts a look at her, but before we can react, swiftly pulls out his gun, aims it, and then fires. Troye drops dead to the ground.
"Troye!" I scream, squirming desperately to try to make it over to him. A look from the man and my captor releases me and I rush over to Troye. "He's dead." I mutter darkly.
"The games have just begun." Replies the man.
"You horrible monster! You cannot go taking people's lives. That is not your choice." I grit my teeth and stare down at Troye again.
"Wanna bet?" He shoots his gun again and my eyes widen when this time, my mother is shot down before my very own eyes.
"Seems I can do whatever I please."
"Why. Why are you doing this?" My father speaks for the first time. The man gives a throaty laugh and then turns to look at him. "Loose ends is all." He walks over to me and points the gun at my head. I freeze, fear taking over my body as I remain motionless. My father looks at me sadly. "Be brave Shawny, don't worry. I'll see you soon." My father gives me a soft smile. I nod, returning the smile, tears gathering in my eyes as I wait for the pain, and then the darkness.
I hear the click, and close my eyes, trying to shut the world out, but I hear a snarl, and turn to see my father had launched himself across the room at the attacking men. The others are leaping towards him. "Shawny go, find help, get out of here!" My father screams at me. I nod, fearful, and run out the opened window.
I run out, suddenly wishing that we hadn't decided on a house that is in a more secluded area. I hear shouts as they run after me. I hear another few gun shots and I feel it within me that I know my father is dead. He sacrificed himself for me. But I have no time to consider this, I have to make sure his sacrifice for me wasn't in vain. I have to survive. That is my top priority.
I hear another gun shot and I stumble forwards, immense pain rushing through my core. I can't control my breathing, it comes in short, rapid gasps, the world swirls around me and I drop to the ground, motionless, and I shut my eyes, just willing for it to end.
My name is Shawny Fogg. I was sixteen when I died. My entire family was killed, the criminal was never caught for his crimes. The worst thing is, is that I can't be with my family, not yet. However, I'll be able to make something of myself. They'll remember my name. Not just because of some girl's name on the newspaper, but because I can do something.
≈≈≈≈≈≈
No matter how close you looked, you could not see the two strange women who were watching as Shawny Fogg took her last breaths as a living soul. They were transparent, non-existent, but they were there.
The first one had dark brown hair and deep blue eyes. She was a poised figure, large black wings folded neatly downwards at her sides. The other was blonde with bright blue eyes, she also had a pair of large black wings.
"Do you think she's ready yet?" The blonde asked.
The brunette shook her head, "Not yet, Linette. Not quite yet."
"But when?" The blonde whined.
"Soon, be patient."
The two stood there, motionless as they watched the faint rise and fall of the girl's chest as the surgeons worked on their patient. Finally her breathing stopped, and the surgeons stopped working, sighing. They seemed disheveled and saddened.
"Now?" Linette asked. The brunette again shook her head.
They watched again. Slowly the surgeons covered up the patient, moving her aside, and started to leave the room.
"Now." The brunette replied. Both of them moved through the wall easily, and walked over to the girl. The brunette placed her hand right above the girl's head, and gently lifted her hand upwards. The form of the girl lifted up, and glowed brightly.
"Such purity, yet...." Linette began.
"Her existence is not yet done here." The brunette finished. The soul condensed itself into a small blue light which the brunette carefully put in her hands. Linette spread her wings, as did the other and they flew up into the air, out into the open where they found a blank wall. Linette waved her hand over the wall and a large black hole appeared. Both crept through, and the portal closed behind them.
Yet, no one noticed, they never saw the two shadows that slipped quietly along, doing their respective duties. Nor did they notice the dozens of angels milling about, watching over them.