This is something that began from four short stories I wrote in 1999-2000.

I decided that all of them pretty much sucked. While trying to improve

one story, I picked out bits and pieces from the other 3 stories

and had one of those revelations somewhat similar to those that maybe

Picasso may have had. So I thought up a plot, and slowly started

piecing them together. I'm far from finished, so excuse the sudden stop.

I'm working on this a little at a time.

Two shadowed figures moved swiftly through the foggy night. They came to a halt on the corner. One of the figures, a young man that could have been no older than seventeen, reached into his pocket. "I got you a little something for our eight month anniversary." he said to the young brunette at his side.

"Honey, you didnt have to get me anything. Im happy just having you." the girl responded.

The crashing of garbage cans and upraising of voices from around the corner caught the couples attention.

..........

Faith jolted awake at the sound of her Mickey Mouse alarm clock and followed up by chucking it across the room. It stopped its obnoxious clanging after colliding with the wall and bouncing a few times on the ceramic tile floor. Faith grabbed her scarlet, satin sheet and patted the sweat from her forehead. She slowly propped herself up and brushed her short, black hair away from her face. "Damn dream." she muttered to herself. Her fuzzy, maroon slippers rested on the floor near her bed which made it easy to slide her feet into. She peered around her room for a moment.

An oak dresser, decorated with picture frames and porcelain figures, sat in the corner near the window. Two of the figures were girls, each of them looking remarkable similar to Faith with their black hair and bright green eyes. The other five figures were modeled after different species of big cats. A lion, a cheetah, a leopard sitting in a tree, and a tiger with a cub all starred intensely toward the open widow as if seeking freedom. A smoky-gray couch occupied the far wall next to a small bed stand with a telephone resting on it.

It rang suddenly, causing Faith to jump. She let out a sigh of relief and picked up the receiver.

"Good morning, sunshine." a voice said cheerfully before Faith could speak.

"Hey, Rayana." Faith said. "Whats up?"

"Chan wanted to know if he could borrow your physics book during third period."

Faith groaned. "Cant your brother ever learn to ask for things himself, instead of through you?"

"Well," Rayana replied, "You know how shy he is around you. I personally think its cute. Besides, if you two get married, wed be sisters!"

"Sorry to bust your bubble, but that wont be happening." Faith replied groggily. "Look, I need to wash my hair. Ill see you later."

"Okay. Bye, Faith."

"Yeah, yeah. Bye." Faith hung up the phone and preceded to the bathroom to take a shower.

After the refreshing shower, she stepped out and dried off. She tip-toed back to her room, slipping twice, hit the play button on her stereo and cranked it up to properly motivate herself for, yet, another hectic day of school. She snatched up a black spaghetti-strap shirt and a baggy pair of jeans from her floor and attempted to put them on as she dried her hair. Once her circus act was finished, she slipped into a hooded sweatshirt, with a Staind logo on it, and slid on a pair of dark blue Vans.

The final touch to her attire rested upon her computer desk; an old ribbon necklace that brought a tear to her eye every time she stopped to look at it. Faith shivered slightly and shook away her thoughts as she put on the choker. After delicately adjusting it, she picked up her bag and headed out the front door.

..................

A heavy morning fog filled the streets as Faith walked to school. A large number of leaves drifted along with the wind as countless others rested on the sidewalk. The breeze flung and twisted her hair.

Faith approached the local convenience store for a drink. She was hoping that her good friend, Jacob Hash, would be working. He had graduated the year before and was now working at the convince store until he found a better job.

The bells on the door chimed as she entered. Luckily, he was there. "Hello, Faith. What'll it be today?"

"Hey, Jacob. I'll get...a Frapachino to go, please."

"No problem, little girl."

Jacob always referred her little girl because she had always felt like a daughter to him. Jacob befriended her when she was eight, and had been there for her throughout many hardships shed endured, unlike her real father. Faiths father had run off with one of her mothers coworkers when she was eleven years old.

He grabbed a bottle out of the display case and handed it to her. He returned to the small area behind the front counter. "Are you sure you don't want to stay and keep me company?" he asked jokingly.

"You know I would if I didn't have school." Faith paused momentarily. She scuffed her feet on the cheap, plastic tile as she stared down. Her hand wrapped around the star that hung from her choker. "I had the dream again." she finally said. She looked up again and her eyes were met by his. A genuine look of concern filled his pale green eyes.

"How far did you get this time?" he asked in a lower voice.

"Not far. Just until those creeps came out." she muttered. Her eyes returned to the ground, only this time her eyes focused on the torn fabric where the cuffs of her pants once were. "I wish it would just stop."

Jacob reached across the fake-marble counter and brushed a few stray hairs from Faiths face. "Things happen." he whispered softly. "We cant prevent them, but we shouldnt blame ourselves because we are unprepared. You couldnt have possibly known what would happen, neither could you have stopped it."

"Yes I could have." she interrupted.

Before Jacob had a chance to retaliate, another customer entered. The bells had hardly stopped chiming when Faith had placed the money for the drink on the counter and dashed out the door. Jacob didnt make any attempts to stop her, for he knew shed return after school.

............

As She hurried onward to school, she cursed herself for living. If Faith could turn back the hands of time, she would have willed herself to slip away into the clammy hands of death while she had been unconscious for that one terrible week. She choked back her tears and swallowed hard. The wind chilled her warm face.

Rayana and Chan were rounding the bend just ahead of her. Faith took several deep breaths to calm herself. She didnt want Rayana to know about the dream until later in the day.

Rayana's perky personality was enough to cheer Faith anyway. She emitted a powerful, positive energy that Faith absorbed whenever they were together. Rayana was quite the optimist. She found good news in every situation, unlike Faith who thought every event was an omen of destruction and pain.

As Rayana approached Faith, her face glowed with joy that radiated from her ear-to-ear grin. Faith could tell Rayana had good news, as she usually did. Chan followed her, constantly four steps behind. His hair was hidden under a black winter cap with "FBI" stitched on it in white block letters.

Rayana gave Faith a light hug. Still, Chan remained a comfortable four paces behind. "You won't believe who I got a letter from." Rayana said with a smile. Faith detected a slight quiver in her voice. Rayana paused and took a breath. "Lander."

Faith couldn't breathe for a moment. When she found the energy to draw in a breath, she choked on the air. She tried to get a hold on herself while Rayana waited patiently.

Lander's face was one that Faith could not forget. How could she when his was similar to that of his brother's? "Adrian," Faith mumbled. Faith closed her eyes to picture his face.

"He said that he wanted to write you," Rayana interrupted, "But your address wasn't listed. He gave his number though, and wants you to call him as soon as you can." She handed Faith an open envelope, which, Faith assumed, contained the letter. Faith gazed at the white envelope for a moment, then she carefully placed it into the oversized pocket in her sweatshirt. She combed through her hair with her fingers.

Faith looked up to Rayana, who seemed to be awaiting a decision. "Lets roll." Faith said at last. She stopped abruptly. "Here, Chan." she said as she grabbed out her physics book. "Are you even gonna bring your own book?"

"Not as long as youre around." he mumbled.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing."

She handed him the book and he tucked it under his arm. She looked at him for a moment, then started walking. Rayana began to walk as well, with Chan for paces behind.

They continued down the sidewalk for another two blocks before cutting through an open field. The Three of them trudged through the tall grass until they reached the street on the other side. Standing across the road was the high school. Only a few months to go, Faith thought.

Crowds of teens surged around them as they approached the school.

. . . to be continued