1 Prologue: goodbye bellhollow.

Has there ever been a flower that doesn't appreciate the art of time?

The compelling components that bring our world together.

The stitches in time that tie our fates.

The stars that gracefully fall to the earth; seeking a beautiful end.

Time is all-consuming.

It ticks on regardless of the pursuit of others.

It never stops.

Did you know?

There's about 97 percent of history lost in the waves of time. 97 percent of uncounted events and historical heroes who will never reach the minds of their descendants. Some were even made into a beautiful lie to tell a tragic tale. I wonder if it was because our ancestors wanted to forget what was and start anew. Or maybe it's because one generation was too ignorant to pass on the stories of the past. Whatever it was, it's what brought us here...

Bellhollow was something similar to many of these things. In short, It was a story left untold and forgotten. Bellhollow was one of many. its story will never truly end. As long as the ground is filled with the veins of the earth, Its story will March on. For thousands, maybe even millions of years. However just like many stories. Bellhollow is just the beginning. A prologue to a much grander story. My story. I happen to be the protagonist of this particular tale. But in order to tell this story, I have to go back to the beginning. I have to relive every second of it again. But this time you will witnesses the events with me.

I hope... things will turn out differently this time. Maybe I will reach a much happier conclusion than before.

Everything will be over within due time. So, Shall we start at The place where my life changed forever...

The place where my destiny was decided.

Bellhollow.

So this is our new home. My eyes wander out of the car window. Bellhollow was the name of the small town, known for its cafes, and history of being one of the quietest and relaxing towns to visit.

*visit* was the keyword.

In other words, it was a small town that didn't have much to offer. Maybe that's why it was so easy to find an apartment for a cheap price.

I rolled down the window. The smell of freshly cut grass and seawater hit my nostrils, and sent a refreshing feeling though my spine. I slipped off my sandals and prop my bare feet up on the dashboard, as I took in the heat of the beaming sun. It was well over 100 degrees, and I was beginning to melt into my seat.

Most of the time you would expect the pictures you find on the internet to be better than the actual place. But, that actually wasn't the case here. The place was lively to some degree. The Buildings were noticeably old, but most were kept in pretty good condition.

There were a few people who roamed the streets. Mostly older people, who were tending to their gardens, and making small talk with whoever passed by. Some waved at the unfamiliar moving vehicle, while others just stared in wonder. My back sinks into the Jeep passenger sit. I teared my eyes away from the scenery, and focused on distracting myself with my phone.

My sister inhales the salty summer air with a beaming smile that hasn't left her face since she signed the adoption papers to take full custody of me. "Doesn't it feel great to finally be here!"

"We just made it into town a few moments ago. I think it's a little too soon for you to be so excited about it."

"The real question is how can you not be excited about this! Come on Rose~ we have been planning this since you were a tiny tot. I remember when you use to run to me crying about how much you couldn't stand being in the orphanage, and how Mr. Prince charming was going to someday come, and take us to his beautiful diamond castle~"

"That was a long time ago..." I stopped believing in Mr. Prince charming when I met a dog that had a beautiful white coat, and Ocean blue eyes. That beautiful dog, almost killed me when I was 6 years old. The dog's name was prince... However, he was far from charming.

my sister chuckles while continuously reminiscing about the past. It was always her dream to take the little family she made away from the hellhole that promised sweet refuge for kids that had nothing.

This was what she wanted.

I just always followed her lead... no matter how many members of our "family" didn't make it.

"There it is!" My eyes wander in search of our new home. the old apartment building finally came into sight after a moment of my eyes roaming the area. My sister parks the car in front of the building, and almost jumped out of the car from excitement. I followed her out of the car, and was immediately hit with the hot summer sun that shined down on us in all it's glory.

"So~ Rosemary. What do you think?" My older sister Ayomi, asks as she tipped her peach tip sunglasses, waiting eagerly for my response. The tall brick building was far from the most appealing sight in town. The old white paint crumbling. The parking lot that didn't really have parking lines anymore. the stray cats that made the space under the stairs to the building their home. And, the cat food that lined the side of the building.

"Let's just hope the inside looks better than the outside..."

"Your such a drag, Rose." Ayomi pouts as she grabs her keys to unlock the back of her Jeep. It was an old piece of junk that she bought in an auction right before packing up everything we could carry, and skipping town the following night. It broke down a few times during our time on the road. But, we always managed to kick the life back into it one way or another. During one of those horrible days of car camping, while being stranded out in the middle of nowhere. A truck driver pulled over and gave us a hand on getting our vehicle up and running again. It didn't take much for the older man to realize that we didn't exactly have a destination in mind. After that, he recommended a motel that was a few miles away. I was of course very cautious and skeptical of the stranger's words. but, Ayomi on the other hand looked like a dog who just found a new bone.

After staying at the motel for a couple of nights. The manager recommended we try to find a stable apartment in bellhollow. It was a small town about a hour or two away. It was also close to the ocean, and hidden by the forest that surrounds most of the town.

Only one road leads in and out. The only other way would be by boat. Going through the Forest was not recommended because of the wild animals.

At first, we were kind of skeptical of the place. But we didn't really have the option of being choosy. so we did some research, and contacted the owners of the apartments there.

After a while of searching, we came across the perfect place that was within our budget. We didn't waste a second after that, and was on the road as soon as the call ended.

Ayomi laughs as her beautiful red lips twisted into a big smile. Her long Luscious coal-black hair was caught by a small breeze before settling on her left shoulder. Both of us grab our bags And head eagerly towards the apartment building. One of the cats hissed at us as we cautiously ascend the stairs.

From what I have researched, this building has 8 floors with one and two-bedroom apartments. There were no elevators. so Ayomi and I made our way up the long stairway. The smell of Pine-Sol hit our nose before we even made it to the 5th floor. I think that both of us completely dread the idea of making that trip a few more times to finish bringing up the rest of our bags.

We continued down the hallway. The wooden floors were still wet and shimmering. The hallway was mostly quiet with only the sound of my sister heels, and my sandals echoing through the silence.

Room *707* finally came into sight.

The door was left wide open with a mop bucket left in front of it. An elderly lady emerges from our new apartment room with a mop in hand. her cloudy ash-colored eyes lighted up a bit when she noticed us. She tries to straighten up her back a bit as she turns in our direction with a few strings of hollow gray hair falling into her face. Her thin petal pink lips curves into a polite smile.

"Good evening. Would you two happen to be our new tenants?"

My eyes fall to the wet wooden floors as my eyes refused to make eye contact with the elderly lady. I hear Ayomi reply with a simple yes while most likely flashing a lively smile. She then proceeds to introduce us and make small talk with the older lady. I wasn't really interested in their conversation so I slip into the apartment and place my bags down on the floor. The smell of pineapple and mango was the first thing to hit my senses as my eyes wander the room. The place was spacious with dark wooden floors, while the furniture looked like something that was pulled out of an 80s sitcom. There was no room to complain. The place was practically a steal for the money we are paying for it. It doesn't have any type of weird smell that you would expect from a place like this. My eyes finally found the culprit of the sweet smell as they landed on candles that were lit on the kitchen counter. The smell was mesmerizing. I started to wonder if the candle was interfering with my judgment. Ayomi, finally ends her conversation and joins me in the apartment. Her grin was as big as the Grand Canyon. "I told you things would work out! Look at this place. It feels like home already."

"I guess. At least things aren't as bad as I thought they would be."

"That's the Spirit! Now let's get this show on the road and get this unpacking over with. The landlady said there should be someone here bright and early tomorrow to hook up our gas and to set up the internet."

"What are we going to do for dinner then?"

"She said she will ask a friend of her's to bring By some food as a welcoming gift later."

" I hope it isn't seafood..." I mumbled, as I begin to wander around our new apartment. The dark wooden floorboards made a cracking noise every couple of steps. There was a small hall leading from the main area to two doors that faced each other. One was The bathroom. It was small with only the bare minimum of things that were necessary. Across from it lied the bedroom. The door made a squeaking sound as I opened it. The room was A decent size. Not as big as the living room area however not as small as the bathroom. There was a queen-size bed in the center of the room with floral sheets. Ayomi and I are already used to sharing a room together from our time at the orphanage. However, the orphanage didn't give us the luxury of using a bed. Since there were so many orphans after the purge epidemic. many were not gifted with the pleasures that you would experience in a normal upbringing.

I slowly climbed into the bed. Inhaling the sweet smell of fabric softener. All the exhaustion catching up to my body as my mind unknowingly slips into a dreamless sleep.

That evening around 6:30 pm. Ayomi was putting our new bathroom to use as she wasted no time soaking in a long hot bath. I laid lazily on the sofa while sorting through our clothes that managed to get mixed together while we were car camping. My cozy pajamas were put on the moment after Ayomi woke me up from my short nap and we were done doing a little extra cleaning. My eyes wander away from pairing our socks. And on to my phone that was playing music to fill the silence that was hanging in the apartment.

My message box was empty. No surprise there since I never really had many friends. I did have a few at the orphanage. But, children there aren't allowed much contact with the outside world. That hellhole was the definition of misery. The children forced to stay there would have been better fending for themselves on the streets.

There were only four ways to leave that orphanage.

1. To be registered as a legal adult.

2. Someone who is seen as adequate by the orphanage to adopt you.

3. To run away. " this option is not recommended. If you are caught you will be met with severe punishment. Some kids even became crippled after doing such."

And lastly 4. Death.

The only place that the kids there feared more than the orphanage, were the select foster homes chosen by the higher-ups of the orphanage. If you were lucky you might get sent to a somewhat decent place...however, those were very few in numbers.

A sudden knock echoed through the living room from the front door. My eyes wander to the hallway leading to the bathroom as Ayomi peeked her head out. "That's probably the landlady's friend. Go ahead and answer while I get dressed."

A sigh escaped my lips as I reluctantly stood up and made my way to the door. I hesitated before slowly opening the door and peeking through it. An older lady and a tall boy were both standing in front of the door with two unknown dishes covered with foil wrap.

"Hello. I'm Chelsea and this is my son Jasper. We live in the apartment a few doors down and my mother happens to be old friends with the landlady. She asked us to bring you these dishes. We also came to give you a warm welcome to the building."Chelsea's bright smile lit up the dim-lit hallway. The sweet smell of macaroni and baked chicken carry into the living room and into my nostrils as I opened the door a bit wider. Before a thank you, could even form in my mouth. Ayomi Presence became known as she placed a hand on my shoulder. "It's a pleasure to meet you both. We appreciate you going out of your way to give this to us."

" no, the pleasure is ours! We rarely get to met people from out of town here. So, please don't be offended if the people here ask a lot of questions."

"I will be sure to make note of that." Ayomi continues to make small talk with Chelsea.

While My eyes became fixated on the delectable food just waiting to be gobbled up, as a bit of drawl almost escaped the corners of my lips. A small chuckle catches my attention as my eyes wander upward to the boy who was standing right in front of me. Our eyes met as the realization that he was staring at me while trying to hold back a laugh became known. His hair was a dark chocolate brown that hanged in his face. His eyes mirror the color of mine dark shaded ones. While his skin was the opposite of my chocolate tone. this silent moment of acknowledgment of each other that we shared was swiftly interrupted as a growl escape my stomach. I could feel my face light up like a Christmas tree, as all eyes fell on me.

" oh, dear. I'm sorry for holding you two up for so long. I know you must be starving after such a long day." Chelsea laughs in a polite tone as she hands Ayomi the dish she was holding. " feel free to pay us a visit anytime."

Jasper mirrored his mother's actions as he also hands me the dish he was holding And gives a slight nob before him and his mother made their way back towards their room. When Ayomi finally closed the door, she broke into a fit of laughter. "Sorry I didn't realize that you were so hungry. At least you were able to get a laugh out of that boy. His face was like super serious the whole time." Ayomi Says as she tries to mimic Jasper's expression.

"Can we just eat already." I didn't wait for a response as I grab two new plastic forks from a box in the kitchen. "first thing tomorrow we have to go grocery and appliance shopping." Ayomi says as she sticks her fork straight into the macaroni.

"Can't wait," I replied in an uninterested tone, as I begin to eagerly dig into the freshly cooked food.

A couple of weeks past and Ayomi got a job as a waitress in a café in the middle of town. The place was small with a cozy aura to it. The locals would often joke about how the tea was ridiculously better than the coffee. They were honestly right. The smell of tea leaves mix with the aroma of coffee beans set the atmosphere for the little café. Ayomi complained day and night about her boss and the low pay. however, I could easily tell that she was enjoying herself in this little town. She liked being the new face that attracted everyone's attention. "To be loved by all" was the essence of the person named Ayomi. When we were young, all of the other kids at the orphanage adored her. She was the mother figure they yearned for. even though she was also just a child dealing with the memories that brought her to that place along with the rest of us. but she wasn't alone. Even she had one person that she could rely on.

Had... is the keyword.

Under the flow of time, I sorta became close to our landlady Sandra and Jasper. Sandra was a very kind older woman who took over the apartment building from her deceased husband. We don't have a very talkative relationship, but I do help her with little jobs Like tending to the Garden, and helping her clean the building. Jasper on the other hand is like the cool slightly older brother I never wanted. After getting to know him a bit, our personalities just naturally attracted to each other. His looks and bright personality made him popular with the other girls in town. However, he was lacking in the friend area since sometime he could be quite overbearing...

We started to just automatically hang out together since he also spent a lot of his free time helping out our landlady. He told me that he has known her since he was a kid and that she was like a second grandmother to him. His love for her was as plain as day. His smile sometimes even rivaled Ayomi when he was helping our landlady.

Whenever I leave the apartment; which is not very often. I usually tend to avoid Jasper. During my first week here, he dragged me out of the house to hang out almost everyday. It has gotten to the point where I even recognize his way of knocking. I learned very quickly the best ways to avoid him. Preferably, I would like to enjoy my time uninterrupted by others when I'm outside. Being ambushed by his many acquaintances during my outings is not what I consider fun. I don't spend a lot of time outside other than when I visit Ayomi at work. So, I would like that time to go by unbothered.

The Pedro, which is the name of Ayomi workplace. Opens at 8 AM and closes at 10:30 PM. Usually Ayomi, would end up staying a lot later since she usually got stuck with cleaning duty. Whenever I waited for her to get off work, we always ended up heading home pretty late since my sister works the morning and evening shift. This was just one of the many late nights we walked home together...

"You girls are home late again..." Our landlady Sandra comments as our feet stepped through the first-floor lobby doors.

One day when we were cleaning together she told me she decided to move into the apartment after her husband's death. Being in her house where she shared many memories with her deceased husband was too much for her to handle. She liked living here and socializing with her tents. She said that the people here were like a second family to her... her only family now.

It wasn't surprising to see her waiting up for us since this is something she did for most of her tenants. No one really minded it though and would call her ahead of time if they knew they would be coming back later then usual. The wrinkles in her face deepen worryingly as she came to welcome us home.

"Sorry about that. We had a rowdier bunch tonight, and there was more to do than usual. But, don't worry yourself so much Sandra, I won't let anything happen to our adorable little Rosemary." Ayomi grins as she places her arms protectively over my shoulders.

"I believe you dear. There have just been some very disturbing disappearances around these parts... A bunch of unsolved cases that the police couldn't be bothered to look more into." Sandra mumbles with an annoyed tone. the last part was mostly to herself, however, her words still reached our ears.

"Unsolved cases? " I asked nervously as we waited patiently for her reply.

"You two haven't heard of the cases on the news?"

"No, I have been to busy with work and hardly have the time to sleep. Is it something we should worry about?" Ayomi replies as her grin quickly dissipates, and her hold around my shoulders tighten. I did hear of some cases on the tv, but the reporters were very confident that the cases were something that the police had under control.

"Well... There have been all kinds of stories of young women disappearing. It's been going on for decades now. But since there was never any bodies found, many of the cases were treated as if the girls skipped town on their own..." Sandra quickly caught the wave of unease that filled Ayomi and I. "Don't worry too much about it. Most of the stories are only rumors that give the old ladies like myself something to talk about. I tend to get a little over-emotional over these things. So please just humor this old lady's heart and be careful." Sandra's force smile did not do much to settle the atmosphere. Ayomi, on the other hand was a master at dealing with these types of situations. She flashes a bright smile to set Sandra at ease.

"You have nothing to worry about. Both of us will try to come home earlier from now on."

" all right then. I will let both of you get some rest. Thank you for indulging me with your time." Sandra's posture seemed to brighten up a bit as she heads back to her apartment.

Ayomi and I quickly made the hike up the stairs. Both of us were too tired to give the conversation we just had another thought.

Even though we were unsettled by the unsolved cases of the missing girls. The thought did not bother to linger as we continue on with our daily lifestyles.

"Rosemary! Get your butt out of the bed right now!" Ayomi yells with the sound of music following her voice into my ears.

"you don't need to yell..."I entered the kitchen with my blanket wrapped around my shoulders dragging my feet as the smell of eggs and Turkey bacon enter my nostrils.

" good morning sleeping beauty~ Have you gotten a kiss from your Prince charming yet?" Ayomi playfully asks as she places my Breakfast in front of me.

"Yes. As a matter of fact, I'm about to have a date with Mr. Breakfest right now." I answered with clear sarcasm in my voice, as I began to lazily eat my food.

"Oh look at you! My darling of a little sister making the first move~" Ayomi teasingly replied.

"Yeah whatever.... are you working late again tonight?"

"yes... But as long as I make it to work on time. I shouldn't be home too late." She says as she takes off her apron and grabs her purse. " I'll be going now. Don't forget to come by later~"

"If I have time."

"haha, you not having time? That's a good one." Ayomi slips on her red heels And shot one last glance in my direction. "But seriously come by the shop. I don't want you staying home all day."

The words my sister said were heavy... I knew exactly what she was trying to say.

Hiding was always my favorite solution.

That will never solve anything.

A sigh left my lips as I nod to Ayomi. With only a glance she could clearly understand that nothing more needed to be said.

After my sister was gone I finished up my breakfast and got ready for the day. I left our apartment a little later that day. The first place I visited was Sandra, who was sitting downstairs. I went to check if she needed help with anything. The lobby was as lively as usual since Sandra often babysits her tents children.

" if you don't mind can you pick me up a few things?" She asked as she handed me a list of things. I nodded and waved goodbye as I left the building.

I spent most of the day around town. Shopping for the things on Sandra list while also getting things that we needed around our apartment. After my shopping was done I headed to The Pedro. The place was not very busy, but it was still quite active. The staff was busy with one thing or another. While, there were a few customers having casual conversations.

"Did you get the book I asked you to pick up yesterday?" Ayomi asks as she pours me a cup of tea. I replied with a simple nod as I took a sip of my tea and placed the bag with the book on the table. Ayomi eyes sparkled as she flashes her signature bright smile.

"Thanks! Your such a doll~" Ayomi says while flipping through a few pages of the book.

"Ayomi, stop slacking off." A shiver hits Ayomi as she freezes in mid-motion right before my eyes.

"We can talk more later. I have to get back to work before Mr. Bossy makes me stay late again." She says as she glares in her boss's direction.

I simply nod in reply as I placed the book back into the bag and took another sip of tea. My eyes follows Ayomi as she apologizes to her boss. He was a young man most likely in his late 20s to early 30s. Sandy brown hair, bush back out of his face. Pale green eyes that seem to fade into an ash gray. His glasses tilted on his nose as he scribbles down something on a notepad and shoos Ayomi away. A light blush could faintly be seen on Ayomi's pale face as she hurriedly got back to work. After hanging around for a bit, I decided to go home ahead of Ayomi since she had plans to go drinking with her coworkers after the shop closed.

The sun was already low on the horizon with the full moon ready to take over the night. The cool wind sent my hair to a frenzy mess. Tickling my nostrils into one of my beloved sneeze attacks. The repeated sneezing finally came to a stop as the wind turned to a dead cold. My eyes were stinging as I rub them while trying to open them. They finally opened, however, the only things they were met with were empty streets and unnatural silence.

was it always this quiet around this time?

I continued nervously down the sidewalk highly considering running back to the café and waiting patiently for my sister shift to end and to drag her home with me. Something unnatural struck the corner of my vision as my eyes wander onto a man that was standing in the middle of the street. His tall dark figure was ominous and almost alarmingly abnormal. I couldn't put my finger on what about the man unsettled my nerves. Honestly, if I had seen him anywhere else. I might have just walked past him while barely taking notice of his presence. It's like when a family takes a picture and some of them are sitting. Even though you know there's a chair under them, it's not something your brain bothers to take note of. Instead, your attention would be drawn to the bright smiles or maybe a hot pink polka-dot tie That screams to be noticed.

My brain screamed at me. he didn't belong here. Alarms were going off. My heart was banging on my rib cage the breath caught in my throat slowly suffocating me. he was not something that I should have taken notice of.

My dry eyes froze on him even though every muscle in my body was yelling at me to move. To run someplace far away from here. My eyes wander over every perfect portion of his body. But, there was something that shook me to the core of my spine.

"White irises...?" I mumbled under my frogged breath, as I sucked in cold Icy oxygen. My feet automatically stumbled backwards. His glaze that was fixated on the moon only seconds before was now focus on me. His white orbs widened with surprise as his eyes met with mines.

"Juliet...?" His low raspy voice cracked as the syllables left his trembling lips. His almost sickly pale skin was an abnormal shade that reflects beautifully under the gaze of the moonlight. Everything about him was beautifully otherworldly. Even though his Frame was similar to a human. Everything was just a bit off in a mesmerizing way.

The sadness that filled the atmosphere at the crack of his voice suddenly shifted as his expression suddenly darkens and his pale irises glare down onto me with the intensity of someone who loath me with all his being.

"Can you see me?" His voice roared in a low demanding tone. That sent my nerves trembling under my skin as my blood ran cold in my veins. words were no longer able to reach my lips, small fast breaths were the only thing that could make it past them. The drumming of my heart was the only thing that filled my ears as sweat beaded down my temples.

my body was petrified with fear.

It was like I was infected with a deadly disease that would make me suffer until my last moments.

I felt like I was dying.

My vision became a hazy mess as my ears were filled with ringing. My veins trembled under my skin. blood running cold over my whole body. My senses started to slowly shut down one after the other. My limbs became foreign objects that were no longer attached to my body. Thoughts were a thing of the past. My brain and body were desperately trying to fix the unknown problem.

Oh.

My heart...?

I think it just stopped.

~To be continued... ~