CHAPTER 1:

'Ezekiel! '

'Ezekiel!' The voice muttered again, but something was different this time. It sounded so weak and tired.

What I found really confusing is that the voice sounded like my own, but it wasn't coming out of my own mouth. It sounded like someone was whispering in my ears. I knew for sure that it wasn't me because I don't know anyone named Ezekiel. But then again, there's a lot of things I couldn't remember. I couldn't remember where I was or how I got there.

I was in so much pain. I had a huge stab wound on my chest, so close to my heart that I don't even know how I was still breathing. Blood was gushing out, and with every minute, I felt myself get closer to death. It wasn't even painful anymore; I just felt its warmth against my skin, which was rapidly dropping.

'Eze-kiel' The voice was dying, and I felt myself dying with it. I had suddenly felt a wave of terror hitting me, and my body started trembling so badly that I didn't even know if it was because of the cold wind of the night or if I was having a seizure.

The name was like a mantra to me at that point; it was the only thing giving me hope. Something about the voice saying the name repeatedly gave me the will to fight to keep myself alive. But I was dying, and I had no idea who this Ezekiel was.

I let out a small sigh that sounded more like a shriek as I started accepting that that was the day I'd die. 'Ironic that I don't even know what day it is,' I thought. I felt a single tear roll down my cheek.

"Hurry up, she's dying."

"Oh my gosh, Serene," a female voice gasped and started sobbing.

'What is happening? Who are these people?'

"Serene! Serene! Please open your eyes for me. Don't you dare die on me," the woman continued crying.

'I know this voice'. I wanted to open my eyes and let her know I was alive and felt her sadness, but I couldn't. I was dying, and the last thing I'd hear was this woman weeping for Serene to open her eyes.

'Who is Serene? Is something wrong with her? Wait, what is my name? Am I Serene? Why can't I remember my name?' So many questions were going through my head.

I tried opening my eyes, but they were so dry. I wanted to let them know I wasn't dead. I tried, with the little strength I had left in my body, to open my mouth and say my name.

"Ezekiel," I muttered under my breath. Damn. What I meant to say was help.

"Oh, Jimmy, she's alive!" screamed the woman, and you could just hear the hope in her voice. "Get her in the car quickly. Serene, we're going to get help for you; please be strong," she said frantically.

"Ezekiel." I said it again, louder this time. It got silent for a moment before the man, Jimmy, gasped, and the woman started panicking, barking at the man to quickly get me away from that place.

I assumed that this reaction was because they heard this name. I had no idea why it was the only thing I could say. Maybe it was because it was the only thing I could hear for the whole time I was lying on that cold ground with blood oozing out of my chest. Honestly, it kept me sane. I knew it must've been important.

"Diane, she's met him. What are we going to do?" asked the man.

"We have to run for now, We can't let Ezekiel ta." I heard the woman's voice reply faintly. I couldn't hear the rest as I felt myself slip away into the darkness, and then everything went silent.