Phoenix Rising

It’s something I never thought would happen. All of it gone in just a blink of an eye. A knife to the abdomen. After Lycidas dropped dead, the life out of me slowly slipped away. Something dragging me to darkness. When it all first happened and I woke up in this room, I couldn’t remember anything but as days went by, memories started flooding back. Stuck in the darkness with no escape. Creatures roamed the halls outside wherever I was. But still, all I could feel was the loneliness. 1,095 days. Long, dark days. Three years. Marked by whatever I could find. One day, a light came to me as I was on the brink of throwing myself to the creatures outside. Following it, I was led through a tunnel and fell to what I thought was my death. Hitting the ground, I couldn’t open my eyes at first. Did I even want to? Finally, after debating for a while, I opened them. Stunned is the only thing I felt. Gorgeous green grass sprouted up from the ground. A fresh smell of rain clouded the air. I felt almost at peace. At first, I thought I was. Then, I heard a car pull up and shouting began. “Oh, my God! Please tell me she’s okay!” A distorted voice held concern and fear. As the lady knelt down to me, my vision focused on her and the voice became clearer, “Oh, dear, are you okay?” Speaking seemed to be something I couldn’t do. God, I tried though. Raspy voice is all they could hear, I didn’t know if they could understand me either, “W-Where am I?” She didn’t say anything back for a minute. Instead, she looked over to another person who was with her, “We need to get her out of this weather.” It didn’t make sense to me. The weather seemed perfect, nice. Noticing the look on my face, she shook her head, “My dear, it’s freezing. You’re lucky to be alive right now.” Her husband, I’m guessing, knelt down by me and said, “What’s your name child?” “A-Amara… Please. Where am I?” I repeated in fear and confusion. “You’re in Idaho. A small town; Pingree to be more exact… Now, is it alright if we take you to the hospital?” The husband asked again. Both of them held this fear in their voice and expression but it still made me confused. I wasn’t dead? How is this possible? From there, I blacked out again. It was like my brain and body couldn’t understand the concept of what happened. Quite a bit of time passed before my eyes opened again. Hospital walls. A bright blue teddy bear sat on my bedside, flowers set up on the stand next to the bed. Slowly sitting up, I began to look around the room. A few seconds later, a nurse walked into the room, “You’re awake?!” She seemed more shocked than anything. All I did was nod my head and she continued speaking, “Fantastic news. We thought you would be in a coma for a while after the snowstorm you were in.” “Snowstorm?” It’s all I could think to ask. I swear it was the perfect weather outside before I blacked out. “One of the worst ones we’ve had in years…” She walked closer to me and checked my vitals, “The Mylitcha’s found and brought you here. In fact, they saved your life. You’re not from here, are you?” Shaking my head again, I repeated a question in response, “Where exactly is here?” “Idaho. Where we are is Blackfoot but the Mylitcha’s found you back in Pingree.” The nurse answered, “If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you? You seem very young to be outside in this weather with no protection on.” I couldn’t quite get the words out. All this was very weird. One second, I’m in some type of darkness and the next, I woke up in a field. The question the nurse asked stumped me. Before I ‘died’, I was only about 18 years old. But, three years had passed and I didn’t age a day. If I told them I was 18, I knew I wouldn’t be put somewhere and I couldn’t handle trying to find my own place right now. Taking a few minutes to wrap my head around what has already happened, I looked back over to the nurse and said, “I’m 17.” “Since, you are still considered a minor, we can’t release you from the hospital without your parents permission.” The look on her face showed she knew I couldn’t get their permission, “Do you have anyone you could call? Maybe another legal guardian or even a friend?” I shook my head, “I-I don’t have anybody else.” Of course, it was a lie but I couldn’t just call Jay, or Rue, or any of them. They wouldn’t believe it’s me. Her eyes saddened as she heard what I said, “We have resources for you. I could even talk to the Mylitcha’s for you. They’ve taken in teens, young adults, before and helped them get a job, even a house. Would you like me to talk to them?” A knock came from the door before I could answer. Doctor Lynsti, the nametag on his shirt read. There were two other people with him, whom I’m guessing were the Mylitcha’s. “She’s awake?” The woman said in happiness and relief, “Thank the Gods.” The nurse looked back at me and introduced the three people, “This is Doctor Lynsti and the famous Mylitcha’s, who we were just talking about. Mrs. Reina and Mr. Ivan Mylitcha… Apparently, I forgot to ask but what is your name again?” “Amara.” I said barely loud enough for her to hear me. Reina stepped closer to the bed and put her hand on mine. I flinched at the touch and moved my hand away. Seeing this, her eyes looked almost scared. Not of me though, “My dear… We heard you are in a bit of a rough spot, seeing as you didn’t even know where you were when we found you. Are you okay?” “Medical wise, I-I think I am. Nobody’s really talked to me, except for the nurse.” I answered, looking over to her then back to Reina, “I haven’t been awake long either… Thank you both so much. If you wouldn’t of found me, I would’ve died.” A smile grew on her face, “I’m glad we did. You poor thing though, you didn’t realize it was so cold outside.” “It didn’t look like it to me.” I said and watched as everyone in the room looked at me in confusion. “What did it look like to you?” Doctor Lynsti stepped closer with a chart in his hands. “The weather looked perfect. Sunny. No clouds, no sign of snow.” I answered him in the same confusion they all had. “Hm. You might’ve been halucinating. It was really cold outside and who knows how long you were actually out there for.” Doctor Lynsti replied while looking at the charts, “Other than that, everything looks fine. Your vitals are strong, you don’t seem to be in any pain or sick anymore… How are you feeling?” “I feel fine. Just like you said, I’m not in any pain and I don’t feel sick. Tired, maybe but that’s it.” I said. “We’d like to offer you a place to stay. I figure Nurse Lilian has already mentioned we’ve done it for others before you and knowing you don’t have anyone here, we’d like for you to come stay with us.” Ivan was careful with his words, not wanting to upset or somehow anger me. Shocked by the offer, I smiled, “I’d love that, if it’s okay with you guys… I would greatly appreciate it.” “You’d have to go to school, of course. We could help set all that up for.” Ivan continued, “Our daughter, Pyre, is already so excited to meet you and agreed to help with anything you may need.” Something I haven’t been to in a long time. How would I even go to school? I have no records whatsoever about who I am, “School?” The tone in my voice was excitement though, I’d finally get to go learn more. Even if it was about stuff I’d never use in life.