CHAPTER I

Thud.

The black rubber shopping bags filled with trash escape my sore fingers to fall into the garbage can. With a heavy sigh, I close its lid and push my back to straighten it out as one or two cracks could be heard even though I am not that aged and only 20 years old. Despite being in the early ages of young adulthood, here I was, working three diverse part-time jobs to make ends meet so that I won't die or more exactly, I don't get kicked out of my apartment. Possessing no education except attending the first half of high school, part-time jobs were all that I could do to make my living.

"Kate!"

Brushing off the dirt from my calloused hands, I straighten my cap before turning around to the person that called my name.

"Kate, Katherine, there you are. Did you finish taking out the trash?"

"Yes."

I obediently replied to the longtime manager of the gourmet restaurant where I was currently working at. My name is Katherine Wilson. But most often familiar people address me as Kate, which I don't mind. And my manager here would refer to me as both.

"Good work. You can go home then. See you tomorrow."

She said politely while her stern aura stayed firm.

Nodding at her, I instantly take my leave after saying a small goodbye.

After changing my clothes in the staff room, I stand outside the local restaurant looking at the watch on my wrist.

'There's still an hour in my next part-time job.'

My stomach grumbled as I observed the people around me walking here and there. Some were traditionally working while others were hanging out with their dear friends or families.

Some nostalgic images flash through my mind as I narrow my eyes and grit my teeth reminding myself about how this is not the time to think about the past.

Taking a deep breath and ignoring my hunger, I turn my feet towards the nearby local library. It was the near end of January making it cold. Especially when it was forecasted to snow today. For a few months, I had been going to that public library since it was centrally air-conditioned and heated, naturally making me warm in this chilly weather. It was way better than sitting outside for an hour waiting for my subsequent shift.

Upon reaching the said destination, I head inside to my suitable spot. I declared it my spot because it was secluded and was the place where I would sit every day.

I could not go to my house since it was far away from here, and the reason I could not go to eat lunch even though it was lunchtime was that I retained no money. Also, the reason why there is little to no grocery at my home and I could not prepare lunch for myself. It's all because I am saving money to pay for my apartment's rent. Maybe I should look for another part-time job? It's not like I can't live without sleep...But I do love to sleep. I already regret how I only get to sleep for 3-4 hours maximumly. Groaning, I obscure my face in my arms until I observe someone secretly glaring at me. I already identified who it was therefore expressing my best business smile, I turn to look at her and wave politely. The library's attendant flinches in return and scoffs while looking elsewhere.

Look's like she still doesn't like me ever since I sneaked food into the library. It was a hot summer's day, possibly the most humid day of them all. All the benches outside were like hot iron, even the ones that were under a shade. It felt as if I was going to melt away like an ice cream. Hence, to save myself from becoming liquid, I came to the library during my break. And since I was famished, I sneaked in food as well. But I couldn't eat it because the attendant whose nose is sharp, kept roaming around me while sniffing trying to find where the delicious food's smell was coming from. It was exceedingly distressing and uncomfortable. She only left after I had asked her whether she farted. She replied no to which I intentionally lied and smilingly remarked that maybe it was me. She looked at me with evident disgust and ultimately left me alone since I had hinted about her sniffing my fake fart, which is weird to her but funny to me.

Right now, she was again suspicious of me. To avoid her gaze and to falsely prove that I am not here for the heater, I got up to find a book to leaf through. After all, I was in a library, I might as well read a book even though it's been so long. I have never been so fond of reading. If you want to read a book, watch its film or series adaptation instead. And if there isn't any, then wait a few years until its movie comes out. Three specific words. 'Reading is boring.' That's what I have habitually used to satisfactorily conclude this argument whenever someone tells me to read. Though there are many who would adamantly disagree and that's their private opinion, not mine.

Nibbling my lower lip, out of habit, I reasonably looked at all the published books with apparent disinterest. Holding back a yawn, I think about how I feel so dull even by looking at all these books.

I was still looking here and there when the mellow sunlight from the modern window, shone on a medium-sized old book. Taking it out, I noticed how strange this book essentially was. There was no title, no summary, no author name, nothing at all. It in common was a plain brown book with no intricate carvings. It voluntarily gave off an aura of isolation and somehow, I felt strangely attracted to it. It was as if it evoked the feelings of loneliness that I was hiding ever since...ever since....my family died.

'Ha!'

Narrowing my eyes, I scoffed at the book to which I felt sympathy. I guess working on an empty stomach is making me go crazy.

Sitting back at my original place, I start reading this weird book. There was no preface or author's note. Just what book is this? Reflexively I look around to figure out which section I was sitting at, however, there were no signs or boards indicating that. I eventually go back to reading. But after reading half the book, I couldn't take it anymore.

I do typically think books are boring but I never said any of them were bad. In fact, I have heard of some books that are pretty good but this...I don't know who wrote this, but I have never read such a dumb book before. Is this the social trend these days? But this book was in the private corner, and with no official title, I don't think it's even famous or anyone other than me undoubtedly has read this.

While observing the book's cover, I realize that I have to leave for my next part-time job. Hence, I quickly put the book back in its place while rushing to my job.

That night, I came home around one. Exhausted and sleepy, I didn't even bother changing my clothes or eating because sleep had taken over my hunger, and before I know it, I was fast asleep.

Tossing and turning, I couldn't sleep. Yet I haven't dared to open my eyes because I was waiting for my alarm to go off. However, after endless waiting, it didn't go off which made me worried that maybe I overslept. Thinking that, I abruptly sat up only to recognize the surrounding around me had changed.

My cramped room which was previously messy with a single bed and a polished table along with a small closet was replaced with huge, high ceilings and walls finished with beautiful flowery carvings on all corners. The room itself was massive with one double and one single sofa along with an ottoman surrounding a medium-sized glass table. On one corner was a white Victorian study table with papers and pens placed neatly in an organized manner. Opposite that was a gorgeous dressing table with a round mirror next to a full-body mirror with a beautiful white frame. The bed I went to sleep last night on, was no more there. Instead, I was sitting in a king-size bed with white transparent curtains hiding me from the area outside my bed.

"Where am I..."

My gentle voice which sounded different, instantly made me shiver. I cough to make my original voice come back but it doesn't work since when I say Hi, I feel like it's a stranger talking.

Properly looking at my hands, I observe my slender fingers with polished nails that I swear were messy and uneven last night but were now soft, manicured, and neat.

Gulping, I quickly get off the bed to look at the nearby full-size mirror. My brilliant eyes which did not feel mine, go round as I continue to shake my head with instinctive fear.

My long snow-white greyish straight hair, with a few gentle waves and tangles, since I had just woken up, naturally fell on my back. My intense blue eyes stared thoughtfully at my reflection in the mirror. I had never seen such an exquisite color of fierce eyes, nor such a hair color before. Was this natural? It did feel like it was genetic. And my kind eyes weren't round. Rather, my mesmerizing pupils were large in my upturned slightly protruding eyes naturally making them look big even if they weren't. I carefully studied my new look which genuinely felt like reality. A white, light, sleeveless nightgown gently wrapped my slender, slim body to my knees, exposing my pale arms, lower legs, and feet.

'Is this a lucid dream?'

I wondered when a double knock with a precise gap in between startled me. I flinched and stared at the enormous white double doors, thinking about my following course of action.

"Miss, it's almost time for breakfast."

An adolescent girl's voice came from the other side of the door.

"Uh...okay."

I still had a hard time comprehending whether this was reality or not, so I pinched my arm after replying to her. However, it hurt which means this must be a reality. But where am I? What is this place? Who is this girl whose body am I in? So many questions occupied my mind like an empty bottle.

"Umm...Miss...Aren't you going to allow me to come in?"

I had conveniently forgotten about that girl, typically thinking she was gone. But she was still waiting. Carefully looking at the situation, I was in, I have seen similar cases in classic movies that invariably showed an old era so I wisely decided to naturally follow their example and added,

"By all means please, come in."

The door then opened and in came a smiling maid, wearing a traditional maid outfit with a white shirt, black knee-length skirt, and a black apron. Her purple hair was trimmed in a bob.

"Good morning, Miss Rhea."

At her kind words, my eyes go wide as I stammer,

"Miss...what...What did you just say?"

The maid confused, turns her head slightly and answered.

"Miss Rhea Leneghan...I called your name and wished you good morning...Is something wrong?"

At her words, I instantly felt like jumping down a hill or crying but all I could manage to do was drop to the floor as my legs gave out because they couldn't handle the impact of the shock. And the reason why I acted promptly in such a way was because Rhea Leneghan was the chosen name of the female lead in the book I read yesterday. No wonder it felt familiar. I can't believe I am stuck in the same book as the main lead! Oh God!