Chapter 1: The Meeting

Now here is where the story really begins so pay attention. There was a boy playing in the water jumping on stones. Then he saw something floating in the water. He was curious so he went over to see what it was. He was shocked to see it was a person. A human to be exact. He dragged her to shore. He kept pounding her chest until a man came to see what was going on. He of course helped as well. He gave her CPR and breathed for her. She coughed up water and slowly opened her eyes. She said, "Thank you." Then passed back out.

The little boy wanted to bring her home. The man agreed and brought her to what you would call an infirmary. The boy refused to leave the girl's side.

A few days later she was really waking up. "Ow. That hurt." The boy ran to get the doctor and he came in within seconds. "Hello young lady how are you feeling?" "Huh? Uh where am I?" "Relax young lady you are in an infirmary. This boy here found you in the river. He and his older brother saved you." "Oh well thank you. My name is Zuri. What is your name?" He looked at his older brother. "Hello young lady. I am his older brother. My name is Hazel. My little brother here is Kade. He refuses to speak after a certain incident. Maybe you can get him to speak. Someday." "Uh sure but, all I can remember is my name and age. I don't know what happened. Where was I when you found me? Where exactly am I?" "Parden me. I forgot to introduce myself as well. I am doctor, Mira." "How do you do." I shook her hand. "Well since you can't remember anything, we need to find you a place to stay in the meantime." "Are you sure I won't be a bother?" "No you won't." "Uh excuse me Mira? Would it be ok if we took her in? We have some women in the village who might be able to help." Said Hazel. "Yes but remember you need to talk to the village elder and let him know what is going on." "Yes maam. Is she ok to leave now?" "Zuri, does anything hurt any dizziness?" "No Doctor. Just tired and scared. At the moment my tiredness is outweighing my fear." "Ok then. Boys she might not be able to walk on her own so you will have to help her." "Yes maam."

So I left with them. "Do you mind if I carry you? Or would you rather lean on me? Either way is fine." "I don't think I have the strength to walk." "OK I'll carry you princess style if you don't mind?" "Sure."

We got to their house and it looked like only those two lived here. "So its just you two?" "Yeah the village people have been looking after us till I was old enough to take care of my brother. I just turned 19 years old." "I see I'm 16 years old. How old is your little brother?" "Oh he is 10 years old." "Where do I sleep?" "Oh excuse me. you probably want to rest after you have been through. Here. This used to be our parents room." "Thank you." "If you need anything just ask. Our rooms are back there. My room has my name on it." "Thank you. Goodnight." "Have a nice rest."

I laid down on a strange bed. Then I heard a knock. "Hello?" "Its me Hazel." "Oh come in." "Sorry to bother you. I'd like you to know once you are rested I'll have some ladies come in and give you some clothes. We need to see the village elder." "Yes of course." "Ok then." "Wait a minute Hazel." "Yes what is it?" "What is this place?" "Oh right you weren't told. I think talking to the village elder it would be better explained." "Oh ok goodnight." Then I laid down and fell asleep almost instantly.

 It was the next day when I woke up. "Hmm. I guess it wasn't a dream." I got up, got dressed in the clothes I was given at the infirmary. They gave me donated clothes. I tried to tidy up the best I could then headed out.

"Good morning Zuri." "Morning Hazel. Where is Kade?" "Oh he's out right now. He will be home soon. How are you feeling?" "Uh physically fine. Mentally not so much." "I'm sure you will remember stuff in time. Now Eat some breakfast. We will be meeting with the village elder soon." "Oh ok." But first I'm going to have you go shopping for clothes. You can't go looking like that. Eat up I'll be right back. I'll just be in the next house over ok?" "Yeah sure." While I ate he went to the next house over.

He came back in a few minutes with a woman who looked no older than my cousin Zen. "Hello. My name is Kira. You are Zuri is that right?" "Yes it is." "Good. Well my mother and I will take you out when you are ready." "Oh I just finished." "Ok then follow me back to the house. We need to tidy you up before we go out." So I followed her back to her house.

"Brother this is the girl that Hazel was talking about." Then I saw a couple look at me as well as her brother. "Hello Zuri. My name is Zay. These here are, our parents." "Hello my name is Lade." Said the father. "My name is Zera." Said the mom. "Nice to meet you. Not to be rude but, you two have unique names. Zera and Lade." "Oh don't worry we take no offense. Now you are 16 is that right?" Said Zera. "Yes I am. I don't remember anything other than my name age and birthday." "You poor thing." Said Kira. "Mom I got some of my old clothes that might look good on her. Is that ok?" "Sure go ahead. Its ok go with Kira." I nodded and followed her.

I walked into a unique room. It had blues, purples, and greens. Just not the normal light colors a girl would normally pick. "Ah here we are. Here go in my bathroom and try this on." "OK thanks." So I went into the bathroom and changed. It was slightly big but it felt surprisingly comfortable. After I got changed and walked out of the bathroom. "Wow girl! You look good! I see they are slightly big but they work. OK lets go to the store then we can see the elder." "Thank you Kira. For doing this for me." "Oh no problem." So we headed out with a few more girls.

We went to a store made only for girls. They weren't undergarments but there were dresses pants and shirts. Shoes and accessories as well. Nothing I probably have seen before. These closes are unique. "Oh right its your first time here huh?" "Yeah. At least I think so." "Ok so lets look at the dresses." So I looked at some dresses and found a few I liked. "Oh um. How am I going to pay for this?" "Oh don't worry we all will pitch in." "Ok thanks." "OK now. Some shirts and pants." I grabbed a few of those along with a few pairs of shoes and some accessories. Then we went to a store with lady undergarments. I got some there then we went to eat and headed back to Hazel's house. I went to my room to get dressed in one of the dresses I bought and brushed my hair. "Ok done." Then I walked out of the room, Kira and the others were still there. Then Kira said, "Come to me in your room. Let me put some makeup on you." We went back in my room and she did my make up I was shocked. "I-I don't even recognize myself." "Haha. That's the point Zuri." "Ok done lets go. Oh one more thing let your hair down." "Ok lets go." Then we all came out and Hazel was so shocked he had to hold onto the table from falling. "Uh um…You look…You look beautiful Zuri." "Thank you Hazel. Kaden. Sometime I would love to hear your voice as well ok?" He shook his head and agreed. Kade, Hazel and I were the only ones to go see the elder since I am staying them. So we headed out.

While I was on my way to the elder, I got to see a little of the town. I also saw some when I was going to the store as well. "Hey once we are done seeing the elder, can you both take me to see the town?" "Sure why not."

We finally made it to where the elder does business. "Hello is the elder in?" "Yes he has been expecting you all." We went into the back to a sliding door. "Ok so when we go in we have to kneel ok? Don't speak until spoken too Ok?" I nodded. "OK good." Hazel slid the door open and we went in and I bowed like he told me.

 "Rise all of you. You may speak freely here. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. When I was able to see his face my head started to hurt and I was starting to remember something. "Ow. My head." "Zuri are you ok?" said Hazel worriedly. I didn't say anything for awhile then calmed down. "Y-yeah I think so." "We found her in the river. Well Kade did. He was having fun near the river and saw her floating and tried to save her then I came running and brought her back. That is when we found out she didn't know anything besides her name and birthday. She also knows her age." "I see. Hello Zuri. My name is Elder Casper." "H-How should I call you sir?" "You can just call me elder or Casper if you wish." "OK I will call you elder then." "So Zuri you really don't remember anything?" said the Elder. "Well when I saw your face, my head hurt and I had some flashbacks like I have seen you before, but not slow enough to see what it was." "I see. If you remember anything let me know OK? Whether its good or bad." "Yes elder." "Another thing. How is it living with the boys?" "Its going well. I feel comfortable staying there if that is what you are asking. I won't live with anyone but them. They found me and haven't done anything to hurt me." "I understand. Its fine. I would like one of the neighbor girls to come over once in awhile to check on you." "Oh I am good friends with Kira now. I went out with her and a couple of girls to go shopping. This is one of the outfits they bought me." "Yes very beautiful." "Now did the doctor say anything about when or if she will get her memories back?" "No they don't know either only that her amnesia is probably temporary." "I hope so. I want to get my memory back. I want to know if I have a family alive somewhere." "Yes well. Would you like it if I looked into it?" "Yes please. I want to know who I am. If they can tell me." "Well I can tell you some, but your family should know more." "Can you tell me now?" "Lets wait until you get used to the place first and heal up then we can talk oK?" I frowned. Then said, "Ok thank you elder. Uh um. Elder?" "Yes what is it?" "Would it be ok if I considered you family as well? Maybe like a grandpa or uncle?" "You would really do that for me?" "Well You, the boys, Kira and the other two girls are all I know." "I understand. Its fine. You can consider me a grandpa or uncle whichever you choose." "Hmm. In that case, I think uncle." "Oh your so sweet. OK then you are my niece Zuri is that ok?" "Yes sir. Oh uh if I do get my memory back and I decide to stay here can we make it official? That you are my uncle?" "It would mean the world to me." "Ok uncle Casper. Can I call you uncle Cass?" "Haha sure. But when its just me you and the boys ok?" "Yes sir." "Ok I will let everyone know about you ok?" "Yes uncle." "So it begins." Said uncle Cass.

"Ok boys take her around town to get her familiar with the town and where everything is ok?" "Yes Elder." Said Hazel. "Kade I hope to hear you talking soon too." He nodded in agreement. Then we headed out and they started showing me the town. It looked like some festival was going on. "Is there a festival going on today?" "Oh yes there is. I want to take you to a jewelry stall." So we headed over there.

"Hello Melody." "Hello Hazel. Oh and you must be Zuri. Hi to you too Kade." Then he waved. "Yes I am." Well if you need any help with anything let me know." "Thank you." I was looking around at the necklaces and saw one I thought I saw in my memory and pointed at it. "This one. Please." "Are you sure you want this one?" "Yes is there something wrong with it?" "Well there is a rumor about it." "Really what is it?" "Unless the chosen one wears it, they say its cursed. No one has actually warn it because they were afraid of what it might do to them." "Well I'm not. Can I see it?" "Yeah sure. You will have to pick it up though." I picked it up and the charm glowed a pretty purple. I put on the necklace and I heard a voice saying "Finally. The chosen one." I looked around to see if I see anyone. But not other woman besides Melody is here. I shrugged. "Ok shall we go?" "Wait a minute Zuri. What happened?" I heard a voice say Finally the chosen one. I have no idea what that means." "Oh so you are the chosen one. No wonder it glowed. When you know more let me know ok?" "Sure and thanks." "Yeah no problem."