1. Intertwined Hearts: Arthemis

Streaks of blood were dripping onto the old floor when Arthemis realized what she's done. Holding the shiny, sharp knife, uncontrollable tears ran down her sunburnt, scarred face. The whiskey bottle she found in her father's backpack was empty. She couldn't have drunk too much anyway because it was already half empty when she found it. However, as she was walking towards the door dizziness knocked her down and she fell into her own blood. She didn't kill anyone but her inner child.

The days free from self harm were over. It wasn't her first time but Arthemis was sure it was not going to be her last either. She took a deep breath, desperately hoping for air to fill her fucked up lungs. She hoped that ten short breaths would make everything around her disappear. Arthemis didn't want to die, on the contrary, she ardently wanted to feel human: to feel emotions, to experience the highs, the lows and everything in between but she was completely numb. The only thing making her heart feel like it was really beating was self harm. Nothing made her light up with joy. She had no idea what set her soul alive anymore. The real problem is that she found comfort in not feeling, believing it to be normal.

The numbness blends harmoniously with her addictions. It all started with tobacco then marijuana, later on deciding to see if heroin has any kicks. But was it really her fault since that's all she's known since she lost the only person she has ever loved? Her mom was a good person, a Christian even, so Art -as she used to call her daughter before she died- wasn't always so messed up. It wasn't a defining moment that brought her to where she is today. It was every little detail that slowly destroyed the girl.

After Art bandaged her shaking hands she heard it. The familiar sound she knew too well: a glass breaking. "He's here." she said with a trembling voice. She already knew what was about to happen. He's going to come in and watch her suffering in the most vulnerable state she's ever going to be in- naked. "Not this time." she thought. Although her body was shaking she was feeling this sense of calmness, she quickly packed two ugly t-shirts and one pair of old, ripped pants and jumped out the window before her dad could come in.

With no money in her pocket and her heart racing as if it was going to escape her chest entirely she ran to the one person her mom warned her about: her brother Ajax. He's supposed to be this dangerous drug addict but at that point she felt as if she could be more dangerous than him. Art didn't see him since they were little, since she was forbidden to see the boy.

She had to take two busses and the smelly New York subway but she got to the right location. Or that's what she thought. "Nah. This can't be the place." she said out loud. She was shocked by the location lit up by chandeliers like those you read about in old books like "Gone with the wind" by Margaret Mitchell. Art absolutely adored that book. She is not only a messed up teenager, Art appreciates art. As a matter of fact she always dreamed about becoming a writer just like her mother whom she used to admire all the time.

Before she could even get her thoughts in order someone swoops her inside. "Ah, just in time! The cleaning lady, you're here, thank God! Go help in the kitchen." -said a tall, young man that was dressed extravagantly. Arthemis took a look around: everyone was very elegant, a whole new world she almost thought didn't exist. The room was filled with people that seemed important but completely random for Art. She was very confused but continued to play the game, she had no other place to be in anyway. She didn't even think to ask about Ajax- "He's as messed up as me. Maybe worse than me. Definitely not the kind of person you would find here."

She sneaked onto the roof of the building. It was dark outside, kind of peaceful even though they are in New York- the city that never sleeps- . However, the peace was disturbed when she observed a girl on the edge of the roof. She immediately knew what was going on in that girl's head. Art couldn't care less if she jumped, if she died or whatever but something told her to go help.

"H-hey. Do you ever wonder if people who jump off a buiding regret it? For just like... a millisecond after? While they're in the air?" -Art wasn't so good at encouraging people. She was barely able to encourage herself to keep going.

"I guess I'll find out tonight."

The music was so loud inside that the girl's voice was barely audible.

"What's your name?"

"Kelsie. Kelsie Celeste. Now get away from me."

"Now that sounds expensive."- she said jokingly. Arthemis is a lot of things but not a quitter. She was not going to leave. She could have. But she didn't.

"Let's make a pact. 24 hours. Stay with me, here on Earth. I can't promise you healing but just wait a little bit more before leaving us." -Art continued confidently.