CHAPTER ONE 

(act i)

DEATH BECOMES RENEWAL

"I'm dead but  I'm alive"

I was confused when I woke up to the feeling of silk under my body and the sun shining through the sheer pink curtains. She was nowhere in sight, and the room wasn't mine nor Alisha's, but in the back of my mind, it felt and was familiar.

"Where am I?" I softly said

I ripped the white covers off my body; my mind was racing. I died. I felt the cold grasp of death over my mind and body.

So why was I in this random room with no Alisha in sight?

"Is this hell?" the childish voice that came out of my mouth made me shiver in disgust.

I surveyed the room. The walls were painted a pale yellow, and the floor was dark brown oak. It looked familiar, but where could I have seen this boring room?

I pulled my legs out of the bed's warm confines, pushed myself into a sitting position, and looked down only to see pale, skinny small hands and blonde hair tumbling over my shoulders. I was confused because 1. I'm not white; I'm Hispanic with tanned skin. 2. I don't have those small hands, and 3. I'm not blonde; I have silky black hair.

I was so confused. What's happening? Didn't I die?

So why am I alive and in the body of a young white blonde girl.

Perhaps old man Dumbledore was right, "Death is but the next great adventure."

"I'm dead, but I'm alive," I whisper.

After my feet touched the cold floor, my thoughts slowly began to race faster and faster. How was I alive? This was all too confusing. I noticed a mirror at the small desk and slowly walked over to it with barely concealed fear. Who was I? what would I see? Who would I see?

The mirror projected my new body, and I was dumbfounded by what I saw. Honey blonde wavy hair reached below my collar bone, pale white skin. Bright blue eyes stared back at me, shining with confusion. I looked young, about the age; if I had to guess 6 to 8, probably 7. But there was no mistaking it. I was in the body of someone who was definitely not me. I must have been reincarnated; surely that was the only 'logical' thing that happened.

How else do you explain death and then waking up in a random bed in the body of someone completely different? I've read many things in my 24 years, from medical science to poetry to literature to philosophy and what could happen after death.

I did believe in the soul. I was not religious, only that the body and mind were separate. The soul was your life force, your essence. Without a soul, you couldn't be you.

The body was a vessel in a sense. But after the death of your vessel, there was no evidence, only theories about what would happen to the soul.

There are many theories and places after death in Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, the Underworld, and the Other Side. But reincarnation was low on the list of things I thought would happen after my death. It was the only answer to the situation I had now found myself in.

I was shaken out of my thoughts when I heard a female voice yell from the other room, "Caroline, wake up! We're going to be late again! "

Caroline? Who is this, Caroline? That name sounds familiar. These questions echoed through my head. Was that the owner of the body I had so apparently snatched. It must have been.

The sound of rushing footsteps met my ears. As it came louder and louder, the sound of my blood rushing and my heart rate increasing was loud in my head. What do I do? Surely she will know that I'm not her daughter.

But what can I do besides playing along and figuring out the situation and then formulating a plan? Yes, that's what I need to do. I'll wait and get the information I need, then I'll plan and find a new purpose, as I seem to have lost my last one along with Alisha.

The sound of the door opening pushed the scheming out of my head as I saw a tall, short-haired blonde with a police uniform snug on her body. I looked through the mirror and met her blue eyes. She clearly was this girl's mother, but she looked quite familiar.

The wind breezed through the open window, and her new mother's soft but firm voice reached her ears. "Caroline, you need to get ready. You have school this morning.". Disgust quickly formed on my face at the sound of the word school.

How dare she. I was a 24-year-old serial killer. I finished school ages ago, perfectly, might I add. I graduated with the highest grade; I was valedictorian, for crying out loud.

I later went to university and got my degree in history, dead languages, and a bachelor's in anatomy. I probably knew more than the woman in front of me. No, I definitely knew much more I mentally scoffed.

Anastasia's mother clearly saw the face I was pulling; I noticed from the smile on her face. I quickly got rid of it. "Caroline, I know you don't want to go, but you must. You'll have fun, I promise. Elena will be there." Her mother stated. And I nearly vomited after hearing what she said. The name sounded in my head. It seemed so familiar. Why?

Elena? How mundane. Suddenly I was happy with being named Caroline, it is not better than Anastasia, but there's nothing better than my old name. It is sophisticated and holds power much better than Elena.

How quick I've come to terms, I thought. But there is no need to create a scene since there is nothing I can do about this situation besides survive. I quickly replied to my new mother after seeing her face turning worried after taking so long to reply and saying in a calm, gentle voice, "I understand, Mother, I will get ready."

I looked around the room for a drawer or cupboard to change from Caroline's pajamas. I spot it on the other side of the room and slowly walk over to it, not used to such small legs. I opened it, forgetting that my new mother was in the room sporting a confused face.

Her mother was confused as to why her 6-year-old daughter called her Mother instead of Mommy as she usually did. She had never seen her daughter act so mature and never thought she could have such a gentle and entrancing voice. It was much different than her bubbly, whinny daughter, who she put to bed last night, who pleaded with her to not make her go to school.

Anastasia, not noticing her mother, searched through the cupboards to find something nice to wear. She picked out a pair of blue jeans with a white graphic shirt with yellow flowers. God, these clothes are definitely not my style; I'll need to change that. Like hell am I going to be wearing these god-awful brightly colored clothes? Anastasias thought, humming a tune and getting dressed, forgetting that her mother was still standing and watching her.

Her mother quickly shook out of her confused daze and went to her daughter, helping her put socks on.

"After school today, we are going to Mayor Lockwood's tonight for dinner with the Gilberts. Don't forget, okay? I will pick you up after school, and we will head over at 6. " Caroline's mother's firm voice said.

Hmm, the Lockwood's? Gilberts? It sounds very familiar. Do I know these people? I can't help but think I have heard of these names.

"The Lockwood's? The Gilberts," I softly questioned after sitting up from tying white shoes onto my feet.

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Liz Forbes wasn't that worried when her daughter asked who the Lockwoods were since she hadn't met them yet, besides when she briefly met Tyler last year at the park. But she was very worried about why her daughter asked about the Gilberts. She met the Gilberts; her best friend is their daughter, Elena. Is she okay? Liz wondered.

Liz replied to her question with a forced smile, "Yes, the Lockwoods. The Mayor, Richard Lockwood, his wife, Carol Lockwood, and their son Tyler. The Gilberts, Miranda Gilbert and Greyson Gilbert, their daughter Elena and young son Jeremy. Elena is your best friend. Are you okay, Caroline?"

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Caroline froze after hearing what her new mother had explained.

Did she just say Elena Gilbert? The dullest to exist doppelgänger from Alisha's favorite show The Vampire Dairies. Surely it can't be the doppelgänger. Tyler Lockwood? As in the werewolf hybrid? She must be joking.

It's all one coincidence. Surely she couldn't be reincarnated into a tv show, but then again, fate has been kind. No, no, no, this is not happening. They're just random human people. Anastasia rambled.

After calming down after noticing her mother, she needed to act as if she knew them to not raise suspicion.

Hence, she shakily replied, "Oh, yes, right, of course, how could I forget? I'm okay, just half asleep," forcing a smile to grace her features as she looked into her mother's blue eyes.

Liz just smiled and nodded.

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They both got up, ready to leave the house to avoid being late (mainly Liz). After checking it was full of books and a pink pencil case, Caroline grabbed the bag off her desk, thinking it must be her school bag.

They soon left the house and were on their way to primary school. As soft music played through the quiet car, Anastasia couldn't help being melancholic, and thoughts rushed through her head.

All thoughts of Alisha. She wouldn't be able to see Alisha ever again? What would she do? She couldn't help missing the loving African American who was there for her in every way and accepted her and her major faults, including killing.

She thought wistfully, "God, I was lucky to have had her."

After zoning out the entire car trip with memories of her beautiful afro-haired friend, whom she would never see again, the thought alone nearly brought a tear, but she wouldn't show weakness in such an unknown situation. She had no control. She didn't know where she was. When she was even? She needed to figure everything out? Perhaps she could find out how and why she was still alive and in the body of a young child.

She was forced back into the car, and the thoughts of Alisha left her forefront when she heard her new body's mother say something.

"We're here. Have a good day, darling." Liz softly told her daughter, waiting for her to leave the car and go to school since she was going to be late for work.

Caroline turned to her mother, nodded, and replied, "I will mother, have a good day at work. I'll see you after school." Liz just smiled after hearing her daughter's formal reply.

Caroline turned away, grabbed her bag, opened the car door, and got out of the police car. She walked out, shut the door, waved her mother off, and drove away.

Caroline took a deep breath, not knowing what to do and how to act without being suspicious and this new body.

She turned around and faced the front of the primary, and the sign loomed over her, seemingly towering over her. Her blue eyes widened at the sign that stood proudly at the top of the building.

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