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A Second Chance

            Crash!

            Waking in a sweat, a sudden feeling of being hit with the force of a fall fills her mind. Thoughts come rushing in of a great sadness and loss making it impossible to hold back tears.

            Crash!

Before the tears have time to swell another sudden strike hits and this time her frail body is picked up and thrown against cold metal bars. She feels a cold pain run through her body wincing as she feels the parts of her that took the brunt of the impact. Finally, looking up at where she is, confusion and shock enter the melting pot of emotions overwhelming her.

She sits on an old wooden floor in a small metal cell up against a wooden wall matching the floor in age. She sits near a corner towards the back of a large room with many other cells or cages matching hers in look but varying in size. There are beings inside of the cells, some look human and others seem human-like. Some have furry ears, tails, scales, horns, and so many other combinations… but without anything obstructing too much from their human form.

Where am I, what is going on, who are these people? These questions and many like them begin to swirl in her mind when everything clears for just a moment as she looks down. “A Tail!” She can't help but blurt out her shock, but most of her voice is drowned out by the noise of the storm that seems to be causing all the commotion.

“Hey kid, keep it down. I don't want those damn slavers coming over here.”

            Looking up and to her left she sees a larger man with scales running down his arms speaking in her direction. Still in shock she gives a small nod in the man's direction and scoots back to curl up in the corner of her cell. She reaches down with her right hand and strokes the tail, a slight tickle sends shivers throughout her body.

            A tail? What am I? She feels a cold breeze run past her head but now she feels the air higher up then she’d expect. Hesitating for a moment, she reaches up and feels the top of her head. Two furry ears, which feel soft to the touch have replaced the normal ears she remembers having.

            I don’t understand, what is going on? The last thing I remember is… Wait, I can’t remember anything. But I never used to have a tail or furry ears right? I can’t remember my name! Who am I? These thoughts fill her mind as she tries to make sense of her situation. She is only given mere moments before everything around her freezes.

            “My child.”

            In the midst of the confusion, everything and everyone freezes in place around her and she hears a voice coming from all directions. As the voice speaks an immense feeling of warmth and calm fills her body. Her mind goes blank, all the fear escapes her and all she can bring herself to say is one measly word. “Yes?”

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            “I am sorry for all that has happened to you. Life wasn’t kind. That said, it isn’t kind to anyone and as much as I would like to put your soul to rest I won’t.” The voice speaks softly and with a sense of authority tempered by understanding and care.

            “I don't understand, what is happening?” She asks, trying to make sense of the extraordinary nature of what is happening.

            “You made the decision to take your own life. Thus, you cut the gift I gave you short on your own terms. You must come to understand that tragedy is not the end and life can still be a wonderful experience if you fight for it.” The voice continues with purpose and directness.

            “Where am I, who am I?” She tries to push out the overwhelming sensation that this situation is producing. She has to learn as much as she can.

            “You’ll remember your past from this life and the previous soon. As for the where, you are in a parallel world, one that evolved to have many types of humans and a source of power that can be manifested by those born with the spark. You will find this world to have the capacity for all the evils that plagued your previous one but also the potential for great love and kindness. This is your second chance. If you fight for it, the gift of life can be a great blessing.” The voice fades and time resumes.

            I… died… I did it to myself. Tears begin to swell up in her eyes again as parts of her previous life begin to return to memory. A husband, a child, and a crash… she can't hold it back anymore and begins to cry. Why did I do it? I ended it when they would have wanted me to carry on. And there’s a creator. What have I done?

            The rush of emotion stops for a moment as she is overcome by another memory.

            “Talia! No!” An older woman with light skin, blue eyes, a dark brown tail and ears yells.

            “Quite! You want this to get worse?” A big man hits her with enough force to knock her to the ground.

            “Mom! I’ll be ok.” A young woman who looks like a smaller version of the other woman tries to calm her down.

            “Let her go, you won't get away with this!” The older woman continues.

            A man dressed in a dark trench coat and a tricorn hat pulls out his sword and in a single swift motion while looking at Talia he slices at the older woman ending the noise. Sheathing his weapon and walking towards Talia he grabs her by the chin. Looking into her wide tear filled angry eyes he says, “Now be a good girl and keep quiet or we’ll do the same to everyone in that village of yours.”

            That girl… It's me. My name is Talia. With that realization, her memories of the past 17 years begin flooding back. A quiet happy life in a small village that ended abruptly when slavers caught her foraging with her mother fills her mind as reality. These memories make her previous life fade but not fall away entirely.

            “This time. I must live, I must survive.” Talia whispers quietly looking down at her hands, balling them up into fists. At that moment a small barely noticeable glow starts to emanate and a feeling of strength fills her body. “This feeling.”

“The spark.” Those words, could this be what that voice was talking about?

A new sense of purpose enables Talia to see what this life has to offer through all the highs and lows it may bring. She will live, she must live, because she has been given a second chance. “I will see things through this time. Until the end is forced upon me.” 

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