Trapped: Freya Snow

By L.C. Mawson

Lily Snow awoke in a medical facility with no memory of who she was or how she came to be there, bloodied and battered.

She's told that she was attacked by magical beings, simply for being human. She's told that she's there for her own protection. She's told that the medicine she's taking is to help her recover.

But as her memories start to return, she's not so sure that any of that is true. Not to mention the ghost who keeps appearing, and telling her to get out. Before it's too late.

Trapped is a prequel novella to the Freya Snow series.

Other Freya Snow Books

Hunt
The Freya Snow Short Story Collection
White
Wings

• Language: English
• Publisher: L.C. Mawson
• Release date: Jul 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533742629

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

You mean like Rain Man?

July, 2000

The woman groaned as she sat up, her head banging. Everything was too bright, so she kept her eyes closed. The fabric beneath her was scratchy and unpleasant and all she could smell was anti-septic, making her feel faint.

She heard a door open. It was a clean sound, like the door was brand new, and there was no carpet in the way of it.

The woman shaded her eyes with her hand to make it easier as she opened them. She regretted the action immediately, as the intensely white room only added to her headache.

In front of her was nothing but white walls, a white tile floor, a series of bright, florescent lights lining the top of the wall, and a woman. She was short, with pale, freckled skin, and strawberry blonde hair.

Do you know where you are? the short woman asked.

No, the other croaked.

Do you know who you are?

I… No.

The short woman nodded, moving over to her. Your name is Lily Snow. You were in an accident and were brought here for treatment.

Bright, Lily managed in response.

I’m sorry?

Lily frowned, waving around her face as she struggled for words. It’s bright in here.

The short woman moved to a control panel on the wall, dimming the lights.

Is that better?

A little, Lily said as she moved her hand away from her face to have another look around the room. She didn’t really want to look at the woman in front of her. The thought of meeting her eyes made Lily cringe.

I’m Dr Hill, the short woman said. I’m here to make sure that you get better.

What happened to me? Why can’t I remember?

You were in an accident.

What kind of accident?

The kind caused by magic. You were attacked. You’re lucky some of the Enhanced were in the area. Dr Hill moved closer and Lily instinctively launched herself backwards, away from her.

Dr Hill simply gave her a sympathetic smile as she placed a small glass of water and a couple of pills on the small bedside table next to her.

Take those. They should help you get your memory back. Dr Hill then indicated to a door to her left. The bathroom is through there and, if you need me, she indicated the control panel by the other door, you can call me from over there. Okay?

Lily nodded, instantly relaxing as soon as the door closed behind the doctor, though she noted that the control panel turned red as soon as the door shut. She assumed that meant that it was locked.

She took the medicine as she had been told and, thankfully, found that her headache started to dull. She then moved over to the bathroom, since she had nothing better to do.

Inside was much the same expanse of white that the main room had been, with a shower, loo and sink. What intrigued Lily most, though, was the mirror above the sink.

Her face was black and blue with bruises, and swollen to boot. There were several cuts with stitches, which immediately started itching as she saw them. Part of her hair had been shaved off at the side to make way for even more stitches. What was left of it was a golden blonde colour, and went down past her waist.

She couldn’t even tell what she really looked like, underneath the carnage. Young, if she had to take a guess. Definitely not past of her twenties, though not even definitely up to them. Her eyes were undamaged, at least, though they were a little unnerving. Bright green, with the colour a little too solid.

As she looked at her skin, she figured that her current state was unusual. What little of her skin hadn’t been recently damaged had an unblemished, olive complexion. No old scars.

She sighed, wondering what she should do next, when she suddenly felt a chill.

Lily spun around to see a ghostly woman in an intricate, black ball gown.

She disappeared almost immediately.

I hit my head. When I was injured, I took a whack to the head, Lily rationalised. It couldn’t be magic.

Not when magic had done this to her.

June, 1995

Don’t forget your lunch.

Lily rolled her eyes at her aunt as she hurried back to grab the plastic Tupperware box on the counter.

Aunt Tilly gave