Hell in Rezta

By Amy Flashman

Shanas life wasnt nothing. It just took her father to kill her for her to understand that. But in death, she found life, love, and pain. Now Shana must face the truth about her life, the secrets that were kept, the battles she must face, and the power she must control.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Aug 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477226162

Amy Flashman

My name is Amy Flashman. I started this book when I was fourteen years old. I wrote this book around my school work but I wanted to write it as a release, a way of coping with the work I guess. I actually went to Edgbarrow School. Sadly there was no Jamie, all the characters are fictional, but there was a scary amount of sporting activities. I live in Crowthorne—an unusual name but a nice place. I spend my time on the gorgeous heath. That was what inspired some of the scenery. I used to love climbing trees. That’s where I got the feeling for tree climbing, but I stopped after I heard my best friend fell out of one and landed on her butt on solid concrete! Julia Elizabeth Manning you are the best! My friends did inspire some of the characters; Mia especially wouldn’t have her edgy temper if it wasn’t for one of my friends. Miss Golhar I am talking about you. Jess and Phoebe, I thank you for my addiction to Doctor Who.

Book preview

Hell in Rezta

Amy Flashman

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AuthorHouse™

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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© 2012 by Amy Flashman. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/22/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4772-2615-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-2616-2 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1 Desperate beginnings

Chapter 2 Welcome to Rezta

Chapter 3 Conference

Chapter 4 Let the Fun Begin

Chapter 5 Morphius

Chapter 6 Anger All Around

Chapter 7 Jamie Meets Kim

Chapter 8 Story Time

Chapter 9 Battlefield

Chapter 10 Campsite

Chapter 11 Nathan

Chapter 12 Goodbye

Chapter 13 Mulbeta

Chapter 14 Latsin is that Really You?

Chapter 15 History of Sincos

Chapter 16 Mother of mine

Chapter 17 Well, Well, Well

Chapter 18 Preparation for the inevitable

Chapter 19 The Past is the Past

Chapter 20 Training

Chapter 21 A Little Competition

Chapter 22 Rise and Shine to all Armies

Chapter 23 Mothers legacy

Chapter 24 Fire, Water, Earth, Air and the Beast

Chapter 25 One last problem . . . I Hope

About the Author

About the Book

Prologue

When you have nothing in the world, what do you have to lose when you hear a voice telling you to let go of life and there’s nothing you can do? Do you simply fight it or welcome it?

There are some like me who no longer have that choice; I can never have that choice, because I’m already dead and in a different world.

When you think you’re alone with no one around, do you dream of different worlds, of different lives?

I did, and now I wish I never had.

Chapter 1

Desperate beginnings

I am sixteen, and I wouldn’t call myself an ordinary girl. I live with my drunken dad, who violently hates me. He’s never sober. I always get the full blame for every mishap that happens in our small house. I hardly remember going to school either. I cannot remember the number of times I have been beaten and it doesn’t surprise me. Most of my life I spend in my room, trying to avoid my beast of a father. If you are ever told that someone is related to you, make sure they run on blood and not alcohol.

This is why I dreamt of a different life in a whole new world. I always dreamt of one place—Rezta.

I live through someone else’s eyes there. I see what I’ve seen since birth in Rezta, always the same thing: a never-ending cloud of inky black darkness slowly consuming the planet and growing worse and far more vivid as time passes.

This hell like-place is also what comes to my head when I try to think of my mother. My mother abandoned us when I was younger. I don’t really remember her, and I only know what she looks like thanks to the one picture of her in my house. She was young, and if it weren’t for her dark eyes, that closely resembled my own, I wouldn’t recognise her. Her face was happy and carefree, smiling at the long-lost camera, innocent and untroubled. Both my dad and I loved her, but when she disappeared he spiralled into a deep depression, and nothing I ever did or said helped him, but the drinking did.

I wake in sweats every night, seeing this place, Rezta, and its people being haunted by something, leaving a deathly trail wherever it goes. Slowly over the years, I have watched this make-believe place go from bad to worse, and it has burned me every night until I awake, suppressing sobs into my pillow.

Oy, girl! Get here now!

My body froze as I heard my father’s voice come booming up the stairs, echoing threateningly and stealing me away from my thoughts. He’d been hitting the bottle again of course. He always comes home drunk, and then he attacks me. The hospital doesn’t believe me when I come in with my various injuries. Who would though? I’m only a child, and no one ever believes children—especially not when the caring father hugs and kisses his daughter in public and puts my cuts and bruises down to sheer misfortune.

Shana! My father screamed from downstairs. If you make me come and get you, you . . . you’ll bleed for a whole bloody month! So get down here! Now!

I had no intention of going anywhere. The hospital said if I fell again, I would have to go into childcare, so my father stopped taking me to school where the teachers could see my bruises. I was locked in the house while he was out getting wasted, waiting for him to come home and give me another wave of fresh torture.

I should’ve run when I was at school, but my few friends I had there were what kept me sane. They were a comfort to me, an escape route from my life; but that changed quickly when my father took me in for home schooling and never let me out again. But it was too late to do anything now. I’ll never have a normal childhood with friends or freedom.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to run. I had to be free and have a life worth living. And it didn’t take much to know that this type of living was wrong and it definitely wasn’t for me.

Becoming more and more acknowledging of the fact that my father was growing ever more impatient, I got up and stopped beside my bedroom door. I was sure he’d make good on his promise if I failed to appear, and giving him even more incentive to be angry was something I never needed to do. I slowly pulled the door towards me and looked out across the hall. I didn’t want to walk down it and meet my father; I was wild with fear as I crept slowly down the landing.

Moving cautiously across the small landing, my heart pumping loudly in my ears, I stopped at the top of the staircase I had tripped down a few too many times. My father’s bloodshot eyes flickered to life when they saw me, they were more frenzied than usual; his greasy grey hair hung on his slumped shoulders and his drooling mouth was turned into a sneer. If he hit me on the head in this state, my hair would be dyed a dark shade of red.

His sneer turned into a full blown grin as he watched me. I grasped the bannister as I came down the stairs and was aware that I was breathing heavily and loudly, I tried to silence it, I knew that loud breathing annoyed him and that gave him more reason to beat me. I watched my father’s reactions with eagle eyes.

Hello, Shana dear, he snarled out in a blood-curdling voice as I walked steadily, towards him. He turned away and headed for the soundproof basement I have now become so terrified of, with no doubt I would follow him as I had been doing for years. I hung my head in shame and forced one foot in front of the other, knowing it’d be worse otherwise.

Let’s get this over with, I thought, sickened.

As I walked past the front door, rays of sunlight caught something metal, I held my breath. It was a key!

All the windows and doors were locked permanently in my house. I got no fresh air, and my hope dwindled as my life continued. My father was very careful not to let me escape or get near a phone, even if I knew how to use one. But he had finally made a mistake. This could be my chance!

I glanced quickly at my father who was still heading for the basement. I’d get the beating of a lifetime if I was caught. It was stupid—and dangerous.

It’s now or never, my inner voice told me. My mind was made up.

As quickly and quietly as I could I turned the key in the slot. It made a faint click, but in the still air of the house, it was equivalent to an alarm going off.

My father’s head whipped around, but in his drunken state he failed to focus immediately on what I was doing, which gave me time to fling open the door and stumble across the broken tiles that led to the house.

I urged my frail legs to run, even though the pain jolting through them on every step was excruciating. But the breeze felt so nice on my face that I didn’t care that I had no place to go or that my father was probably hunting me down right now. I ran so fast I couldn’t even control my legs, but that didn’t matter. I was free!

"Shana! Come back here now!" My father’s hysterical voice shrieked behind me down the street.

What happened next went so fast.

I felt something smash against the back of my head, and pain was travelling down my spine to every muscle of my body. My fingers automatically went to the back of my head and brought back red, sticky blood that gleamed on my hand as I was forced to my knees. I felt sick to the pit of my stomach while the agonising throbbing in my head was deafening me. I fell on my side as a grey haze started to cloud my vision. I was shaking uncontrollably now, helpless. Looking round helplessly, I saw my father staring at me from across the road, shaking with wild laughter. He had thrown the bottle he’d been holding directly at my head, causing me to fight for my life.

Maybe it is better this way, I thought as I lay with the gradually growing pool of blood making a halo around my head. No more abuse from that monster; no more hiding from my own life; no more struggling through this miserable and wretched existence. But I couldn’t give up, not after everything I had been through. This can’t be how it ends.

I remember hearing a scream from a neighbour and sirens in the distance. I was still fighting to keep my eyelids open as they bundled me into an ambulance and sped me away to a hospital. I had to fight. I had no religion and didn’t know if death was the end or if there was some sort of heaven.

My mind went foggy as a strange, rough voice echoed suddenly in my mind.

Shana, come. We need you here in Rezta.

Wow! Craziness must run in the family, my muddled mind managed to think. Hearing voices was never a good sign, even on the brink of death. No, I wasn’t going to give up, not ever.

A deafening silence knocked me into oblivion. White light engulfed me, boiling every atom of my existence. I was gone.

Chapter 2

Welcome to Rezta

It was the most painful experience of my life. That’s what getting cremated alive must feel like, I thought groggily. I had no idea why I listened to that voice or even if it was real, but I did listen. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m supposed to be dead, I realised. Perhaps I had just fallen asleep in the ambulance, but I didn’t want to open my eyes because I knew what I’d find, all because I’d believed the voice.

Open your eyes, the strange voice said again, reverberating in my head. Trust me, everything will be okay.

I’m dead because of you, I said aloud. I won’t listen to you again. Wait, how did I say that if I was dead?

You’re not dead, a different voice said, answering my question. At least not here.

I opened my eyes. I was staring at a carved golden wall. I wasn’t in an ambulance at all. Then it hit me that I was dead but could still think. I didn’t do much of that when I was alive, so why would I do it now if I was dead?

I sat up on a large, comfy bed and stared into the eyes of an old man.

I was wondering when you’d come around, he said to me. My name is Grint, he continued, without any interest in knowing who I was.

My name is Shana, I said anyway in a tone of authority. This seemed to amuse him.

Yes, I know who you are, he replied almost mockingly. He gave a cheeky grin, which creased his already creviced head. It looked creepy and unusual.

He shrugged. I could see he was one of those wise types that usually get on my nerves very easily with all their wise speeches. There was a moment of silence which I was enjoying, as the thumping in my head sang dully.

The old man spoke to me again. Shana, do you know why I have bought you here? He sounded a little too curious. After a pause, he turned to look at me, questioning my silence. I shook my head slowly.

You must rest now, he said abruptly, standing up. This is your room. Come downstairs in one hour. You’re no good to anyone tired. He turned to the door and gave a deep sigh; he was either really tired or really relieved.

When he left me on my own, I sat upright in the bed and studied the room. It was enormous. It had a light creamy carpet and intricately designed wallpaper. There was a gigantic cupboard that took up the entire left-hand wall, its doors complete with mirrors that reflected the light that entered from the large window, scattering rainbows everywhere. I could see out of the window from here. Outside was a vast open meadow with two great fountains and a dark forest at its edge. The sky was a clear blue with only the sun to accompany the mountains that rose high in the distance.

With my head still thumping, I got out of the bed and walked over to the oversized cupboard. I stared at the girl looking back at me in the mirror. I somehow looked different. With the same clear olive skin, my deep brown hair was not as tussled as it usually was, because it was currently in a neat bun with only the fringe hanging loose. Then I looked at the rest of my body and I realised that I was wearing a white dress that draped down to the floor. I had never worn a dress before; it looked somewhat elegant. Around my neck was a curious silver necklace with a tiny amber gem in the shape of an oval. It gleamed brightly in the sun’s rays which were streaming through the room.

I looked away and opened the cupboard. The two doors folded back to reveal the large interior. I was in heaven. The cupboard was filled with clothes—lots and lots of clothes. Dresses, shirts, shoes of all kinds, jewellery, and more things I couldn’t even see. I wasn’t used to having luxurious things (or even nice things), so I automatically thought of money, if that even existed here.

My head still ached and I was feeling dazed, so I climbed back into the lavish bed and fell asleep.

An hour had passed when I awoke. I was convinced I had a really weird dream about extravagant clothes and dresses, but one look at the room I was in told me it wasn’t a dream at all. I climbed out of the bed again and slowly opened the bedroom doors—slowly, because they were heavier than they looked—and I was taken aback by the beauty of the house or palace I was in. Palace seemed to fit better, though.

I walked out into a spacious hallway, looking from one room to the next. The magnificence of each one astounded me. All the rooms I walked into were enormous, but I failed to see why anyone would need sixteen living rooms with not much furniture other than sofas or thick rugs. Or maybe I had just seen the same room more than once.

I might as well face it: I was lost in a house. Had this ever happened to anyone before?

I stopped in a random room and sat down on a red sofa. I sure hoped someone would find me soon; I don’t handle boredom well at all.

I don’t know how much time had passed since I started, but I realised I was rocking quickly on the sofa. I jumped when the door unexpectedly swung open, and my eyes darted towards it. Standing in the doorway was a small girl with light blonde hair and porcelain skin with hazel eyes. She was dressed in a white cotton dress and brown gladiator slippers. Huh, are they back in style? was my first thought when I saw her.

Hi, I said. I stood up quickly, and I was aware of a dumb grin on my face. Do you know where Grint is?

She stared at me with frosty eyes, making me want to run away. I looked around the room, avoiding eye contact with an ever-growing silence hanging between us. This was an awkward environment to be trapped in.

Uh, I’m Shana Hale, I said, trying to sound upbeat, but I think it came out more as a snarl, because she was still glaring at me. Had I insulted her by saying hi?

I’m Mia Green, she retorted finally. Did Grint say where he would meet you? Without waiting for an answer, the girl Mia crossed her arms and walked back through the door. I ran after her.

Um, I think he said something about going downstairs, I told the girl, trying to remember the wrinkled man’s words. Are you new here?

No, I’m not, she replied huffily. She blew a piece of hair away from her face and marched to a hallway I hadn’t seen on my wanderings.

Can you tell me where I am? My father threw a bottle at my head and killed me. That’s always a good conversation starter with awkward people.

Mia looked like she was trying to suppress saying or asking something.

Just then a lady appeared and stepped in front of us. She was richly dressed and had a stone-like face, her hair in a tight circle on her head. My name is Mary, she began in clipping tones. Grint is this way, Miss Green and Miss Hale.

Oh my God, I thought. Was I at a morgue or something? Or is everybody here generally just sad and angry?

We followed Mary through a number of doorways to a landing that linked most of the rooms I had ambled through. The stairs were at the end of the hallway, winding around a dark ebony pole with intricate carvings cut into the wood. I looked closely at them as I descended. They were mainly pictures of a young boy about my own age, clutching a sword. He was fighting a sinister shadow, and when I looked at it, it sent shivers and goose bumps up and down my body. It was a big figure with the shape of a human body, but my instincts told me it was something more. I swear I had seen it before.

Mia, do you know who this is? I asked the girl walking in front of me, pointing at the carvings. It was probably a stupid question, but I needed to know.

Her expression paled. "Yes. But I don’t think it’s who you should be asking about. It’s what it is."

Mary had a grim look on her face, and her eyes were stained with anguish as she looked at the boy on the wood. This way! Do hurry. Her voice sounded harsher than before.

Mary hurried downstairs and beckoned us to follow. I looked at Mia with a surprised expression. I was thinking that saying this place was ‘messed up’ could be an understatement. I looked swiftly one last time at the boy battling the dark figure and quickly walked on.

At the bottom of the stairs, Mary continued to walk down a brightly lit corridor, its walls decorated with various tapestries and paintings, and finally stopped outside a tall, cream-coloured door.

In here, she commanded, and she disappeared inside the room. Afraid to be left alone again, I followed Mia through the door.

I was in another large, richly furnished room. A group of people sat casually on sofas centred on a big area, chatting happily to each other. Grint sat in an oversized chair at the head of the room, while Mary strode towards the empty seat next to him and sat down. They were the only old ones in the room, I noticed.

Everyone suddenly stopped talking and turned to gaze at me and Mia where we were still standing.

There was one other woman in the room, aside from Mary. I had never seen her before. She was young and incredibly pretty. She had clear skin, deep brown eyes and blonde hair. She noticed me looking at her and smiled. I gave a brief smile and blushed, which made her giggle, and I swear Mia was finding this amusing too.

Mia, Shana, come sit, said Grint from the huge chair. They all turned away in silence. Mia gave me a nervous glance which I returned. No one here will harm you, Grint said, smiling warmly.

Mia walked gracefully forward, and I quickly followed her. She had reached the centre of the circle, when a burly man, at least six feet tall, jumped up and threw an object in her direction.

Everything slowed down. Mia immediately saw the sword heading for her face and raised a hand, seemingly unafraid. The sword glowed red and came to an abrupt halt in mid-air. I couldn’t tell what my face was giving away, but I was sure it was frozen in shock as I watched Mia clench her fist, causing the sword to burst into a ball of blinding flames.

A smaller, younger man stood up from a plush sofa and laughed at the guy who had thrown the sword, slapping him round the head.

Cough up, he said to him jubilantly.

Fine! The sword-thrower dug his hand into his pocket and whacked two gold coins into the other man’s outstretched hand.

One day I’ll catch her out, and then you’ll pay me double of everything I’ve ever given you, he mumbled grumpily.

The young man sat down, and Mia plonked down beside him. They high-fived each other and the man reached into his pocket and gave her one of the golden coins. The older man just grunted at them, and then he turned to me.

Hi, he said with a smile. My name’s Thornton, but my friends call me Thorn. He held out his hand to me.

I’m Shana, I said in a shaky voice, taking his hand. Thorn was still smiling as he took his place.

Now everyone was looking at me again. I looked at Thorn.

I still didn’t understand what just happened or where I was. I still believed I was going to wake up at any moment back at home in my lumpy bed with all my bruises. But everyone’s eyes continued to stare at me, and my head felt dizzy and confused. It was fair to say that I knew I was going to have a bad reaction, so I promptly passed out.

Chapter 3

Conference

She shouldn’t be here. I recognised Mia’s voice.

We need her, you know that. Grint sounded strained, as if he had had this conversation multiple times.

I decided to intervene.

Why am I here? I opened my eyes to see everyone crowded around me, some with worried expressions on their faces.

My question swiftly caught their attention. Everyone’s eyes darted down to look at me lying on the couch—everyone except Mia, who was staring at Grint with expectant eyes. She looked at him as though she wanted him to say something. It was quite annoying. What was she afraid of?

How much do you know of Rezta? Thorn asked after a long silence. He was staring at me with a grim expression. Everyone else’s head popped up as if this was a very important question.

Only what I’ve seen in my dreams. There was no detail, but it looked dark and barren. But the view outside does not seem that way, so I guess I was wrong. I looked around at Thorn, who was shaking his head slowly. The