Alora Funk - The Deliverance Book 1: Alora Funk, #1

By Stephanie Daich

Alora's past was a complete enigma when she woke up in a hospital bed with no memory of who she was or where she came from. She was just an ordinary teenager, or so she thought, until she discovered that she had the ability to tap into the energy of the universe. At first, Alora struggled to harness her incredible potential, but she refused to give up. The opportunity to attend Harvard's youth summer camp was a turning point for her. It was there that she was finally able to unlock the full extent of her abilities and realize her true potential. However, as her newfound identity and powers began to come to light, her dangerous past caught up with her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Phoenix Z Publishing
• Release date: Sep 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223207177

Stephanie Daich

Books by Stephanie Daich   A Little Bit of This and That Alora Funk -The Deliverance Book 1 Alora Funk - The Discovery Book 2 Asp Chapped Lips -Chapbook Life - Chapbook Out of Breath Phoenix on Fire World on Fire

Book preview

Chapter 1

MAYBE THIS IS WHAT birth felt like. The abyss of nothing exploding into a room of light with strange people, smells, and sounds overloading my senses. The apprehension almost drove me to insanity, and yet, at the same time, my mind went numb. I felt nothing, yet wanted to rip my skin off from the fear that crawled through my pores and strangled my body. I experienced every emotion while being robbed of every sense. It took three days to pull out of the emotional hell entirely. Just when the Benzos did their job, a strange group gathered by my bedside. They smelt differently than the medical staff, who had been my only interactions. A toxic cloud of cologne and perfume came from the strangers, seeped into my nose, and smelt like a chemical bomb exploding around me.

At first, the perfume felt like acid melting away my lungs, but then it turned to giant wads of cotton clogging them up, and I was thrown into a violent fit of coughing.

Those strange people looked down at me in an air of superiority. As my body jerked from the intense coughing, they had no compassion, just blank stares. At least the nurses had held my hand. -but these people.

Jane. Do you know where you are? A lady with a large nose asked, sticking it into my face. My eyes crossed, and I tried to scoot back, but my mattress prevented me from creating space from her intrusion. She got closer and closer, and it seemed she would suck my brains out or something.

The Benzos were supposed to relax me, but the presence of these strangers had a more powerful effect than the IV drug, and my nerves felt like they would explode. The fumes continued to irritate my lungs, madly clawing up my throat and forcing me to cough in the large nose lady’s face.

She jumped back. How rude. She wiped my spittle off her face but missed the drop that dangled at the tip of her nose, like the last drop of water clinging to a faucet.

A man stepped closer to me while cautiously staying out of my mouth’s line of fire. I closed my eyes.

Jane. My name is Mr. Cox. I have been assigned your case. If you could tell us any information about what happened to you, that would be ever so helpful. I shouldn’t have opened my eyes because his icy stare prickled into my skin, shooting me full of frozen daggers. Orange light traced his body. I had realized everything had coloring illuminating it, even objects. People’s colors constantly changed, and that mystified me.

I would later learn the colors were auras, colorful outlines of light that displayed the mood and temperament of a person. It shocked me when I discovered that most people did not see auras. To me, they seemed as normal as hands or lips. The nursing staff tended to have auras of pink, yellow, and varying shades of blue and purple. But not that group of invasive strangers. Their colorings ranged from brown, black, red, and orange.

A lady in a tight skirt said, The hospital had a psychologist in here and was unable to complete tests and assessments on her. The fabric stretched across her thighs and shaped every curve. The skirt looked uncomfortable, and I watched to see if she might pop out of it.

I thought of her word, psychologist. What did it mean? I had undergone so many tests since my ‘awakening’. So many strange people gathered around me, poking me, prodding, asking me questions. During the hospital’s tests, flashy lights and beeps bounced inside my head and caused intense pressure.

I didn’t want any more tests, especially from those freaky strangers.

The lady continued. Without understanding Jane’s mental compacity, we cannot properly place her. She kept pulling her skirt down as she spoke, trying to make it longer. Perhaps she should have worn something that fit better.

Mr. Cox snuffed at her and said, I am not so worried about all your worthless tests as I am about placing Jane into a family where she can start gaining some normality in her life. We do not know if she has ever been in a family.

Mr. Cox, the tests come first. The skirt lady said as she sucked her pen and made loud slurping sounds. Her gray aura faded into the shadows of the room.

Mr. Cox tightened his jaw and glared at the pen in her mouth. Linda, I know you love your psychological test. I doubt the accuracy of them in her shocked state. She looks like a scared dog in a kennel. Let’s place her, then after she has had a month to adjust, you can run all the tests to your little, and let me emphasize ‘little’ heart’s content.

Blackness overtook the gray in her aurora. Mr. Cox, that display of unprofessionalism has no place here. Linda pulled her skirt down again.

Another man elbowed Mr. Cox.

The lady with the large nose came to my side. Jane, can we do anything for you?

I didn’t look at the nose-lady. Couldn’t they stop bothering me? When the nurses attended to me, at least they used gentle voices and a soft touch. They wore the same uniforms and never seemed disappointed in my progress. Despite my fear, I felt comfort and safety from the nurses when they weren’t testing me. The group of strange people made my muscles rigid to exhaustion. I wanted nothing to do with them, so I pulled the blanket over my head.

After they left, life went back to the hospital routine. Nurses sometimes read to me or gave me a stuffed animal or a soft blanket, which made me feel warmth.

I don’t know how much time passed, but one day, the nurses had me sit in a wheelchair and rolled me down the hospital halls while other nurses lined the corridor and clapped for me. A few rushed to my side and hugged me.

Oh, Jane, you get to go to your new home today.

That is exciting.

Faces beamed, and their bright auras flashed upon the walls, making it feel like a disco of happy colors.

I didn’t understand any of it. I clung to my teddy bear, looking for it to save me from the uncertainty as a nurse pushed me to a massive glass door that opened and closed on its own. I stopped breathing when I saw Mr. Cox standing beside the opening with his orange aura. Somehow, I knew they were giving me to him. I splayed my hands on my lap and cracked my knuckles. My ratty hair fluttered in the rush of air that hit me every time the big doors opened.

Today is your big day, Jane, he said without emotion as the nurse parked the wheelchair in front of him. I didn’t move, but I wanted to. I wanted to run away from him as fast as I could. But could I run, and where would I go if I could?

Mr. Cox put his hands on his hips and sighed as his eyebrows moved downward. Did he know how I felt about him?

The nurse kneeled next to me. Jane, this is Mr. Cox. You met him a few days ago. He is going to take you to your new home. There had to be a way to escape going with him, allowing me to live in the hospital forever.

Not yet. Not a forever home yet, he snorted. If I had my way, then I would. But I guess we have to run all these worthless tests on Jane. So, for now, she will stay at a crisis nursery. He opened and closed his hands. I refused to look at him as he came closer to me.

The nurse put herself in Mr. Cox’s face. Sir, Jane is right here and can hear everything you say. Maybe you want to watch your words and tones.

Mr. Cox’s aura turned a deeper shade of orange, like someone mixed blood into it, and his face seemed as if a giant shadow overtook it, morphing him into a hideous monster.

Listen, Nursey, you have your duties, and I have mine. I am pretty sure a bedpan is waiting upstairs for you to change.

The nurse went red in the face, and her violet aura turned red. She glared at Mr. Cox, then turned to me. Let me help you into the car, she said, bringing her voice kind again. Couldn’t I go home with her instead of Mr. Cox?

I took the nurse’s hand, and she pulled me up with the gentleness of an angel as she draped her arm over my shoulders and guided me to the back of Mr. Cox’s black car. I put my fingertips in my mouth and chewed on the nails.

Put your seatbelt on, Mr. Cox ordered. His car smelled strange, and I felt like they were locking me into a tight box that I would never escape.

The nurse pulled the strap over my chest and buckled it at my hips. She kissed me softly on the cheek, which tickled me, and I almost laughed.

Good luck, Jane. And if you ever need anything, you can find me here. Then she whispered, If Mr. Scary ever hurts you, you come back and tell me. She kissed my cheek. The warmth of her kiss lingered like a heated blanket, wrapping itself around my soul. Mr. Cox snorted, and my feeling of comfort shattered. The nurse had called him Mr. Scary. I liked that. I would call Mr. Cox Mr. Scary.

Mr. Scary tapped the door. We must leave now, and you have bed sores to scrub.

The nurse again stood tall next to Mr. Scary. You are incredible.

Who told you?

I will report you.

And I, you. He rammed his shoulder into her, pushing her out of the way.

Please don’t leave me with him.

Mr. Scary closed my door and drove away.

On one of the hospital’s many tests, they had put me into this tight tunnel. The tunnel felt like it was squeezing everything out of me, and I had tried to throw my body out of it, but the straps had kept me in place. Mr. Scary’s car felt the same as that tunnel. I clutched the door handle and held it until my fingers ached.

I watched the hospital disappear, and tears puddled in my eyes. I closed my eyes and pictured the safety of my hospital room. I only knew life at the hospital with kind nurses. The scariest person I had ever met carried me from all that.

People at the hospital had constantly asked me, What do you remember before the hospital?

I had no answers. No memories. It seemed as if life started the moment the bright light brought me to consciousness. Did Mr. Scary know anything about who I was before the hospital?

Out of the way, Mr. Scary yelled as he weaved in and out of cars, insulting almost every vehicle we passed. The zooming of objects out of my peripheral vision made my stomach slosh and feel queasy.

Finally, we pulled into the driveway of an old house. The wood shingles looked cracked and worn. Compared to many other houses we passed, this one was a mansion. Mr. Scary turned off the car and opened my door.

Come on, Jane, he barked when I didn’t move. I kept my eyes on my lap as his words berated me. So helpless. What are you, like a teenager, yet you respond like a two-year-old. He reached in and undid my lap belt. I tensed, having his body above mine, and scooted to the middle of the backseat. He grabbed my right arm and yanked me out of the car. I gasped as his fingers tightened around mine, dragging me across the driveway.

You are like training a new puppy. He pulled me into the house, still yanking on my arm with such force that I thought he might pull it off me.

Ding. A bell rang as we walked in, announcing our arrival. Cool air blew into my face that smelt like a strong cleaner or something. We stood in the entryway, and I bit my nails. A couple of toddlers ran up to us. One of the boys wrapped his arm around Mr. Scary’s suit pants.

Mr. Scary muttered something, then ripped the boy off and shoved him as he stumbled to his knees. You got purple jam on me! Mr. Scary’s voice deepened as his aura matched the redness in his face.

A tall lady appeared with a baby draped over each hip. One of the babies wrapped his hands through the lady’s red hair. Can I help you, she said with a smile more like one of the nurses. I wouldn’t mind if Mr. Scary left me with the lady despite the massive clump of fear that clogged my chest. I could hear shouts of laughter from another room.

Yes, I am Mr. Cox from Child Protective Services. The toddler boy stood up and wiped his sticky hands on the side of Mr. Cox’s suit coat as if purposely enacting revenge.

For starters, you can get this thing off of me. He has now ruined my suit. I will be sending you the Dry-cleaning bill.

Tyrone, come here, the lady said, her smile now gone. The boy screamed and turned his back to her. I could feel his scream vibrate in my head.

This is Jane Doe. We gave you the briefing on her two days ago. Mr. Scary said in a low tone as his lips turned upward.

Oh. I wasn’t here. It must have been to Crystal. How long will Jane be with us?

Two weeks. The first week that she’s here, our psychologist will be in to run a number of tests on her. Then, it will take us about a week to place her. I suggest you locate the file we left with Crystal. You will see Jane is a special case, and you would do well learning about it instead of standing here clueless.

The lady wrinkled her forehead and looked away as her lips turned into a frown. Her breaths came out quick and loud.

Mr. Scary put his hand on his hip. Did you get that?

Yes, she said, not facing him.

Good. If you need me, here is my business card. He dropped it on the table. And keep your eyes out for the dry-cleaning bill. The lady looked at the card but didn’t pick it up. One of the babies reached into her mouth, and the lady gently pushed his hand away, but he did it again.

As Mr. Scary left, I felt my breath escape me as my muscles relaxed. The sticky-handed toddler put his hand in mine. I kept my hand limp, unsure of what to do with it, and the toddler squeezed me tightly, making his sticky mine.

Jane, give me a minute to put these babies down, and I will help you. My name is Deborah, the redheaded lady said. I had no idea what was happening, but as long as Mr. Cox never returned, I would be okay with it.

The dining room had four cribs in it. Deborah put each baby in individual cribs and then knelt next to me with a friendly smile. I dropped my hands by my side. Behind us, one of the babies screamed as if boiling water was scolding his skin. He threw himself around his crib, desperate for Deborah’s attention, but she had a way to ignore his fit.

I know these nurseries can seem frightening. How are you doing? Her personal care drew me into her as if she offered me a world of protection from all the Mr. Scary’s of the world. Would she become my mother?

I looked away. I hadn’t spoken yet and had no desire to start.

She said, Hmm. Do you have any luggage?

-No answer.

I suppose I need to read your file. Are you hungry?

-No answer.

Deborah took my hand in her soft hand. Her warm flesh spread a feeling across me like all of time would hold us together.

I see Tyrone got you sticky, she said. How about we start by washing your hands, and then I will give you a tour of this place.

Deborah took me into a bathroom just off the dining room. One of the babies began crying, which set off the other baby. They both wailed. Deborah gently guided me to the sink and turned the water on. When I didn’t wash my hands, she put them under the water. The warmth from the water relaxed me. As she lathered on the soap, I looked into the mirror. The light seemed brighter than at the hospital, making my skin a rosier pink. I peered into my reflection’s blue eyes, then’ Deborah’s green eyes. It seemed odd that her golden-yellow aura that encapsulated her body didn’t reflect in the mirror. She had smooth hair in a ponytail, while my scraggly blond hair went everywhere. After Deborah cleaned my hands, she gently took a brush through my hair.

Tell me about yourself.

I didn’t respond.

After a tour of the massive house, Deborah sat me at the table with a paper cup of crackers. One of the babies had fallen asleep. The other still cried for her. She picked up the crying baby and, went to a desk in the corner and sifted through it with her free hand until she found a pack of papers.

Ah, your file. You just hang there for a minute while I read about you. Deborah fed the baby a bottle with great skill, walked around, and read the file.

I loved my time at the crisis nursery. Deborah and her husband stayed for four days. They treated all of us kids with kindness. I still didn’t talk, but that didn’t stop them from including me in everything. When I wanted alone time, I would go to my room. Sometimes other kids stayed with me, and at times I had it to myself. I explored the library in my room and felt a sort of freedom come over me when I realized I could read. Since I had no memories, almost all my skills came as a discovery. I read five books in the Land of Stories series about the twins