Life After: Life After, #1

By Krystal Doolittle

Winnie loves her little brother more than anything. She knows most big sisters loathe being around their younger brothers, but she and Lucas have always been close. But after they are both in a serious accident, everyone starts acting strangely towards her. She struggles to understand even as she deals with crushes and horrible girls from school.

But a chance encounter with a neighbor shows her that her friends and family aren't the only ones that changed after the accident. She did too. Her head trauma has unlocked secret powers that had been dormant until now. How can she balance being a normal teenage girl while learning to control her newfound powers? And can she keep them from turning her into someone she doesn't want to be?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Krystal Doolittle
• Release date: Nov 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223684428

Krystal Doolittle

Krystal has been creating stories most of her life, but only recently begun to brave the world of professional writing. She loves a great joke, peaceful mornings and a nice, cold glass of orange juice.

Book preview

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Winifred Sunshine Montgomery hated her name. She couldn’t believe her parents would name her something so ridiculous. Yeah, maybe she was named after her father’s favorite grandmother, but that didn’t make up for the name Winifred. And Sunshine? That should be considered child abuse. It practically was when kids at school remembered what it was.

Winnie, come on, her brother Lucas called through the open window. He was eagerly waiting for her outside, his face practically pressed up against the screen in the window, his dusty brown hair blowing in the wind. He had a grin on his chubby round face, his dark eyes bright and shining. She had promised that they would go bike riding together around the neighborhood, and to Lucas, that meant immediately. Her little brother wasn’t known for his patience, to say the least. She may have only been 4 years older than him, but it seemed like much more, especially recently. It was like he never grew tired and always wanted to be on some sort of adventure.

Yeah, hang on, she said as she tugged on her last shoe and tied it. Let me go tell Mom what we’re doing so she doesn’t worry. She tucked the strands of her short blonde hair behind her ear and rose from the chair where she’d been sitting in the living room.

Lucas’s face disappeared from the window, most likely going to get his bike. It was probably one of his favorite possessions, considering how much he always wanted to be on it. It was no secret that he loved to ride, and he often drove Winnie crazy if she didn’t agree to go ride with him. He would constantly whine and moan until she gave in and did as he wanted. But as she’d been told from a young age, that was the life of a big sister.

Winnie hurried through the house to the kitchen where her mom was. Hey mom, she said as she pushed the swinging door open. Lucas and I are going to ride our bikes around the neighborhood, she said.

Her mom looked up from whatever she was making at the island counter in the middle of the kitchen. Flour was all over and she had a rolling pin in her hand. If Winnie had to guess, it looked like she was making a pie. When her eyes met Winnie’s, they looked heavy with sadness and shiny, as though a tear might drop at any moment.

She had moments like this, when she was just sad for no reason. Her light brown hair seemed dull, and it was pulled back in a messy bun like it always was. Winnie still saw her beautiful mother behind all the sadness that had dulled her shine, though. Still, she wanted more than anything to have her mom back to how she used to be.

Mom, are you okay? She asked, startled. Recently, her mom and dad would sometimes get these looks as if their hearts were heavy with something, but it always took her by surprise. Were they not getting along? Had money gotten tight? She knew Mom had taken some time off from work ever since the accident Winnie and Lucas had been in, while Dad seemed to immerse himself in it. Maybe things weren’t so good between the two of them now? Had the accident put a strain on their marriage somehow?

Yeah, I’m fine, her mother said, even though it was clear she wasn’t. Go on and ride your bike. Maybe I will have dinner ready by the time you’re done. She went back to what she was doing, the sadness lingering on her face.

Mom, I-, Winnie began but stopped herself. She knew something had been wrong lately, but she wasn’t sure what it was, and her parents never seemed to want to talk about it with her. She may have only been 15, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t understand. If only they would just talk to her. I love you, she said instead of trying to push the issue. Who was she to try to get her mom to talk?

I love you too, kiddo. Be careful, please. Wear your helmet. Oh, and don’t forget you have an appointment to see your therapist tomorrow. I wrote it on the reminder board so you don’t forget. She didn’t even lift her eyes to look at her.

Winnie took one more long look at her mother, wondering if she would listen if she told her how worried she was. How everything seemed so different now and how badly she wanted it to be the same again. But Winnie knew she could only take so much of the sadness and melancholy before it dragged her down too, and she didn’t want that. She sighed before turning and heading out of the kitchen. She saw her helmet hanging next to the door but left it on its hook. How could she enjoy a proper bike ride if she couldn’t feel the wind blowing in her hair? She knew it was the accident that had her mother worrying about her helmet, but nobody had died, so why worry? I’m coming, Lucas, she called as she hurried through the house and out the front door.

Bout time, he said as he climbed on his bike, sounding exasperated. She had to bring her bike down off of the front porch where they kept them, so he was still forced to wait.

You could have carried my bike down for me at least, she muttered as she walked it down the stairs.

Sorry, I didn’t think it would take you that long, he said, although he didn’t look very sorry.

As she climbed on her bike, her brother already started pedaling down the road. Wait up, she called. The sun was shining, and the sky was a brilliant blue with small fluffy clouds lazily sliding across the sky. A slight breeze rustled the leaves in the trees, making them sway ever so slightly. Rushing past the other houses on their block, she hurried to catch up. Once her bike was beside Lucas’, she slowed her pace. Do you think something’s up with Mom and Dad? she asked.

I haven’t noticed anything, he shrugged. Why? His forehead wrinkled with worry.

I don’t know, she said as she shook her head. It just seems like they’re hiding something. Something big and they aren’t telling us. It was nagging at her how they’d been recently and she couldn’t stop thinking about it. Something was different, but she couldn’t put her finger on it.

If they wanted us to know, they would tell us, he pointed out. I think we should just trust them. He turned his attention back to the road, so she let him. The last thing she wanted to do was force him to think about things like that too much. He wasn't old enough to worry about problems like their parent’s relationship yet.

Winnie wasn’t so sure about just trusting them, but she let it go. Lucas was only 11, after all, so he wouldn’t be as prone to think something bad was happening, anyway. He was forever happy and cheerful, always seeing the bright side of things and grinning happily. She was always pessimistic while he was perpetually curious. Sometimes she had to bring him back to reality because he would be too busy daydreaming and not paying attention to the real world around him.

Lucas came to a stop at the corner and Winnie stopped beside him, waiting to see what he was planning. When he stayed frozen as he looked down the road, Winnie whistled and waved her hand in his face.

Earth to Lucas, come in Lucas.

Lucas shook his head, and his eyes focused on Winnie. Sorry, Win. Guess I was just daydreaming for a second.

Oh? What about? she asked, leaning forward on her handlebars.

Lucas hesitated for a moment, looking down at his bike pedal as he spun it with the toe of his shoe. I was wondering what I might look like when I get older, he admitted, his face serious. Then he looked up at Winnie and grinned. I’m going to grow a beard as soon as I’m big enough.

Winnie laughed and shook her head. It seemed whatever had upset her mother also had her little brother feeling introspective. We’ll see about that when the day comes, she grinned. So, where are we going? she asked, changing the subject.

I don’t know, he admitted, finally looking at her. I just wanted to see where the wind took us today. Is that so wrong?

No, I guess not, she shrugged. Sometimes they had the best adventures when they didn’t plan them. Plus, she was pretty sure he enjoyed being the one to pick where they went, and it didn’t bother her one bit to just follow along. It wasn’t like their little town of Shady Pines was wrought with crime or anything.

They rode in silence for a while and she let him choose where they went, mostly letting his curiosity guide them through their sleepy small town. Finally circling back towards home, they turned down Persephone Street, the next road over from where they lived. Winnie smiled to herself. This was Lucas’s favorite road in the entire town. The older, towering houses on either side were ornate with their gingerbread trim, wrap-around porches, and widow's walks. Most of them were two and three stories tall except for one. The old Morley Mansion. It was four stories at least and was said to be the oldest home in town. Built by some rich old guy over a hundred years ago, now it was overgrown and the least kept house on the road. It was also behind their house, the overgrown gardens and yard visible from their treehouse. Not that Winnie hung out there as much as Lucas did anymore. Still, she’d spent plenty of time when she was younger staring at the house and wondering about it and its history.

Persephone Street was divided down the middle with towering trees that were probably just as old as the homes on either side. Their mom had shown them old black and white photos of the street when it was still brick and people used to ride around in horse and carriages. Winnie sometimes wished she could travel back in time to see that. She could almost imagine what it must have been like. The dresses, the smell of horse manure, and the sound of carriage wheels on brick streets. Her dad liked to tell her she must be an old soul because she always seemed to be interested in things other kids her age weren’t. Like history, for example.

Lucas slowed down as they drew closer to the Morley Mansion. He wasn’t into history like she was, but he loved to explore. One of these days, Win, he said as he looked at the towering home, its paint chipped and peeling, the bushes around the perimeter overgrown and intimidating. I’m going to explore every room in that place.

I don’t know about that, Lucas, she said, shaking her head as she looked up at the home. Unless you become friends with creepy old Mr. Mueller, I don’t see it happening. Lucas hadn’t always been fascinated by the house. It wasn’t until she’d been better after the accident that he’d really started becoming fixated on it. Winnie still wasn’t sure exactly what had changed, and she wished he would find something else to think about.

You have to think outside the box, he insisted. There’s always a will and there’s a way.

She shook her head. You have it wrong, dummy, she said. It’s ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’. Now come on, we don’t want the scary professor to see us. That’s what most kids called Mr. Mueller because he looked like someone from a scary movie that would do experiments on people. She tried to get him to keep going, but he didn’t budge.

No, I’m serious, he said. I’ve been thinking about how I can get in there. I’ll figure it out one of these days, you’ll see.

As they stood there staring at the looming house, a white-haired figure appeared on the porch, his short hair standing out in all directions. He was wearing a white shirt with an old-fashioned deep purple vest over it, a gold chain hanging from the pocket.

A shiver ran through Winnie as he turned his head and looked directly at them. Come on Lucas, she said as she put her foot on her bike pedal. We better go before he calls the cops or something. She began to move, but Lucas seemed to stay rooted to the spot. Lucas, come on, she said, slightly more agitated. Finally, he pushed off slowly.

As they rode away, Winnie looked back, just to see if Mr. Mueller was still looking. As she did, she locked