Books for Change discussion

I think the title is self-explanatory. We have to write a story, one line at a time. I really like this game because it helps us be more creative, it's fun, and we may have a wonderful story by the end!
Don't hesitate to add twists or make it crazy, because that's what we're here for!
Without further ado, I'll start:

"Addie!", someone shouted behind me. With a start, I snapped out of my daydream.

Evidence of the night before was scattered around the room. Disgruntled, I got out of bed.

"Ouch!", my foot hurt something on the floor.

"Addie!", came the voice again. "Coming, mom!", I shouted back ignoring the pain in my foot.

I walked around the chaos in my room and left my room, immediately i felt something was wrong.

My mom was on the couch reading. "Where is Alex?", I asked.

" He's left for school early today", she replied. It was Sunday. My mom wasn't very good at lying.

(( @Tris, I actually considered Alex to be male, so can you edit your post to 'he' and 'him'. Manali also used he pronoun. ))

At first I thought my mom didn't hear me so I sat beside her on the couch, that's when I noticed something that sent chills down my spine.

It was a note, a suicide note. Atleast it looked like one to me.

As I read the note, I was devastated that Alex really felt that way. How long had he been suffering?

It was at this moment that Alex walked into the room.

(lenna, the story is supposed to be in first person. Can you edit it?)

"Mom, what does that piece of paper say? What does it mean? Where did you find it?"
I had more questions, but a lot of questions will really confuse her and maybe make her not want to say anything to me! My mind can work in the weirdest of ways in times like these...

"What note?" she asked, her voice timid and her hand trying to cover the note. Alex came and sat beside her, patting her on the back. "Will someone please tell me everything? Alex?"

"What exactly am I supposed to tell you?"

"What does this note mean? And who is it from? And why are you looking so sad?"

"Well...", Alex began, "A year ago, I was so sick and tired of everything that I decided it was better to just not exist anymore. So, I wrote this note and I was about to kill myself when..."

Addie interrupted before Alex could say anything, “Then w-what is this note doing r-ri-right here after so long!”

(Again, the story is in first person, not third. Can you please edit it?)

"I thought I had dreamt the whole thing, me deciding to kill myself and writing a suicide note. And so I just went on with my life as if nothing had happened. The note was in my room, somewhere. Yesterday mom was looking through some stuff when she found this note. It is nothing serious, I'm perfectly happy with my life now, Everything is fine."

I wasn't sure if I believed him but I said nothing and hugged him. My eyes burned but I didn't let the tears come. Everything was fine. Alex was fine. I held him a moment longer. He wrapped an arm around me, ruffling my hair with the other one like he used to when we were kids.

"So what are you gonna do the rest of the day, Addie?", Mom asked

I finally released my elder brother and looked at my mom. "I was planning to go the library with Alice and Max but I slept for too long. I should call them and apologize and ask them if we can still go", I said.

"Okay then!", my mom said, "Alex, I need to talk to you."

She said this with a kind of urgency that didn't quite suit her. I realized that she still didn't tell me why she was so sad and why Alex was comforting her.

I knew they weren't going to tell me so I just left the room determined to find out the truth later somehow.

I walked out the front door, aimlessly wandering the rainy streets of my town. I needed to clear my head. Suddenly, I spotted a dark figure at the corner of my eye.

I followed the trail of ashes for a few footsteps but it ended in a puddle of rainwater. I stood there looking around when suddenly someone clamped my mouth shut from behind. I couldn't see their face but the hand felt like it belonged to a man and it smelled of ash.

They say 'curiosity killed the cat'. But I don't believe in cliches and I was very curious by nature. I didn't think for a second before following the trail of ashes. I wish I had.

((End of chapter one?))

(yeah)
Chapter 2

I had not realized I was unconscious until I opened my eyes in a completely unfamiliar and strange surrounding. The room was dark and I was lying on a cold, flat stone. The place smelled of nothing but ashes. For a moment, I thought I was alone but then I heard the footsteps.

Heavy footsteps that were definitely not of a human. More like a large animal's.

"Hello?", I called out.

No reply. Only louder footsteps. Whatever it was, it was quite near.

And... I started screaming.

I was having one of my panic attacks. They happened a lot when I was a kid, but they hadn't come for quite a long time. Until now. My hands were trembling, my whole body was. I was hyperventilating and my screams were ear-splitting.

The creature came forward, the radiant light of the moon highlighting their figure. It was tall, around 6'4, and it seemed to be a woman. Only it's head, wasn't facing me.

I gasped. The creature's head turned and it looked straight into my eyes.

It had wide golden eyes that seemed to look into my soul. Its face was covered in black fur filled with strange red flowers and vines. It snarled its teeth and I stepped back.