Time Angel chapter 1

The boy awoke to find himself lying spread-eagled on the cold pavement, with no idea who he was or how he got there.  The first sight that met his eyes was the beautiful sky that only came with sunsets and sunrises.  A brushstroke of bold pink streaked across a brilliant red-orange backdrop, dotted here and there with patches of soft violet and cheery yellow.  He carefully raised his aching body into a sitting position and noticed that he was on a sidewalk beside a small road currently devoid of cars.  The spectacular array of sun colors was coming from his left, but it was fading fast, the sky turning a velvety shade of indigo.   He struggled to get his bearings.  If the sun was setting to his left, that must be west.  To the west and east of him were corn fields, the many ripe ears of corn dyed golden by the waning light.  Northward—across the street—was a small town. His back was facing south, and upon turning around he realized that he was sitting directly in front of a graveyard that stretched for many miles.  It looked quite eerie in the twilight, tombstones like jagged teeth rearing up out of the ground unexpectedly as shadows crept across the grass.  Still eying the cemetery warily, he stood up and brushed himself off.   Just then he felt a gentle poke between his shoulder blades and whirled around, startled. A girl standing behind him threw her hands up in surrender.  "Eeep!" she exclaimed, "Don't freak out!  I was just trying to get your attention."
The boy surveyed her curiously.  She was less than five feet tall, very thin, and her skin was a soft pale peach.  Her chin-length dark auburn hair was thick, straight, and shiny.   Her features were quite pretty and her eyes were a deep, dark violet, and looking into them gave him the creepy impression that he could see all the way down to her soul.   She reminded him of a faerie, beautiful and strange.
She spoke again. "So, who are you, anyway?  I haven't seen you around before."
"I'm... um... I... I'm not really sure...." the boy mumbled hesitantly. "I don't remember... I just woke up here, and I...." he trailed off, unsure of himself.
Blinking, the girl said, "Wow. You don't even remember how you got here?"
"No," said the boy, shaking his head, "I truly don't remember a thing.  I just woke up on the sidewalk a few minutes ago."
"But where are you going to go next?  What do you do?  I thought this stuff only happened in video games."  The girl frowned.
"I… where am I, anyway?" he asked helplessly
The girl grinned, spreading her arms wide in a voilà gesture.  "Welcome to the glorious town of Golden Hollow, New Jersey, right smack in the middle of God Jesus Nowhere."
The boy raised an eyebrow and the girl sighed. "We grow corn."  A thought dawned on her.  "Huh." She bit her lower lip pensively.  "Do you think you could tell me your name?  You've got to remember that, right?"
The boy shook his head again. "Nope. Not even that."
The girl cocked her head to the side.  "Huh.  Well, you look like a Jude.  Is it alright if I call you Jude?  
He nodded mutely.
"Excellent.  I'm Alice, by the way.  Do you need a place to stay?"
"Uh... yes?"
"Great, you can stay at my place.  There's a spare bedroom and my parents won't mind."
"Eh...?" Jude was surprised by the abruptness of her offer.  "Are you sure?  I mean, you hardly know me."
Alice's smile spread all the way up to her lovely eyes.  "I just know I can trust you."
"Really? Well… thanks."  Jude smiled back.
"Now come on," Alice said brightly, "My house is this way."  She reached out and took Jude's long-fingered hand in her own.  Her hand was small and soft and warm.  She seemed to emanate comfort and life, and just touching her was enough to make him feel better.  He smiled again as they set off into the town.  Even though he'd lost his memories, even though he was disoriented and scared, he felt that maybe, just maybe, he had a friend.