"..D-Daddy..."
A little girl with honey-blond hair stood outside, tightly clutching her mother's hand. Together, they watched the brightly colored flames consume what had been their home. "Mom...where's Daddy?" The older woman could only shake her head and sigh as several tears rolled down her face.
"What do you mean you only got second place?"
Serena frantically shook her head as she backed away from her mother. "Mom, w-wait! I tried my best; I really did!" To her horror, she found herself pressed against the wall. "You little brat!" The sound of her mother's slap echoed off of the room's walls. "I've trained you to become a champion since day one. And that's the best you can do?" Serena remained huddled against the wall as her mother's angry footsteps grew more and more distant. Willing herself not to cry, she stood up, went into her room, and slammed the door.
"We're leaving in two hours. Hurry up and pack."
Serena stared at her mother and the boxes in her room in disbelief. "What? We just got here last month. I thought you promised that was the last time we were going to move." Her mother snorted. "Yeah. Well, things change. Hurry up or I'm leaving you here." Serena sighed and obediently began packing as her mother waltzed out.
"I hate you."
It felt good to finally release all the frustration that she had felt over the years. Serena felt a bitter smile spread over her face as she turned around and began heading up the stairs. Her mother growled and grabbed her arm. "Why, you little bi-"
Serena whirled around. "You were saying? Let go of me. I'm leaving." With that, she yanked herself free from her mother's grasp and ran into her room.
"...I think I've got everything." Zipping up her bag, Serena smoothed out her skirt and stole one last glance in the mirror. A blond-haired, grey-eyed girl stared back at her. Slipping out the window and climbing down the tree next to her room, Serena landed in the yard. Taking out a blurry photo of herself as a little girl and her father, Serena stared at the picture for several seconds before she shoved it into her pocket and began sprinting down the street in the dark.
Dad, I know you're not dead. You're out there somewhere...and no matter what, I'm going to find you.