"Brad I am not going to let you do this to my kids!"
"Baby," he smiled evilly. "They're OUR kids now."
"They'll never be your kids!" He slapped her and she collapsed onto the hardwood floor.
"This is my house. And when we're in my house, we follow my rules." She started to cry.
Two little 8-year-old blond twins watched as it augmented into their biggest fight ever. One of the boys had a hand plastered on his cheek, hiding a blade mark that ran across from just below his temple to his jaw-line. Blood covered his hands as he tried to staunch the bleeding like his mother taught him to. Tear streaks covered his face. They held each other tight behind the counter, shaking violently. They didn't dare cry because as they had learned all too much before, it meant worse for them and their mother.
Brad slammed the door, and tremors ran throughout the house as he stomped away. Their mother lay in a messy heap. The boys sprinted over to their mother, arms linked, who wrapped them in an enormous hug as she struggled to keep her breathing regular. She stroked their heads, "everything's going to be okay…everything's going to be okay…" This was their family, as messed up as it was. It was this scarred trio that had been through everything together. Brad had gone too far this time.
6 YEARS LATER
"Zack, Cody! It's time to go! Do you want to miss the cruise?" Two 14-year-old blond twin boys replied, "Coming mom!" A THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, of stairs followed shortly after. Zack was the first one to emerge from the staircase. Cody came seconds later. They were identical twins with straight, long blond hair and blue eyes, but there were some big differences. The one most noticeable-unless hidden-was a large scar that reached from just below his temple to his jaw-line. He hid it with thick glasses and a big hood. Cody also had scars, but he didn't have to try as hard to hide them. He had big ones on his back and upper arms. A t-shirt barely covered it, so he tried as hard as he could not to wear any. Instead, he wore sweaters all the time, including in the blistering heat of summer in Boston.
The Seven Seas high program on the S.S. Tipton cruise liner was a great opportunity to meet new people, and start a new life. They had never been without their mom, but she figured they were old enough to handle themselves. When their mom broke the news to them, they had been so ecstatic; they had made her a special breakfast. Well, Cody had made her breakfast while Zack had volunteered himself to be the "supervisor" of the project and said he contributed fairly.
When they got to the cruise, Zack took his shades off and stared mouth-open at the ship. They had seen it before, but it seemed even more magnificent this time. Cody was calculating everything from a standing position. "One…two…three…four…" "Shut up," Zack interrupted, "you're ruining my moment."
Mr. Moseby was by his office when he saw them; the twins from the Tipton hotel. They hadn't bothered him extremely, but they scared his guests and their pranks caused big disturbances. His profits were highly lowered when they moved in.
"Hey, Mr. Moseby!" they said in unison when he showed his face. He lifted a hand in reply and pulled Carey over to the side. "Could you at least tell them to take off their hoods and sunglasses? They scare my guests." Her eyes widened for a moment as she fumbled for an excuse. "Mr. Moseby… I've got to tell you something." She looked at the boys and gave them a nod. Their expressions suddenly turned serious.