I never knew that day would change my life forever. I just thought the day would be like any other day. But, for some reason… it wasn't. I can't say the changes that were made was for the worst. I admit that I miss my mother and father, but it won't stop me from protecting him. I just never expected to be so much more. He was the one who showed me a better path to walk, that I could be someone worth the trouble. It all started when I turned sixteen years old…

… I was on my way home from school that day. School was always a bother, same ol' boring lectures and same ol' boring life. If I had to sum up my entire life, that'd be the word. Boring. Our house was far out on the wasteland. Just a brown modern, English style house, one story, nothing fancy. But this place was home. There was a cliff just out back, too. Growing up, I had to be careful to not to get too close or I'd fall. At the bottom of the cliff was a really shallow river. If the speed of the fall would not kill me, the rocks would. However, there was a way to get down that cliff without risking our necks. Dad installed a pulley system that can lift our way down there. Everyday, I would come home, read a book, and help Mom prepare dinner. At night Mom and I would talk about school as I forced myself to do my stupid homework. Saturdays were great, we would all go down to the river and look for some fish. Life was simple, and maybe a little boring, but it was great.

As I approached my home, I could sense something, an ominous atmosphere coming from within the house. My heart raced, what was this agonising pain from the depths of my stomach? Maybe I should ignore it, could be just the hunger from the long day but my legs moved faster than normal. I didn't want to think much of it, it could have just been my imagination playing tricks on me. That was what I hoped. So, I entered my house like I normally would, calm and oblivious to what was actually going on.

"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" I said, flinging my briefcase on the floor with my eyes close for comfort. When I opened my eyes, the small flicker of hope diminished to despair. That dark, horrible feeling I had was no lie. Mom was lying on the floor, the table was turned over and the pictures on the wall were on the floor, broken, glass scattered everywhere. I ran over to my mother, screaming. "Mom!"

I dropped hard to my knees and held Mom in my arms. She was not breathing. There was no life in her whatsoever. I couldn't believe it. My mother was dead. But how? Where was my father? Who could have done this to her? My mother was a sweet woman, everything she done was to keep me healthy, safe, happy… Why?

"Welcome home, Abigal. I trust your day at school was good," said a malevolent voice from within the shadows. I looked over my shoulder, still in shock to find Mom like this. Goosebump raised every hair on my body as the wicked sight of who could have done this but I would have never have guessed that this man, who was my biological father would be responsible for such chaos. Blood rushed to my face as rage, mixed with sadness, boiled at my cheeks. "It's a shame to have something go wrong on your birthday."

His voice does not sound right. It was more ominous than it usually was. Could he really be responsible for all this? No… There had to be an explanation for as to why he was standing over me like this, while my mother has no life left in her. Calcifer, the man who I once called my father, stepped forth out of the shadows and into the light. His eyes, they were completely different. They were red, filled with hatred, like a demon. The father I knew had gentle eyes, filled with love and kindness. There was no way that can be him.

"Who are you and why do you look like my father?" I demanded, my eyes twitched from the escalating anger.

"You poor girl. Your mother never told you about the dark story of our family. I was put under a spell because even though there was no hope for me, your mother was foolish enough to fall in love with someone like me. And to think, the spell last long enough for me to produce an offspring," Calcifer said as he slowly took steps towards me. He was being sickly affectionate toward me. How did he expect me to react to all of this? "Abigal, you must be so confused by now but know that there are powers in this world that's beyond what you think. Your mother wanted you to have a normal life, she didn't want you to know the truth but everything you've ever known is a lie."

Calcifer came over and took hold of the collar of my school uniform. Fear washed over me, I didn't know what to do. All the love that I used to feel from him was gone. Pure hatred just bled out of his very being. What was he going to me? Was I going to die like Mom? I did not want to die! All of this had to be a dream!

"You won't get away with this!" I growled, looking at him in the eyes. "I'll make sure you pay for what you've done!"

Calcifer smirked.

He threw me in the air, sending me hurtling toward the wall. With a hard smack, my back hit it. I gasped, the wind was knocked out of me. I coughed hard to try to catch my breath, but it was hard. The panic, the fear, it was consuming me, making it difficult to breathe. My face felt wet, and I grimaced, knowing. I somehow cut my face on something. My gaze shifted briefly to the culprit, one of many betrayers I faced that day. It was the family portrait, the glass broken inside the frame. My eyes watered, the memory of when that picture was taken flashed through my mind. We were all so happy on that day... I looked back up at Calcifer, who was giving me a death stare. He raised his hand as if he was going to kill me right there, I flinched to prepare for the worse. Suddenly…

"We will protect you," said a soft, yet majestic, voice. Who was this voice coming from? The light that followed it felt warm, not on my skin but from within my heart. All I knew was that everything went white and I was somehow safe. I saw two human looking silhouettes with their hands out, protecting me from my father. I couldn't make out what was going on. Everything was too bright. With my eyes closed all I had to rely on were my other senses. A hand caressed my cheek, the touch was all too familiar. Mom?

"Do not fear the darkness, for the light will always guide you," I heard Mom's soft sweet voice.

I instantly opened my eyes with tears falling down my cheeks. When I regained my sight back my father was gone, there was no trace of him. All that was left was my mother's body, lifeless on the floor.

My stomach was tight as the urge to vomit quickly overwhelmed me. All of this was happening too fast, my mind could not keep up. My life feels like it just been turned upside down. My mother is gone and so is my father. Reading books always made me look forward to my sixteenth birthday. I would have never expect something like this, not in real life. Everyone I have ever known, my only two friends in the entire world, were gone!

I looked around and noticed part of the house was destroyed. The entire dining area was gone, along with the front door, not to mention the room my parents once shared. Did those people do this? Somehow they saved me… I looked up at the ceiling after a piece of shingle almost hit me in the head. There was a giant hole where the roof should be. Was this how they got in? Not a very classy way of entering I suppose. Though, the way those humans were dressed, they did not seem to be from this world or this time.

I looked down at the floor, noticing the small puddle of vomit on the floor. The smell was making me gag again but then something warm rolled down my neck. My hand gently touched the warmth, it was wet. I was then reminded that I was bleeding. Stunned and dazed, my legs stepped over the debris and guided me to the bathroom. It felt like my body was acting on its own. I found myself gazing upon my own reflection in the mirror, my eyes look as if I, too, have died. I had to clean this cut on my face before it gets infected. I flinched at the pain when the tweezers picked out the tiny shard of glass left in my cheek. My hands were shaking, my nerves still rubbed raw. After I felt my cut was clean enough, my agitated hands reached to get out a bandage.

I noticed that my room was the only place in the house almost fully intact, except for the hole where my parent's bedroom used to connect to mine. I glanced down at my bed, noticing debris spread across the blanket. I could not sleep here anymore… What was I supposed to do now? I remember during my other birthdays, Mom would put surprises in my dresser, ones that my father never knew about. I never questioned why Mom did this, I always just thought it was a girl thing… But after seeing what my father actually was, did it mean something else? I wasn't sure about what I should expect to find but I opened it anyways and to my eyes there was an old jewelry box. I sat down on my bed and took the top off the mysterious box. There was a note, so I began to read it.

My dearest daughter,

If you are reading this then the predicted fate of our family has come to past. I'm so sorry that you had to be brought into such a horrible fate. I didn't realize that the spell I casted on your father would only last until your 16th birthday. I know everything seems confusing to you right now and I can only imagine the pain you must be feeling in your heart. We have both betrayed you. I should have told you before and your father most likely tried to kill you. However, I knew that you would prevail because from the day I first held you in my arms, I knew you were special. Special enough to survive Calcifer's wrath once his spell broke.

Now, you're probably wondering what you should do with your life. Live it to the fullest. Go to Domino city, where your grandfather lives. He knows about your arrival. The money for a flight is in the envelope that was in the box along with this letter. I've been saving this money since the day your were born. Please, keep your head up high. You'll need to be strong and always remember, I'm always with you.

Sincerely,

Mom.

So that was it, Mom knew all of this was going to happen but she never once found a way to tell me what to expect. Everything was to be kept a secret until the day of my birthday. Why, Mom? Why did you do this to me? I knew my life was boring but I never expect to be a part of some kind of witchcraft family. Emotions boiled through my skin, I can't imagine that my life was going to get any better from here on out but I could not stay here. This place just caused aches all across my body. It was like a poison that would slowly kill my mind and soul if I continued to stay here.

I opened the envelope that came with the letter Mom had for me. It contained about one hundred thousand pounds in cash. Holy smokes, that was a lot of money! She has been saving this since I was born? Now I have to figure out a way to keep this money safe. I got a little fanny pack that I could use until I get to Domino City. What was Mom even thinking? What does she expect me to do with all of it?

Next came the difficult part… what to do next? Should I call the authorities? But, if I did, how would I to explain all this mess? Or should I just bury Mom's body and just leave the house like it was? I began to panic, not knowing what to do had me pacing around the house. We never really got any company at our house, so leaving this place like it was would not be an issue. However, one of Dad's co-workers might want to come looking for him? What if they came here and saw the house? Would they alert the police? Would I be in trouble for not contacting the authorities myself? I gently beat my head on the wall as I tried so very hard to think of something. I then looked out the window of my bedroom, then I remembered the lift Dad created a long time ago! I could bury Mom down by the river… Hopefully, this would work.

Mom's dead weight was a little rough to handle. My mother was an average size for a female human, so luckily her weight was not overwhelming. But I had to put Mom to rest, when I got the lift, I realized I forgot the shovel in the garage. I carefully put Mom down and ran back to the house. As I looked for the shovel, something seemed a bit strange. Like, I was not even in my own house anymore. Every bit of love I received from this house has completely vanished. I could not linger any longer, my hand just reached for the shovel and I sprinted for the outdoors once again.

As I made way down the lift, with Mom, the river reminded me of the days when I would come down to swim. The river was not very deep, but Dad and Mom would take the time and trail down the river for a perfect spot for a five year old to go swimming. Even as I got older, I would come down here and just relax. However, this time, even the river seemed to know that this was not the case. The water was quiet and slowly moving. Usually, it seemed so playful and full of life. There was so much I had to say goodbye to, I was sorry that this place will no longer be my vacation spot.

I began shoveling away at the ground. The soil was soft and easy to dig up. I quickly became tired, this kind of work was not something I was used to. Nevertheless, I must continue the job I started. Once I estimated that the hole was deep enough, I climbed out and rested Mom inside. A darkness was swirling inside of my soul; my mother was not supposed to be like this! Mom was supposed to still be alive and healthy, with me… If only I had been home sooner, I could have saved her somehow.

"Why me!?" I screamed at the sky as I fell to my knees. "How come my family had to be the victim of a twisted fate?"

I sobbed as I gazed down at my mother from the hole I just dug for her. How could you be so stupid, Mom? You could have saved yourself from the fate of being murdered by your own husband. I still need you, I will always need you. How could you have done this to me? I punched the ground, truly denying what is in front of me.

The sunlight was fading from the sky, motivating me to finish what I started. The dirt I dug up was then being shoveled on top of my mother. Still sobbing, I kept going. I had to get out of this place, quickly, before I get stuck down here. Dangerous animals come to the lake for water at night, so I really had to get a move on. Soon after, my mother was completely buried and I made my way back to the lift. I brought the shovel with me, not sure why. I don't really need it anymore.

When I got back up to the house, I packed my suitcase. Only bring the necessities, I told myself, like shampoo, body soap, clothes, hair dryer, toothbrush and toothpaste. It was all I needed. My energy was almost completely drained as I packed my clothes into the baggage. This was all just a bad dream, I keep telling myself. At any minute, I could wake up and none of this would be true. Just one god awful nightmare. But when I walked out in the dining room, with my suitcase, the giant hole in the roof was still there, along with the damage done to the rest of the house.

There was no turning back. This house was not my safe haven anymore. I have to hope for a better future and live my simple life with my grandfather in Domino City. There lived my cousin Yugi Moto, whom I have not seen for a long time. We stopped going for visits after I turned eleven. Would they even be happy to see me? How would living there be any different from how I used to live here? Only one way to find out, I guess.