Chapter 1 Burning Bright

I thought about telling my story in many ways. I finally, after nearly going crazy on this simple thought, decided to just pure it out. So, it might sound stupid at a part, or a diary the next. Just stick with me here, you'll be glad you did. This is not some silly book, this is your past and it could be your future if you're not careful.

To start my story off, I have to go back thirteen years. I went down one of the two spiral staircases to the first floor. I round the corner to the kitchen to see if my older brother and sisters were ready for school. Carla was getting out our lunches while Wendy was making breakfast. I sat down at the bar table, kicking my little five-year-old legs as I watch them. My brother Gray walked in, but I didn't notice, so he crept up behind me and screamed in my ear. I screamed in return and fell off the stool and onto my butt, my blonde hair cascading over my face. I burst into tears, causing both my sisters to run toward me. Carla, being the oldest at twelve, started lecturing my brother for doing that to me. Wendy being the more callus but gentle one of the two, just checked me over, then declared I'd live. I rubbed the tears away as our parents came into the room wondering what all this loud noise was for. After we told them, they made Gray apologize and sent us hurrying to school.

Even with the slight age gaps, nothing could separate us. Unlike regular families, our father did nothing to us and our mother did nothing against us. We stuck together like glue. The only thing we had in common with other families was the drugs. Our parents were the Drug Kings. They decided before they had kids that since they didn't want to be an outcast or killed, they had to do something like them. Our parents did not like the other choices, so in a last-ditch effort, they chose to deal drugs, not take them, at least not that I knew of.

Not knowing that that decision would bring them a Hellions' life in a mansion years later, with us four kids causing havoc, they started dealing and eventually won out over every dealer in town. Of course, I only knew that they were just highly respected and admired. I was too young to know the rest and I would've forgotten anyway.

There are only two schools in town. One in the southeast of town and one in the Northwest, we lived walking distance to the Northwest school. The first floor was for four through six-year-old, the second was for seven through eleven-year-old and the top floor was eleven through fifteen-year-old. Since people go for initiation at sixteen they don't have much for anyone higher than that, unless their place in society calls for it. It isn't like they have anything special to teach them anyway, Math and Science are the only things important in this town. Only English gets taught until your six since you need to read simple things.

I head to my class while Gray, Wendy, and Carla run up the stairs to the second and third floors. Walking in I see my teacher, Mrs. Alberona, swirling around on her swivel chair and a classic drink in her hand. I ignore her and go to my seat. One of my two best friends comes bounding up, we bow to each other, one hand behind our backs, the other out front swirling our hands in a quick circle. I add in my signature one foot behind the other, normally, people can't add anything to the bow but my family is the exception.

"Lisanna, How do you do?"

"Very well, and you?"

I nod as I sit down, queuing her to sit.

"Okay class! Listen up! Today we'll have a pop quiz!" we all groin.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

After school, Lisanna shows up. We didn't have to ask, we knew that her father was up to no good again. We played outside, then with our dolls, finally ending the evening with a movie.

Late that night the doorbell rang again and my other best friend Natsu came in. Again, we didn't ask why, even though it was obvious with the new black and blue splotches on his skin and face, he held his left hand in his other one up against his chest. I smiled, getting behind him, I pushed him to the stairs and ran up to my room. We all got into my bed, spending hours talking.

It was around three in the morning when Natsu woke me up. He had a box of cigarettes (sticks as we call them) but these were laced. It was the middle of the night and everyone was asleep, we didn't want to get caught breaking one of the only rules in my parent's household, to not do drugs unless they are watching.

I wanted to wake Lisanna to bring her to the backyard to do some too, but Natsu signaled not to. I wasn't sure, we always did this together, but I nodded anyway.

We went into the night. There were no stars or moon out that night, it seemed to me that they were hiding from something. I thought that was fascinating but at that age, there was rarely anything I didn't find intriguing in some way.

We lit a fire in the pit and sat on the ground. Soon I started getting affected by the sticks. It was so great to me. Just another fun time. Then I saw something strange come to the house. It was bobbing up and down, in the dark I couldn't make out these blobs, but I knew there was more than one.

They disappeared inside the house. I didn't really care to think what it was. Partly because I was so high my brain never really computed it and partly because I didn't believe what I was seeing.

We joked around and played until it got bright. Thinking the sun came up already we hurried to the house, only to see that it wasn't the sun but the house in flames. Then everything went fast. We snuck up front and hid behind the bushes watching as Gray came running out, realizing no one was out there he went back in and moments later came out with Wendy. Gray placed Wendy down by the garbage cans on the street.

We were paralyzed. Somewhere in my little fuzzy brain, I knew to go to my siblings but all I could do was stare at the flames engulfing my home in bright reds and oranges.

We all waited for everyone else to come running out but no one else did. The firefighters and police were there putting out the fire and talking to Gray. Then the demons came, different than the blobs, and took Wendy and Gray away before we could get to them. I was scared then, more than I was before. Why didn't anyone else come out? Why did my siblings willingly go? I couldn't think straight. The drugs were slowing me down, the lack of sleep didn't help. I was numb and frozen, all I could do was watch.

A few moments after they left, big muscle men caring these different sized planks came out of the smoldering house. They had something on it that was covered up with sheets and put into cars. Natsu took my hand and started to run.

We ran not knowing where we were going but knew that we had to keep going. We ran until our little feet could not run any longer then kept running 'till we were sure we were safe.

I fell to the ground sobbing, knowing I'll never see my family again. Everyone knew that when the demons come to get you, to take you to their den they call the orphanage, you will think and feel like you are in hell, and the sad thing is, you will wish you were. I kept crying.