CHAPTER 1

13 year old Bradley Baker Jr. sneaked into his house, hoping his mum was asleep already. It was 11pm and he'd snuck out at 9 to catch a movie with his girlfriend Nikki Belton and friends Danny Bale and Parker Walking. He breathed a sigh of relief when he couldn't see anyone around, just the normal mess his sisters made and couldn't be bothered picking up. He tip toed up the stairs, passing his mums art works lined across the walls. They were portraits of the family. His dad Bradley Baker Sr., his mum Delia, Grandpa Rob, Grandma Cindy, Uncle Red (Everyone calls him that cause' he's obssesed with the colour red) and his younger sisters Carly and Alyssa.

"What you doing up?" Brad jumped and turned to see his 4 year old sister Carly in her pink pyjamas while holding her favourite soft toy Dr. Snoggy Rabbit. Her blue eyes were sleepy as usaul.

"Shh..." He said placing his left index finger over his lips. "Go back to bed."

She glared at him then rubbed her eyes. Her curly brown hair bounced up and down as she turned and headed back into her room. He sighed glad she was listening for once. Continuing down the hall he passed his parents room when he heard a small crash from that direction. He turned hesitantly and he heard a faint whimper. He gulped. Maybe his mum was having a nightmare. His dad was away at a conference in Australia, so his mum was left to look after them for the next week.

He moved towards the door, and almost yelled when he stepped on his 6 year old sister Alyssa's toy car. He looked at his feet. "Stupid Alyssa," he mumbled under his breath. She always left her stuff lying around everywhere. She thought the floor was her personal dumping ground. He looked back up and brushed a piece of his blond hair out of his eyes. He slowly turned the door knob to her room. Peering in he saw his mum on her bed, with a figure of a man over her. She was fighting to get him off of her. He had a small knife in his right hand. He had to act fast. Picking up a vase he ran over to him and crashed it on the man's head, causing him to fall off the bed and to the ground.

"Get away from her!" He yelled. The man looked up; he looked only a couple of years older than his mum who was only 30. He also had black hair with a harsh expression. He was now bleeding at the back of his head. He stood up, the knife firmly in his hands and walked over to him. He gulped and looked around. His mum was tied to the bed in her bra and underwear.

"Brad!" She yelled. Brad took another vase and threw it at the man then ran out of the room. He was followed.

"What's going on?" Alyssa yawned as she came out of her room.

"Get in your room!" Brad yelled.

The man turned and looked at Alyssa with a smile. She looked at him and ran straight back into her room. He looked back at Brad and his grin disappeared. At the top of his lungs he screamed for help. The man ran for him. Brad ran down the stairs and out the front door. He looked next door as lights turned on. He saw the person run off in the other direction.

Mrs. Anderson opened her door in her dressing gown and looked at Brad who was watching the man run away. "What's happening Bradley?"

He took a breath and looked at his old neighbour. "My mum!" He yelled then ran back inside. He sprinted up the stairs to his mum's room. He's was followed by Tommy and Dexter Fischer, Mr. And Mrs. Anderson's 16 year old grandsons. He ran up the stairs and into his mum's room. "Mum?" He ran over to her and untied her wrists and ankles. Dexter watched, while Tommy called the ambulance and police. A stab wound was in her lower stomach. He didn't know he'd stabbed her. He didn't see any blood on the knife. Oh god!

"Mummy?" Alyssa said crying from the doorway.

Dexter picked her up. "Your mummy's uh..." he tried his best to find the right words," just a bit hurt. Come with me Lyssy." He took her out of the room as she fought to see her mum.

Brad didn't know what to do. He held his mum 30 year old mum close to him. "Mum? Tommy's getting help."

Tommy ran back into the room. "I called the ambulance." He was followed by Mr. Anderson.

"I can help," Mr. Anderson said. He was a retired doctor; he had retired 8 years ago on his 60th. Mr. Anderson walked over. He took Delia from Brad's arms and dabbed a wet towel over her wound.

4 Minutes passed until the ambulance finally arrived.