A/N: Decided to revise the first chapter... 06/28/11

Pain. That's all I felt as my head was lying on the cool hardwood floor. My hair drowned in a small pool of crimson. A trail of blood spilled from the others around the room. It would have been rather disconcerting if I was more conscious. It was odd though, that with pain, I also felt numb. Beyond the stinging sensation on my arm and the pounding of my head, I didn't feel anything. I didn't want to feel anything.

All I could do was just lie there for someone to find me…again. And with the waiting I couldn't help remembering what had just transpired moments before.

It was well into evening by the time I pulled on a little dress that my parents bought me for my thirteenth birthday dinner party. A smile crept onto my face as I glimpsed down at the diamond necklace my parents bought for my birthday last year. I headed out of my room and into the hallway.

"Now Rachel will be coming over in less than hour," I heard my mother's voice say from down the hall, "and I think Jack will be coming around the same time."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at my mom. She was an organizing freak and she loved to go by schedules. Something that I was the complete opposite of.

"Thanks for the update, mom, I kind of already know that," I said, entering the lavish dining room. I threw her a grin as she glanced at me.

"Well, you can't blame her. She's crazy," a low voice whispered in my ear from behind. I let out a laugh at my father's statement and the look on my mother's face. A steak knife was held in her hands and she lifted it up to show it to him, threateningly. He backed away, putting his hands up in an act of surrender.

"You know I didn't mean that, sweetheart," he said nervously. However, she just rolled her eyes and set the steak knife down on the dining table next to a plate. Her lips curved up in a small grin as she strode up to him, and pecked him on the lips. I rolled my eyes once again at their little display, and visibly gagged.

"Ugh…. Get. A. Room."

They both looked over at me with amusement. My mother slipped away from my dad's grip and went back to fixing up the table; dad joining in on helping her. They already warned me earlier in the day that I was to not help out with anything. And there definitely were no complaints there.

"And you're uncle wants to come," she added, looking back at me. "You don't mind if he brings along two others, do you?"

"Who?" I asked confused. It was only going to be the six of us and then Rachel and Jack spend the night.

The regular chiming of the doorbell echoed throughout the entire home reached all of our ears.

"I'll get it," I told the two of them.

I walked through the arch of the dining room, into the living room, and into the hallway where the front door came to sight. I extended my hand, gripping the doorknob, and pulled it open.

My eyes widened in horror as they landed on a tall figure clad in black. It was no mistaking that it was a man with the way the individual was shaped. A ski mask covered his face, and I glanced at the lengthy knife in his gloved hand. Heart hammering in my chest, I took a step back and gripped my hand on the doorknob.

I swung the door forward but a black boot intervened.

"Get the damn gun!" I yelled. My foot stumbled from putting weight against the door and my face met the floor.

"Honey, you know not —"

Her voice stopped to suddenly and I lifted my head. From above, the man's hand was gripping a handle and my eyes landed on her. A crimson covered blade protruded from her back. Each little droplet falling from the blade, causing my body to shake. I couldn't help just staring as he pulled out the weapon from her body. However, my shock disappeared as her body fell to the ground in a heap.

My eyes immediately went to the small table located near the door, which was conveniently near me. I scooted closer before the man could notice my movement and opened the small drawer to see the small handgun. Remembering how my dad taught me how to turn the safety off, I whirled around and shot the man in the leg.

He crumpled to the ground in pain, cursing.

"Honey, what the hell —"

My eyes immediately traveled to my father, who entered the room, with a gun in hand himself. I watched his eyes widen at the scene before him.

I didn't notice there was another man behind me until an arm snaked around my neck. The muscles of the man nearly suffocated me and the sound of gunshots deafened my ears. I watched my dad drop to his knees and then his torso dropped to the ground.

"Got the damn girl —"

I didn't hear the rest when I pulled the trigger of the gun to the ground, hoping to get the man's foot. His sudden screams were my answer that my aim was accurate. He let go of me immediately, and I took no time in turning around and pulling the trigger point blank.

I didn't see the remnants of the man's face when a fist connected to my cheek.

It was a third man.

I fell back, dropping the gun, and grabbed a hold of my face. My body connected with the ground hard and I shut my eyes in pain. I could taste the blood building up in my mouth. Tears formed in my eyes as I was lifted up by my hair and I opened my eyes to see the third assailant only inches away from my face.

He looked no different than the other two.

I spat in his eye and he momentarily let go. However, he caught my arm and twisted it.

CRACK!

I could hardly see anything as tears swam in my eyes and I let out an ear piercing scream.

A hand covered my mouth and I knew it was covered by a glove. I didn't take any more chances as I bit down as hard as possible. The man drew his hand back but not before I could draw blood and, disgustingly enough, some flesh. I drew my leg up and swiftly kicked him in the private area, causing him to lean over in more pain. I dove to the ground, and grabbed the gun. Before he could react, I shot him in the chest. The man fell to the ground, clutching his fatal wound.

"Wh — w — why… here?" I asked the man, staggering for breath. My legs gave way and I landed next to the man. Blood dribbled from my mouth as I looked at the man.

"Happy Birthday."

I stared at the man to see his eyes flutter back inside his head and he was no longer breathing.

It was until a couple of seconds after the man died, did I feel the full extent of the pain. I couldn't help the cry that exited my lips as I laid myself on the ground, making sure the gun was beside me all the while.

My world was slowly fading in and out. As much as I wanted to fade into the abyss of unconsciousness, the mind numbing pain would not allow me. I didn't notice the scream of the neighbors as they came to investigate what was all the noise. And I didn't realize the blaring sounds of the ambulance and police. Footsteps rushed into the house and I did not bother to get up. Everything hurt like hell.

"Oh. My. God."

"Is anybody still alive?"

"What the hell happened?"

"It's a damn bloodbath."

These comments seemed to fly by when I saw movement from the corner of my eye. The first man that I shot was still alive and he had his gun pointed to a medic, who was trying to check the second assailant was still alive.

"You are in no condition to —"

The voice of the authority who spoke was drowned out by a loud bang, and the armed man laid limp.

"Natalie!"

Through the haze of pain, I could only tell that the voice was familiar. A groan of pain escaped my lips as I felt multiple hands move me. They also removed the gun that I held. My eyes stung with tears that spilled onto my face. It was only after several seconds that my world turned black.