Hi everyone. This is my first story, something I've been planning to write for ages but just haven't had the time. I don't own anything/one besides the characters of my own creation. Please read and review. Thank you.
April 17th 2000.
Hannah pressed her forehead against the cool glass of the car window. It was almost the only way to cool down in the heat of the New Mexico desert. Espically when your mother was bitching about a wrong turn.
"I'm telling you we went the wrong way. It was that turn off in Texas, I know it. And I can't find the map... Hannah head off the glass and stay out of the sun. We don't want you burning now do we?" She continued to search for the map, disregarding her daughters glare.
Nevaeh, Hannah's 19 year old sister took out her headphones leaned forward and resting her elbows on her parents seats.
"Mom, that map was from 1997. Even if you found it the thing wouldn't have this road."
The girl's mother ignored her and began pulling papers from her handbag. Nevaeh threw up her hands and slammed her Walkman down next to her. Hannah looked over concerned she hadn't woken Elizabeth, her twin.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot, mommie dearest here believes women don't have a voice. This isn't the 40s and if you havent already noticed you're a woman you ignorant cow."
The girl's father looked at her through the mirror and raised an eyebrow.
"Nevaeh. Language." He warned.
"Alex, I can't find any god forsaken thing! We did we agree to drive? I doubt Claire needed us so much that we couldn't fly!" She wiped away her tears dramatically. Alex glanced towards his wife.
"Hey, hey. Claire wanted us to come and see her. And the kids. When was the last time we saw them?
Lora continued to sob into her hands.
"Look, here's what we'll do. I see a gas station up ahead. We'll stop, stretch, you can grab a map, Nevaeh can see Eric, the girls can grab a drink. Everyones happy."
Hannah sighed heavily and leaned past Neveah to poke Elizabeth.
"Wake up. We're stopping." She whispered. Elizabeth smacked her hand away and rubbed her eyes. Hannah smirked. Her sister reminded her of a kitten sometimes.
The SUV came to a slow halt under the canopy of the gas station. As soon as the door of the car opened Nevaeh knocked out Elizabeth. "Move it." She growled. Out of the trailer behind them came Neveah's 20 year old boyfriend Eric. He strode past Alex who popped the hood and frowned when his wife wound up her window.
"You coming?" He asked, walking around to see her while wiping his hands on an oily rag.
"No. I don't feel safe here." She leaned forward and whispered, "I'm afraid I'll get sick from this place." Alex rolled his eyes and left her in the car.
Elizabeth put her chocolate milk on the counter and waited for service. Hannah came up behind her and shook her head. "Really Elizabeth, do you have to get such a sugary and fatty drink. What would the pageant judges think?" Elizabeth smiled at her sisters imitation of their mother. "My lord, do you want to become fat? Because that's what will happen if you drink that. And fat people get nowhere in life. They get teased and die young. I won't always be there for you Elizabeth." Nevaeh placed her hand on Elizabeth's shoulder, just like her mother does.
There was no doubt Hannah, Elizabeth and Nevaeh were not fond of their mother. The truth was they resented her. Since birth they were pageant girls. But not the kind who would tell everyone they did it because the loved looking pretty. No, the Connell sisters were forced into it. Only when Hannah refused to do any more, Elizabeth developed sever stage fright and Nevaeh lost for the first time did their mother relent. And for the five years they haven't competed she still acts as if they do. The twins must still wear silly dresses, what they eat is restricted to an organic diet and they are expected to look pretty and not speak unless spoken to. In rebellion against her mother Nevaeh wore only dark clothing, dyed her hair black and wore goth makeup. In short, she is her mothers worst nightmare. But as much as the girls hated to admit it, they lived a very good life. And little did they know it would soon all come to a crashing halt.
A young man, no older than twenty sipped at his coffee and watch the screen of his computer intently. He eyed the family on it, playing close attention to the two youngest girls. He shook his head and suddenly slammed his cup on the counter beside him. "Whats got you all pissy?" A voice from the shadows questioned. The young man jumped and clutched at his chest. "Jesus Christ Max. What the hell are you doing here?" Max stepped forward and smirked. "You didnt answer my question." He sat down and watched the screen. "Ah I see. What will this make it? Twelve? Thirteen?." The other man shrugged and zoomed in on Hannah and Elizabeth entering the trailer. "Those two couldn't be older than eleven. I'll start looking for missing persons records in a week." He answered in a small voice. Max stood up and clasped his companions shoulder. "Don't worry bro. I don't think there's been a family with small children to date who havent been offered a painless death. Espically when their youngest is half their age."
Elizabeth watched Hannah staring out the window of the trailer. "I can't believe their taking the shortcut." She turned to meet her sisters gaze. "They really don't need too."
Elizabeth patted the place on the bed next to her and whined softly. Hannah jumped up from her seat next to the window and sat where Elizabeth had wanted. "Its not up to us to decide Han." Elizabeth said quietly.
Hannah looked up and smiled. "But asking what we think about it is always welcome." The girls laughed together when the trailer rocked slightly. "Bumpy road." Hannah commented. Another jolt sent the girls tumbling into the window. The trailer began to shake violently. "Whats happening?" Elizabeth cried, keeping a firm hand on Hannahs arm. Hannah was thrown onto the floor. "Hannah!" Elizabeth screamed, reaching for her sister. She slid across the floor, into an open cupboard door and tried to crawl back to Elizabeth to no avail. Then the trailer stopped shaking. Everything stopped. Hannah jumped up sat next to the sobbing and shaking Elizabeth. She wiped away her twins tears and looked Elizabeth in her green eyes. "You gotta stop crying before mommie dearest gets in here. Okay?" Elizabeth nodded slowly and held Hannahs arm for dear life. Their mother burst into the trailer with no apparent warning and looking disheveled. "Speak of the devil and she shall appear." Hannah whispered to Elizabeth who chucked lightly. "Hannah! Elizabeth!" She ran to her daughters and wrapped her arms around them, strangling them with her death grip. "We're fine. Get off." Hannah pushed her mother away and stood up, brushing off her dress. "How is everyone?" She asked quietly. "Good. Eric got a little cut up in the crash but he'll live." She brushed a piece of hair away from her face and waited for the girls to speak impatiently. "Well? Dont you want to know how I'M doing?" Hannah glared at her mother with a disgusted expression. "How are you doing mother? I thought you had the power of hell to heal you whenever you got hurt." Lora folded her arms across her chest, a pose Hannah mimed. "Hannah Connell you do not talk to me like that." She angrily spat. Hannah smirked. "Do you really think It'll make me listen to you any more?" Their mother turned up her nose at her daughter and left the trailer. Elizabeth shook her head at Hannah. "You shouldn't provoke mommie dearest. Never know what she'll do." Hannah just rolled her eyes and led her twin out of the trailer.
Alex sighed heavily and looked up at the sun. He wiped the sweat from his brow and picked up a water bottle, drinking greedily. "I'm going to have to go back to that gas station." His wife shook her head and took the bottle from his hands. "You have three daughters and a wife who can control them. You can't leave me." She kissed his cheek and went back into the trailer. Alex went to follow her before Eric placed a hand on Alex's shoulder. "If you can't go, I can." Nevaeh seemed to come out of nowhere and gave her boyfriend a swift slap on the back of his head. "Oh no you're not. You're not leaving me alone in the hot desert with my family." They all piled into the trailer which became cramped with all its occupants. "Babe come on. It'll be a few hours. Just a few hours. Then we can go to Cali and ignore your family there." Nevaeh leaned on the sink and sighed. "I guess." She said softly. Eric smiled and sat on the counter next to her, kissing her gently. Alex wiped the mosture from his brow and frowned. "Guys come on. Hannah and Elizabeth are in here." Nevaeh patted her boyfriends back and looked out the window. "Guess you have to go." She said in a small voice. "Yeah, I guess. I'll see you later babe." He left the trailer and jogged towards the blazing sun.
