I throw open the door and stomp across the entrance room, I go into the dining room and slam my books down on the table. My older brother and sister trudge in after me. My mother hears us and comes into the room we are all in.

"What's wrong?" She asks when she sees the looks on our faces.

"What's ever wrong?" My sister Nos retorts angrily. "Life is so messed up."

"Was it Marcus?"

"Yes."

"I'll ask your father to have a talk with his father about it."

"Good luck with that!" Tolenn, the second oldest in the family and my would-be worst enemy if not for Marcus and his dad, scowls.

"The only thing Dad has guts enough to talk about to Mr. Eme about is how much of our money he wants this week!" I kick the table leg in frustration. "OW!"

Ti and Rala, the little twins, charge in. "You're BAAAAACK!"

I dodge them, pick up my books and head up to my room. Well, Tolenn's and my room. I start my homework and about an hour later I hear Dad come in.

"Krin," Mom's voice drifts up to me. "Marcus Eme was bothering our kids at school today again."

"More than bothering!" I snort to myself.

"You really need to talk to Eme about it."

"I can't Parri, you know what would happen."

"No, I don't. You have to face him! We cannot live the rest of our lives like this!"

"I did once, I tried to stand up to him, to tell him he didn't own me and I didn't have to bow to his every wish."

"When?! I wasn't ever aware of that!"

"I didn't tell you because I didn't want to worry you."

"Worry me?! I'm would have been delighted to hear it!"

"I haven't finished yet. When I did he threatened me, he threatened my life and all of yours."

I gasp, how could he do that?!

"I don't believe it!" Mother says. "No one would do something like that!"

"You better believe it, because it's the truth!"

Her voice raises in agitation. "Why are we in this mess?! Why have you let it go this far?!"

"Do you think I had a choice?!"

"If you had started out denying him LIKE I HAD SAID our lives wouldn't be in danger right now!"

They're both yelling now. I don't want to hear any more so I hurry down the stairs and out the back door. I stand for a moment on the porch that overlooks our small farm and then I see my siblings at the edge of the woods that border it. I slowly make my way over to them. When I reach them I slump down with my back against a tree.

"Alu, tum play wiv us!" Rala grabs my hand and tries to pull me over to the others.

"Not right now," I grumble.

Nos looks over at me. "What's wrong Solu? Are you still upset about what happened at school?"

"I just over heard Mom and Dad arguing..."

"Not again."

"Yea. Mom said he should confront Mr. Eme then Dad said...he said he did once."

"HA! I don't believe it! Not in a million-"

"STOP Tolenn! I was still talking!" I glare at him; he sticks his tongue out at me. Nos pretends not to notice. "He said when he did Mr. Eme threatened to…" I try not to shiver. "...to kill all of us."

Ti and Rala look at me, their bottom lips quiver, they begin to cry.

Nos slaps my arm. "Use common sense Solu! Don't say stuff like that in front of three year olds!" She picks up Rala, grabs Ti's hand, and takes them back to the house. Tolenn gives me a look and follows.

I sigh, how did I end up here? Smack-dab in the middle of this messed up, struggling, nonbending family.

The next day at school when Marcus is once again terrorizing us with his firebending we decided we'd had enough. So my older siblings and I gang up on him and make him sorry he'd ever laid eyes on us. However, if I had known what severe consequences would have come from it, I would never have considered doing it. Ever.

That night at dinner:

Mom hands me the scrambled eggs and I set them beside the rice. Nos is getting out utensils. I look over at the table, it's not an extravagant setting, since we're not rich, but it's acceptable. Dad thanks the spirits who have to do with us for the food and other things. I have a great respect for the spirits, part of it has to do with the fact that they can't bend in the spirit world.

About half way through the meal, a loud crash comes from the entry room. We all jump up from the table and hurry out to see what it was. Our door lies on the floor, de-hinged and in flames. I look up, Mr. Eme!

"What are you doing here?" Dad tries to stand tall, but his voice cracks in fear.

"Your kids caused my son some trouble this afternoon. I've come to inquire as to why."

"You wanna know why?!" Tolenn leaps forward and sticks his finger in Mr. Eme's face. "Because he's exactly like you!"

"Out of my way, boy!" He flips Tolenn behind him and turns back to Dad.

"Now, are you going to tell me why my son was unjustly wronged at school today?"

"I…I-um I-I-I…"

"Oh, come on now. You don't want anything happening to your nice home now do you? I know you can't afford a new one." Fire flickers on his fingertips.

"This house belongs to you," Surprisingly, this it's Dad who speaks, "We're just renting it."

"Oh, yes," Mr. Eme coaxes out a bit more flame from his hand. "But your family's inside of it."

Dad stands undecided, he looks at Mr. Eme, standing menacingly over him, he looks at Tolenn, picking himself up painfully off the floor, and at last he looks at the rest of his family shivering behind him, willing him not to let the firebender control his life. Finally he makes his choice...and he chooses that he has had "ENOUGH! I've had enough of you terrorizing my family! You have no right! So get out of my home, and out of my life! We're leaving in the morning!" He emphasizes his words by shoving Eme towards the door.

Mr. Eme staggers backwards in shock. I can tell he was not expecting something like this from a nonbending push over like my father. After a moment, he grimaces and turns away. All of us just stand here, watching him leave. Then something happens that, for some reason, none of us were expecting. A huge fire blast roars into Dad and he is thrown against the opposite wall. He lies there, unconcise and smoldering. Nos squeals in horror, but composes herself quickly and hurries the twins away while Mom runs over to Dad.

"KRIN! KRIN!" She turns him over.

"Is he…okay?" I ask hesitantly.

She never has a chance to answer because, apparently, Mr. Eme isn't done yet. She is thrown against the wall and peppered with fire blasts.

"Mom!" I am about to run over to her, but I'm not sure what I could do. Mr. Eme is now working on Tolenn who is able to put up a bit of a stand. I dash out of the room.

"Nos! Nos! Get Ti and Rala out of here! Get them as far away as possible! I don't think he means to stop with those three!"

"Those three!? You mean…"

I nod.

"Dose free'? Wooz free'?"

"I'ze free'!" Rala answers Ti while holding up three fingers.

We are by now out the back door and hurrying across our fields. Suddenly the other end is in flames. Ti and the girls scream. I don't, of course, I'm a twelve year old boy. I pick up Ti and change my direction, I guess Nos is doing the same with Rala, but when I look back, I don't see them through the tall wheat stalks. Ti is screaming and I am having trouble seeing through the smoke, not to mention how hard it is to run while carrying a toddler. I hope Nos and Rala are okay, but I fear the worst. What is that ruthless firebender thinking?! Why is he wiping out our family like this?! I don't understand! It must just something all benders are born with, this cruel merciless part of them that hates all nonbenders.

I finally get out of the field and into the trees. I plan on heading for the stream but Mr. Eme is suddenly in front of me, I guess he is able to move unhindered through his own devastation. I turn to my left and start running as fast as I can but am slowed down by Ti and I am finding it hard to breath. The firebender grabs my arm.

"Don't go, I'm not finished yet," He raises his hand. "You won't ever harm my son again!" At the last moment, I clamp my teeth down on his hand and wrench my arm free. I take a step back from him and trip on a fallen log, losing my grip on Ti. I lie for a second too long. Ti is hit.

"NOO! TI!" I try to get him, but am kicked over. I can hardly do anything. I am too exhausted and defeated.

"Finally it's time for you to join the rest of your family."

The rest of my family!? I cry out in pain as my face burns.

The mournful wail of a siren is he last thing I hear.