Lilly Saunders

by Marvelous Mad Madam Mim

Lilly was only five when her mother perished in a house fire, following the devastating event she is shipped to an orphanage; but nothing is as it seems. With the discovery of a journal from her mother comes a message that will flip Lilly's whole world upside down and sides ways. Monsters from stories and evil organisations spring out of the ground, relationships become complicated

1. Prologue

Prologue

"Lilly, my flower," Mom called from the front hall. "Hurry up, we're gonna be late!"

"Coming mommy!" I called back shoving one final bite out my breakfast toast. I swiveled the chair away from our high, dark marble counter and jumped down. My thick, maroon brown locks falling into my face; pushing them impatiently out of my face I races toward my mom. She was already at the front door, smiling as she waited patiently for me. The strawberry scent of her shampoo reached my nose as her rusty blonde hair sank to my level helping me tie the complicated bow in my troublesome laces. Straightening up, I shrugged into my power puff girls, pink backpack and ran out the door determined to beat my mom to the stairs.

I loved kindergarten! All the crafts and games, friends and story time, but my favourite part was getting to school. Every morning my mom and I would race down the stairs to my school, whoever won got to choose the bedtime story.

Mother ruffled my hair playfully as she cane up beside me at the top of the stairs. "You sure are getting fast, my baby blossom." Her soft, sweet, voice said and I beamed up at her. "On the count of three. One...two...three!" As she called the last number my foot left the stair and I flew down the creaky, wood, weather worn steps that I knew well. Mom was only a step behind me as I landed on the cement.

I gave a little victory dance, "Tonight we read Aladdin!" I told my mom, although I'm sure she already knew. Aladdin was my favourite Disney of all time.

"Okay hunny." Mom smiled down at me. Her head turned to look at a black commercial van and her smile faded a bit. "Lilly, I have a gift for you." Her smile came back and I felt my body begin to bounce; I loved gifts, all gifts. Her hand dipped into her pocket and she pulled out a gold locket embroidered with green stones that matched the emerald of my eyes, and in the shape of a heart. Picking up my hair, I let her fasten it around my neck. Using my thumb and pointer finger I popped it open; inside was a beautiful picture of my mom probably no older than seventeen and on the other side was an inscription: I will love you forever. No matter how far apart we seem I will always be with you.

After fastening the locket I jumped up and gave my mom a great, tight, bear hug, the biggest I could muster. "Thank you soooo much mommy."

She smiled back, hugging me just as ferociously. "Run along now, you'll be late if you don't hurry." With one last peck on the cheek I ran inside the school.