Chapter 1

"Liz!" Clara Lootz, an adoptive mother, called to her daughter, "Dinnertime!"

"OK, Mom," Liz called back. She started to walk from her bedroom cough cough attic cough cough to the dining room. Wonder what's for dinner tonight?, she wondered.

She entered the dining room. Of course, she thought, burnt steak. Again.

"YOU!" Dominic Lootz, her adoptive father, yelled at Clara.

"Me what?!" Clara yelled back at him.

"You burned my steak again!" he yelled.

I'm not eating, Liz thought as she left the room. Dominic was slapping Clara by the time she was gone.

"Pssst, sis," her adoptive brother, Damien, whispered to her. She edged towards his room. "Want some beer?" he whispered.

"Sorry," she said, "I don't do drugs."

"Suit yourself," he whispered back.