I was young. I had Bright sky blue eyes and dark black hair that was always braided back out of my face. One day, when I was six in fact, I had decided to go in to the woods. I ran to the woods at the back of the house wearing my usual pink pants and short black T-shirt. I was a free spirited child and I loved exploring. It was a way to be free. A way to see them again. I saw many things in those woods, some I tried to share with my family. My dad just laughed. My mom held my hand smiling and saying "What an imagination you have my dear." They never believed me . But I knew what I saw. Trolls. They ignored me. Or maybe they didn't see me. I would never approach them. Just watched from a tree. They look like rocks when other humans were around. Mossy rocks in the river. But when the humans were gone I saw them move.

So anyway I was going into the woods. The trees were huge on either side of me. I was not afraid of the woods. They were like my home. I liked anything outside. I hated to be contained for any reason. That is why I try my best to be good and not get grounded. The walls seem to close in when I'm inside. I am apparently claustrophobic. But the big outdoors were endless. No fears of being stuck out here. The woods were open for as long as I wanted them to be.

As usual I walk for a while until I got to a stream. I sat down and took out my notebook. I looked up and saw the sunlight peak from in between the trees. Then something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention.

It was a strange kind of spider. It was huge purple with green spots. I watched it crawl up the side of the tree that it was sitting on. I was fascinated by it. I walked towards it in a daze. Slowly I stretched out my right hand (REMINDER: I WAS 6) and started to stroke it. It seemed to look at me. All of the sudden I felt a sharp sting sensation on my hand that was stroking the spider. I gasped and jerked my hand away. On my hand there was a big bloody gash. I looked at it my eyes wide in fear. I felt woozy. I stumbled and scooped up my stuff. Running back I felt something that I thought was impossible. Fear. I ran, stumbling every few feet, back to the house. I opened the back door and fell in grabbing at anything to stop my fall. My left hand landed the coffee table and before I fainted my fingers closed around something small and hard. And through my closed eyelids I saw a flash of green light.

-?

"Carya." Said a voice far off in the distances I tried to go back to sleep. I was dreaming that I was on the back of a tiger jumping through the jungle. I didn't recognize the voice anyways. "Carya." There it was again. Suddenly I recognized it.

"Mom." I called out weakly and opened my eyes forcefully.

Her face swam into view. Her blue eyes full of worry. Red hair disheveled. Behind her stood my father. James Lake Sr's blue eyes were baby blue wile my mom's were sky. But like my mom's they were filled with worry. "Honey are you alright?" he said. As my mom took my hand and squeezing it gently.

I nodded but stopped quickly because it made my head hurt. "What happened?" I asked.

"That is what we wanted to ask you." My dad said in a worried tone. "Are you sure you are alright? We found you lying on the ground in the kitchen clutching you hand. What on earth did you touch? Your hand is swollen."

Alarmed I looked down at my right hand. There was a big gash on it.

Wanting to change the subject I asked ."Where is Jim?" I loved my little brother and I knew this would get off the subject of me.

"He's right here." Mom called as she exited the room. She had gotten up without me noticing. She returned with Jim in her arms. Then she handed him to me.

Jim gurgled happily his baby blue eyes curious and started to play with my necklace. I had not noticed before but I was wearing a green crystal on a golden chain. It glowed at Jim's touch but my mom and dad didn't notice. I wiped Jim's dark black hair out of his eyes and looked at my parents. They were talking quietly in urgent voices looking worried and every now and then they looked at me. I looked at the necklace and tugged it out of Jim's mouth before he swallowed it and choked. I took the necklace off and realized it had words on the surface.I squinted at it trying to make out the writing on it. What I really needed was a flashlight. I stood up and handed Jim to dad. "Mom I'm tired. Can I go to bed?"

She nodded. "Sure honey. I'll help you up stairs."

"No. I'm good. Thank you anyway." I said shaking my head and started up stairs.

Finally I got to my room. At the time I had loved fairy tales of any kind. On one wall there was a life size sticker of Bell on the wall. Okay I must admit that I LOVED Beauty and the Beast. I shared Bell's like for books, long for adventure, and very confident. I was quiet most of the time but when I felt it was time to speak my mind I was not afraid to. Off my bed side table I grabbed a flashlight and turned it on. The crystal glowed softly and I held it up the light. I noticed the closer it came to the light the fainter the glow became. There wasn't a trace of writing on it. I shrugged and put it down on the side table. Just then my mom came into my room. "Hi love." She sat down on the edge of my bed.

"Hi Mom." I answered.

"You sure you are okay." She asked

"Yeah Mom." I said in a confident tone. "I'm fine. You don't have to worry."

She smiled at that comment. We were always joking that she worries to much. "It's half my job to worry." She said softly and kissed my forehead. "Love you sweetie."

"Love you to Mom. Tell Dad I said good night."

"Sure honey sweet dreams." Whispered my mother and after one final kiss she turned off m lamp and quietly closed the door.

I rolled over a started to go to sleep when something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. The crystal was glowing extremely brightly. It was pulsing and humming slightly. I stared at it with wonder. I never knew a crystal could do that. I picked up and look closely at it. Writing was appearing on the green surface. I could just make it out words "Crystal of Alorahcon grant me the ." I stared at those words feeling like it was cut off. Suddenly a wave of uneasy tiredness came over me and, deciding I would deal with it tomorrow, I fell quietly to sleep. I softly and as though reciting lines muttered the words under my breath.

-?

I woke with smoke in my lungs. Panicked yelling came from the floor below. Where my parents were. And Jim. I struggled to get out of my bed ,coughing from all the smoke and stumbled out the door. I didn't make it very far and collapsed on the floor gasping of breath, but I just got more smoke in my lungs. I forced myself to get up. "Jim." I muttered. "Think of him. And Mom. Think of Dad."

With each name I became calmer. I tried to stand but almost fell. I steady myself by holding on to the wall. Leaning heavily on the wall I managed to make my way towards the stairs. Slowly and carefully I made my way down stairs. Fours stairs away from the bottom I glanced towards the door. It was so close. I could just walk out and I'd be safe. A soft whimpering noise interrupted my thought. I took one step trying to get closer to the noise but missed the stairs. I slipped and fell down the stairs in tell I was sprawled on the base. I got up shakily. I forced myself to stumble towards the crying noises. The noises of my brother. I look around as I stumbled and fell. Fire was everywhere. I could barely see through the smoke.

My head was saying to go left but I heard crying from the right so I scrambled towards the sound. The door was closed but I pushed up against is desperately. "JIM." I shrieked."JIIMM."

A faint cry behind me made me turn around. Jim was crawling across the floor whimpering. I walked to him and scooped him up. I cried on his head. He buried his head into my chest. I scared out of my wits. But I had to be strong. For Jim. Regain control sort of I tried to find the door. Jim securely in one of my arms. My other was following the wall. Soon I felt the wall change to railing and I knew I found the railing. I ran forward and grasped for the doorknob. Feeling my hand on warm metal I grabbed it and turned. The door fell open and I collapsed on the deck. I gasped for breath but it hurt to breath. My clothes were cover in sot and the end of my pink pants were burned. "CARYA! JIM!" Mom came running up to us closely followed by Dad.

They both through their arms around us tears of relief splattered down my face as firefighters ran into the house to put out the fire. I allowed myself to be lead away from the scene. I had handed Jim to Mom as Dad carried me on his shoulders. We walked to the side yard and sat on the grass. My Mom got out a breathing mask and a tank that was filled with oxygen. She told my to put the mask on. I obeyed and she turned the tank on. I watched as I breathed in the oxygen. Breathing as though it was my last chance to breathe for the rest of my life. I watched them save what they could of my home. I looked with terrified eyes breathing heavily as I watched the smoke slowly disappear. My father walked over and asked if it was safe to go inside when the firefighter nodded his head my father went inside. While my mom was distracted I slipped off the masked and headed in after him

The interior look so black. We had lost nearly all of our possessions. I wandered through the house staring at all the destruction. The kitchen was crumbling. The living room was barely recognizable. The dining room table was collapsing and the hallways were ruined. I made it up stairs in a daze. It looked the same as down stairs. The smell of smoke still remand in the air Somehow I made it into my room. My bed had burns on them but it was not bad. Just black. I sat down and looked around. My room was not as badly burnt as others but some of my stuff was still lost. I looked down at my lap. My hands clenched. Tears spilling down my face yet again. Something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention. The crystal was glowing again. I picked it up and the words on it glowed even brighter than the actual base. I noticed something different then the night before. A new words glowed on the crystal so it said this. "Crystal of Alorahcon grant my the wings of fire." I stared at the word fire then look quickly at the burns on my bed, that if I laid down, curved around me like wings. I was shocked. A thought ran through me and hit me like a sledgehammer. 'This is your fault.' I ran. Ran fast as I could to try to escape the pain. The pain of guilt. I ran down the stairs. Past my father and two firefighters. My dad tried to say something but it was lost in the wind. As I got outside I had room to stretch my legs. I ran into the forest stray branches scratching my face. Trying to escape the thoughts that kept surfacing in my mind 'You could have killed them.' I ran faster 'your own family.' tears blurred my vision and I stumbled almost falling. 'Your a monster.' No I can't be a monster I was only 6. I ran in tell my legs hurt and I could not run anymore. I flopped down on the grass near my favorite spot and tried to catch my breath.

I didn't want to go back but I knew the best way to leave was when they didn't know I did. If I left tomorrow night I could leave and get a few miles ahead before they even get a search party. Even though I was young I was good at tactics. I walked back slowly taking my time. Finally I made it back to the house to see my father sitting on the grass in the side yard. "There you are." My father gave me a big smile. He didn't ask about me running out of the house. That was my father for you. Always looked at the bright side of things. Always trying to make you feel better. My mom entered holding a phone. "Thank goodness we have somewhere to stay to night. The Salladors said we can come over to stay at their place."

Dad smiled. "That's great!" He looked at me. "Isn't it." he asked

I nodded and gave a simile to make it more convincing. In truth I was slightly annoyed. This would make it harder for me cover my tracks. But it could have been worse. They were the next house over. Cheer filled Mrs. Sallador and slightly grumpy but not to bad Mr. Sallador were nice enough and their house was not so different to ours. My tiny six year old mind was already forming a plan.

-?

The next morning passed in a blur. I smiled and pretend to be happy. The happy six year old I always was. Mostly I stayed outside in the woods away from people . This was regular for me so my parents didn't give it a second thought. Thankfully. Instead of playing however I look at the landscape and explored. Finley I went back home. I sat through the dinner they had prepared (roast beef and cabbages) and ate gratefully but neatly. The food was so good I tucked some in my pocket (while nobody was looking) so I have something to eat for the journey. My mom leans back and yawns. "I guess I'm a little tired." She admits smiling.

"After that dreadful night it's no surprise you are exhausted." Said Mrs. Sallador patting my mother's arm. "Now it's late let's all go to bed."

Everyone and Mrs. Sallador lead us to our rooms. I had a small plain baby blue room with a window looking over the woods. A small makeshift bed was in one corner. I walked in and got into my PJ. I folded my clothes into a suitcase and a few more things I saved from my room. Someone knocked on my door and I shoved my suitcase hastily under my 'bed' just as she walked in. "Do you like it?" She asked "We will get you a real bed. That was just a hasty one because we weren't exactly expecting you."

I nodded and smiled. I did like it. She smiled and left. I sighed and thought 'To bad I will only be staying one night.' I heard her move through the house turning off the lights. I sighed again very deeply this time and set my alarm clock for 12 at night. I made the plan in my head. I will go to bed until 12. Then I change back into my cloths and slide out the window. I already made sure it was only a few feet until the next windowpane. Then I would jump from that one to the ground. Then it was me and the forest. I drifted off to sleep.

-?

Beep Beep

I quickly got up and shut it off. I can't wake my parents. Or the Salladors. I change quickly and silently. I fold my PJ and replacing them where my cloths were before. Closing the suitcase I looked out the window. The sky was clear. Not a cloud in sight. I open the window and slipped out. That's when I made a big mistake.

I looked down.

My throat tightened and my body stiffened. I took deep breaths to calm my jumping heart. I wanted to close my eyes but I knew if I took a step with my eyes closed I would most certainly fall.I took a another deep breath. Putting one foot in front of the other I slowly made my way until I was above the window that I was supposed to drop down to. I moved my foot hesitantly and some dirt fell off and hit the ground. I looked determinately down and before I lost my nerve lowered myself down to the ledge. My foot touched the ledge and I ,taking a deep breath, let go. My feet hit the ledge but I almost fell backwards. Desperately I clung to the rain gutter to steady myself. Once I was steady. I looked down again. The ground was only a few feet away. I sat down on the window pain and slid down. My feet found hard ground and I let go of the pane. I walked towards the forest and looked at. This was it. Once I went. I glanced back at the house. There was no coming back. I looked back at the forest and blinking back tears. "They are safer from me anyways." I mutter and ran into the woods.

Hi Guys! First chapter of my first Book! Really hope you enjoyed and please comment what you think! :)