Chapter I
The wind howled as I stared out the window. Snow was forming drifts in the cal-de-sac. Every one had finished their supper and were sitting in front of the family room TV. It looked picture perfect.
Except for me; I was the odd one out of place. My cousins Liz, John and Ana sat around the circular sofa with their mother. I was ordered to the window seat, as there was "not enough room" on the sofa.
I was not like my cousins. My aunt said I was not childish enough and that I needed to be more sociable. When she would leave us with the baby-sitter, Bess, I would always get the brunt of the blame for anything that went wrong.
I looked out the window again and sighed. Much too cold and white for my taste. I looked back down at the National Geographic magazine in my hands. Images of distance places, warm and exotic. I slowly perused the magazine.
I was alerted to my fate, when my aunt started her heavy snore. The sleeping pills had finally kicked in. I looked to the couch, hoping John was asleep too; but that was not the case. In the ill light of the TV I could see his eyes transfixed on my figure.
John was a stocky boy of fourteen. At least five-foot-ten in height and two hundred and thirty pounds. I feared John; every bone in my body quivered when I saw him rise. He had a quick and violent temper.
He grabbed my arm and hissed, "come with me rat."
I was drug from my perch and pulled into the kitchen.
"How dare you refuse to eat what momma has put in front of you?!" I knew he was referring to the burnt meal that was my dinner, while the rest of them went out for pizza. "She shows you nothing but kindness and in return you spit at her. Little rat, I will show you your place."
I swallowed the lump in my throat, hoping that it would only be the regular punch to the gut. John turned his back to me and opened a drawer. The light was off in the kitchen and it was hard to see what he was reaching for.
I saw the shining metal as he swung around. I didn't know where he was aiming for. I ducked and felt the blade catch on my forehead. I let out a scream and ran from the kitchen. I heard commotion from the family room. Liz, Ana and my aunt were up out of their seats.
John rushed past me yelling, "Momma! She tried to stab me!"
"LIAR!" I screamed. I could feel the blood from my head dripping into my eyes.
"Horrible, wicked child!" my aunt grabbed me by my hair and drug me to the back door. Unlocking and throwing the door open; she shoved me outside. The door slammed in my face and I heard the lock click.
Back at it again. This time my favorite book.