Survivors

By Kevin Kalis

Prologue

(A/N): Hey, for those of you out there who actually read the stuff I write, thanks. Anyway, this story is something that's been buzzing around in my head for a while now. It's got some pretty heavy shit in it here at the beginning. But don't worry. I promise if you stick with me till chapter 3 it'll get all sweet and stuff. But for right now, sit back and read the tragic past of one of my main characters. Oh, and one more thing. The first chapter's a little short because it's the prologue. The chapters WILL get longer. I promise. Okay, on with the show!

The rain pelted the window of a small, second story apartment overlooking the New York neighborhood. A young girl sat, curled in the corner, hiding. A vicious pounding came from outside his bedroom door like a battering ram.

"Open this God-Damn door before I beat your face in you little bitch! I'll KILL YOU!"

Tears were rolling down the face of the 5-year old. She couldn't think of what she had done this time to deserve a beating. Suddenly, a crash came from the front of the apartment. It sounded like the wooden door had exploded inward.

"NYPD! NOBODY MOVE! YOU THERE! ON THE FLOOR!"

Screamed a voice. It was unfamiliar to the young girl, as she remained in the corner of his room. There was a lot of ruckus, and then came the loudest thing she had ever heard in her life. Then, it got much quieter in the apartment.

All of a sudden, the double padlock that was used to seal her away was gone, replaced by splinters of wooden frame.

"Mark! I got a kid here! It's the one they called us about!"

The child looked at the strange woman with so fear evident on her face. She had never seen anything like her before and the dark blue outfit she wore did nothing to settle her nerves.

"Don't worry, you're safe now. You're safe." She said in a tone she couldn't place.

Suddenly, she let out a scream as her father appeared behind the woman, blood dripping from a hole his shirt. In his hand he held a large kitchen knife, already stained with another's blood.

Cassie screamed as she woke up in bed in a cold sweat. She had dozed off while waiting for her mom to get home. She fumbled around her side table for the lamp. As she flicked it on and illuminated her dark room, the pounding of her heart in her chest seemed to slow. She laid back down on the covers. At 12 (Almost 13), she didn't think that she should still be having nightmares about her past. She was too old for that now.

She looked at herself in her bedroom mirror. She was an average height for her age. She had short, blonde hair that was still messy from bed. She had a single bang that hung down the side of her face. She had fair skin, and flawless complexion. Her muscles were pretty decent, considering the she did no sports whatsoever. Her eyes, though, were piercing blue and often were thought of as her most recognizable feature.

She checked the calendar on her night stand. Tuesday, July 17th. School would be starting again soon. She let out an audible groan as she thought about that. School meant that she could no longer go anywhere in the city at any given time.

Suddenly, she heard the front door of her apartment slam.

"Cassie! I'm home!" Announced a woman's voice loudly as she entered the third story apartment.

Any other parent would have been quiet entering their house at 2 am, but Amy knew full well that Cassie was usually up watching movies at this time of night. And besides, if she wasn't then it would be revenge for keeping her up last Friday when Amy had worked a double shift.

"Okay!" Shouted back Cassie. She suddenly felt much safer. After all, having a police officer as a mother tended to do that.

Amy walked into her daughter's room and sat on the bed.

"Hey there kiddo. Still awake I see. School's coming so enjoy it while you can." She said with a slight smirk.

Cassie groaned into her pillow.

"Okay, well I'm not you, so I need my sleep. I'll see you tomorrow okay?"

"Technically, it is tomorrow."

Amy shook her head at her tired young girl. Even when completely exhausted, she still managed to say things that made her laugh.

"Okay, fair enough. Well, when I wake up again, we can go out to celebrate your birthday a day early. How's that sound?"

Suddenly, Cassie was able to shake off the sleepiness slowly swallowing her. She looked at her mother with as much excitement as she could muster this early.

"Really? You mean it?" She asked in disbelief.

"Sure, why not. Okay, goodnight...morning...whatever. See you in the later." She said with a smile.

And with that, she tucked Cassie in and walked out the wooden door of her room, making sure to leave it open a crack. Before she left, however, she blew Cassie a quick kiss goodnight.

Cassie slowly drifted back to sleep, now feeling much safer. This time, nightmares would not grip her as she fell into a peaceful slumber.