The Beginning
School had been extremely good recently she thought as she ran to her secret place by the dojo across her house! She had been doing well and the teacher's seemed to have finally gotten over the fact that although she was a new student, she new what was going on. A sudden breeze picked up her hair and blew it back. It streamed out behind her like a flag from the mast of a ship. The people she passed would turn around and make sure they really were seeing a girl. She looked like some sun spirit with her golden her that reflected the sun light. The summer weather seemed only to have been improved by her warm smile. The twinkling of her bright blue eyes and flushed cheeks caused by her running caused blushes on the faces of the guys and indulgent smiles from the older people she passed. They had gotten used to this! She was a friendly girl who would lend them a helping hand when it was needed and so they forgave her her head long rush!
As she rounded the last corner she skidded to a halt. She then continued walking. She wasn't really supposed to run but it was an exhilarating feeling she wouldn't give up. She arrived in front of her house and saw momma looking out the window, checking to see if she was indeed walking and not running. She opened the door. They were not a rich family but their home was comfortable. The entrance hall was narrow and bare but the shoes and coats gave it a cosy homey feeling. Passing the Kitchen/dinning room she stuck her head in.
"Hi momma! I'm home! Did you have a good day?"
Her mother never really responded to her, but kept working on the food she was preparing for dinner. It was a ritual they had started years ago. Ever since the time momma lost her job. She saw that the TV in the corner was off and assumed that her little brother wasn't home yet.
She headed up the stairs to change her cloths. Like the greeting with her mother this was a ritual too she would change into some sport clothes and then go and visit uncle across the street at the Dojo. By the time she got there his students for the day had left. Her futon was neatly folded together in the one corner and her cupboard was standing in the other. Hearing a noise from outside, she moved to the window and saw her father and brother walking home together. Her brother was waving his arms about animatedly, probably telling dad about is day at school or some fight or something he had seen. But she could see that dad wasn't paying attention to him. Instead he looked old and tired. His face had a greyish tinge to it and his shoulders were hunched. It looked as if the weight of the world was weighing him down.
Maybe it was money trouble again. She had thought about getting a job to help out, but when she brought it up her mother had vehemently shot her down. Girls from normal families don't work and so she shouldn't either. She had left it at that! Besides she would rather have spent this time at the Dojo anyway.
She heard the door open and close and then the footsteps of her brother as he climbed the stairs to go to his room and start his homework before dinner. As she moved to her door, it opened and he stuck his head in!
"Hey sis! Had a good day?"
"It was fine thanks! Gotta go now!"
As she passed him and started down the stairs, the doorbell rang. Dad came scurrying out of the kitchen. As he opened the door and saw who I was, he gasped and took an involuntary step back. It was at this moment that the door swung farther and she got a glimpse of who was there! Two men in black suits stood on their doorstep. They took a step in and stopped. Confused, she walked towards dad. As he saw her he shoved her towards them. Off balance she fell forward and landed on the floor by her feet.
"They're here!" she heard momma squeak behind her. She quickly hurried upstairs.
One of the men leaned down towards her and she could see through his dark glasses. His eyes were cold, like ice and they were staring at her, measuring her like a pig before the slaughter, she tried to scramble back, but her quickly grabbed her arm.
"Are you Serena?" His voice was harsh and cold.
"Yes yes! That's her!" her father hurriedly assured them. It was at this moment momma came back. In her hand she had a suitcase. With a start she realized that it was her suitcase. What in all the world was going on here? She shoved the suitcase at the other man, who promptly took it and left the house. The man holding her roughly pulled her to her feet and dragged her outside. Before she could react to what was happening he had shoved her in the car, shut the door and gotten into the driver's seat. The next instant she felt a clothe cover her mouth and nose and she could smell something sharp before she lost consciousness.
