A/N Hi there! Welcome to chapter one! Sorry if it's boring, but it's necessary!

Thank you to Rascalize, who followed, and also to Kalleh, who reviewed and followed! You rock, guys!

Part One: The Kids From Yesterday

Chapter One: Light 'Em Up

A constellation of tears on your lashes

Burn everything you love then burn the ashes

In the end everything collides

My childhood spat back out the monster that you see

- My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark, Fall out Boy

My early childhood is not one I remember much of, which is strange coming from a person who remembers everything.

I do remember some things about my life prior to Wammy's House. I remember the backyard of my house, vast and leading into a thick forest I explored on a daily basis. I remember my mother, caring, kind, and beautiful, at least to me. I remember the strange men that came in, always a different one, and the foul smelling smoke they filled our small living room with.

The one thing I remember very clearly is the day it was all ripped away from me.

My mother had a man over at noon. At exactly 11:52 that morning, she said the last words she would ever say to me.

"Abigail, go outside and play, okay? Don't come back inside until the sun starts to set."

She then handed me a lunch bag that held a peanut butter sandwich, an apple, two juice boxes, chips, and a granola bar. To this very day, I refuse to eat any of these foods. They make me sick to my stomach.

I had set off on what I thought was my usual path, a simple trail that cut through the woods. It wasn't until I saw the sun setting that I realized I was completely and totally lost. I'd always had a knack for memorization, but for some reason, it took me well into darkness to find my way back. Luckily, I brought a flashlight with me.

It was so dark, I couldn't see the smoke. I could sure smell it though. I didn't think too much of it until I finally reached my back yard. I thought maybe someone was cooking, or maybe had a campfire. I was wrong. Very wrong.

My house was in flames. I could feel the heat from where I was standing. Ashes flew everywhere, and as I drew closer, they fell into my hair and clung to my clothes.

I had no idea what to do. I was paralyzed, terrified. A primal instinct took over, adrenaline coursing through my veins, and I suddenly ran. I fled into the neighbor's backyard, out down the street and I did not stop until I reached the town that bordered our neighborhood. In my fear and confusion, I neglected to see the odd looking teenager directly in front of me. I collided with him somewhere near his stomach, and the impact sent me tumbling to the concrete.

He looked like he could be tall, but was hunched over, hands tucked in his pockets. His dark hair was messy, and he peered at me curiously through equally dark eyes. He was so strange that for a moment I forgot my fear and just sat there, staring at him. It would have been rude, but he was staring at me with nearly the same expression that I was sure I was wearing at the time. One of childlike curiosity, something strange that a person of his age would be wearing. Not a word passed between us. He held out a long, spider-like hand for me to take. I did, and he hauled me to my feet, then proceeded to gently, and still very awkwardly, dust the ashes from my hair. Then, slipping his hand into his pocket, he pulled out a lollipop and offered it to me with his forefinger and thumb. Wordlessly, I took it from him. He gave me a gentle smile that looked a bit strange and out of place on a face like his, and patted my head before walking away.

Fate has an odd way of introducing you to people. Had I known that this seventeen year old was the century's greatest detective, I might have gone after him and talked to him a little more. Still, for the next three hours I followed him. I don't quite know why I did. Maybe I thought he could help me if I asked, but I just didn't know how to ask him for help. I had thought at the time that it was because he hadn't noticed me, or maybe had noticed me and was just ignoring me so I would go away. I found out in later years that he had known from the instant I took the lollipop from him that I would follow him, he just didn't know what to do with me.

There's not much to tell from this point, at least, from the time L and Watari were introducing themselves to me to when driving me back to my home. I still to this day have no clue what started the fire. Maybe there's a record of it written down somewhere. I wouldn't know. I've been either too scared or too preoccupied to look.

So many things happened when I reached the site where my house used to be that the memories are all jumbled and strangely muted. I remember a fireman trying to ask me questions, but all I did was hide behind L, clinging to his shirt. The young detective still seemed very awkward, but he held my hand and would pat my head every now and then.

Eventually the topic of relocation was brought up when a social worker came and asked me if I had any family other than my mother. I shook my head indicating that I didn't know, and I honestly didn't. I, at this point in time, didn't know my brother existed, and I had never had a paternal figure. There were no aunts or uncles or distant cousins. It was always just me and my mom.

This is when Watari cleared his throat and stepped forward.

"I will take full responsibility for this child." He said, clasping his hands behind his back and smiling down at me. "I run an Orphanage in England where her last remaining relative, her brother, resides."

The social worker and Watari kept talking, but I didn't hear a word beyond his final sentence. A brother. I had a brother. The whole world seemed to stop, and suddenly nothing else mattered. I wasn't alone in the world, I had a brother. What was this brother like? Was he older than I was? Perhaps younger? Did he look like me? Did he have the same deep red hair as I did, or did he have my mothers ebony locks? Would I mean everything to him like he suddenly did to me, or would I mean nothing?

The questions continued to swirl around in my head, even as I boarded the plane to England three days later in my new white dress. No matter what anyone told me, until I was accepted by my brother, I would not be able to rest comfortably. I was dying to know him. Little did I know, nearly half way across the world in Winchester, England, my twin brother wasn't the only person who would change my life forever.

A/N YAY! Now that Abigail's backstory is established we can get on with the fun stuff! Thank you again to Rascalize and Kalleh, and thank you to everyone who read! More on the way!

-C