Cold Dark Memories

Rayne Callahan

I sat next to an old dumpster. I had a house, but not a home. Spending my life on the streets was best for me anyway. No one would see me. I hated this life. Death would be welcome but I still had to accomplish something first.

I've never wanted to be living these past few years. Ever since I lost everything that mattered to me. My family... My best friend... Myself. I turned into someone else completely. To hide my pain. To shield myself from this world. I let my hate for him guide me. I'll kill him. For what he did to me. He killed every last one of them and left me here, all alone...

"Shut up." I tell myself and narrow my eyes to adjust to the dark alleyway. I can barely make out my path. I live in the darkness. I've had to ever since he killed them all. I've enclosed myself in a shield of hate, turned myself into a different person. A person who shows no emotion.

"Don't lie little brother." Cain's voice echoes in my mind.

"Shut up! Rot in hell!" I scream. I can't help it. He feels so close to me. He's right. No one can fully protect themselves. I have a weak spot. I know it. He knows it. It lies open, ready to be shattered at any moment. It's so close. The second it breaks I'll lose it. The last sliver of sanity that lies inside me.

I clench my hands into fists. I force myself to stop thinking about it. It's hard, when your life is a nightmare. I walk through the darkness. Tomorrows the reaping. The day people fear. They fear that one day. I fear almost every day I have to live. They had it lucky.

"Move Rayne." I command myself. I watch the darkness, awaiting any challenge, any sudden movement. I have katanas if they try and hurt me. I'm not a murderer, but I know how to protect myself. I stole them off some rich boy who kept them for decorations. He didn't need them. I did. I won't let anyone hurt me ever again. Not after what Cain did...

"Cain," I said the cursed name under my breath, "I will kill you."

My older brother. He was suppose to be kind and caring, not ruthless and cold as he was the night..that happened.

I hated everything. Faces of the ones I loved flashed before me, I clenched my fists and buried my face in my knees and let the past sweep me away.

"Rayne hurry up!" Lyric ran ahead of me, letting the ribbon trail behind her teasingly. The game was traditional practically in this district. Someone runs with the ribbon and the other chases after.

I ran laughing, "Wait for me!"

My best friend turned her violet eyes back at me and grinned, "No way!"

I sped after her. I had wished my hair was like hers, long and shiny. It was beautiful to me as a seven year old. She was ten at the time and despite the age gap I knew I wanted to spend forever with her.

Finally I jumped and pushed her down on the grass and stole the ribbon from her.

She giggled, "You got me."

It was hard to believe but she had lost her whole family.

"Lyric?" I asked, "Are you afraid of anything?"

She nodded and sighed, "I'm afraid of a lot of things."

"I'll protect you from them then!" I said eagerly, "I'll protect you forever from anything that'll ever hurt you!"

She smiled, "Ok!"

"And we'll be together forever!" I added on.

Cain interrupted us. Back then he was gentle and calm. Introverted but to me a perfect big brother, "Its time to come back inside." He told us quietly.

He reached out his hand to Lyric and she took it. And they smiled at each other. I frowned.

"Whats wrong?"Cain asked, as usual his voice was quiet and almost a monotone.

"Why doesn't big brother help me up?"

He smiled and helped me up then gave me a piggy back ride while I laughed. Meanwhile he held Lyric's hand.

"The reaping is coming up." Lyric said softly, in a more grave tone than I ever heard her talk in.

"Whats that?" I asked as I looked down at her.

Cain answered, "Its the event where they pick people to go into the hunger games."

"Whats that?" I asked. I was the son of the owner of a very successful train business that worked directly with the capitol. We had our own private TV and my mother was protective. She didn't let me watch the hunger games. She always took me to another room to play while Father, Cain and since last year Lyric, watched.

"A game by the capitol where they pick two kids from each district to fight to the death with one victor." Cain as usual didn't sugar coat it.

"Its your first year Cain." She said, worry lacing her tone, "What if you get picked? You might get killed."

"I don't want big brother hurt." I added.

Cain sighed, but just barely, "I'll win and come back. Simple as that." He cracked a slight smile, "I can't leave you two idiots to yourselves can I?"

"I'm not an idiot!" I pouted unknowingly taking the bait to change the subject.

Lyric nodded and smiled slightly, "You're the idiot Cain. Otherwise I wouldn't be worried."

I opened my eyes and got up. Staying in the alley all day wasn't good, especially in the snow. As I walked by to my new home I passed a train part factory. I clenched my fist. That was where my old home used to be. They tore it down and I could do absolutely nothing. I was useless and it was all gone now. The Japanese styled gardens, the beautiful sakura trees, the flowers around our house my mother had spent so much time on, and that gazebo out back that had so many memories inside, all of it was gone and replaced with a hunk of metal.

I stalked onward. Nothing good would come out of staying there. Maybe more memories would come back to haunt me. I walked back in the house. It was small and consisted of three rooms. A kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom. I grabbed something from the cabinet and began chewing on it. I didn't care what it was. Most of the food was tasteless to me anyway. The only food with any taste to me would be a piece of shiny hard candy I had bought on a whim once. It sat in one of the cabinets only to be eaten on my 13th birthday which was a half a year away on July 23rd.

I finished eating in silence and walked to my bed and flopped down. Staring up at the ceiling, I wondered why I had even been left alive.

I closed my eyes, not asking for sleep but it came anyway. Dragging me under giving me the memories of that night that always sent icy chills down my spine.

It was late. I had stayed after school for extra help then got distracted with playing with my friends.

The night was dark and quiet as I ran through the streets of my neighborhood. It was too quiet. Not even the birds that made themselves at home in the roofs chirped. It was a dead ominous silence.

I tried to ignore it. After all ghosts and demons I had stopped believing in a long time ago. As I reached closer to my house. I saw a sight no one should ever have to see.

Around there were bodies, bodies lying everywhere, dead bodies. They belonged to the people in the neighborhood.

I gasped in horror. What had happened there.

"Well, well, well... Look who finally came home. A bit too late if you asked me" The familiar voice from behind me paused, "Not that you would have been able to do anything. Little brother."

I jolted awake, breathing hard. Lucky I had woken up before the worst part had started.

I went outside sprinting at the average size, pitch black, stone wall and launched my foot up off it. My hand locked around the thick ledge of the wall and I let myself up. I'll find somewhere safe. Or as safe as it can get for me. I walk the rooftops, the black night sky melting me into the darkness. I used to have a real home. Now I have nothing. I'll never get anything I ever had back. All I'll get is more scars...

I finally make it to my rooftop. I slowly sit down and look up at the sky. I never wanted to be here. The only reason I still live is for revenge. Otherwise I'd be dead, with every single person I knew. He slaughtered them. Our entire family...

I'll kill him. One day I will... He knows he made my life hell. He comes here, just to see my pain. And soon I'll hand all that pain back to him...


YAY! Another chapter done! Thanks for reading everyone ^.^