It had once been a regal Victorian hotel with riches that I will never see as long as I am condemned here in Santa Carla. About eighty years ago, the finest of the upper class would come here to have delightful afternoon tea and demand a room fit for royalty. I bet they never even dared to think that the once pampered first class hotel where no poor man could even breathe without being kicked up the backside to force them to disperse, would later on become a tattered hangout where the occupants smoked cigarettes until every corner reeked of it and never cleaned it once so the dust was so thick you could use it as material build an unstable house. Torn posters of the latest rock bands peeling from the walls and everything looking out of place and random, the hotel is far from its original state of organisation and cleanliness. Yet somehow, I love it and it feels like home to me. I feel like it shields me from everything I fear and despise and that daylight will never arrive to come drag Nighttime Sierra by the very beginning of the roots of her hair into the guarded shadows where it feels like she will never surface into the night's sweet air ever again.

The entrance of the cave was protected by silver wire fencing that made you duck when entering unless you wanted your hair tangled into repetitive knots along with warning signs saying 'UNSAFE' and 'UNLAWFUL' - like we care. I duck low as I enter, feeling like a detective undercover stalking a criminal or a suspect just to get an ounce of information about them. I miss the wiring by the skin of my teeth; I am finally at home again in the forbidden cave where if trespassers crossed they would most definitely pay the penalty, to see the ruined lobby where luxurious objects had once stood. They are still there, just not as finely sculpted as before. The guys swoop in, their howls like wolves echoing throughout the whole room; like the motorbikes, there is a seating plan you have to abide by here. David is constantly sat in his wheelchair that he really doesn't need, no one not even Star was allowed to sit in his chair unless kindly invited. Dwayne chills on his worn out sofa with his feet relaxingly up on it; usually I lay down beside him.

Paul locates himself within a certain distance between the guys and his beloved jukebox and Marko doesn't really have a spot to call his own specialised property since he is either being errand boy or lying on a different area of the dust infected ground.

"Michael! Come on!" David urges once again. Michael keeps at his medium pace alongside me. It is beyond me how Michael isn't intimidated by David at all, most guys who came here I never saw again. I hope that Michael wouldn't be one of those cowards.

Michael and I find ourselves sitting on the marble fountain. It bewilders me how after all the decades it has been desolated, water still splurges from the rusty pipes. Michael and I beam at each other; it feels like the warmth of the sunrays targeting all my emotions. His smile said a thousand words of kindness that I have never really been exposed to before.


Unfortunately, the subject of parents had arose when Michael asked about the guys moms and dads, this led onto them laughing crazily like mad maniacs on the run from the cops and exclaimed loudly that they didn't need parents with their lifestyle being – no parents, no rules and only the moon to symbolise their freedom. I envy them, I so wish I didn't have parents or brothers to make my life so hellish. Although I take charge of the house and its occupants like the doting person I am, making me the head of the house as many teenagers would want to do what with having that responsibility that assumingly made them adults at last, I want the complete opposite to their wishes. I have a desire so deep to be truly one of the guys, to live their lives that if to be seen by the human vision it would appear to be a wide hole in the ground tunnelling all the way down to the Earth's Crust. Frustration and strong negativity burns inside me at these sorts of thoughts and feelings I endure day in and out, I calm them though. I will never let the true colours of my life show, especially not in front of the guys. I must never let them come out, that way Daytime Sierra would win over everything in the auction of what was my life. Nighttime Sierra desperately trying to claw her way to win with Daytime Sierra taking over making all the benefits of the Sierra I prefer beating her, disappear into the suns tropical light, fading into nothing but crisp ashes.

"Sierra I'm hungry!" Laddie whines, I can see the tear stains that have marked his adorable puffy cheeks. It couldn't be easy for Laddie to listen to a conversation of something he has very little recollection of. The only time he remembers his parents is when he restfully sleeps in the comfort of Star's arms, his dreams reminding him of them and how they once loved him, as I do now.

I get up from the fountain, departing from Michael's side but having his radiant eyes follow me to my embracing hug with Laddie. I wipe away the damp tear stains, I hope once I remove them they shall never return. I hate seeing Laddie upset.

"David, Laddie's hungry. Perhaps we should get some food" I suggest with my propositions for action being ignored. The guys were all too concentrated on Michael then to listen to Laddie and my own pleas.

That's odd, they never ignore Laddie or myself; what was so captivating about Michael that everyone, including me falls in love with?

"David!" I call once again, my voice showing a little more force than my previous try. David whistles in a high pitch tune, the echoes making it so ear piercing I flinch. Marko knowing the command jogs out of the cave, hopefully to get some food. I feel starving; my stomach is aching and rumbling rudely, begging for food.


"Feeding time guys! Come and get it!" Marko ceremoniously pronounces with numerous white cardboard cartons juggling in his hands. Marko hands both Michael and I a steaming hot swarm of slathering noodles. I could have easily dug into the tasty looking delicacy not leaving a scrap left, but my thoughts retract back to Laddie and Star.

"What about Laddie and Star?" I question raising a well groomed eyebrow. Marko shoves another carton with Chinese lettering in red outlining the box in my hands "And Star?" just as I had guessed, Marko didn't get anything for Star.

I let out a sigh of disappointment with Marko looking apologetically at me like a little kid who had just got a telling off. I can survive without food for tonight, Laddie and Star however are frail enough to miss a meal of nutrition that could help build up their strength just a little bit more. Anyway, I'm familiar with missing out on meals.

"She can have my box if you want" Michael offers me. All by itself, a smile of sincerity emerges on my lips. Though his suggestion was humble, I shake my head, my thick mane of curls shimmering in the light that came from the slight crack in the cave where the moonlight shoots down.

"You can only have one of them Michael!" David provokes jokingly, taking another mouthful of noodles, swallowing the food before he could even taste it.

"Meaning?" Michael protests. Please don't cause a dispute Michael. Please. I don't want to see you get hurt.

"Meaning Michael, you can either have Sierra or Star. Take your pick; I'm pretty sure I know your answer already!" David answers smirking like a true villain who has just masterminded his next plot to rule the world. I cannot believe that David would base who Michael prefers over something as trivial as giving a takeaway to one of the options.

I tut at David and roll my eyes before striding over to the bed where Star and Laddie are, deciding not to comment at David's obscure joke. Star and Laddie are sleeping soundly with their heads propped onto the pillows filled with duck feathers that made the comfort even more of a pleasure. They look so peaceful, I couldn't disturb them; it was the most sanctuary they had gotten for the whole night and they require battery charging so they could be energetic the next time we would meet. Just in case the two sleepy souls woke up in the middle of the night, I place the cartons with their contents smelling of sweaty gym socks at the bedside table. My stomach growls from the very lowest depths, I need to eat something. Ignoring its pressurizing moans, I sit beside Michael again.


"You can have the rest of it if you like" Michael once again suggests, before I can get a word in edgeways he caringly places the box in the palms of my hands. I look up from the box, into those eyes I dare trespass. I wish to go further into those eyes; I want to know every detail of those eyes until I can recite everything about them. Then I want to intrude into his brain, I want the knowledge of everything about him. Why he is here to start with, what he found so intriguing about me that he came here tonight even with the mocking of David, anything that would create a greater structure of a bond with him.

"So you've chose Sierra, I did say I knew the answer!" David chuckles, winking at us with the rest of the boys doing the exact same, laughing like a pack of clowns. I can feel embarrassment rising into my cheeks, boiling them into a bright red shade. Michael and I look at each other once again, the feeling of wanting him getting even more intense. "How's those worms Michael?"

Michael warily starts to drift his eyes down to the box that's cupped in my hands, untouched. His eyes widen in disbelief, snatching the box of noodles from me. Within seconds, Michael throws the box onto the ground in an outrage of revulsion. Noodles swarm on the floor, the boys doing nothing but cackle.

"Leave him alone David" I sigh, David gives me a sharp look of warning. Like I said, no one should ever be foolish enough to stand up to the boys. I squint hardly to see through the gauzy cobwebs encrusting the ancient grandfather clock that is lopsided in the forlorn corner. I'm getting weary; my eyes are starting to turn into an illuminating ruby colour as if I've been poisoned by something radioactive.

"Chill out Sierra, only a little harmless joke, right Michael?" David raises an eyebrow at Michael in order for him to answer, Michael just stares blankly at the noodles that slither about on the floor in a pool of water. I can feel myself falling asleep, and if I sleep now then I won't ever be able to escape out of my dreams.

"I've gotta go now, see you guys tomorrow!" I chirp happily, cloaking my exhaustion from the others. I skip over to the entrance where the cool sea breeze greets me whilst on its expedition into the cave.

"At least let our guest have a drink before you leave, we wouldn't want to be rude now would we Sierra?" David questions, his voice manifesting suspicion and his eyes sending daggers at me. I really should get back to Edgar and Alan, its late and nearing midnight. However, I don't have the will to fight David – I have succumbed to exhaustion with that little performance of being awake that I put on fleeing before I get caught into a game I wouldn't be able to win.

"No, I guess we wouldn't" I yawn slumping down on Dwayne's couch closing my eyes. My consciousness is ebbing away. I faintly feel a faithful arm around my shoulders before the dark arrives to take me away into its satisfying contentment. It wouldn't last long though when only mere hours later I would eventually wake up to that hideous sunlight peering at me, its intimidating light staring at me trying to make my life a living hell.

Here it comes... the darkness to navigate me to the sheer happiness of its paradise. I beg of it too let me reside there forever.


I just want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to the people who have left reviews, followed and favourited this story and me as an author. It makes me so happy to see people enjoy my work! I can't wait for more reviews and I hope you all enjoy the chapters to come :D