My name is Merina Merring. It's my 12th birthday. Mom and Dad think I don't know about the surprise party they're planning. I heard them talking last night when I was s'pose to be asleep. Morgan has kept me out all day shopping. Except for a snack, we didn't buy anything, though. We're going home now, it's just getting dark.

When we get home, everything's dark. No lights are on. I know why.

Morgan opens the door, but no one turns on the lights. No one shouts "Surprise!" Something smells bad. It's wrong. Morgan turns on the light. I wish she hadn't. People lie in the front room. They're not asleep. I wish they were just asleep. Eyes that don't see any more stare at me. Morgan takes my hand. Tries to tell me to run, but I can't. Mom and Dad are there. By the stairs. Dad lays over her, like he was protecting her. He didn't do a very good job.

Morgan turns to the front door. She stops. I hear voices. She tells me to hide. There's a cupboard under the stairs. I have to step over people to get there. Some look at me afraid. Others just look confused. The door swings shut and a second later, guns. I never heard a gun before, but I know that's what they sound like.

Morgan cries out and then falls. I hear it, but I can't see her.

One of the blue aliens, asari I think, comes into view. Someone calls her T'Nasa. She's giving the orders. Tells them to burn the house down.

"No!" I rush out of the cupboard, strange power flowing through my body as I throw a chair at her without touching it. Someone is shooting, but they're not hitting me. My body is surrounded in blue. I'm doing it. I can feel it. But I don't know how.

Suddenly, I'm tired. The blue fades away and my left cheek is on fire. The asari orders them to stop firing. It hurts. My face hurts. My hands are covered in my blood. T'Nasa comes towards me, I don't like her smile. It isn't nice at all. I can't see straight. Everything is blurry. It's dark.