Whoa... a chapter earlier than expected?! :) This is a flashback chapter and I'll write second flashback chapter then we will get back to present time and move on. Hopefully both chapters will give you a better understanding of why the characters are the way they are and you will get some answers too.

Let me know what you think! (for those who read Rigor Samsa, this is my new approach of addressing flashback in a entire chapter instead of snippets spread out through the chapters... so I would like to hear your opinion!)

A battered Jeep cruises down Church street as the Stewart sisters head for their parent's house on an unusually warm Sunday night. Both have a hand flying out the rolled down windows and swaying along to the beat of "Stupid Girl" playing from the tape player. Holly still couldn't believe she saw the godly Shirley Manson singing in front of her and even caught a guitar pick from the Scottish singer. She looks down at the pink pick in her hand.

"Still geeking over the pick, Hol?"

Holly looks over at Delma, who has a smirk on her face, and blushes. "Well, you gotta admit it's amazing! How many people can say they caught one from Shirley Manson? Or any famous musician?"

"Are you sure it's just because she's famous?"

Holly looks away to hide her facial expression. "What do you mean? It's not like I have a crush on her. I just admire her like you do."

Delma risks a glance at Holly before returning her attention to the road. "Well, whatever you feel is valid. If you are attracted to girls, that's great. If not, that's great too."

Holly takes a moment to digest Delma's words. As if it is her fate, the next Garbage song to start playing is "Queer".

"So, it's not a big deal if I happen to prefer girls?"

"No. Not a big deal at all. I'll still give whoever you decide to date my big sister talk, regardless of their body parts or gender identity."

Holly slaps Delma's arm and exclaims, "Del, please leave that to Dad. At least I expect him to embarrass me, not you!"

Delma smirks again. "I don't care. I'm your big sister. It's my job to protect you no matter what. Plus you don't have to worry about an awkward sex talk with Dad. I had to go through that and believe me you really don't want to experience that."

Holly rolls her eyes. "Whatever. Do you think Dad's gonna be mad we're late? We were supposed to be home almost an hour ago."

Delma shrugs. "I'm not worried. Let them yell at me. We are done with school and it's about time we do something fun together."

"Speaking of school. How'd you like the pre-law program? Bet your gift makes it way easier."

"Sometimes, but I try not to use it. I gotta be good like Dad. I'm gonna take over the firm when he's ready to retire. That's not for like thirty years or whatever, so plenty of time for me to hone my skills."

Holly starts to adjusting her glasses out of frustration. "I wish I could tell if my gift's been developed yet or not. I got my period a year ago, so I should have one by now right?"

"It's possible you do and you just haven't figured out what it is yet."

"Why can't mine be like yours? You figured it out not even a month after your first period…"

"Well, not exactly hard to figure out when I tried to lie to our parents and it actually worked."

"I wanna know now."

Delma chuckles. "Be careful what you wish for, Hol. It might not be all that jazz like you seem to think it is."

"I hope it's something medical so I can become a great doctor."

"That's pretty ambitious, but you got the brains and work ethic for it. Even if your gift has nothing to do with it, you can still pursue the medical field."

"I'm not that ambitious. I don't think being a doctor is a bigger aim than Dad's dream of reviving our once great clan." Holly responses with a little bitterness.

Delma looks at Holly sharply. "Hey! Don't belittle Dad's dream. He wants us to not be alone anymore and be well protected. The world is very cruel, Hol. We need to do whatever we can to survive together."

Holly knows Delma is right and their father established the law firm with a powerful man who is part of the great Riordian clan. Supposedly he will help their father gain connections and revive the glory days of the Abaroa clan. She can still remember the bedtime stories their mother would tell about the great things people of Abaroa did before they got obliterated during World War II by the Gotts, the true mastermind behind the Third Reich. Now, they and their parents are what's left of the Abaroans.

"Sorry, Del. I just want to live a normal life like everyone else around us."

"We are not normal, Hol. We are meant to live in the shadows."

None of the lights are lit in the Stewart's home and Holly is stalling a little bit on the pathway while Delma gathers her things to stay overnight. Holly assumes their parents are in bed already and is little surprised. Usually their father would be sitting in the living room and reading his cases while waiting for Holly to get home safely. Maybe he trusts Delma to get her home and she is sleeping over tonight as well.

"Scared to face Dad?"

Holly jumps a little and turns around to face Delma. "Jeez, sneaky much? The lights are off so they probably are sleeping."

Delma looks at all of the windows. "Hmm. That's odd. Maybe we are lucky tonight. Let's go and get in quietly."

The sisters approach the wooden front door and Holly feels a shiver of cold up her back as she notices the door is not entirely closed. She looks at Delma to confirm the strangeness. Maybe their father is indeed waiting and ready to give them lecture. Delma walks around Holly to push the door open wide and steps in the house.

Delma cautiously calls, "Dad?"

Holly follows Delma as they search for their father. The reading room to their left where their father usually sits and reads his cases is empty and quiet. Holly is trying to ignore the feeling of uneasiness in her stomach. She keeps telling herself that nobody is awake, so they should head for their rooms and face their parents in morning.

"Del, let's go to bed. They're probably sleeping."

"Okay, I'm thirsty, so I'm going to grab a glass of water and bring it with me."

"I'll get myself one too."

Since Holly is closer to the kitchen, she leads the way with Delma following behind. They know the layout by instinct as they practically lived their entire lives in this house. Holly walks through the hallway to the kitchen and stops as she notices a strange huge pile of… maybe clothes on the floor between the refrigerator and the kitchen counter. She reaches for the light switch to her right and gasps in horror as she realizes what the pile truly is.

Their father lies in fetal position on the floor and their mother slumps over their father's body. Both look so lifeless, but something looks odd to Holly. There are different color auras glowing all over both of their bodies. Holly is too overwhelmed with grief and cannot comprehend what is happening in front of her. However, Delma's voice snaps Holly out of her shock.

"D-dad?! Mmom?!"

Delma freezes next to Holly while Holly analyzes the odd aura glowing from the bodies. She can see red and blue auras spread out through like veins. She could see a yellowish white aura throughout the bodies and strong concentration in the heads with spastic flashing. The most disturbing aura is jade, running along with the red aura and plenty of it dusting all over their skin. Delma is about to rush over and shake their parents in hope of waking them up. Holly grabs Delma and holds her back.

"Don't… I can see it. Something's wrong. I am pretty sure we shouldn't touch them."

Delma shakes Holly's hold off and screams, "Why not?!"

"I can see weird auras all over them… I think they represent inside like red for blood, white for nerves… and I see green which definitely doesn't belong… I think someone poisoned them…"

Holly stands in shock as she realizes what her gift is. Delma looks at her in realization as well. Both has no idea how much time passes as they stare at each other. All of a sudden, the dark reality hits Holly in her stomach and she collapses on the floor and starts to sob.

"Dad… Mom… come back…" Holly whispers hoarsely. Delma squats down and gathers Holly in her arms as she silently mourns and hardens her heart in preparation for their lonesome future without their parents.

The morning sun shines through the window and birds can be heard singing their tunes. Holly feels irritated with the world as she pushes around cereal in a milk filled plastic bowl. She is sitting on a grey metal fold over chair Delma stole from their deceased father's law firm. Not really their father's anymore. It belongs to his partner, Mr. Ward now, and Delma used her gift to convince him to let her work there. Delma claims it's the best way she could support Holly while they both attend school, but Holly knows it's much more than that. It's been six months since their parents' death, and the police are unable to find any lead on who's responsible. Things have gotten really difficult for both of them as they try to survive on their own. Delma is fortunate to be able to drive the social workers from CPS away by using her gift to create doubt in their minds that she is unfit to take care of Holly. Holly decides to stay with Delma, because she doesn't want to be alone and lost in the foster care system. She is afraid she will never see her sister again, and she cannot go through that. Not after losing their parents.

The apartment they live in is strictly for college students and it is paid for by Delma's full ride scholarship, but Delma still needs to work at the firm so she can pay for food and necessities for Holly. Holly decides right from the start to be the perfect student and get a full ride by herself, so she doesn't need to put any more burden on Delma than she already does.

"Holly, are you done yet? We gotta get going in five minutes. Get your stuff ready."

Holly decides to get up and tosses the bowl in the sink. She's not really hungry at the moment and the sight of food is making her feel nauseous.

"Del, I'm old enough to go to school on my own. Just go and I'll be fine."

Delma walks over to Holly and lets out a frustrated sigh. "We argue about this every morning. Just stop. I'm taking you to school. No discussion."

Holly snaps, "You're not my mom!"

Delma looks taken a back for a moment before answering, "Yeah, I'm not your mom, but I'm protecting you. You're the only family I have, so shut the hell up and let's go."

Holly winces but obeys because she knows she is out of line here. Delma is right and she knows Delma feels better when she knows Holly is safe in school. The tension still runs high between them as they adjust to new life and changes in their relationship.

Bunch of papers flutters all over the floor and Delma groans at herself for being so clumsy. She's been in the office since four o'clock in the afternoon and she suspects it is around eleven o'clock at night. She's probably alone in the building, and everyone else is home for the weekend. She squats down to gather the papers and puts them back in a folder. Her cellphone rings in her back pocket, so she pulls it out and answers.

"This is Delma Stewart."

"When are you coming home?"

"Holly? What time is it?"

"It's almost eleven… you okay?"

Delma rubs her eyes. "Yeah I'm fine. Just need to drop off some papers at the boss' office then I'm coming home."

"Be careful please. I'll be on the loveseat, so wake me up when you come in."

"Just go to bed. I'll wake you when I join you."

"I'm studying, so I probably will fall asleep here anyway."

"Okay, see you soon."

Delma hangs up and lets out a sigh. She needs to find some extra money somehow and get Holly her own bed. Sharing the full sized bed with Holly is getting old really fast and she knows their relationship is getting strained as they are in each other's space too much. She gets up and picks up the folder then head for Mr. Ward's office.

Mr. Ward's office is on the top floor and the lights are still on. Delma cautiously approach the door and notices it is not closed all the way. She sneaks slowly without making any noise and leans against the wall next to the door and listen to Mr. Ward talking to someone on the phone.

"Things are going well now. Finally, I have control of this place and our plans can proceed to next stage… Yes, don't worry, I took care of Kian Stewart and his nosy wife… it won't come back to us, because I used that guy you told me about… yeah that guy…"

Delma covers her mouth to keeps her gasp from coming out. Her blood runs cold as Mr. Ward's laugh rings in her head.

"The girls? They have no idea, my friend. The elder daughter begged me for a job. They probably look at me like a savior. I'm just being a good friend of Kian and taking care of his kids, right?"

Mr. Ward laughs again and the sound lit a fire in Delma's stomach as she takes steps backward and away from the office. She drops the folder on Mr. Ward's secretary's desk and runs as soon as she feels it is safe to do so. Now, she feels it's even more important to do everything possible to take back what is supposed to belongs to her.