Prologue
The setting sun was casting a warm glow over the small country neighborhood. The neighbors were going about their daily lives, with some playing, some doing chores, and some observing the scenery. Their houses were small and quaint, possessing no qualities that would be out of the ordinary, but the residents of this neighborhood didn't mind this in the slightest; they were content with their lives.
At the end of this small community, there was a small house that could house a family of five comfortably. The backyard of the house was a large field of tall grass, with a huge forest of trees looming ominously in the distance. And sitting on the steps of the back porch, were the couple that had recently moved in.
The husband was twenty-nine year old man, with dark orange colored hair, fair complexion, and blue eyes. He wore an orange sweater with white stripes, dark blue jeans, and white sneakers.
His wife, who was resting comfortably in his arms, was twenty-seven years old. She had long brown hair, fair complexion, and green eyes. She wore a white dress top, an orange cardigan, dark blue jeans, and a pair of black sandals.
The two were both watching the sun set over the trees, enjoying and taking in the scenery.
"Wow." said the husband.
"Mm…" replied the wife, smiling and closing her eyes.
"Wow…"
"Mm-hmm…"
"Wow…"
"Yes Marlin." said the wife, opening her eyes. "I can see the sunset; it's beautiful."
"So, Coral," said the husband, Marlin, in an excited tone. "When you said you wanted a forest view, you didn't expect a whole forest, did you? Huh?"
He then let his wife go, got up, walked out toward the field, outstretched his arms, and took in a deep breath.
"Oh yeah…" said Marlin. "A man can breathe freely out here. Did your man deliver, or did he deliver?"
"My man delivered." replied the wife, Coral, her tone nonchalant.
"And it wasn't easy, because…" said Marlin, as he walked back to her.
"A lot of other couples had their eyes on this place." Coral finished, a small smirk appearing on her face.
"You better believe it; every single one of them."
"Mm-hmm. You did good, and the neighborhood is awesome."
The two, with Coral latched onto Marlin's arm, then walked from the porch, around the house, and into their front yard. From their front yard, they saw the life of the neighborhood: some kids were playing, one neighbor was mowing his lawn, different citizens were out for evening walks, and a young couple were having a first kiss. Just like Coral had said, the neighborhood was indeed awesome.
"So, you do like it, don't you?" Marlin asked, as they went back into the backyard.
"No, I really do like it." Coral replied. "But Marlin, I know that the forest and field are desirable, with the great location, and the high quality, but do we really need this much space?"
"Coral, honey!" said Marlin, his excited tone of voice returning. "These are our kids we're talking about! They deserve the best! Look!"
Marlin ran up to the back of the house, opened the back door and went inside.
"They wake up, poke their little heads out, and see a deer!" Marlin continued. "A deer, right by their bedroom window!"
Coral gently shushed him as she walked up to him, and said in a playful tone, "You're gonna wake the kids…"
"Oh yeah, right…" Marlin replied, his tone now hushed.
Coral laughed a little, and came up to kiss her husband on the cheek. The two then went into the house, up some stairs, and into the nursery. The walls were painted a cute pink and blue, the lights were dimly lit, and it had the usual items you would find in a nursery. In the middle of the room were three cribs. The two cribs on the sides had boys, while the middle one had a girl; Coral had given birth to triplets.
"Aw look…" Coral spoke, her tone sweet. "They're dreaming. We still have to name them, you know…"
"You want to name them, right here and now?" Marlin asked. "Okay, we'll name the first boy 'Marlin II', and we'll name the girl 'Little Coral'. As for our last boy… I don't know what to call him."
"I like Nemo." Coral replied.
"Nemo…" said Marlin, before shrugging and adding, "Okay, whatever you like…"
"I just can't believe we're finally parents!" Coral spoke excitedly but quietly, hugging her husband.
"Yeah…" Marlin sighed, returning the embrace, before asking in a somewhat worried tone, "What if they don't like me?"
"Marlin…" Coral groaned, as Marlin let her go, and they began walking away from the nursery.
"No really, I mean it…" Marlin continued. "What if they don't like me as their father?"
"We have three children." Coral replied, as they went downstairs. "Odds are one of them is going to like you."
The two went into the living room, and Coral sat down on the couch. It was then that she noticed the smug expression on her husband's face.
"What?" Coral asked, her tone confused.
"Remember how we met?" Marlin responded with a question, his tone playful.
"I try not to." Coral replied, smiling and getting up quickly.
"Well, I remember…"
Marlin then launched into a whole act about how he got a fishhook stuck on his lip, causing Coral to begin laughing, while trying to maintain her composure. He then tried to kiss his wife, who playfully ran out and onto the back porch. Marlin followed, but stopped when he noticed the whole neighborhood had gone dark.
"What happened to the lights?" Marlin asked, his tone somewhat oblivious.
He then looked at Coral, who was staring at the forest with a worried expression. And then… Marlin saw it, and it snapped him out of the goofy obliviousness.
Standing at the edge of the forest, was a man, about eight feet tall. The man wore an iron mask that covered his entire face, a white shirt with black numbers on the back, white pants, and no shoes; the clothing of an asylum patient! On the man's right arm, he had a large tattoo of a barracuda, but the worst was what he carried in his right hand: a large, razor sharp machete!
"Coral…" said Marlin, his tone quiet and worried. "Get in the house…"
Coral then turned her head, and saw that the door of the garage was opened! If that monster of a man got into the house, he could find the children!
"No Coral, don't!" Marlin continued, his tone still quiet and worried. "Just get inside the house! Right now!"
But Coral didn't listen; she took one look at the monstrous psychopath, and then at the garage door. Then, she made a choice that would make her lose her life; she ran for the garage door! The psychopath saw her move and ran forward to attack, moving with the speed of a wild animal, and letting out a loud bellow!
"NO!" Marlin yelled, running at the psychopath.
Marlin then collided with the psychopath, but it had no effect on him! The psychopath shoved him away, before slicing at him with wild swings! Marlin dodged the attacks, jumping back and forth to avoid the deadly blade!
He then punched the psychopath in the face, but it only annoyed him, as he was wearing an iron mask that protected his face! The psychopath then smacked Marlin with the blunt side of the machete blade, knocking him out! He fell into the tall grass, hidden away from the psychopath, and was unconscious. Away from the world, and away from all of its problems…
When Marlin awoke, he had a massive headache. It was now nighttime, and the moon was out, the sky was full of stars, and the only sound in the air was the wind hissing quietly. After regaining his senses, Marlin remembered what happened.
"Coral!" Marlin yelled, scrambling back to his feet.
He sprang out of the tall grass and ran to his house. The once happy looking household now looked decimated, as the psychopath had done an absolute number on it. Marlin walked through the busted back door and went into the living room, where he found the furniture cut up and the whole room smashed to bits. There was no sign of Coral…
"Coral?" Marlin whimpered, wondering where his wife was.
There was no response, and Marlin looked around the darkened living room, hoping to find some trace of his wife. He then suddenly remembered the children and ran to the nursery, finding it completely empty as well. If it wasn't for the psychopath that attacked, you would think that Marlin had a dream, and Coral and the children never existed…
"Coral?!" Marlin raised his voice, now sounding desperate.
But there was no reply, and Marlin backed out of the nursery, backing up against the wall. He then slowly slid against it and sat down, putting his head in his hands and silently sobbing. It was his fault; he had left the garage door open. If it wasn't for him, Coral would be still alive…
Then… he heard a faint sound. It sounded like muffled crying, like a crying baby hidden underneath blankets. Marlin stopped his own crying and slowly stood back up, before walking back into the nursery. He followed the sound till he came to a large basket, which he saw a moving lump in it. He quickly pulled off the blankets and found the sole-surviving infant, which was a boy. The baby was crying profusely, and Marlin gently took the baby into his arms.
"There, there, there…" he said silently, rocking the baby gently. "It's okay, daddy's here… Daddy's got you…"
The baby stopped crying and just whimpered, looking up at him with big, scared eyes. The baby's right leg was twisted and broken beyond repair; it would never grow the right way.
"I promise, I will never let anything happen to you…" Marlin spoke quietly, as he held the baby close. "Nemo…"