Short chapter… OO Personally, I think it should be much longer but… This is what I have for it right now… Not even a full Microsoft Word page… But this is the start of the fun! For next chapter, you will see just what happens when you get Shauni angry… Mwa ha ha! Continue with evil laugher here

Chapter 2- The Fires of Destruction

In the middle of the night, Shauni woke up and sat bolt upright, her forehead wet with sweat. She felt something amiss… Quickly, she ran to the window and flung open the curtains, peering into the pitch black night. Outside, through the trees of the forest, she could see figures, hidden even to her night eyes. Within her mind, however, she could tell that these were the same people that had threatened to burn the orphanage and they had come to fulfill it. Without thinking about her knee, Shauni ran to all of her friend's rooms. "Wake up!" she yelled and banged the door in panic. At every room, she received the same answer. "What is it? Do you know what time it is?"

"I don't care what time it is! The orphanage is burning!" she would yell. "Come on, we have to get out of here!" Panic overtook every face. Tears began to fall, pained tears, but Shauni kept them going. "Don't cry, don't cry! Everything will be alright, I promise!" She herself was finding it hard to choke back her own tears. "Try all the doors and if that doesn't work, the windows!" she yelled when everyone was together, the flames already eating away at the house and black smoke filling every corner. "I'll go and get Miss Underwood!"

She found it hard to breathe as the smoke filled her lungs, but she kept running up the stairs as fast as she could. The smoke was worse higher up and she could barely see, but she made her way to Miss Underwood's room. Inside, she heard sobbing. She flung open the door and called into the room. "Miss Underwood? Miss Underwood, are you alright?"

The sobbing stopped and the woman's voice was heard, saying "Shauni? Oh, Shauni! Please, come here. There's not that much time left. It is time you knew the truth…"

Shauni made her way over to her caretaker and sat down next to her on her bed. She waited, becoming ever more worried.

"You see…" she started slowly. "You are, well, special… And those people out there, they want to catch you and force you to use your powers. You must not let them do that! Within you is something so powerful that you cannot even control it! Flee from here, Shauni! Leave us behind in your mind! Do not worry, our spirits will not envy you in death."

Shauni stared at her in surprise and shock. "No, I would never! You are all so dear to me, I would do anything to save you or avenge you, no matter what!"

But before Miss Underwood could respond, a loud cracking noise was heard and the floor gave way. Shauni screamed out in terror as the entire house collapsed into a pile of rubble. Outside, those who had caused the fire smiled malevolently.