Kiaze awoke reluctantly to the sound of shouting voices. Rain still poured outside, and the candle had melted away, leaving the cool study dark, the only light coming from the raging storm outside.

With a quiet whimper, Kiaze covered her ears, trying to block out the shouts in vain.

"Make it stop…just make it go away…" she whimpered desperately.

A shriek and the gut wrenching roar of a gunshot ripped through Kiaze's heart. Everything went silent.

Kiaze shoved herself out of the chair and stumbled towards the door. Flinging it open, she ran down the empty hall. Her eyes burning with tears, and her heart pounding in her head, she prayed desperately that nothing had happened.

The heavy walnut doors loomed at the end of the hall. Kiaze slowed her pace as she reached for the brass doorknob. Her mouth dry, and her heart clawing its way up her throat, she let her hand rest on the cool metal. She closed her eyes and said one final prayer, before turning the doorknob, and throwing her weight against the door, sending her stumbling into the room.

A choking sob escaped Kiaze once she opened her eyes. Lying on the debris covered floor was her mother, soaked in blood. Her baby blue eyes had faded, but still held a look of fear. Her mother still hung open in a final desperate scream. She lay cold, killed by a bullet to her right temple.

"No," Kiaze sobbed, begging her eyes to see something else, her heart to know something different. It went unanswered.

Kiaze whirled to face the man that stood leering at her. His hand gripped a small black pistol. He reeked of smoke and alcohol. He has smelled like that for years. He had yelled at and beaten her mother for years. He smirked.

"That shut her up, didn't it?" he sneered coldly.

Kiaze felt as if her heart had been ripped from her chest. Damn him!

His smirk became a cruel grin. The gun slipped from his bloody fingers, and landed on the stained carpet with a soft thud, as he lurched towards her. She dodged his stinking falling body, and lunged for the gun lying in her mother's blood. Enclosing her fingers around the cold sleek metal, she wheeled to face her father. Her eyes blazed.

"Damn you," she hissed, then pulled the trigger.

XXXX

Kiaze awoke with a gasp, drenched in an icy sweat. She closed her eyes, letting her pounding heart slow. Suddenly her brow furrowed, and her eyes flicked open. She was no longer in the doorway watching the rain fill the streets. She found herself sitting p in a bed. Her eyes gazed around the room, taking in the tan walls, the single painting, the mahogany bureau and bedside table, and the beige shag carpet.

"Where the hell am I?" she mused aloud. Then caught herself. No need to give strangers the illusion of insanity. They'd figure that out on their own without her offering proof.

Pushing the thick quilt to the foot of the bed, Kiaze swung her legs over the edge, letting her feet sink into the soft, carpet. Wherever she was, the people that owned the house obviously had plenty of money.

Reluctantly, Kiaze rose from the bed and headed for the door, answering the deep growling in her stomach. She swung the door open, but with a loud slam, it stopped halfway. Kiaze froze, fearing she'd hit someone. The phrase, "What the fuck!", answered her question.

"I'm soooo sorry," she cried quickly, stepping around the door. Her victim stood glowering at her, his hand stopping the flow of blood from his nose. Offering her best, 'I'm innocent' look, Kiaze surveyed her victim.

He was at least 6' 2", definitely a good half foot taller than herself, and of a nicely muscled build. His eyes were a deep auburn, and were currently narrowed in anger and disgust. His hair was disheveled, and a dark royal blue, his bangs were a lighter sky blue. With a low growl he dismissed her apology and stepped around her.

"I said sorry," Kiaze grumbled, her stomach answering her with another growl.

"um…hey…What's for breakfast?" Kiaze inquired hopefully. Eh glanced back at her for a moment, then noticing his hand had become covered in blood, he growled again. "Shit!"

"Oh joy…be still my beating tastebuds…" Kiaze muttered sarcastically. Apparently he would be no help to her. With a heavy sigh, she turned back to the room. This could be interesting.

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Okee…it kinda went comical…I can only write serious for so long..hmmm…

Thanks to DerangedCatGirl and Dayaja who have reviewed every chapter of this story so far…R/R plz!1111