Disclaimer: I don't own it and never will. I do, however, own all characters that you don't recognize. So there. XP
The rain continued. It was a hard rain, a miserable rain, a driving, vengeful rain. It came in sheets, in surges, and in torrents. It tore at the trees and hammered relentlessly at the houses on Claven Street. The street itself was a slick and glassy black from the downpour of water, and the streetlights cast an hazy golden glow through the water hurtling from the sky.
Alex stared, eyes glazed, through the widow. She wasn't really looking at anything; she was adsorbed in thought, and her eyes just happened to be open. Her heart felt like a black hole, sucking in every little happy thought her brain could produce and turning it to misery. Trying to ignore the perpetual, rude staccato on the roof, she sighed. Why did it have to rain tonight?
"Cheer up, kiddo," her mother said as she came through the bedroom door carrying a brimming laundry basket. "It won't rain forever." Alex scowled at the window.
"But it's raining tonight of all nights."
"Yes, but there's next year..."
"But that's a long way away! And now I'm not going to get any candy until Christmas!"
Her mother set the basket down and sat next to Alex on the window seat. "Think of it this way; we can eat all the candy we were going to give away."
"It's not the same; I wouldn't have earned it. Besides, you'd make me share with Josh."
Alex practically spat her younger brother's name. Her mother sighed and smiled at her.
"There's just no pleasing you."
"Nope," said Alex, still thoroughly unhappy.
Her mother chortled. "Every day above ground is a good day, sweetie," her mother said, tousling her daughter's dark brown hair. Alex grimaced. "Not when it's like this."
Feeling sluggish and thoroughly depressed, Alex made her way from the window seat to her bed. She had a nice room; pale pink walls, with rose-colored bed sheets and other frilly do-dads. A collection of miscellaneous things sat on a shelf; a little pearwood music box, a key around a silver chain, and an assortment of old dolls sat quietly, collecting dust. She collapsed on her bed and stared at the ceiling. I'll just lay here until I die, she thought, frowning again. She snickered at a sudden thought; 'Cause of death: Boredom'. She frowned at the ceiling as she heard the rumble of thunder, waiting for the sudden flicker of lightning. She didn't bother to count the seconds between the lightning and thunder, partially because she didn't care how close the storm was and partially because she was too lazy to anyway. There it went; the sudden, violent light that invaded her room for a split second and then was gone. More thunder followed immediately after.
Rolling on her stomach, she saw something that made her heart plummet and her eyes water. Her costume, so painstakingly made, was hanging on the closet door. She had made it herself with almost no help from her mother; it was carefully laid out, ready to wear. Or it would be, anyway, had it not been for the second Noah's Flood happening outside. It was raining far too hard for anyone to bother to trick-or-treat; water rushed down the sidewalks in violent mini flash-floods, and it was almost impossible to see through the thick sheets of cold grey rain. Most people had taken their jack-o-lanterns and other decorations inside, because they would be unrecognizable in the morning from patches of green and white mold due to the sudden moisture. It had been very clear the moment the foreboding, dark clouds had rolled in that afternoon; Halloween wasn't going to be celebrated that year.
Alex blinked away tears as she continued to gaze at her costume; she had made every part of it, even the hat, with the exception of the stockings, which her mother had sewn. Her witches dress looked lovely in the dim light of the ceiling lamp; the scarlet sequins on the skirt glittered invitingly, and the pillowcase beside it, a pumpkin stitched on the front, reminded her that she wouldn't have any of Mrs. Conner's homemade caramel apples that year. Well, she wouldn't be getting them fresh, anyway.
Alex glanced at the clock; nine thirty-three. She decided she might as well get some sleep. Crawling into bed, she turned off the light. The rain made eerie patterns on her window, and the din made by the rain on the roof was monotonous and annoying. She turned over, facing toward the hall door. Closing her eyes tightly and mustering all the mental strength she had, she thought, I wish I was out of here.
BOOM.
Alex flinched at the sudden noise that didn't sound quite like thunder.
BOOM.
The lights went out. She sat up, her heart pounding; had a tree fallen on the house?
BOOM.
The third time made her jump out of bed, and scramble for her slippers.
Lightning lit up the room for an unexpected second; she felt the house shudder, and noticed that the window was bowing inward. She didn't have time to scream as it burst violently open.
well, that's chapter one for ya...now be nice and review. Please?