The name my parents gave me is Maria Barstow. That is not my real name because I do not have a real name. I actually have no birth certificates or anything of that sort. I do not have school records or reports even though I am thirteen years old.

I used to have ten bodyguards around me all the time, but my parents took them away. The bodyguards commented once that I could take on all of them and win the battle if I wanted to because I am so agile and skilled in all types of weapons, including my fists.

My family is a Baron family. My father is a professor at a school and my mother is a musician. My mother teaches me all sorts of instruments and says that I am a genius in music. My father teaches me things and he says that I am really advanced for my age. My brothers hate me and they would probably like to turn me in, but they cannot unless they want to get killed.

You see, I am a third child. I call myself a Dark Child and those first and second children, Light Children. I have to hide and stay in the dark and keep to myself, all alone, while the first and second children see the sky and the sun and dance in the fields and walk around loudly and have friends and can talk to people other than their family without being afraid. I cannot do that. I am not supposed to exist.

When I go out, I am supposed to be my mother's niece from her cousin's side. When I am that person, I am Christine O'Donnell…

Third Person View

"Maria! All clear! You can come down now," Mrs. Barstow called.

A young girl with pale skin and dark hair crept out of the closet in the attic. She walked across the attic lightly and strolled down the stairs to meet her mother.

"It was just the mailman," Mrs. Barstow smiled weakly.

Maria nodded as she heard the school bus drive away with her first brother, James who was only sixteen, in it. (Jason was at a boarding school.) She looked into the living room to see her father leave the house.

"I must be going, Maria. I have a huge concert to play in. You can't come to this one. It is a grand one and there is a rumor that the Population Police will be there. I'm sorry. I'll be gone for the whole day and I might come back after your brother gets back from school. Your father will be late as usual because of a conference," Mrs. Barstow sighed as she walked to the door.

The mother glanced back at Maria.

"Stay safe and call your father and me if something happens," Mrs. Barstow smiled weakly as she walked out of the house.

Maria sighed and walked into the attic that claimed to be her room.

First Person View (Maria's View)

And so, I stay home and read books extremely mature for me to read, but I understand them. I've already read all the books. And I do other things.

My parents will not allow me on the computers because they heard of a third child named Jen who was shot dead because she was contacting all these third children on the computer to join her rally. So, the computers are unplugged and I cannot figure out how to put them back.

The TV is also unplugged because they heard that a third child was found out by the flashes of his TV screen.

The radio is unplugged because of another dumb reason that I really hate to get into because it gets annoying.

I am a prisoner in my own house. I used to call it home, now I call it my personal prison that I earned by being born. If you ask what I do all day, it would be my pleasure to give you my answer.

I stay at home and read books that I have read millions of times over and I think on things. Like once, a doctor who was supposed to be a doctor who helps people figure out their emotions. I prefer to call her a counselor, but my parents disagreed. Anyway, the doctor said to me, 'some people cling on to things when they are torn away from other things'. I like listing those things. Here they are:

Friends: is one of them because some people spend more time with their friends when one of their parents died or something.

Drugs: is another. Some people get drunk or go on drugs to hide away from the truth and to forget.

Religion: is another one. I've met adults who go really deep into religion when they have cancer or something is wrong with them or their family is messed up.

Fashion: is the one I hate. It is really dumb to me. I think most of you know what I talk about. All of you have probably met people who dress themselves up and go along with the new fashion like Esmé Squalor in The Series of Unfortunate Events.

Internet: is one of the main ones among Barons. It doesn't go for me, fortunately.

Money: is another of the most popular among Barons. I don't really think much of it. People can live without money.

Work: is a famous one yet. People who go cling onto work are irritating.

And the last and least popular one is… music. It's my favorite one.

It sounds like a dumb list, not to mention that it sounds corny, but I think about things like that. I also try to think from another person's point of view. I am not like other girls my age. I am not even sure I want to be like them either. I hate make-up and boys and stupid romantic things and things like that. I have a large vocabulary compared to the average girl my age.

Now, I sit there in the attic in silence, thinking things like that for the rest of the day until my family comes home. I cannot do anything. I want to get out. I want to be free. I want out. I hate watching other kids play, carefree, through a small crack in the window blinds. I hate my life. I am stuck. There is nothing I can do. I have to live like this forever. For the rest of my life. I wish that I were never born.

But I am starting to get used to it now… Solitude, you know. Now, I hate sounds and crowds and people who do not know anything. I think I am getting agoraphobia. I do not want it. I used to be outside all the time. Free. Happy. Now, I am scared and small and pale. If you look at me, you will see the affects of staying out of the sun for three years. I am pale white and my hair is dark, nearly black. It used to be a lovely golden blond. I used to have tanned skin, but now I have pale white skin. I have changed. For the worse, I think… I do not know what is going on with me. I am lost… And frightened…