Chapter 2

Kristine's P.O.V

Okay, so mom got fired, no big deal, she could get a new job, we could start over. But I knew it wouldn't be that easy. I set the table for dinner, including an extra plate I always put down, just in case. Mom walked in as I was scooping the hash browns onto our plates. She sat down and eyed the extra plate. She sighed.

"Honey," she said. "You know he's not coming back." I froze.

"So?" I snapped back. "Not everything you say is true, Dad could walk through that door any second now."

"He won't!" said mom in a louder voice than usual. "Your dad left, and he's never coming back."

"You don't know that!" I yelled.

"Yes I do!"

"No you don't"

"I DO!"

"YOU DO NOT!"

"YES I DO! Your father was a lying, cheating, fake and he's never coming back!"

I slammed the pot down on the counter and ran too my room. I shut and locked the door. After collapsing on my bed I felt something stroke my arm. I lifted my head to see it was Eevee, rubbing her cheek against me.

I heard a muffled bark, and turned my head, only to see Houndour who had lain down beside me.

"Oh you guys," I sobbed. I knew mom was wrong. He didn't leave me. He probably left to get away from her. She was probably a witch to him. If only I could see him again, then I could prove mom was wrong.

So that was that, I was going, tonight. I knew I couldn't waste any time. Mom would probably come upstairs to check on me in a few minutes. I grabbed my pink camouflage backpack and quickly stuffed it with clothes, toiletries, and my left over eleven dollars.

I clipped on Eevee's old purple collar and pulled out a new red one I had bought for Houndour. I zipped up my backpack and ran to my window. I slid it open with out a sound and climbed out of it, Eevee and Houndour close behind. I made my way slowly down the wall on the old vines that grew around the house.

Ryana's P.O.V

"Ryana, do you have to wear that tasteless outfit tonight of all nights?" my mother asked grimly.

"Yes." I said defiantly, tugging at my purple tank top, and straightening my black skirt.

"Darling," my mother started. I cringed. "I told you to dress formally." "This dinner is very important to your father. "And why must you wear all this horrible black?" "And you really should cut your bangs, they're quite overgrown, and they cover up your pretty face… I tuned out.

Mother always went on about my appearance whenever she had a chance. One of the things I would not miss when I left tonight.

I had my escape all planned out. After my dad's business dinner was over I'd go back to my room and pretend to go to bed, than when I was sure everyone else was asleep, I'd simply walk out the front door and leave, along with Flareon and a few provisions of course. Then we would go to the harbor next to our mansion and catch a boat out of here.

My mother and I finally finished the long trek to the sitting room, where our butler graciously introduced us as Mr. Samson's lovely wife and daughter. My mother smiled and shepherded the couple, a middle aged man and his wife, into our dining room.

We all sat down and my father came in a second later, and shook hands with the guests. Soon the scrumptious looking food had been served and my father and the middle aged man were chatting amiably, as were my mother and his wife. I sat slouched in my seat picking, as usual at my food. I tuned in slowly as I heard someone say my name.

I looked up to see my mother and the middle aged mans wife staring at me.

"What?" I said sitting up straighter and blinking innocently as my mother glared at me for not paying attention.

"I said you must be proud how well your father is doing in his business," the middle aged mans wife said.

I slouched again, and said in a bored voice, "I guess." "I mean," She continued, "he's built this whole business out of nothing," "only someone with true initiative could have done that," she praised him.

My mother smiled politely and said, "Well, it does have its bad sides too," "Richard doesn't have much time to spend with our family with all the clients he has keeping him busy," my mother said regretfully. I rolled my eyes, but immediately wished I hadn't when I saw the middle aged mans wife had seen it.

Do you miss spending time with your father Rayna? She asked.

"It's Ryana" I said through clenched teeth, "And maybe if he took some time off he could," I added my voice rising. My father and his client had stopped talking and were looking at us.

"Now Ryana" my mother started, "No!" I yelled, standing up, "Don't bother mother, I've heard it before!" "He's sooo busy!" "As if!" "If he really wanted to spend time with us, he has all the power to do so!"

"Ryana!" My mother shouted standing up too, "Your father…" "I don't care!" I yelled and ran for the door.

I sprinted to my room, tears beginning to prick in my eyes. I burst through the door startling flareon who was napping on my bed. "Change of plans flareon", I said angrily,

"We're leaving now". I grabbed my bag I'd already packed and walked hurriedly out the door and through the corridor, flareon at my heels.

After a couple of staircases, I entered a small kitchen that the cook rarely used and stepped out the back door that was near the old oven. The swirling fog that was forever surrounding our mansion enveloped me and flareon as we made our way down the jagged and slippery path to the harbor.