Chapter 1

Suck-Fest

Today was the day me and my family would go look for my brother in that hick ass town called Gatlin. He ran away from us when I was only like, what, three, mabye four. I had packed the night before, going to sleep with a pillow full of nervousness because the ride there would seem like years. Oh yeah, and by the by, my name's Malissa Grant, younger sister of Malachai. Joy.

I used to hang out with my brother a lot before he took off and left me to rot in my hell house called home. Mom and Dad don't think of it that way. They say it's a dream come true because their ancestors built it with their own two hands, "I'll show them where they can put there hands," I always reply to them. Mom and Dad decided one day to just up and go see how my brother was doing...the sacrifice for that was...I had to come along too.

I have the same color of red hair as Malachai does, along with my father, a big family full of red headed people, how fun. One thing i didn't get the same as Malachai was, I had turquoise colored eyes that I had gotten from my Mom's side of the gene pool. Anywho, on the plus side, I think this town Gatlin may be deserted. Pray to the Lord that it is, or you may not be hearing from me, except when I'm in the car, sweating my arse off. Mom and Dad think this may be a good chance for me to get out of the house, they claim I spend too much time in front of the TV or the computer, but, how can I do those things when I'm out...with my friends?

Anywho, I was all packed and ready to go the night before like I said earlier. When I awoke the next morning, I could smell bacon and sausage sizzling downstairs in the kitchen, the aroma was as sweet as my mango scented candles I had gotten from my aunt for Christmas last year. I yanked the comforter on my fluffy mattress off, and slipped my slippers on, rubbing the stupid gunk out of my eyes.

I opened my bedroom door, passing my brothers old room, flew downstairs, and sat myself in a chair at the kitchen table, smiling, wide awake. Mom tossed me a plate with my breakfast on it and smiled,"Today's the big day, aren't you excited?"she asked, of coarse, she had been asking me this everyday for the past week that we've planned this, only, it was a,"Oh, so and so days till we're outta here," it made me sick.

I smiled slightly to let her know I wasn't completely dreading this, then gobbled down my breakfast before Dad had a chance to run down the stairs, he was wearing his jeans with a white t-shirt,"Good morning Nora."he planted a kiss on Mom's cheek,"Good morning Shawn," she replied, planting him a smootch on the cheekies. Dad came over to me and kissed the top of my head,"I'm so excited to take this trip,"he announced, as if we couldn't all tell already.

I smiled so they knew I was listening,"Mornin' parental units,"I replied to both of them, then hopped down from the kitchen table and rushed upstairs to get ready to go on this suck-fest. I decided to look at least decent, that way I would most likely be the only one with class. I put on my favorite jean skirt that went to just above my knees, then put on a pink t-shirt that said"Blondes May Have More Fun, But Red Heads Have A Blast" in white letters. I also chose to wear my cow girl boots that weren't made of total brown leather, but closer to the real thing then anything else.

I put on some lipgloss and base so I had a perfect complexion, and then threw on my hoop earrings I had gotten from my grandmother on my thirteenth birthday. I made sure to grab my purse, which had my Video IPod in it, along with some other things I may need, and then grabbed my suitcases, all two of them, then headed downstairs after making sure I had everything, inlcuding my IPod's charger, which was in the side pocket of my suitcase.

I came down the stairs and plopped my suitcases down beside the front door. Dad came out first with his suitcases, then followed by Mom who took a little more time to put her makeup on, I could tell, because she had caked her red lipstick till she looked like a clown. I smiled, showing them that at least someone was on time today, they both walked right past me, opening the front door and walking towards our black SUV's trunk to put their suitcases.

I sighed and followed them, stuffing my suitcases inside the trunk as well"Are we ready to go?"I asked, looking at the both of them. Mom shut the trunk"Not yet, we still need to pack a bag for all the snacks we'll need along the way,"she replied, rushing back into the house to do just that. Dad of coarse, had to jam all his golf stuff in the very back seat for God knows why,"Dad, you know there wont be any time to golf, remember, we're on a tight schedule?"I mocked, snickering slightly.

Dad looked at me crossly"Don't sass me today Malissa, I don't have time for it, besides, the golfing equipment is for when we get there, I need something to do too ya know,"he replied, then walked inside the house to help Mom with the snackage. I looked around, then took out my IPod and stuck it in my skirt's pocket after turning it to my favorite song,"He Loves U Not", by Dream.

After what seemed like ages, Mom and Dad finally made it outside with the bag packed full of every single snack you could imagine. Mom placed the bag in between her and Dad once they got in the car, both shutting their doors. I climbed in the seat behind Mom, still listening to my IPod. I closed the door just as Dad started the car, putting it in reverse.

I sat there watching him, he never lets me drive the SUV, I always have to drive the crap car, which was the red beetle car, I mean, what good is driving in a car, if you can only fit four people in there? I sighed, thinking about it, a seventeen year old girl should never have to drive a friggin beetle. We took off down through the neighborhood, making our way to the highway. I looked back at our house and waved.

Goodbye House, Hello Hell.

I rolled down my window, the wind blowing my long hair behind me, which is where I wanted to go, back. I had switched song on my IPod without knowing it since I was in such a daze from looking outside. We had already gotten on the highway, now there was nothing but grass, grass, and more grass, oh, with a herd of cars ahead of us. I sat there thinking...what if Malachai isn't there anymore? There's a good chance he probably left to a different town, then that would mean we're going to this crack hole for no reason.

I wondered if there was gonna be any cool boys there in Gatlin, most likely not, but why give up that hope? I yawned, still looking out the window at all the cows and sheep and other farm animals grazing on the dead grass, I wished it was me, I would be free and wild like them, eating anything and everything I wanted, including trees and bushes, yum. I had switched songs again, it landed on Welcome Home, by Coheed and Cambria. As I listened to the song, I rocked my head slightly to the beat, watching how the dead grass never ended, how the tree's leaves were becoming brown and the other colors of Fall.

Mabye that's what I needed for myself, a new change in season, only this time, I need to change the season inside of me.