Chapter 6: Be Brave

The door to Shadow and Amy's house slammed shut as Marie walked in. She was leaning against as she stared down at the floor. "I'm such an idiot." She slowly walked into the den. Where she saw her dad sitting in his usual chair read a book.

Shadow looked up from his book when he heard Marie plop down on the couch with a loud sigh. "Everything okay sweetheart?"

Marie had sighed louder and then started talking a 50 miles an hour as she shoved a pillow in her face out of frustration. "It's not fair daddy I didn't mean to do and I did but I shouldn't of and I wouldn't of if I hadn't been so mad but I was so I did and now he probably thinks I'm a loser and all this stress is probably gonna make my period come early!"

Shadow blinked. How could someone say all that in one breath? He looked back at his book. "You know I think this is another one of those talks you should have with your mom." He sweat dropped as she got up and walked into the kitchen.

Marie took a seat at the dinner table and dropped her head on top of it. Amy turned around at the loud sound of Marie's head against the table. "Hey sweetheart how was school today?" Amy sat a pot of mashed potatoes on the table and then went to check on a roast that was in the oven.

"School was fine mom." Marie closed her eyes tightly. "It was after school that sucked."

"What happened?" Amy sat down in a chair beside her.

"You know I don't wanna talk about…and I'm not hungry." Marie got up and walked to the end of a hallway when she bolted when reached the stairs.

Amy's ears twitched when she heard Marie's door slam shut. Amy sighed in discontent.

"I take it Marie didn't tell you the problem." Shadow came up behind her.

"Not a word. But we have to remember she's under a lot of stress and I don't want her strain herself to much or you know what will happen." Amy's eyes closed slightly. "I'm sorry Marie."

"Amy don't…" Shadow put his hands on her shoulders. "It's not your fault."

Marie was laying in her bed all the lights were off accepted for a lamp that was beside her bed. She was clutching a pillow and curled up as if trying to block out the rest of the world. She a knock on her door but she didn't answer. The door creaked as it was pushed open a bit. Amy leaned into the doorway. "Marie?" She received no answer. Amy sighed and walked in she sat down on the edge of the bed. "Why don't you tell me what's wrong?"

"Mom…" "I just feel like a big freak sometimes." She had some tears in her eyes she held them in even though she was still facing the wall and not her mother. "I feel like I can't be my self because if I do I might start disappearing or something if I think for to long about something it could cause my death." "What kind of life am I suppose to live?" She clutched the pillow tighter to her body.

Amy put her hand on Marie's back. "Marie you born with a special gift-"

"Gift?" "Mom I can't even daydream about something or I might die how is that a gift!" Marie sat up in one jolt looking harshly into her mother's eyes. "This isn't a gift mom…it's a curse."

"Don't say that!" Amy yelled. "Don't ever say that!"

"Why because you can't handle the fact that your own daughter is cursed?" Marie yelled.

"You think me and your father don't worry about every day of our own lives! Wondering if you're okay if you're gonna come home from school if you're going to be in your bed tomarrow morning!" "I have to be brave and trust you! Trust that you will do what you must to stay safe until we find away to help you with this. And you have to be brave to." Amy grabbed Marie in a hug one which Marie returned.

Shadow stood outside the door he sighed and walked to the bedroom. He sat down on the edge of the bed. "This is all my fault."

"No it's not."

Shadow looked over his shoulder to see Amy standing there her eyes teary. "Amy…"

She ran to him and looked herself in his arms. "It's not you're fault Shadow. You never meant for it to happen."

"But if it wasn't for my genes…"

"If it wasn't for your genes Marie wouldn't even be here." Amy closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. "Marie has a gift…she just has to find her control and then she'll realize it." Amy felt Shadow's arms wrap around her returning the hug. "You love our daughter and nothing's ever going to change that as long as you love her no matter what she's got someone to turn too."