May 17th, 2016

She lost the twins, and stopped running. Leni wasn't one for running, and she looked around, not remembering what way she came from.

Royal Woods seemed small on the map, but it was big enough to not be a town. Leni waited around, going further away from home. She walked around the blocks, like a mindless zombie. She was going around, not knowing what do to. Her phone was left behind, no way to contact anyone. She didn't even think to do so.

Leni sat on the curb, scared and lost. She had one job; to keep an eye on her twin sisters. She screwed up again, without meaning to. Leni placed her sunglasses over her eyes, crying at how she failed them. And Lori was going to be very angry at her.

Leni decided to continue searching for them. She had a responsibility, and it was time that she showed initiative. Leni continued to push herself, despite the pain her feet suffered.

"Lana... Lola..." She called out in every street she passed through. They were nowhere to be seen. And the more Leni walked and searched, the more hopeless she was becoming. The more guilty she became of this. It was adding up to the list of silly accidents and mistakes she had made, and never forgotten.

What am I going to do?

Leni did not stop looking, however, as her feet had begun to bleed.

Later

She crossed the next street, and found herself on Franklin Ave, her own street.

Maybe the twins are-

She found her house, closed down by yellow tape. There was no one here. The sunset was visible, heading to sleep, as she believed it was going. Leni decided to cross through the tape, and slowly walked to the backyard.

They have to be here. They have to.

Leni developed a smile, and jumped from the corner. "SURPRISE!"

The backyard was empty. The smile turned upside down, and Leni decided to enter the deadened house. The opening of the door creaked. Leni found everything had blackened all the way around; everything was hard to see for what it was, due to the effects of the fire.

Leni made her way upstairs. The staircase was able to hold, but felt unstable the further Leni rose to the top floor. She made it, seeing all colors in the floor replaced by charcoal black.

Leni entered to the hell of her room.

I'll just wait here... They'll be back soon. Lori said to wait here, anyways. Maybe she'll run into the twins...

Leni laid on the floor on Lori's side of the bed. The brown color had darkened, just like everything else. Leni closed her eyes, hoping Lori would come back as fast as she could.

She waited... And waited... And waited.

September 9th, 2016

Stella Narvaez was excited for her first day at this new high school. She was a 5'5, lightly dark skinned girl, who had an interest in photography. The temperature was perfect for her to be wearing her current outfit; a purple top and blue jeans. This was her favorite outfit, when it wasn't a red sweater and black shorts on a colder day.

The tour was fast, but she found her way around quickly. Her first class was English, with a Mr. Feeny. She sat on the second row of desks, and took out a lime-green notebook from her purple polkadot backpack.

A few minutes away from the start of first period, and Stella took the time to look around the classroom. Smooth floors, book shelves on the left and behind her, educational posters on her right, and a couple of other students speaking softly behind her.

Apart from that, everything was silence. She couldn't help but overhear the whispers.

"Its so sad. I heard they all died in the fire."

"Bullshit, some of them have had to escape. They're a big family, with a shit ton of kids."

"Explain why they haven't appeared around the school."

"I have no good answer."

The school bell rang, and all chatter ceased immediately.

Her innocent curiosity was reaching out, but she repressed it. A fire?

Whatever happened here, had nothing to do with her. She opened her notebook, ready to jot down notes.

Lunch

Math, Biology and World History were a breeze, although biology was bound to have a couple of disgusting segments in the class.

She sat alone in a round, red bench near the tennis courts. A slice of pizza, baby carrots and orange juice was what she picked today. The afternoon had gotten warmer, and Stella looked around. This looked like a good place for a photo shoot.

"Hey, you're the new girl, right?" Another girl, a bit shorter than her, sat with her. Her short black hair covered her left eye. She had a light blue sweater, with a black skirt. "We have World History together. Not sure of you've noticed me."

Stella shrugged her shoulders. "Sorry, I don't look at everyone in all my classes."

The girl sighed. "I'm used to it." She held her hand out. "Leah Reed, welcome to Royal Woods high school."

"Stella Narvaez", she replied, taking her hand.

"How do you like it so far?"

"Its alright. Just like my old school."

"Where are you from?"

"Originally from California. Lived there all my life. We've moved here because my dad's company moved around these parts. Its still a new change for me."

"Well, Stella, you're gonna love it here. The nature outside of this town, it's beautiful. You'll love Grand Venture State Park."

"Aw, a state park? I'll have to visit there someday. Hey, uh... I've heard a couple of kids talking about a fire... Do you know anything about that?"

"Oh, that..." Leah's face grew into a depressing one. "You sure you wanna know?"

"Is... It that bad?"

"The more I say, the worse it gets. The whole school knows about it. I'm surprised you heard the whispers. Good ears, there."

"Thanks", she laughed. "And, yeah, I'll hear."

"So, this fire broke out, and... The family who lived there, they had a big family. Eleven kids. Four of them attended this school "

Stella had a hand over her mouth.

"But uh, no one's seen them all since that day. It was around May, no one knows the full details, may god bless their poor souls." Leah looked away, developing red in her eyes.

"Kids of various ages were there."

"Oh, that's so sad... I hoped everyone survived."

"Didn't you hear what I just said?" Leah got angry. "I just told you that no one has seen them since!"

"Oh... I'm sorry, I didn't-" She was surprised by her first new friend's shout.

Leah looked down. "I'm sorry for that. I just... A bad thing happened. It gets to me."

"Karma works in reverse, I understand. Are you okay?"

"I will be..." Leah pointed behind her with her thumb. "I've got things to take care of. See you in class."

"Yeah, you too. See you."

September 15th, 2016

"Yay, weekend, here I come!" Mariana Narvaez, the younger sister of the family, ran outside after Stella.

"Alright, princesses. You ready to go see this state park?" Joaquin Narvaez had readied the packing. "Let's go, the sooner the better."

Stella noticed an old blue van in the opposite end of the street pull away in a hurry.

"Dang hippies." Joaquin retorted.

Later

Leah was right, this place looked like God had shaped the lands, and made everything in what He believed was beautiful, and so it was. Stella took several photos from the top of the mountains. She saw the wondrous nature at its finest. She was lucky to get a few with some of the animals. Mariana scared away a couple of deer during this.

"Isn't this better than seeing videos and footage?" Joaquin took a big sniff of the air. "This is lovely, isn't it, girls?"

Click.

"Yes, it is, dad. Thanks for bringing us here." She smiled at him.

"I'm happy to spend time with my two wonderful daughters. Come here!"

The two girls ran to him for a family hug. Mariana spotted something, and ran toward it.

Stella followed. "Mariana?"

"Look, its writing!" The younger girl stopped at a tree with carved writing.

Lynn Loud was here.

"Is that illegal?" Mariana asked.

"No, but its not right to do that. Its vandalism, but barely."

Joaquin was now done looking over the horizon. "Okay, girls, let's-" He stopped upon seeing the carved sentence. It was one of the relatives of the previous owner who had died earlier this year.

"Dad? What is it?"

"Nothing, sweetheart. I... Just don't like people doing whatever they can. Let's get back down, and establish a campfire."

Night

The tent was already set up, and Mariana had fallen asleep already. Stella placed her camera at the corner of the tent.

The owls and crickets were performing their hit songs all over the woods. The moon was up, ready for another dark night.

Stella and her father sat next to each other, in front of the campfire. The two did not know what to say. Stella broke the silence.

"So... Are we going to talk about her?" She didn't turn to look at him, nor he to her.

"Stella, what's there to talk about? You kissed that girl back home..."

"I... I know dad-"

"She saw the video, even after you knew how your mother felt about homosexuality."

"Dad, I told you... I'm bisexual-"

"Didn't make a difference to her." His voice was overwhelmed with heartbreaking sadness. Stella turned away, feeling guilt trickle its way back inside.

"Dad... I didn't know... I didn't mean... I didn't mean to make mom kill herself... I'm so sorry, dad. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I made us move."

He sniffed loudly, and Stella left him, feeling like she was a living burden to the family. She cried herself to sleep.

September 22nd, 2016

The house was on 1216 Franklin Ave. Stella looked to the front. It was left in the shape of the hell that took form. She had done her research on this place

Look at us, we're both messes. At least...

She entered inside, looking around.

We can keep each other company.

The house was uglier on the inside. Stella made her way to what was once a beautiful kitchen, now burned and out-of-shape remains were left over. The Louds were the residents here. Were. She furthered research, and learned that a grandparent of the kids had died awhile after that. And the place this happened in? Her new house.

She took a solo tour upstairs. Kids lived her, kids now long gone. This Lynn Loud girl was among them. She looked onto the hall and turned left. She went on a counter-clockwise route, pushing open Lisa and Lily's room. A part of the crib was destroyed, toppled over on its side. Glass fragments and pieces of metal were scattered throughout the blackened carpet.

She headed into Lincoln's room. Ashes, burned clothing, and other things were lost in the fire. There was a hand of a stuffed animal that only survived. She went on to do this, and got to Luna and Luan's room. Also a mess.

She ended up in Leni and Lori's own room. She peeked inside, and found that the room was actually clean, which creeped her out. She looked around, and Leni rose up like a zombie from behind Lori's side of the crafted bed Leni made a few months ago. Stella finished the 360, and screamed at the sight of Leni. She ran back into the hallway, but then stopped.

"Help...", Leni called out.

Stella returned to the room. "Wh-Who are you?"

Leni looked unhealthy, body was deteriorating, she was already skinnier than she was before. "Waterrrr..." She groaned.

"Did you... Are you... One of them?"

"My sister..." Leni fell on her stomach, weakened by her physique. She slowly reached her hand out to Stella. "Hungry... Thirsty..."

"Oh, dear God. You're one of them... I'll get you some food. I won't be long!"

"Ahhhh..." Leni raised both of her hands. "Don't leave, don't leave."

Stella rushed back downstairs, and left the house in order to find her food.

One of the teen kids, still there?! How did she survive this long?!

Later

Stella opened her backpack and dropped various sorts of food in front of Leni. There were a few water bottles in the pile. Apples, oranges, hostess products, and a KFC 8 piece meal were brought to Leni. She gobbled on the chicken, having been starved for a few days since she ate the last thing from the fridge, despite it being already spoiled.

Stella sat in criss cross position in front of the pile and the bucket. "You've been here since May?"

Leni kept munching away, only focused on her food. Stella was heartbroken at this display of heavy feast. This poor girl had been here for over three months, alone. It made Stella wonder where the others would be.

Leni burped, grabbing her third chicken piece.

"Oh, my..."

Leni devoured this piece slower this time. She then looked up at Stella.

"Uh, hi."

Leni gathered strength to fly into her. At first, Stella thought she was being attacked. Then, Leni's greasy lips found their way to both of Stella's cheeks. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank-" Leni burped again, directly in Stella's face.

She covered her mouth and nose. "Uck. You're welcome."

Leni pushed the chicken bucket to her. "Share." She smiled at this stranger, who seemed to secretly be her guardian angel.

Stella grabbed herself the smallest drumstick in the bucket, and took a small bite. "This... Is your room?"

"It... Yes. It is... It was..." Leni's smiled faded with her tone. "I'm Leni by the way."

"Leni. That's a beautiful name. I'm Stella, and I've moved recently to Royal Woods. I'm sorry about all this. You mentioned your sister when I found you. Leni, where, uh... Where are the rest of your family?"

"I don't know..." Leni fell on her back. "I'm so ashamed... I had twin sisters I was supposed to watch while my other sister left to the hospital. They ran and I lost them..."

"You lost them?'

"And I came back here, believing they could be here. I'm..."

But no one except poor Leni Loud and Stella herself knew she was here. "You're still waiting for them?"

"Yes... No... I don't know anymore..."

"Well, Leni, now you don't have to be alone here anymore. I can get you help, and you can leave this-"

"No, I don't wanna go anywhere. What if they come when I'm not here? She told me to wait, she told me to stay."

"Leni, no one-" Perhaps these weren't words to use at the moment. "You wanna stay?"

"I have to."

For some reason, Stella understood Leni. Losing the twins put Leni in the same guilt and shame right next to Stella.

"I'll be coming to see you daily, bringing you food and other things. You don't have to worry about anything anymore."

"My... Sisters."

"Shhh, hey hey. They're... They're not around Leni. They're not around to-"

"I miss them, Stella. Did they abandon me, because they knew I'd screw up?" Leni let out a painful cry. Stella delivered a hug.

"You did nothing wrong, Leni. You did nothing wrong. I'm so sorry this happened to you."

"Will everything get better?"

"It will, because I'll be there to make sure of it."

September 28th, 2016

"Hey, why the rush?" Leah came from behind so suddenly.

"Oh, hey. I've got things to take care of myself as well."

"Ha, like homework, family life, all that."

"That and more. How about you?" The two synchronized their walk.

"I had things to worry about for the past few days, but I'm fine, no longer stressed."

"Oh? Well, I'm glad you're fine."

"Totally."

"Anyways, I gotta get going. See you tomorrow, Leah."

"Yeah..."

Later

Stella ran behind the house, wandering into the back. Leni was asleep, laid on the floor. Stella sat on the remains of her bed. "Hey, Leni. I'm back..."

Stella had grapes, baby carrots, and chocolate milk for her. It wasn't much this time, but Stella was trying to find a job around here, wanting to help Leni more than she was currently contributing.

Leni moved her leg, letting Stella know she was awake.

"Hi..." She called out calmly.

"Do you like grapes? I brought some this time. They're juicy."

"Thanks, Stephanie."

"Its Stella..."

Leni moved her arm up, and dropped it down to the floor, hitting it.

"I can never get it right!" She screamed.

"...Leni, are you-?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

Stella remembered the name. "Lynn Loud. Who was she?"

Leni lifted herself up. "Lynn? Where'd you hear that name? Did you catch me talking in my sleep?"

"No, I- Wait, you do that?"

"My older sister would tell me every now and then."

"Oh. And no, I saw it in-"

"The state park?"

"You were there, I take it?"

"Yeah, I saw her carve it. She's the sporty one of the family, when I had one..."

"Aw, Leni..."

"Stella, you don't have to keep coming. I'm not related to you, I'm not your responsi... However you say that."

"I choose to, Leni. You're all alone here. You're going to die if I stop coming."

"Well..." Her head circled around the room. "Maybe I don't wanna live..."

"Leni, it's gonna be alright. I'm here, Leni. I won't let anything bad happen to you."

"Don't say such things. I feel like I deserved this. I've always been the dumb one to them, and being here, all alone, with more than enough time, I realize that now. I never knew how I made myself look to them. I'm a failure... I can't do anything right..."

Stella cuddled the Loud tightly. "No, no, no. Hush, Leni, hush. You're beautiful, you're no failure. You're an angel."

"Why didn't they come for me?"

"Hey, hey. Look at me, Leni. Look at me." She grabbed her face, and both pairs of eyes locked onto each other. "I came for you, Leni. I'm going to save you know. Don't hurt anymore, okay?"

Leni nodded quickly. "Yes. Yes. Yes."

"I'll never stop coming, Leni. I'll never forget."

September 29th, 2016

The class went into silence, after the announcement came. Leah was found dead that morning. Suicide. It was dark irony working against Stella, after delivering Leni the idea that everything can be better.

Stella only wished she knew the late Leah Reed more than what was shown on the surface, but Leah seemed to not allow it. But now, this served as motivation to get closer to Leni. And that meant the deep stuff.

She decided to take the first step. "My mom..." She was getting guity just thinking about it. "My mom killed herself earlier this year."

Leni was regaining back her health, getting less bony everyday. "Your mom? I'm so sorry..."

"I came here because I thought that me and this house had a lot in common. We both felt alone in a big world, nothing but useless. I didn't expect to find you, and didn't also expect that it was really you that I felt truly connected to."

"What, why's that?"

"I'm the reason my mother-" Stella could not finish the tragic words. "I do know how you feel, what its like to be a curse of the family. Maybe you've never done something that big, but maybe all smaller things added up to it."

"I had no idea you-"

"That's the point. I can't hide it forever. I'm glad I told you..."

"I'm glad you trust me..."

November 8th, 2022

Leni awoke to Stella snuggling her closely. "Good morning... I thought you left home."

"No, I wanted to keep you company." Stella sighed with disappointment. "I've been in a rut, and about half of my savings are gone. Buying me a house has been delayed. I'm sorry..."

Leni's forming smile quickly returned to its natural state. "How long should it take?"

"I don't know, there's too much I'm doing... Its exhausting."

"Do I delay it? Do you spend too much on me...?"

"No, Leni. I'm putting food out for you. Life is living, and I'm helping you live as well. I'm basically your caretaker. You don't make me do anything. It benefits you."

Leni smiled.

May 14th, 2026

"I'm going to take a look at the house. I'll be gone for a few days, Leni. But I'll be back, alright. We can finally move in together, and you can move on from this house, and forget everything. You won't be hurt again."

Leni gripped her guardian angel's hand. "Yes, this is it. This is what I want." She cried out tears of joy, knowing the darkness was going to be lit up forever, and Leni can finally leave.

Stella left, and Leni was left to try and picture the better life that was coming her way.

It was short-lived, as Vince called in his team to extract the cinnamon roll. First the creepy white-haired girl, now this. Leni was sure she was dreaming when she saw Lupa. The team of men bagged and tagged her, and threw her into their signature black van, driving away.

May 20th, 2026

It was a pile of rubble and wood. Nothing remained. Stella dropped her bags, horrified by the sight. She went around, looking for a way to enter through. She then saw a rectangular dirt mount in the middle of the backyard. This was a grave... Her grave.

Leni had gone while she was away.

No... No! I had it! We had it! ...What the hell happened here? Leni... No... Not you...

She laid over the dirt layer, hoping to hear Leni's voice one last time.

She didn't notice the blonde woman behind her, watching.

AN: Ugh, I'm downed, but that's it. Its over. There might've been things I've left out in the whole Decade One, and ugh, I tried my hardest. Thank you all for reading! Ready up for this next... "arc."

Oh, and a shout out to L.O.L.H., the man behind Stella Narvaez and her wonderful family. Good thing he doesn't know about how I used her.