I finally made it home just a few minutes before ten o'clock rolled by. I stoped and looked at the house that laid just in front of me. It was a nice home like most in this area. It wasn't a fancy mansion or anything special but the house was clean, organized and well kept much like the family that took me in.

They had two other teens besides myself that were their own. The first was named Jack who was just a year younger then me and about to start his last year of high school and his sister Sarah who was going to start tenth grade. They were nice enough. Didn't talk to me much and seemed to always keep a distance from me. I never understood if it was because they saw me as an outsider and never someone they could ever see as anything more then a stranger who lived in that one extra room that was across from theirs or if it was because they knew my history and my story of why I was a orphan and just that alone made them feel uncomfortable and wanted to keep a distance from me. Either or I wouldn't ever blame them for what they thought of me. Shit if I was in their shoes I most likely would have felt the same and done the same.

With this in my mind I walked up the drive way and made my way inside the home. As I closed the front door that was a mix of red wood and glass that had been etched and carved with intricate designs, I took in the house. It was warm from the lighting and cream walls. Traditional Californian architecture paved the house from the mix of tan stone flooring and dark wooden flooring and the stucco cream walls with warm lighting filling the house with a light glow.

Just in front of me was a staircase that led to the upper floor of the home. I took the stairs to the upper floor and headed to my room. Once in I shut the brown wooden door behind me and threw myself on my full size bed. I cared little that I was laying on my bed in a dark room in clothes that possibly had grave dust on it. The window that was next to my bed let the light from the outside street posts come in creating darker shadows along my walls from the furniture and the stuff that made up the inside of my room.

I didn't have much of an appetite despite the lingering scent of the home cooked meal that had been made and served a few hours ago. I found it hard to be hungry every since the incident. Then again it wasn't uncommon for me to skip meals because of my dad. He would be in one of his moods and nights like that I just stayed in my room, quite. That was how I stayed so thin despite me eating fast food so much or TV dinners.

After laying in my bed for what seemed a while, I gotten up and decided to just change into my PJs and call it a night. After changing into my PJs and brushing my teeth I laid into my cool sheets and sighed as my eyes closed.

I don't know how long I had been out but I woke up with my room still dark. I don't remember if I even dreamed of anything as I didn't recall remembering. I laid there looking at my ceiling when I felt a weird feeling. It was like something or someone watching me. I sat up in my bed looking around the room trying to find the source of the feeling. Not seeing anything I laid back down and turned on my side facing my window. I fell back to sleep shorty after in a dreamless sleep.

Opening my eyes as the suns warm morning rays hit the walls of my room. I stretched out and yawned welcoming the warm sunshine. Even though I was naturally more of a night person, there was nothing like the warmth of the morning sun hitting your body in the morning. I got up from my bed and decided to take a shower. Gathering my change of clothes I exit my room and headed to the bathroom that was at the end of the hall. On my way I over heard Sarah talking to someone possibly over her mic on her computer. She often talked to people online and when she played games. Other times she was doing YouTube videos on makeup and styling her hair.

Moving on I entered the bathroom and closed the door behind. I turned on the shower to heat up as I undressed and did my business. Once done I stepped into the shower and sighed. The hot water felt amazing as it hit my skin. I felt my tense muscles relax some as the hot water hit them. I scrubbed down and gotten out after a few minutes of relaxing in the warm water.

Grabbing a towel I wiped off the mirror that had fogged over from the heat of the shower. Staring back at me was a thin girl. Her thin body seemed as if a breeze could come through and blow her away. Her skin was a warm colored not quite dark enough to her called full olive but yet not fair enough to call it peach. Her skin glowed in the light from the outside sunshine that came through the window making it look more light caramel in color. Her eyes were a mix of greens that changed depending on her mood. Darker when she has more intense emotions and lighter when she is calm. Her long black hair cascaded around her forming a curtain of sorts that she often hid behind from the world. She wasn't like the models of the magazines or the perfect Barbies of her high school but yet she knew she wasn't the ugliest either. But despite this knowledge she never once thought to put much effort in her looks. What would be the point when people that knew her and look at her only saw her and knew her from the incident of that night and that weird creepy goth that sleeps in cemeteries?

Putting a strand of my black hair behind my ear that had multiple golden earrings of different sorts decorating the exterior of it, I grabbed my clothing and got dressed. I decided on some black skinny jeans and a red and black plaited shirt that went on top of a black tank top. I put on my necklace that was just a simple ruby on a golden chain. I looked at the necklace in the mirror as I held it in between my fingers. Despite it being simple the necklace ment everything to me. It was the last gift my mother had gave to me on my last birthday.

I remember that night she came into my room after my dad passed out drunk. She purposefully had gotten him stronger booze to put him out so she could come into my room and give me this necklace despite knowing the repercussions if he ever find out what she had done. The ruby was beautiful but simple cut that was strung on a fourteen karat gold chain. I didn't wear it at all but kept it safe in a small hole in my mattress just in case he came through my room and tear it up like he did often. For some reason he would have these bouts of suspicion that I had money and was keeping it from him. But now that he was dead and no longer part of my life, I made up the time I couldn't wear this special gift by wearing it every day. It also served as a memory and memento of my mother. Whenever I wear it, I felt safe and calm.

After I finished dressing and putting my necklace on I did my hair up in a messy bun. Looking once over I saw myself good as I could get and went back into my room. There I did my light make up of lip gloss and some black eyeliner with a touch of mascara. Even though I didn't take to much effort into my looks, I still enjoyed putting on some basics.

I headed down the stairs to grab some breakfast when I heard some rustling in the kitchen and smelt the fresh coffee and bacon lingering in the air. I walked into the kitchen to see a blond haired woman washing some dishes. Her light blue eyes down casted at the task at hand. She was sweet natured and had a good heart. Even though no one could ever take my mother's place, this woman who was now my adoptive mother, was close.

As if she sensed my presence in the room she looked up from the dishes and smiled warmly. "Good morning Emily. Are you hungry? There's some left overs there on the counter. It's bacon and pancakes." I smiled at her "That sounds amazing. Thanks." I made my way over and grabbed a plate of bacon and pancakes. I sat down at the dining table and began to eat as she brought over some coffee for me. She knew exactly how I liked it and even though it seemed small and no brainer, the fact she remembered ment a lot to me.

"Did you go off to your place again last night?" She asked as she sat down my coffee. "Yeah I did. I came back by ten." I informed her. When I first moved in they made it a rule for me to be home by ten and no later unless I texted her or her husband. She nodded with a sad knowing smile. "Would you like to talk about it?" She asked as she took a seat across from me.

I picked at my food on the plate before responding. "I was just thinking about...you know that night. I guess what's holding me from moving on is not knowing who saved me." I looked up at her. Her blue eyes portrayed thoughts that I already knew. 'Why would you say you were saved by a person who murdered in cold blood even if they were saving you?' 'Why would you want to thank them for murdering your father?' I could tell thoughts like this entered her mind. They entered everyone's mind when I opened up about how I felt or simply my desire to know who I considered my hero.

A moment passes before she spoke. "Well honey, that's understandable especially after how it happened and everything you have been through. Though I would say you're lucky not just because you were saved but because you don't know what would have happened if that person saw you." I knew she had valid points and I understood in a lot of ways she was right. I don't know what would have happened if this person had seen me what they would have done to me. It's one thing to simply save someone but to commit the kill in such a gruesome way and have a witness? Also who is to say they were there to save me in the first place?

I nodded my head as I understood her points. "You'r right. I wouldn't know and still don't know what they would have done if they saw me. I know I need to move on." I stared my breakfast when I felt a hand held mine that laid next to my plate. I looked up to see her smiling warmly at me. "You're a very strong girl Emily and a fighter. But know that you have all the time you need to heal from your past. There's no rush." I look up at her and smiled. She knew but she was a real mom and real moms know those thoughts and fears that go unsaid. I always had this worry about being tossed out of the house when I turned eighteen like most others that were adopted. But unlike other families, this one was legit and felt as much of a family as it could be for me.

"Thank you." I said in return as I smiled some to her and her warm words. "You don't need to thank me. It's just true. You maybe adopted but you're as much of a daughter in my eyes as Sarah is. I know it hasn't been easy for you and I really am sorry for that. But just know you will always have John's and my support in anything you need." She smiled and let go of my hand as she stood up from the table. "Now how about you finish your breakfast before it gets cold and soggy." She said as she turned to go back to do the dishes.

I couldn't help but to smile at knowing just how lucky I really am. Yes my first part of my life was shit but now, I couldn't ask for it any other way. Though John, who was Janet's husband, was out often from the house do to his work, was the best father I could ever ask for. In all honesty despite how Sarah and Jack is happy to keep a teen foot distance at all times from me and treat me like I had the plague, I would say this family was as loving and normal as it can get and for me I could never ask for anything more.

After I finished my breakfast and washed my dishes and cup I headed to my room and decided to go into my computer. It was one of my favorite past times besides drawing or going out for my nightly walks up in the graveyard. I enjoyed writing stories but also play games. The game I was working on was Left 4 Dead 2. Not only it was a classic in my opinion but it helped me escape this world and my thoughts. 'Nothing like zombies to bash around when you're stressed.' I smirked as I put on my headphones and grabbed my controller for my computer.

I played for a few hours before I decided to grab some lunch. I wasn't exactly hungry but I settled for some soup and a soda. After lunch I went back to my room and hopped onto a chat room. This chat was part of a website that basically catered to people who was interested in the paranormal and alike. Though I would say 99.9999% of the stuff on there was bullshit, it was still entertaining. There was also one guy who went by the name of Mit1001 who would pop in every so often and it was him that gave me tips on navigating the dark corners of the web.

It was something I had gotten into not long after moving into this house and receiving this computer. It started with me just finding myself on back water sights looking more into the paranormal and conspiracies and welp soon enough found my self here one night and everything was history.

The site I was on currently was more like one of those back water chats that I talked about. Unless you had the eye for it and know how to navigate to the right place you wouldn't find it. But fortunately over the time I had spent cooped in my room or hiding out some gaming cafe with my second hand laptop that was given to me, I taught myself to navigate the web and eventually getting into the deep web thanks to Mit, which let me say was a very strange place.

That was something els that happened that was odd. After the incident, some random guy gave me a used laptop that seemed old but ran better then any current verity. He said it was a donation to kids in need. To this day I use that same laptop and let me tell you I am in love with it. While others over heat or eventually run into problems, never once did I have that problem.

I looked at the screen as I typed away chatting to people about different topics of the paranormal. Now I'm not one of those people that were all stir crazy about it but it definitely was a interesting topic even if some of these people were the tin foil hats that for the life of them believe so hard in this stuff like big foot to the point they actually go out at night into the woods to film. I roll my eyes at their antics. No matter how crazy or insane it was, it still was entertaining to watch these videos that these people would post on this site.

As I watched the latest "sighting of Big Foot" video, when Mit messaged me.

Mit1001 :"How's it going?"

Me: "Good. How's life on the dark side?"

Mit1001: "Not bad. The usual if you take in idiots that think they can get into my system."

I laughed only picturing him snorting at such thought.

Me: "I bet you had at least some kind of entertainment from it."

Mit1001:"Yeah I did. lol"

I laughed only picturing him boasting his skills as people that had hacking skills like a brother trying to get into his sister's diary.

Mit1001:"Anything new and noteworthy?"

Me: "Nah. You know same old same old. How about you?"

Mit1001: "Same. Just been bored to be honest was hoping someone would be successful so I just had every reason to send them a gift."

Me: "lol well you never know maybe someone will. ;)"

Mit1001: "Now that you said it may just happen."

Me: "Well let me know if it does."

Mit1001: "Will do Miss."

We chatted some more and talked about his latest project. Apparently he was in the middle of improving a program that he was working on. A program that wasn't anything small based on what he said. I know he wont share to much over the internet as he knew eyes were watching as we chatted. But I couldn't help but to become intrigued with his project and could only imagine what it was.

After a few hours of chit chatting he had to go back to work and I had to get dinner. Leaving my room and heading down the stairs I smelt spaghetti being made along with warm bread. I smiled as I walked into the kitchen to see John and Janet sitting at the table with Sarah and Jack. Janet smiled warmly at me as I approached the table and John nods to me. "Good to see you are joining us tonight." He said. I took my seat which was at the end of the table. I smiled at him as Janet made me a plate of food and handed me the plate. "Thank you" I said quietly and started to eat. As I ate I saw that the laid back atmosphere became tense as Sarah and Jack both quickly ate and left the table without a single word or look towards my direction.

Both John and Janet looked at each other with a frown before finishing up their own food. When Janet finished up she stood up to clear the table. As she cleared the table she looked to me with a soft smile "Would you like any dessert honey? It's chocolate cake." I nodded eagerly as chocolate cake was my favorite. She smiled and took the used dishes away and brought each of us a slice of cake. I sat there in silence eating my cake when John asked "How was your day?" I took a bite and swallowed before answering. "It was good. Just chatted online with a friend and played some games. How was yours?" I looked to him as he took a sip of his red wine from the glass. "It was good. Work was hell like always but what can you say when you work for one of the biggest and busiest companies here in California."

I nodded in agreement to this. John works in a law firm that basically delt with everything and anything. He had from the wealthy to the poorest come to him for help. He told me a few cases and honestly when it came to the rich people of Hollywood, I was shocked that they would want to sue for millions of dollars only because someone said something nasty about them that may or may not be true and it got on the paper. I respected this man to be able to deal with such idiots.

After I finished my cake I went back to my room and looked at my phone that I had charging on my nightstand. It was only eight and it was a nice night out. I debated rather or not I wanted to make another trip to my spot tonight or not. In the end I chose to go. I needed air and perhaps I would get inspiration for my book.

Tossing on my old trusty Converse I grabbed my phone and laptop headed down stairs. I normally don't bring it but just in case I get inspired I would have it handy. I walked down to see that John and Janet both were not around and the lights were off indicating they were getting ready for bed. I just quickly wrote a note in case they came out here and headed out the door into the warm Californian night.