"Mom! Mom!" Young Peter ran into the kitchen "Guess what happe-."

The old lady didn't glance up from fixing the old, leaky kitchen sink. "Quiet Peter. Let me focus."

"But the car! It was going too fast!"

"Peter!"

"It didn't stop!"

"Just hold that happy thought, Peter..." She said, twisting the handle until the sink turned on and then off without a leak. She turned around, "Now what did you want. Peter?" He wasn't there. "Peter!"

The sound of screeching through the open kitchen window filled the room, and the sound of a scream- a thump.

"PETER!" She dropped the towel that she was using to draw her hands, and ran outside, crashing to her knees on the front porch.

Staring at the car that hadn't stopped.

My heart thundered as I stared at my new apartment, it stretched above me, a dark and brooding place with dark windows, a cry for help. My bag was swung over my shoulder, the woman behind me with a hand on my shoulder, urging me forward before I was ready.

"Don't worry dear, your room is nice, and there is a just wonderful pool outback, for you and soon to be your lovely friends to share."

In the door we went and up the creaking, winding stairs, the hallway dark, and I could hear whimpers from behind closed doors, my door at the end of the hall covered in marks, a folder on the outside. It swung open with a slight push, the bed in the corner looked soft, the pillows a light gray, and the only window let in a glow, casting in on the dust on the floor.

Then the door locked behind me and I swung, my eyes wide, a scream escaping my lips.

"It's not my fault, I didn't kill him, let me goooooo!" but there was nothing, not a sound.

I should have stayed in my pool, with the body of my dead fiancé. I rather would have stayed in the pool and down, so I didn't have to watch him leave.

“Let me out! Let me out!”

“You’re staying in your room until you calm down. Then I’ll feed you.”

That’s what I told her. I know I didn’t word it very well, and I wanted to apologize, but I was beginning to get upset.

My back hurt.

I walked away from April’s door, which I had locked because of her tantrum, and led my way over to the kitchen. I’m a poor man, it wasn’t a long walk. Just felt longer because of my back.

August was in the living room, waiting for her food. She was watching some old cartoon she watched all the time as a kid. I don’t remember what it’s called.

I got to the stove and turned it off. I had been fixing August (my wife, if that’s not noticeable) some eggs, and when I had returned to the kitchen I found them done.

Excellent.

I opened up the cupboard, reached in for a plate, got one down, picked up the spatula I had been using and flipped the eggs onto the plate. I got out a fork, turning off the stove in the process, and walked on over to August, who took the eggs with a slant smile.

I wish she had smiled more. That kind of thing got to me.

“You aren’t happy?” I asked.

“I’m fine,” August said.

“You don’t look fine.”

“It’s just been a hard, long day,” she told me.

“What’s all gone on?”

“Some stuff happened at work. And April..” Her voice trailed off a little. I knew how she felt.

“It’s going to be alright. Really. Some children take adoption better than others, but they all come around eventually. As long as we treat them the way they should be treated and raise them well, that is.”

“Adoption,” August remarked, and sighed just after. “Listen, Josh, what kind of life can this be?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not happy with this.” She wasn’t talking about the eggs I made her.

“Look, it’s going to be okay.”

“What part of this is okay?”

“There’s nothing wrong with keeping April,” I told her.

“Adoption..”

It was then that I noticed her face had turned red, and once I had studied her enough to notice, she had turned off the television and set her plate of eggs down on the coffee table in front of the couch.

She stood up.

“You’re not going to eat those?” I asked her.

“I’m suddenly not very hungry anymore.”

I went to say something, I think was going to try and sit her down and have her finish the food I made, but she walked off back into the bedroom we share, and I let her go.

I would’ve gotten mad had she said anything else. Anything complaining. But she didn’t and so after she left, I sighed and scratched my head, and then I picked up the fork and the plate of eggs and I walked over to April’s door.

—

I picked up April a few days ago. She’s new to the house and must come from a family with violent tendencies. If I had known that I wouldn’t have picked her up, but she’s living in the little guest bedroom that had stayed empty for quite some time now. August and I had a kid before, back when August was happy. Happy with me and our marriage.

Since we got kids, she’s acted like a completely different person. I don’t know what it is about it.

I thought she was supposed to agree with what I say. I thought she was supposed to want kids.

Oh well, she still loves me.

April’s got dark hair and nice green eyes. She’s a pre-teen, I think around 12 years old.

She was nice originally, since I’ve brought her home it seems her personality has changed quite a bit. I don’t know what to make of it, in the sense of not knowing exactly how to handle that sort of thing.

Martha (our kid a few years ago) didn’t act out half as much as April does. I guess some girls are different than others.

I miss Martha.

I wish April could come around and make up to me, I’ve always wanted a kid. August has never wanted a child.

I’ve always wanted a kid.

—

I knocked on April’s door. No response.

I knocked again.

“Hello, anyone home?” Just some playful fun on my part.

“I’m here,” April responded coldly.

I don’t like when people speak to me as if I’m a bother, especially when I’m trying to do something for them. I sighed and opened her door.

April looked disheveled, her hair a mess. You could tell she had had a large tantrum just from the look of her. She had this crazed look in her eyes that could turn so swiftly into tire.

I didn’t want to disturb her, and I didn’t want her mad at me. I just wanted to give her some food.

My back hurt still.

I walked over to her, she sitting up in bed as if in a bit of alert, and set down the plates of eggs next to her.

“Would you like some salt and pepper?”

“No,” she said. And that was all.

“Anything else I can get you?”

“No.”

I wanted her to actually talk to me, or at least act like she liked me. Those one-word answers of hers were bothering me.

“Don’t you say anything else?”

“I hate you,” she responded.

That’s when I got mad.

I had contained myself for so long. It’s easy to understate how long my patience lasts. But I can’t be told that I’m hated.

Not when my body hurts.

“You know what,” I told her, “you’re lucky I’m feeding you at all.”

And then all the dirty things I could ever think to say came through.

“You should be nicer to me. I don’t have to feed you. I do so much for you and for my wife and both of you seem to not care for me. You know what? You’re lucky you’re alive. Yeah, I said it. And if it bothers you so much being here you should put up a fight or something. I’ve wanted a kid for so long, you better start acting right.”

I paused for a moment.

“My wife and I had a kid once. She’s dead because she didn’t listen. Don’t let you be next. You understand that?”

“I just want to go home,” April said, and then she began to cry. “Why me?”

“I’ve always wanted a kid,” I told her. “I wouldn’t go out of my way to kidnap one if I didn’t!”

I had had enough. I knew I shouldn’t have said half the things I did, but in that moment, that had no chance of processing through me. How could it? I was upset.

August must’ve heard me because she started playing music so she could drown out the noise from me yelling.

I turned, left April’s room, shut the door and locked it. I didn’t want to say anything else.

I went into the living room, walked past it, and started into my bedroom. August turned off the music when I came in. She’s an okay wife, at least she knows when to turn the music down.

I hopped in next to her, gave her a kiss, and went to sleep. I needed to, I had such a long day.

I woke up a few times throughout the night due to the pain in my back, but most of the night ran smooth.

When I got up in the morning, I went to kiss August awake.

She wasn’t there.

Two young girls holding hands

Hiding from a world that won't understand

Being kids and hoping for change

They continued hiding their pain

Two teen girls still in love

Find themselves covered in blood

Black and blue and red and cut

Living would never be enough

Two young women try to hide

But one girl's father discovered the lie

He made her take a final breath

Forced into a waltz with death

One young woman filled with rage

Decided it was time to turn the page

A father dead and sacrifice made

That one woman join the other in the grave

Two dead women finally free

Able to thrive where no one can see

Eternal flames light their path

Hope you do nothing to invoke their wrath

Those who beat and hate

Cannot escape their fate

Two ghost cry

And never die

Staring into the blackness of my cold room, letting the overwhelming smell of autumn blow into my room through the open window. Late November, seasons changing, I could've sworn my room was getting colder by the second. I couldn't sleep, I wouldn't sleep. Nightmares terrorize me on nights where I slowly drift off. I heard my door slowly creek open as a black shadow appeared in the doorway. I slowly pulled my head under the 5 blankets I put on my bed as a precaution to monsters getting to me. Just enough to where I could see. A flashlight clicked and I saw it was just my mother coming in. I sighed a very exasperated sigh. To my surprise my mother rushed over and put her hand over my mouth. She haded me a note that read "They are coming, get in your closet and make no noise." I nodded my head spinning with everything that could be wrong, I felt like I was going to throw up. My mother shut my window slowly and quietly, as I grabbed a blanket and hid in the closet. My mother came in and joined me. She handed me another note, "She's here, she looks like me, DON'T be fooled, she's here to kill us." I stared at the note in confusion and worry, who? What? Why?

"Who's afte-" I started before my mom slapped her hand over my mouth. Little did I know it was too late. In fact, we never were safe.

My door creaked again as silent tears started streaming down my face, I something something shine out of the corner of my eye as my mother clicked off the flashlight.

A voice that sounded like my mom said, "Honey! I think someone broke in, are you safe?!"

I heard my light switch as a small bit a light leaked into the closet. I saw my mom smiling as she slowly pulled out a knife. I had to bite my tongue to keep myself quiet.

"Sorry, your too late, oh by the way, I'M the imitator, she's your mom," Slowly she morphed back into a terrifying form of many people, like they had all been smashed into one, any person she could find. Blood at the seems of different skin colors, and a missing eye. "You have such pretty eyes y'know? I'll have to be careful while removing them, wouldn't want to ruin their color." With that she reached over as I tried to push open the doors and started carving out my eye. I screamed, over and over and slowing down from losing so much blood.

Searing pain all over my body even though only my head was being affected. She finally finished me off with a slit to the throat. So as my last thoughts I'm warning you.

1.Lock your door and shut your window.

2. Don't. Trust. Anyone.

3. Pray they don't come for you next.

I'm always in favor of talking and learning about people's beliefs and philosophies. It's a great way to learn about one and other, and hopefully understand each other a little better. I've asked these questions before, and I've received some interesting answers. So here are a series of questions. Fill free to answer.

1) Do you believe that an atheist like me deserves to burn in Hell? How do you feel about the concept of Hell? Do you believe that a person can only go to Heaven if they do good deeds or have to accept Christ as their savior? If you believe that a person that is not a Christian or doesn’t accept Jesus Christ as their lord and savior automatically goes to Hell to pay for their sins, then do you believe that Anne Frank is burning in Hell right now? What about Gandhi? Do you believe that Jeffery Dahmer, America’s most notorious serial killer, is in Heaven now after he converted to Christianity during his prison sentence?

2) How do you feel about homosexuality and same sex marriage? If you're against them both, without referencing the Bible, what’s your reason? If you're supportive of both, do other Christians you know feel the same? If not, why do you still hang out with them? Have any friends or family members who are gay/lesbian? And how many of them consider you a friend?

3) How old would you say the Earth is? If you say it's 6000 years, what’s your solid evidence that suggests that (again, without referencing the Bible)? What about evolution? Do you believe/support that too? If you disagree, what's your evidence against it (again, without referencing the Bible)? If agree, why do you feel some Christians won't accept scientific evidence? If they can accept that a Creator made the whole universe, can’t they make room for accepting the fact that both Earth and the universe are billions of years old?

4) According to the Bible, God has committed numerous acts of violence against humanity, from the Great Flood to the 10 Plagues of Egypt. So why is God still considered the "good guy"? Is God still the "good guy" if he watches children get beaten, get raped, or slowly die of cancer, and does nothing about it? What about the Devil? He technically punishes bad people for their sins. Why is he labeled the bad guy?

5) How do you feel knowing that there are Christian extremists out there right now that promote violence, bigotry, ignorance, and intolerance? How do you feel about televangelists who scam and rob money from their followers? How do you feel about Church groups that try to cover up sexual abuse? How did you feel when right-wing Christian extremists stormed the Capital Building on January 6th? If all these actions that these people who identify themselves as "Christians" make you upset, why do you still hold onto your faith?

Thank you for your time.

#Christianity #atheism #questions

I’ve never been the type to settle down, I’ve never felt the calling people describe to marry or have kids. I don’t want to live forever or stay young. That isn’t the point of life. I want to see the world, and get old as I do so. Is that so wrong? The world is crap anyways, it’s all death and lack of respect.

A ship to Ireland sounds great, a plane to Russia makes me want to leave right now. I have the power to do so, with the stash of money my parents left, the fire that burned them to ashes and scarred me giving me a curse wrapped in the most beautiful paper. I’ve been begged, ignored bribery, and avoided death by people who have wanted my money to remove their greed. I can tell you, money only makes you more greedy. You get it and you will never have enough, I would rather spend it all on people who need it. Those who have never experienced it and don’t want it, those people who live life to its fullest and know what it is to live without worrying about the thing that affects them the most in this ruined universe.

I’ve been lied to, told my money would save a child’s life and instead gives the person a mansion. I killed that person in the dark of night. Poison soaking though their black heart until the blood that filled it could no longer support the hardened rock.

But because if everything I have done, most have backed off. Fake charity’s disappeared, and those who needed the money got it. I would like to say I’m the kind to not brag, but hundreds of children have found homes under my watch, cancer has gotten that much closer to being cured, and hospitals finally have enough equipment and staff to safe dozens of more lives.

Yet the money never ends, it hasn’t corrupted me yet, and I hope to keep it that way. Sometimes I wonder if life would be easier... if it wasn’t a thing at all.

Chapter Two ~ Liam

“Addy! Evan was so cool at our date last night. He even ordered food I liked!”

I smiled. Twelve-year-old drama was so entertaining. I knew they would break up within a matter of weeks. Did Addy know how loud her FaceTime was? “So Evan is hot, but you know who is hotter?” Alice continued. “Liam!”

Addy stayed silent for a moment before saying, “Like my brother Liam?”

“Duh!” My face lit up red. To embarrass Addy, (like big brothers are supposed to), I got up from my chair, went out into the hallway, and knocked on Addy’s door.

The only response was hysteric giggles from Addy, and a whispered, “I think he heard you!” Before she bursted into laughter.

“WHAT?!” The dial tone of an ending call sounded. I chuckled. Twelve year olds.

I walked away from her room and went downstairs, only to freeze as my phone buzzed in my pocket. I whipped it out and checked my texts.

I felt a rush of adrenaline as I saw that Jade had texted me. It said:

Jade <3 - 9:47 a.m.

Hey, Liam. Sorry about that. Parents grounded me—you know how they are. I snuck my phone out to text this, so I won’t be able to say much else. I’m fine.

Something seemed a little off. Jade rarely texted with capitalization, especially not if she was in a rush. But it’s fine. She’s okay, and that’s all that matters. I responded with:

Me - 9:48 a.m.

okay then, do you know when youre gonna be allowed to get out of the house?

Jade <3 - 9:49 a.m.

Idk. I’m fine tho. Mom said it would be a while.

“Mom”? I thought, slightly concerned. Jade never called her mother “Mom”. It was always by her first name, Sheri. She didn’t have enough respect for her parents to call them “Mom” or “Dad”. But it was fine. She was in a rush, and the word “Mom” was shorter than “Sheri”. Just to be safe, I added:

Me - 9:51 a.m.

you sure youre okay? you never text with caps

Jade <3 - 9:51 a.m.

one sec, I’ll facetime you.

A few minutes later, she FaceTimed me, and I accepted. “Hey, Jade! Where are you?”

She smiled, showing her white, perfectly-straight teeth. “At the park. Don’t come over, though, Sheri’s with me and she’ll freak out. Anyways, I’m fine. I have to go now, bye!” She blinked a few times, then hung up.

“Boo!”

I spun around to see Addy laughing behind me. “Addy! What are you doing?” I didn’t hide my irritation.

“Oh, nothing, one of my friends just asked me to scare you and send proof.”

“As a test to see if my looks match my personality?”

She smiled sheepishly. “Well, it is Alice, but no.”

“Doesn’t she have a boyfriend?”

“Well, I mean, she does, but she’s one of, well, those girls, y’know?”

I grinned. “Ah. I take it you’re not like other girls because you’re not boy-crazy, then?”

“Exactly!” She giggled.

Twelve-year-olds are so oblivious. “Well can you delete the recording, or at least let me see it?”

“Sure.” She pulled up the photos app and selected the most recent video. It was a recording right over my shoulder of Jade on FaceTime. Addy frowned. “Don’t you think she’s blinking weirdly? I mean, who closes their eyes for that long three times in a row?”

“Wait, replay it one more time. Slower.” As she did, I noticed Jade was blinking in…a sort of pattern? And…sending an S.O.S message!

“Addy…that’s morse code. That’s an S.O.S message. Jade is in trouble.” I tried to keep my voice calm, but my mind was racing.

Her eyebrows shot up. “Really? Let’s go to her house!” With that, she flung open the front door and sprinted out.

“Addy, wait!” I charged after her, closing the door behind me, and raced along the sidewalk.

Naturally, since I was faster, I caught up and grabbed her arm, slowing her down. She pulled away, but, being five years older than her, I won the wrestle.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I demanded, releasing her. As if on cue, a fat raindrop landed on my nose, followed by a few more. “You think you can walk all the way to her house in this weather?”

“We have to help her, Liam! She’s in danger!”

I took a deep breath so I wouldn’t explode on her. “Adelaide, you don’t know that. You can’t just run out of the house without warning. I don’t know what happened to her, but if something's out there, I can’t have it doing something to you, okay?”

She rolled her eyes. “Nothing’s going to happen to me. I’m fine. You—”

“If Jade really is in danger, something must’ve happened to her on the way back to her house. If something could kidnap Jade, what do you think it could do to a little twelve-year-old like you?”

“I’m not little!”

Tween girls and their lack of respect! “I’ll drive, okay? But you’re not coming with me.”

Her jaw dropped. “What?! I have to come! Jade’s not just your girlfriend, you know, she’s like a sister to me.”

“Fine,” I hissed, turning around and stalking back to my car, though making sure I heard her footsteps following me.

By the time we reached our driveway, my hair was plastered to my forehead and my clothes were soaked in the hammering rain. I swung open the car door and got in. Addy got in the passenger’s seat.

“Get out,” I ordered. “You’re too young to sit in the front seat.”

“I’m 5’3! That’s well over the minimum!”

“Well, maybe I just don’t want to talk to you right now. Get in the back.” Grumbling, she obeyed. She’s lucky I’m even letting her come with me.

Gritting my teeth, I drove to Jade’s house, closer to the center of the city. The godawful noise of the windshield wipers and thundering rain only infuriated me further. Eventually, we pulled up to Jade’s apartment.

I parked the car, while Addy tried to run inside. “Walk! Don’t be suspicious!” I hissed.

She reluctantly slowed down for me to catch up. We walked inside the sliding doors into a small lobby. I only knew this was Jade’s apartment building when she would point it out while driving by and from picking her up for dates. Jade and I go back to seventh grade together. We became friends after she defended me from some bullies, (little do they know, I’m getting all the girls in high school), then towards the end of tenth grade we got together. It was crazy to think we were already going into senior year.

It seemed like the elevator was taking forever to arrive, so we ended up just running up the stairs. When we reached Jade’s floor, I forced myself to slow down as I searched for her apartment number. When I finally found it, I noticed an eviction notice taped on the front as well.

“What’s that?” Addy asked, pushing past me and standing on her tip-toes to get a good look at the sign.

“It’s an eviction notice. It means they didn’t pay their rent. They’re getting kicked out soon if they don’t pay up.” I pulled out my phone and texted Jade.

Me 10:27 a.m.

there's an eviction notice on your front door. are you okay??

Jade <3 10:28 a.m.

why are you at my apartment?!? mom’s gonna kill me if she sees you there >:(

Me 10:28 a.m.

bc i care abt u and u weren’t acting right earlier?

Jade <3 10:28 a.m.

i mean like i said earlier im at the park. don’t come.

“What did she say?”

“Geez, Addy!” She was hovering over my shoulder, and she practically screamed right into my ear. “She didn’t really answer the question, just got mad at me for coming here, which,” I added, with a meaningful look at Addy, “was your idea.”

She rolled her eyes. “You went along with it. I’m just an innocent minor, ya know. I’m not even old enough to watch Ironman. You’re almost an adult—you’re the one in charge.”

“And you still do—behind Mom’s back, I might add.”

“Well you let me watch it, so if you rat me out, you’re getting in trouble too.”

I laughed. “Touché.”

“Okay, well let’s meet her at the park.”

“God, Addy, she said not to. I don’t want our actions to make Sheri punish Jade further.”

She grabbed my arm and unsuccessfully pulled on it. “She sent an S.O.S.! That’s really bad! If you were so worried about her not responding, maybe you should be a little worried now that she's told you she's actually in danger?!” Addy made a good point. If I was so worried about her not responding, I should be more worried now than ever.

“But what if she didn’t want us to go wherever she is because maybe someone has her and they would hurt her if we arrive?”

Addy took a moment to think. “You’re right, but we should still go. We just need to figure out a way to do it carefully.”

“If someone does have her, what if she isn’t actually at the park?” I panicked.

Addy pulled out her phone and we watched the video again, she definitely wasn’t at the park—our public park didn’t have as many trees and it didn’t have nobody else around? It was always completely packed!

“Then we need to go. Come on!”

Addy dashed down the hallway and into the elevator. Cursing, I followed her. Why did she always have to do things without thinking twice? She stepped out on the first floor and sprinted towards where our car was parked.

Normally, I wouldn’t run after her if I knew she was just going to the car. But this was a city. And cities were no place for a little girl to run around alone in. I begrudgingly jogged after her. Not super close—no point in spending extra energy—but close enough to make sure she didn’t get kidnapped or something.

“Unlock the car!” she yelled at me. I grinned, purposely not unlocking the car until I meandered over, as a sort of “payback” for Addy’s reckless running.

I opened the front door and hopped in as Addy got in the back, then drove away back to the house.

As we passed the park on the way, Addy yelled, “Hey, what are you doing? You missed it!”

“We’re going home,” I growled through gritted teeth.

She dug her heels into the back of my seat. “Stop the car! Stop it! Stop!”

“Shut up!” I yelled, gripping the wheel as she continued to kick my seat. “Do you want me to crash this car?!”

“I want you to go to the park! Jade could get murdered and it’ll be all you fault! If she dies because we don’t save her I’ll never forgive you!”

The rain suddenly pounded harder against the glass. “I’m supposed to be watching you—protecting you—while our parents are gone. If someone dies, don’t you dare blame someone else, okay? If someone is going through a loss, you do not blame them. That makes you an asshole.”

She muttered something under her breath, but I couldn’t distinguish what she said over the thundering rain. Why can’t tweens, especially the one that I got landed with as a sister, understand basic things?!

It was getting hard to see through the dense rain, and the second the windshield wipers got rid of it, raindrops instantly replaced it and blurred the windshield. I slowed the car, not wanting to crash.

“Go faster!” Addy screamed. “The sooner we get home, the sooner we investigate, and the sooner we can call the fricking police!”

If it was even possible, the rain got louder. “Addy, I can’t see twenty feet in front of me, and you want me to go faster?!”

“You’re so selfish! You want to save yourself instead of saving Jade!”

“Technically, I’m also saving you! Brat!”

“I don’t care, because I’m not selfish like you! I actually care about Jade!”

“I’m selfish for not wanting to crash?!” My voice rose and went high pitched. “Sorry for caring about myself and my own sister. Plus, if we do crash, we won’t be able to save Jade!”

“Are you crying?”

I jumped as I heard the voice coming from my right, and glanced over to see Addy’s head peering past my seat. “Sit back. It’s not safe to lean so far forward. Also, no I’m not i—it’s raining, that’s why.”

Addy glared at me. “Yeah, raining in the car, no shit.”

I audibly gasped a joke. “Addy! Language!”

“I’m in fucking middle school, for fuck’s sake. People my age try to see how many damn cuss words they can fit in a single fucking sentence!”

“Don’t you dare say that in front of Mom and Dad. They’ll kill you. And me. They’ll think I’m cursing in front of you.”

“First of all, it’s not think. You do cuss in front of me—or at least today you have—and I’m not stupid, stupid. I hear worse walking through the hallway in school, anyway.”

“Okay, whatever. Just shut up so I can focus on driving.”

She started humming, then sang, “We’re no strangers to love… You know the rules, and so do I…”

“You little shit.”

Chapter One ~ Adelaide

I swung my pencil around in a big arc, drawing flames devouring a forest. I had to draw a forest fire awareness poster for my school environmental club. Alice, my best friend, who was also in the club, had helped write the text, but I was in charge of the drawing; being the best one in the group, it had been a unanimous decision.

“Addy? Hello?”

I jerked my head up. I had forgotten I was on FaceTime with Alice. “Sorry, what?”

“I was saying, Evan is cute. And he asked me out. What do I say?”

“Dude, you’re in sixth grade.”

I could almost hear the grin in her voice. “Almost seventh. Plus, he was the one that asked me. How can I just turn down an opportunity like that?”

“I—I mean okay, I guess?” I was little jealous, but I tried not to let it show. I had to agree. Evan was hot—curly blond hair that tumbled over his blue eyes, a perfect jawline, and 5’7, which was tall for our age. Not that I thought about it, but I was pretty sure he had abs, too.

“But, Addy, get this: Jonathan asked Sydney out, and she turned him down. What a brat, am I right?”

Now I was even more jealous. Jonathan was hot too. He was 5’5, part Filipino, with glasses and black hair that sat neatly over his head. His skin was perfectly smooth—not that I looked at him much—and his lips were never chapped, unlike mine, which had to be drenched in chapstick all year round to stay smooth. Not only was Jonathan hot, he was super smart—the smartest in my math class.

“Addy?” Alice repeated.

“Sorry. I zoned out.”

“Every time I talk about a boy, you just stop talking. What is it? Do you like Jonathan?”

I felt blood rush to my cheeks. “Of course not! What were you saying about Sydney?”

“She rejected Jonathan. I can’t believe it, honestly. So many of us would kill to have Jonathan be interested in us.”

“But that’s fine with you, right? I mean, Evan already asked you out.”

“Yeah, over freaking text.”

“I wouldn’t complain if I were you. So many of us would kill to have him like us.”

“Guess that’s true. I can’t believe he asked me, though. Like Sydney, Sydney’s pretty. I get that. But me?”

I smiled. Alice never realized how genuinely pretty she was. She had long, silky auburn hair, way prettier than my black, stringy hair.

The door slammed open as Liam strutted in. I whipped around to face him, pretending that never happened. “Dude, what is it?”

“When did Jade leave last night? Do you know?”

“She was here? Why so late at night?” I scrunched my nose. “Ew!”

“What? ...Adelaide!” he snapped as realization struck him, but I could see the red tinged on his cheeks. He sighed. “Well, the point is, Addy, she’s not answering any of my texts. I know she left sometime after two, but it’s fu—fricking two p.m. and she hasn’t said anything to me.”

I felt a little nervous at the tone in his voice. Jade was Liam’s girlfriend, but she was like an older sister to me and Dennis. She spent more time with us than with her own family, because her parents weren’t exactly the nicest.

“Are you sure maybe she's not just, I don’t know. Maybe she’s just sleeping since she got home so late?” I tried to assure him.

He shook his head. “She never sleeps in, especially not until two p.m. Even when she’s tired, she wakes up at the crack of dawn.”

“Would you two just shut up?!” Dennis’s irritated voice came from the hallway.

Liam turned his head to look over his shoulder. “Sorry that I’m concerned about my girlfriend, Dennis.”

“Sorry that your girlfriend is sleeping in and you’re so worried! Idiot…” Dennis shot back, appearing in my room’s doorway.

Liam rolled his eyes. Before either of them could say anything, I butted in. “Just give it a day or two. She’s probably just busy.”

“Yeah, too busy for her boyfriend,” Liam mumbled

“Oh shut up,” I said as he walked out of the room. Dennis got one good kick at my door frame before walking off.

Despite my reassurance to Liam, I couldn’t shake the worried feeling that maybe Jade wasn’t okay. Jade was like an older sister to me, almost part of the family. But it was probably fine. Twelve hours wasn’t that long.

“Um, should I go?” Alice’s voice came from the FaceTime, making me jump.

“No, it’s fine. Sometimes siblings can be annoying, y’know? Also, don’t worry Liam’s girlfriend sometimes just sleeps in and Liam won’t accept the fact she is fine. Same thing if she just needs a day away.” But as I said that, I knew Jade never went longer than overnight or a few hours without texting Liam, especially if he texted first.

“Anyways…”

I wrapped myself tighter in my blanket. The thunderstorm outside continued to rage on. Rain splattered against the window so violently I thought it might shatter. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to get to sleep, but I just couldn’t. The rain was too loud.

Silently, I slipped out of bed and went over to turn my light on, but when I flipped the switch, nothing happened. Great, the lightbulb burnt out again. I didn’t want to bug anyone, so I just sighed and went to turn on the hall light, when I saw a tall, dark figure walk down the hallway towards me. I screamed and leapt backwards, only to realize it was Liam.

He chuckled. “Is your power out too?”

“Yeah.”

Dennis’s yell came from his room. “Can you two just shut up?! I’m trying to sleep! You’re—” I didn’t hear the last part, because as he spoke, a gust of wind shook the house, drowning him out.

“I don’t think we’re much louder than the storm,” Liam grumbled. There was no response from Dennis.

He turned back to me. “I’m just worried about Jade. What if she didn’t make it home, and now she has to deal with this awful storm?”

“She definitely made it home. It’s been almost twenty-four hours. If she didn’t, we’d have bigger problems to worry about than her getting a little wet,” I told him. “Anyways, I’m going to turn on the fire so we have some light. I don’t think there’s a chance of getting back to sleep.”

I went downstairs and made my way over to the fireplace. As I flicked on the switch, the fire spluttered to life, burning a bright orange. I had always thought fire was beautiful, even if it could be so dangerous. It was mesmerizing to watch,‌ like a bright, dancing kindle of life.

“Addy?”

I jumped, startled by the noise, and accidentally bumped a shelf next to me. An old book sailed down from the top shelf - straight towards the fire. As quickly as I could, I shot my hand out and seized the book right before it reached the flames. But as I curled my fingers around it, a flame shot up and surrounded my hand for a split second. I shrieked and jerked my hand backward.

“Adelaide!” Liam screamed. Thunder shook the house. His footsteps thrummed behind me. “What the hell do you think you were doing?!”

Shaking, I looked down at my hand and opened it, surprised at how little it hurt. The book was clearly burned, the corners black and curled. The pages were now stiff, and a few were missing. But my hand was unchanged. Not even red. It had been even closer to the fire than the book had been.

Liam stared at my hand. I glanced at him. He looked confused, but then shook his head. “You got lucky. Don’t do something stupid like that again. It’s still two weeks until Mom and Dad are back, I don’t need you getting hurt under my care! You know they would kill me!”

“I didn’t mean to! You were the one who scared me!”

He narrowed his eyes. “I meant when you tried to grab the book.”

I looked down. “Sorry, it was just reflexes.”

“Well learn to control them. Now go back to your room. I’m not letting you do anything with fire on your own for a while,” he said, glaring at me.

I knew there was no arguing with him. He flicked off the switch for the fireplace, and I went back up to my room. As the storm continued to rage on, I buried myself under the covers and tried my best to go to sleep.

Prologue

The moon glinted behind the wispy clouds as Jade ambled back to her house. She squinted her eyes, staring at the moonlit road beside her. It was the dead of night, but there should have been at least some cars, right?

She shook her head. It was nothing big. And yet, she still couldn’t rest her unease as she continued to hear her footsteps echo across the alleyway. All the lights in the surrounding buildings were off.

Twirling her long, silky black hair with one finger, she hummed lightly to herself, desperate to break the silence. She didn’t even realize that her pace had been quickening until she had broken into a run, even though she knew nothing bad would happen. Though the stories of young women like her being kidnapped filled her mind, she knew that would never happen to her. This road was safe.

Yet, if that was true, then what was that shadow looming in a corner ahead of her? No, it’s just a trashcan or something. But maybe it wasn’t. Even at her sprint, she accelerated, feeling the hair on the back of her neck rise. Nothing bad is going to happen! I’ve taken this route a million times before. But not this late, she knew.

And as the hand seized her, no one heard her scream echo around the block.