Chapter 1 by Fathiah Zarafi

I still couldn't shake off that dream state I was feeling even as my body rattled against the wall of the plane. My eyes were bloodshot from all the tears I've been shedding and my hair was a tangled mess yet I couldn't care less about the looks people have been shooting towards me. I was too numb to feel anything.

"We are now approaching Augusta Regional Airport. Please place your tray in its normal position and straighten up your chairs."

I didn't bother suppressing my groans upon hearing those words. I was losing everything—scratch that, I have lost everything in just one week. My father, my sisters, my home, my identity. As I closed my eyes, I could still smell the bloodbath and I could still see their bodies mutilated in my own house. These images kept replaying in an endless loop in my mind, rendering me insomniac for the past 5 days. Who in their right mind would sleep when their family was murdered viciously and they were the only witness? My hands trembled as I recalled cradling my father's body in my lap, his blood soaking my dress. Fresh tears that I didn't know I was still capable of producing ran down my cheeks at the images of my sisters' naked bodies slashed on various places, their eyes glassy and mouth agape as if pleading for their lives.

I was shook out of my thoughts when the plane landed rather roughly, jolting me out of my seat. The harsh shrieking of the tires reminded me of the moment I screamed when I stumbled upon my father lying in his own pool of blood, gasping for air. Not too long after that, I heard footsteps approaching the master bedroom where I found them in. Panicking, I quickly shut myself inside a cupboard, praying that I wouldn't be their next victim.

From the little crack between the doors, I saw two men wearing ski masks over their heads, one blue and one red. Blue pulled Dad roughly by the hair and whispered something in his ear that made Dad begged shamelessly. The next thing I know, Blue nodded to Red and he handed him an axe. Soon, the room was filled with Dad's screams. I nearly bit my tongue off to stop myself from myself from wailing. I pressed my fists to my mouth in order to muffle my sobs.

"Welcome to Augusta Regional Airport. Please do not take off your seatbelts until the plane has safely parked. Thank you for flying with American Airlines."

My numb hands unbuckled the metal flaps and I reached for my luggage in the overhead compartment. As I staggered into the airport for the first time, the wave of emotions washing over me nearly buckled me to my knees. Here I was, all alone in a strange airport some 2675 miles away from home. I flopped down on a cold metal bench while waiting for my new family to pick me up. I was placed under the Witness Protection Program to avoid being the next victim. They relocated me to a small town in Maine under the care of complete strangers.

"Adele, sweetheart? Is that you?"

My gaze shot up to see a rather plump woman wrapped up in a thick woolen coat smiling down at me. My name was Allyson, now Adele. The woman with lemon-tainted hair was now my new aunt, smiling ever so softly at me. With shaky knees, I hauled to my feet and greeted Mary Anne.

"Hi, Mrs. Dehart," I croaked out. My voice sounded like a sad symphony of zephyr, so alien to my ears.

"Oh sweetie, you can call me Mary Anne," she chimed, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder, "Come, let's go to the car. We're so excited to have you in our care."

I trailed behind her with my luggage dragging behind me. As soon as I stepped outside, a wave of freezing air hit me instantly causing shivers to run down my spine. Today was late January yet the surrounding chilled me down to my bones. I pulled my windbreaker tighter around my body as I fastened my steps to catch up with the woman I now have to call Aunt.

I was jerked out of my thoughts when Mary Anne stopped abruptly in front of me, nearly causing me to topple over her. The woman waved her mitten-clad hand in the air. Just as I thought that the government had sent me under the care a crazy woman, an old red pick up truck parked in front of them. My gaze landed on the boy driving the rusty metal, probably around my age.

His blonde hair was wild when he climbed out of the truck. I averted my gaze when his blue eyes met mine.

"So you must be Adele," he greeted, "My name's Tristan."

I flashed him a smile which I hope was convincing but the sound of him clearing of his throat rather uncomfortably, I suspected otherwise. Tristan hauled my luggage onto the truck before climbing back inside.

"Do get in, dear," Mary Anne offered gently as she held open the rusty door. Without a word, I slid on the bench until I was stuck between Tristan and Mary Anne.

With a noisy rumble from the engine, we were off to wherever my new house is. As Tristan pulled into a highway, I couldn't help my wandering mind.

I muffled my screams as my father was being murdered in front of me. My teary eyes were suddenly blinded by a sudden light when the doors of the cupboard I was hiding in were torn open.

"Well, well, look at what we have here," Red sneered. Blue quickly pushed him out of the way and before I could react, he had me hauled on my feet. My shouts went unheard as they both laughed at me.

"We nearly missed one of Baldy's daughters. The prettiest one, at that," Blue sneered. As he shoved his mask clad face to my neck, all I could do was whimper utterly helpless. All that was left to do was for me to surrender to my impending fate as my life flashed before my eyes.

"Lay your hands off of her."

I blinked in surprised as the familiar voice drifted across the room. Dad. Blue shoved me away, sneering at my father's form. I managed a peek from the man's body. Horror instantly washed over me at my father's state. His shirt was drenched in blood that was leaking from a gaping wound on his stomach. Father was weak yet he faced the man bravely, clutching a crowbar in his fist.

"I thought I've killed you, old man," Blue growled. Father's gaze landed on me briefly before squaring his shoulders.

"Not even death can stop me from protecting my daughter."

Blue smiled menacingly as Red joined him, closing the distance between them. Father threw me a small smile as he mouthed those three unmistaken words. I love you. My lips trembled and tears spilled from my eyes when the two men began beating up Father again. While I didn't want to leave him alone, I knew I had to get out of here fast. Father's sacrifice will not be in vain.

With that thought, I sprinted from the room when the two men were distracted. I heard one of them roaring profanities just as I stepped out of the house. I wasn't surprised to find my neighborhood empty, seeing it was 2 in the morning.

So I ran. I ran and ran, never glancing back. Whenever I thought I heard footsteps behind me, I would push my legs faster than I ever thought I could. It wasn't long before I found myself next to the main road that leads to the city. My legs were numb from the running so I collapsed unceremoniously onto the dirt ground.

I didn't know what to do; my whole family was dead and the murderers are after me now. My eyes stared blankly at the road as I curled up in a ball, wishing the earth could open up and swallow me. I wasn't aware of how much time went by; the next thing I knew, a police cruiser stopped near the site where I was laying. Worried questions were thrown at me when they saw the bloodstains on my dress.


"Adele?"

My head snapped to my left. Tristan was staring at me with what could be interpreted as worry in his eyes.

"We're here," he announced. As I got out of the cramped truck, I saw a small red-brick house in the middle of a quiet neighborhood. Tristan had parked on the narrow driveway which barely fitted the rusty truck. He hauled my luggage while I kept glancing around the new place. Just a few paces down the road was a long building, some of its paints already pealing off the walls. Tristan followed my gaze and smiled.

"That's our high school," he informed, "you're in what, ninth grade?"

"Tenth," I corrected him automatically, cringing unconsciously at the thought of going to that school. It looked like it could be a place where alcoholics anonymous would gather for their weekly meetings. Tristan must've sensed my thoughts as he suddenly clamped a large hand on my shoulder and laughed.

"Don't worry, Adele. Though it looks like a homeless shack from the outside, our school is better in the inside—only slightly but still better," he grinned. I only managed a polite nod and a small smile before hastily grabbing my luggage.

Tristan trailed behind me when Mary Anne began ushering us inside, muttering about the freezing weather outside. Once safely inside, I followed Mary Anne to where my new room would be. The house was small so I wasn't too surprised to find my room a little miniature. The floor was covered in almond carpeting and the walls were painted simple apricot. The furniture was simple too; I noted when I let my gaze wander. A single bed was in the middle of the room, a dresser opposite it and a desk in front of the window.

"It's nothing fancy but I hope this room will do," Mary Anne spoke. I replied her smile with a nod and dragged my luggage behind me.

"You can rest first dear, while I prepare dinner. You must be exhausted," she continued.

"Thank you," I whispered before Mary Anne left. I sat gingerly on the bed, fingering the lavender quilt beneath me. My suitcase was dumped at the foot of my bed as I laid down, not bothering to take off my boots.

I didn't want to undress, I didn't want to unpack. Most of all, I didn't want to live at a rural neighborhood with complete strangers. I wanted to be with my father and my sisters. I wanted my life back.

"Save me," I breathed into the air. My hands fished in my windbreaker's pocket which I had abandoned on the floor for those tablets that helped me to sleep. I popped a couple of pills before resting my head on the pillow once more. The faces of my family were the last thing I saw before falling into a dreamless sleep.