1 Chapter 1

~ Marge

MY SIXTEEN year old self is sitting on the living room couch, gawking at the door, waiting for my parents. It is unusual for them to be back from work, the sun has set and the did not pick me up from school today. The worst part is that it's my birthday today. I had to wall home and use a spare key that is always carry with me.

I have this feeling that something is not right, I can't describe it, but it's definitely not pleasant. My heart starts beating like a drum, as if it is terrified, like the devil is about to make an appearance. Sweat beings to be evident on my face and starts to drip down my neck. I lose control of my breathing and a panic attack arises, it's like something in me wants to lash out. Keys on the other side of the door start to jiggle and the cracking sound of the door echoes throughout the whole house.

I shoot up from the couch as if my butt is on fire and I rush towards the door only to be greeted by my uncle, who by the way looks so beaten down, remorseful even.

"Uncle Mariko, what's wrong? Where's mamma and papa?" I ask him, my eyebrows knitted together, confused as to why he would wear such an expression.

He keeps quite for a while, then responds quietly, "Child, please bring me a glass of water and only then I will answer your questions."

I make my way to the kitchen without a second thought. I take a water bottle from the fridge, I pour the water into a glass and add a few ice tubes. I walk back to the living room, I hand him the glass of water and sit down as he gulps the ice-cold water as if he is in desperate need of it.

"Where's mamma and papa?"

"It's all my fault," he mumbles with a hoarse voice

"What's your fault, uncle Mariko?"

"It is my fault that they are dead, Victoria. My fault!" he shouts

"They are dead?"

"They were killed by Shadows - dangerous beings they are - when they were on their way to pick you up from school." he says with a hard look on his face as his lips turn into a snarl

"Shadows, uncle? Really?" This man is bat-shit crazy

"Yes. I know that you think that I'm crazy, I'm not. All you need to understand is that your parents are no more."

His words echo in my head as I try to comprehend what he just said. My parents are dead. They are gone, I'm alone. What kind of cruelty is this? It now makes sense; I had this feeling that something was wrong and it felt like a part of my soul was dying. Tears stream down my face as I scream all the rage out.

***

"You said that they were killed by shadows, right? What are these Shadows? Aside from what their name suggest?" I ask him hours later, after throwing a massive tantrum.

"They are just dangerous, that's all you need to know. I don't want you to be involved in this." he replies, giving me a pointed look. I open my mouth to disagree, but he cuts me off.

"Uh-huh, Tori. Now go to your room and pack an overnight bag, we will be coming back tomorrow to get all your belongings. You will be staying with me and your Aunt Hana." he then urges me to leave for my room.

I walk back to the living room after packing my clothes, my backpack in hand.

"We can go now, uncle."

My face is wrinkled with dry tears.

"Come along now, Victoria." he responds impatiently

***

Let me introduce myself, my name is Margaret Victoria Lumbee. I'm twenty-three years old today. On this very day seven years ago my parents were murdered by the Shadows. I miss them dearly. It is said that these Shadows are soulless, animalistic beings who lurk in the darkest pits hell. They are somewhat trapped there - imprisoned - and they can't get out. So now there begs a question; how did they get out? Someone or something must have let them out, because shadows are too dumb to be able to open up a portal.

Since my sixteenth birthday I've lived in isolation. Uncle Mariko and aunt Hana are forever worrying about me. The lose of two parents is heart shattering. They say that they understand, but trust me, no one can truly understand what I've gone through. They expect me to move on and be as happy as a person can be, but how can I do that when my soul has been ripped apart and my heart shattered?

I feel incomplete.

Uncle Mariko ended up telling me at the Shadows; he suspected that there was someone - a creature to be more specific - behind the attack of my parents. Shadows merely do someone else's bidding. They are just merciless killers with no brain - literally - which makes it easier for them to be controlled. They are the children of the darkness. I will kill them all.

No here is another question; why would a person - let's assume this creature is a human, although it's highly unlikely - open a portal that restrict shadows from causing havoc on earth to only have them to kill two people? I believe that killing my parents is part of some bigger plan. I have this itching feeling that this is so much more than my parents or me, and that there is so much more that I don't know.

***

I'm woken up by my alarm. Damn I hate that shit. It's so weird, even in my sleep I'm still plotting my revenge. Anyway, I get out of bed, open the curtains and windows. I make my bed then put on my robe and walk to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I look at myself in the mirror as I brush my teeth and OMG I look horrible! My hair is plastered on my face and drool is evident. I was my face and brush my hair once I'm done brushing my teeth.

I walk to the kitchen and I'm greeted with grins from everyone except my cousin's girlfriend - Lilith -, she is evil, after all she is named after the demon of waste. Nothing, but trash. She has a snarl on her face. She has never really liked me, I don't know why because I'm so lovable. She has dug her filthy claws into my cousin's heart. She is using him and he is truly a fool in love. I warned him, but he did not listen, now he must bear with the consequences.

"Happy birthday, baby." Aunt Hana says happily

"What's so happy about it?"

I've told them several times that my birthday should not be celebrated, but no, no one listens to me.

"Oh, suck it up, birthdays are about celebrating the years as you grow." my cousin, Marcus, says.

"Can everyone just leave me the fucking hell alone!" I exclaim

Everyone gets out of the kitchen, leaving me alone. Okay, that might have been a little harsh, but they should have known better. My reaction every year is the same, so they should have learnt by now that my birthday is just a touchy subject to me. I mean my parents got killed on my birthday...

"Thank you!" I throw my hands up in the air

I get out of the kitchen and take a walk in the forest in our backyard, looking for something tasty that I can indulge myself in.