Prologue

The market is always exciting for me n’ Tobey. Cus here we can run n’ yell and laugh. There’s not nobody like Sir Championt there to tell us “shush”. After the bags get so heavy my arms can’t barely lift “em, I say to him, “I think we”re almost done”.

“Yep, “ He agrees, “you g’ see if you can find the rest whilst I goes n’ gets ur present in the store “cross the street.”

“But Tobey, you aint got no gold!” I yell, but he was already cross the street.

“I been saving” he yells, and then goes in.

I walk down the hill to the bread stand, and I”m lookin’ at what kinda bread I should get when there’s a big bang and the ground shakes. It’s real hot and I can’t see. There’s red in my eye and it’s gooey. Kinda smells like blood. It’s hot. I aint never been so hot. I can’t hear nothing “cept a ringin noise in my ears and it hurts to roll over. When I do get turned over and wipe the blood out of my eyes, I wish I never. The store Tobey went in ain’t there no more, just a big black mark. All the buildings beside are on fire and people are burning. Then I can”t see no more cus the blood’s back in my eyes.

Chapter 1

I was awoken by the sound of screaming. It was dreadfully loud, and somewhat eerie. It was a hollow, hopeless noise. It took me a moment to realize that I was the one screaming. I was shaking violently and each breath was a desperate gasp for air. One thought was impossible to shake. It was entirely my fault. The guilt ate away at my insides. Tears were forming and becoming trapped by my closed eyelids. I could hear Miss Molly and a new servant talking.

“Why’s she screaming?”

“A nightmare that’s all too real I’m afraid.”

“Should we wake her?”

“She is awake”

“You talk as if she does this all the time.”

“Every morning”

“What could have been so terrible?”

“ Six years ago her best friend died, it was her 10th birthday. Poor thing adored him. Probably even loved him. She’s never really got over it.”