"Who is she?" A boy's voice floated into my ears. I heard a girl gasp and then a second boy spoke. "I don't know, I just found her here" I opened my eyes and saw six figures huddled around me. I quickly closed my eyes when I realized how bright it was. I groaned when I tried moving as my entire body ached. This time a different boy, an older one spoke up. "Look! She's awake!" Opening my eyes I found that four of them had leaned in closer to my face. I propped myself onto my elbows and looked around at the six strangers. A variety of faces stared back at me. One boy was completely green, a zombie in a suit. Another boy had red sunglasses on. A girl with fox ears. A boy who looked like Ash from Pokemon. Two older boys were stood slightly behind them.
Little did I know how much of an impact this group of odd looking friends would have on my life. I tried to sit up, but moved too fast. Multiple hands grasped at my arms holding me up before I could fully collapse onto the sand around me. As my vision started blurring, I found myself gazing beyond them and my eyes settled on a tree. In particular, the boy sitting in the tree watching me.
Three years have passed since that day and those six strangers are now the most important people in my life.
"Autumn", my bedroom door opened slightly and a face popped around the door. "C'mon waaakeee uuuupp!" My door opened fully now and a zombie in a suit strode towards my bed. I groaned and turned my back on the intruder. "Tom, go awaaayyy, I'm tired". I heard a small laugh from behind me. "Nope. You are getting up this instance Missy, I always let you sleep in but today, today is different" I rolled back over without opening my eyes. "Yeah, well what you gonna do abo- AHH!!!" My eyes flew open and my sentence was cut off when ice cold water got thrown in my face. Tom was doubled over, laughing and at the same time slowly backing towards the door. As I threw back my duvet, he darted out of the room. "TOM FREAKING SYNDICATE GET YOUR ARSE BACK HERE NOW !!!" I stood up and chased after him. He was already halfway down the stairs, "No, do you think I'm crazy?" He laughed again. I chased him down the stairs and when arriving at the bottom I saw him disappear into the lounge.
Tom was the one that found me on the beach all those years ago. He was adamant about me staying at his house and wouldn't even let anyone else volunteer to look after me. He has acted like my big brother for so long that at times I think everyone forgets that we are not actually related.
I sigh and roll my eyes to no one in particular. "Toooom? Oh, I wonder where Tom has got to..." I heard a snicker (undoubtedly Tom) come from inside the living room and then a girl shushed him. Her voice was barley louder than a whisper, but I recognized that voice anywhere. Sonja. Wait, Sonja? Why is she here? Slowly I crept towards the living room door. Reaching out, I placed my hand on the door handle. Hmm, I guess it's time to find out what's going on. I turned the doorknob and pushed with more force than I had meant to. The door flew open to reveal, the normally bright and cheerful room in darkness. The lights were turned off and the curtains were drawn. I took a step away from the door and further into the room, reaching for the light switch. Before I could flip the lights on, the door slammed shut behind me. I spun around as the room was plunged into complete darkness. "Tom? Sonja?" I called out. Hearing someone move behind me, I turned around to face the noise. Then, I heard someone to my right, next to the light switch. Before I could react the lights flicked back on, illuminating the room once more. It took a second for my eyes to adjust, but when they did I saw something I certainly didn't expect to see.
