KATIE

Chapter 1

Sprawled out across my bed, staring at the dull paint faded ceiling in silence just like any other day.

Hopelessly wishing for something exciting to happen, knowing that I am already late for school "If you are late again, I am going to have to give you detention. There are no exceptions."

That is what my teacher Mr. Parker said, but knowing him, he will end up being lenient again. As I rise to my feet, I turn on the television, flipping through the channels. I stopped on the news channel out of curiosity, it is just a load of crap like usual.

"Two teens from Kenwood High have gone missing. 18-year-old Abby baker and 16-year-old Blake Oliver, if anyone has heard or seen anything please give this number a call" turning the TV off I come to realize both of those were people I knew and had classes with. Not thinking too much about it, I grab my things and head downstairs quietly, trying not to get caught for being home still and not at school.

As I am creeping out of the house, the old dirty worn floors constantly creek as I'm taking in the scent of old books and cigarette smoke. The ceiling has turned yellow from the constant chain smoking of my father.

"That you boy ?!?!" A thunderous voice boomed through the living room and filled the house. Knowing I was in severe trouble I slowly walked to the living room and looked at my father "you already know what to do, if you don't it'll only be worse get over here you punk!" Slowly nodding, I comply and walk over and lean over the chair in front of my father, as he goes ahead to take his belt off and I pull my pants down.

He strikes me for what seems like ages with the belt. Eventually, I became numb to the feeling, and the tears that once flowed no longer came about. "Now get to school, you little shit if you're not going to go, stop wasting my money!"

My father, Charles, swings his hand over me and grabs a bottle of liquor and starts to chug it, and goes back to watching television, not even worrying about work, or finding work.

I'm drying up the rest of the tears and slowly getting up. Trying not to move too much because of the pain and the numbness of my legs, I slowly start.

Leaving the house, you wouldn't think anything would happen in this town, it's a small rural area with a population of barely 200 to 300 people. This quiet hell hole is known as crimson hollow. Nothing really happens here. The biggest thing here is our theme park, and even then, it's not as big as most out there. It really doesn't even come close to anything like Disney, but to us who live here it's just enough.

Walking down the steps of the front porch, the first step creeks just like the rugged old wooden floors inside the house. The tall grass in the yard came up to about my waist, and our mailbox was held together with duct tape from where it had been hit. Walking past it

Continuing my way down the street to school, I couldn't help but notice that not many people were out today. Usually, everyone by this time is crowding the roads and sidewalks, but for some reason, on this very disgustingly humid and sweaty day, no one was outside. Not even an argument is happening, which is usually normal here. "What are you doing, their buddy "

I turned quickly as the voice sounded familiar to see who was talking to me. And it was Katie, Katie was a schoolmate of mine, she had long jet-black hair and wore red glasses and usually baggy or clothes that covered her arms and legs with a red bow in her hair and silver eyes. "Hey Katie, I didn't see you there. How long have you been behind me?" I asked Katie Giggles a bit while adjusting her glasses "Oh I've just been strolling along behind you for a few minutes not too long" she said my eyes crinkle a little bit and I raise an eyebrow at her as if to say "Really? Is that the truth? "But of course, knowing Katie, even if I ask, she wouldn't be truthful about it.