The Key

Well Then...

I hear a thud and look behind me to see a knife sticking in the wall only 2 inches from my head. The only thought going through my head is "RUN!"

...

It's a sunny and yet cold winter day. As I am looking at my shadow I have a hard time believing it's me. My hair is much longer than I remember it being, last I knew it was only to my shoulders but as I look I realize that it is now almost to the middle of my back. Time really does go by fast. Just last year I was an average 14 year old girl going to South Trash (really called South Cache but South Trash fits it better) I had friends, a family, a crush who liked me, and most importantly I had a safe place I could return to. But no longer, I am all I have. My whole life turned upside down when Christmas came. I was in bed hoping that when 7 am came I would walk out in the living room and find a new skateboard but when I went out all I saw where 3 walnuts and a note that read:

Yuka dear, we are very sorry that we are not here, but something has come up, Don't worry about your brother he is safe with us. Unfortunately this is all we have to give you. We strongly suggest you leave the house as soon as you possibly can.

Love,

Mom, Dad and Hayate

    That was the last time I heard from my family. I don't know what happened to them, but I do know that I will find out what had scared them so badly that they left without a  good explanation and without me. But sadly that's not as easy as it sounds, I've been trying to find that out for a year now and have had absolutely no success.

The sidewalks are slick with ice, today I will be heading to a place that I quite honestly can't remember the name of. I will be meeting up with an old friend of mine to see what information he has acquired. I muster every ounce of energy left in my small body and walk/run til I reach him. If you don't know already (which I'm assuming you don't given this is only the beginning of my story) I'm quite accident prone, as I reached my friend Landon I tripped and ended up falling right into his arms. He knows me well and kinda guessed something like that would happen so he wasn't surprised at all when it did. What surprised me though was that after he caught me he didn't do the usual "watch your step Yuka" Instead he hugged me and said "I missed you doing that Yuka." and then he kissed me on the forehead! That's never happened before! I have to admit I kinda liked it but that's mainly because I like him and when I heard he had news for me I was more that excited to come and meet up with him.

"So what's the news you had for me?" I say, my voice still a little shaky.

"Well do you want the good or the bad news first?" He said showing his playful almost flirty smile.

"I don't know just tell me."

"I just don't want you to become over-obsessed with the details." He says flashing his usual concerned smile that makes my fragile heart melt like butter on hot cakes.

"What do I have to do to get you to tell me?" My voice still a little unsteady.

"Well..." he looks around kind of nervously "Kiss me."

Oh, I forgot to mention that beforev I left I wrote him a note and stuck it in his locker that said how much I liked him, and how he could reach me when needed. So, when he said that my heart skipped a few beats and then against all odds i kissed him. I was really surprised because I didn't know I could do it or how much I would enjoy it.

"Okay," he says smiling, "The good news is that your family is still alive and doing well." he pauses a moment and his smile fades, then continues "the bad news is they don't want... to be around you anymore. I didn't want to tell you that part but... I'm so sorry Yuka."

"It's okay" I say as I look down at my shoes. They were the same shoes I wore the day I left, purple Converse. "I wouldn't want to be around me either. Or anyone who the first time they pick up a gun were able to shoot someone without even thinking or aiming."

"In the situation you were in anyone would have done the same... even me."

"No. Anyone else would have taken a second to think and realized there was another way. But I didn't" I was about to start heading back to the place I normally stay when I'm in this part town then I feel his hand on my shoulder.

"Yuka you can stay at my house for a while you know. My family wouldn't mind and plus tomorrow is Christmas you can't just be by yourself then." He says as he gives me a cute pleading look.

I really don't like the fact that I can't say no to him when he gives me that look, "Okay but only 2 days then I need to get going."

"Good" he says grabbing my hand as we start walking to his house "My family will be happy to know you are doing well."

As we walk into his house, I smell burning logs, a familiar comforting smell, and yet  something feels different... I can't describe it all I knew was that something was definitely wrong.

"Where's Chase? He's supposed to be here waiting for me." He says, a really worried expression falls over his face.