Searching For Scarlett [Undergoing edits]

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Mariana's sneakered feet slapped the pavement as she followed the black silhouette, tears streaming down her face.

"Scarlett!" She called.

The silhouette heard and sped up, Mariana following; she wasn't going to let the silhouette steal her sister.

Her sister: the only person nice to her in their cursed house. Her parents were ashamed of Mariana, and they made sure she knew.

Why?

Mariana hadn't a clue.

When the silhouette had taken Scarlett, she ran out after it, one thought in her mind: I can't lose her.

So Mariana ran faster after it and watched it turn down another alleyway. Mariana shot down and nearly broke her nose on a brick wall.

Dead end.

Mariana swore colorfully and fluently.

Where did it go?

Mariana looked around, then up, not seeing anything.

Mariana sniffled as tears pricked the back of her eyes. Mariana was nothing without Scarlett; she was the one of the two people in the world that made Mariana feel important or worth anything— right with Taylor, Mariana's best friend.

Mariana trailed her hands over the rough bricks in defeat as she dreadfully turned around and headed back home.