Altered Book One of Three: Altered

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By:Kimberly King

1- Blackmarket Waffles

So, there are a lot of important parts to the story I'm about to tell you. First things first, I'm Vaporie Collins. Fourteen and a half years old and I'd like to say I'm a fairly average teenager, but it wouldn't be right for me start this story off with a lie. Trust me. There will be plenty of those later.

As for my "family", we're an odd bunch. Why put air quotes around family? Well, we're not a real family. None of us are blood related except for Adalyn and Lance. As far as I know. There are so many secrets. It's hard to keep up from time to time.

I live with a crime syndicate called the Blackguard. Sounds pleasant, no? Yeah, sure.

Our subgroup consists of Irene Anderson, Adalyn Autumn, Alan Boyd, Karma Crane, Shay, myself, and Lance Foster. I mean, excuse me, Dr. Lance Foster.

Waking up slowly, Irene had found that an air horn was the best plan of attack to get us teenagers out of bed. It also happened to send us into a small fit of rage. Throwing back the covers in swift frustrated manner. Jumping off the edge of my messy bed and into the bright hallway. You'd think that living in such a huge uhouse that we'd all have our own bathrooms, but we don't.

A tall boy rushed passed me with a mischievous grin spread across his face. He was running with the steadiness of a horse given whiskey. I sprang into a sprint to catch him. Pouncing on him as he was about to reach the doorway of the bathroom. My lanky arms clung to his neck and my legs wrapped around his waist. Next thing you know you hear a thud and air being forced out of his lungs.

He fell on his back and on top of me. I release my grip and try to squirm out from underneath him. As I escape he grabs my ankle, "I don't think so." He gasped for air, still slightly winded. I fell and hit my chin on the hardwood floor. Sliding backwards as he dragged me further from the door. As we're fighting my little "sister", Karma, had walked silently up to the door. She made a small whistling noise to get our attention, we looked up in unison. With a smirk and wink she closed the locked the door.

"Every freaking time!" she did this every time! She was too clever. Clever for her own good. She wouldn't have made it this long without that characteristic. Alan pulled me up and held out his hand as a sign of peace. Shaking it and running down the stairs with Alan right behind me.

Irene was attempting waffles again... Crap. Irene is supposed to be some kind of maternal figure in our home. She means well, but she still can't cook to save her life. Shay was sitting at the bar cracking sarcastic jokes about a robber who had tried to rob an academy sports store but had been forced to surrender after a clerk unlocked the gun cabinet and held him at gun point.

"What a moron!" she exclaimed. Sitting to the right of her at the bar. Irene bustled around as her food either burned or caught on fire. Throwing the towel over her shoulder and rubbing her temples. "I can never get it right!" she threw up her hands and stormed out to find the fire extinguisher.

I seized the opportunity to get some good food. "Hey Shay.." under the counter I handed her a five dollar bill. She smirked and handed me a paper towel wad with warm waffles inside. "Thank you." Warm maple waffles were a blessing at our house. Especially if they weren't burned...

Alan had made himself comfy on the couch. He was listening for Karma to exit the bathroom. When we hear the click of the door opening our eyes focus on the stairs. We throw each other a glance , I throw one of my waffles right at his face, turning on my heel I rush up the stairs. He's right behind me. Karma looks back at us as she walks back to her room. She's snickering like she always does.