Playing with Fire

Chapter 1

Prologue

The power a mere flickering flame holds has undeniably proven itself to be worse than a savage beast in my eyes. The things it consumes when in its greatest form, driven by a burning desire called greed. Unstoppable hungry flames that annihilate all, temporarily morphing the innocent and guilty. It takes no sides and fate can be the word used to describe the aftermath of the catastrophe. The reason why our family that once stood so high... is now dangling from a piece of thread.

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Its's time to move on. To start a new chapter in life. To leave everything of the past behind us. The memories, humiliation and most importantly the pain. Take this opportunity to remind yourself who you are again. 

Those were my mothers first words when we first arrived at our new destination.

Easier said than done. 

The 'house' clearly stood out from the other houses on the street. Honestly, it was more of a castle than house. The grass was neatly trimmed and it looked as if a fresh layer of white paint had just been painted on. Black metal bars enclose the veranda on the second floor and the pristine windows covered by velvety maroon curtains. It made the house next door look pathetic.

Unfortunately, what I was describing wasn't our new home.

The one next door to it is. My lips purse at the dilapidated condition.

The exterior of our new house was a bit tattered and the paint had faded. The grass in the front yard grew up to my knees and dull patches of moss were splattered on the walls.  I frown dubiously noticing the dodgy roof. The tiles were crooked and most of them were chipped at the edges and corners. I pray 

I check out the inside of our house, watching the boxes stack one on top of another in front of me. The insides weren't half as bad compared to outside, in fact, it was better than I had expected, after all my mother had worked her butt off everyday in the past years just to get this two storey house for us to move away. It might not look like a castle fit for a princess like the one next to ours but at least it'll keep our arse warm and stop us from being hobos living on the streets.

"Jess, can you help with these boxes?" my mum asks, interrupting my thoughts.

"Coming!" I call back, "Liam, stay inside the house okay?" I firmly tell my younger thirteen year old brother. He gives me the 'why do I have to listen to you' face and shrugs.

"Thanks honey, you're such a cooperative daughter I don't know what I'd do without you"

"No worries mum!" I chirp back, taking the box in her arms and heading inside.

Within a few hours we were able to settle into our new house, thanks to the man my mum had knew from work and offered to help us move in with the help of his truck.

I head into my new room on the second floor, flopping face first in a starfish position onto my bed, exhausted. Sitting up, I scan the room, taking note of the details. My gaze shifts to my window, taking note of its close proximity with the window belonging to the house next door. A sense of curiosity arises inside me and I peer through the curtains trying to make out who had just switched the light on. A silhouette emerges and hovers around until the light switches off again.

Why wound anyone build two houses so close together? Didn't they understand the definition of privacy? I swear if the owners of the mansion next door decide to rob our house, they would come through my window first seeing how easy it is to break in to. But then again why would the rich steal from the poor. If anything, it should be the other way around.