Mad as a Hatter

Chapter One

 "Come on Madison! Don't be so slow," a voice called, making me shake my head and jog forward. Laughing, I saw my younger brother waving to me on our porch step. Walking up, I ruffled his hair slightly before heading inside and flopping down on my bed. I'm Madison Aldaine and I'm seventeen years old. People find it weird that I like my full name and that I don't shorten it up. Born with Schizophrenia and having a rather short temper, I'm homeschooled by my mother which has obviously led to my lack of friends outside of my family. My family means everything to me, even if it's just me, my brother, and our mom. Anyway, I was soon called down to dinner, skipping every other step before sitting at the table and smiling widely at the meal laid out before me. I soon began to dig in, grabbing seconds just as our mom sat down and started to eat. Halfway through the meal, I felt something. It was like I was being watched. I shrugged it off as my Schizophrenia, of course, but then the feeling started to grow. I looked out the window to see a man. He was just standing there, with a sort of sick grin on his face. I whimpered softly as he made eye contact with me before hearing my mother ask,

"Madison?"

"Yes, mother," I asked, snapping away from his gaze as she asked me,

"What's wrong?" I pointed out the window at the man before saying,

"He's been watching us eat." My brother frowned before hearing my mother sigh and get up as she muttered,

"I'll handle this." I nodded and scooted over to my brother so it was easier to see what was going on. Mom stepped outside, talking to the man before taking a step back. The man pulled out a gun and started laughing as he shot a bullet through my mother's head. I let out a small scream before grabbing my brother and running to my room. I shoved him into the closet before getting in myself and holding him close. I rocked him back and forth for a little bit before hearing my door open. Stopping, I listened as the footsteps walked around my room before yanking the closet door open and he ripped my brother out of his arms.

"No," was all I had time to yell as he shoved a blade through his neck before giving me that same, sick grin. What he did next came as a surprise, he left. Dropping my brother, he turned around and just walked away. Believing that it was over I looked down at my brother and cradle him in my arms. I stayed like that for a while before opening my doors and was met with a horrifying sight. The bastard had set the house on fire. I slammed the door shut and called for help before scooting as far away from the growing flames as I could get. It wasn't long until I could hear sirens approaching, making me look up and see the flames once again.

'They're too close! I'm going to die!'

I closed my eyes tightly before passing out with a loud scream.