Midnight Storm

Chapter 1: Hope

It was the night of the 30th November. Usually at midnight everyone is asleep, but not tonight. Instead of the calm silence that usually enclosed Diamond Waters, it was utter chaos. The sound of yelling everywhere, honestly I didn't know why these people were out of bed. It was the first night of the Holidays and the kids were still up. My colleagues were yelling over the noise for people to return to their homes and blocking off every entry to the crime scene. I walked over to Maria, she was the only one that looked like they knew what was going on here. Turns out she didn't but someone did apparently and she was sitting on the steps holding a white security blanket. She had long black hair and scarlet blue eyes. She looked so young, she must be about 12 or 13. Maria told me that her parents and her twin had just been kidnapped and the house destroyed. I walked over to her and sat next down beside her. I put a blanket around her shoulders and she looked up at me. 'Who are you? Where is my family? What's going on?' She looked pretty calm for someone who's family had just been kidnapped and her house destroyed. I mean the steps were the only thing untouched, even the door had a hole in it. 'I'm Mark. What's your name?' I said calmly. I didn't want to scare her or anything, she had been through enough. 'I'm Hope, where are they?' She said quietly. 'I don't know, but I will find them for you, and soon. But I will need your help Hope.' I said. She looked so shocked to hear me say that, then again I wasn't surprised, she had been through a lot. 'What do you mean?' She said. 'I need you to help me find the person who took your family. Do you think you can do that?' 'I think so'

'Ok, now Hope. This is Maria. You tell her what the person looked like. Do the best you can and remember there is no rush, if you can't remember everything now it doesn't matter.' I told her. I watched as Maria and Hope sat down and drew this criminal. I don't know what it was but something about Hope seemed familiar and special, I couldn't put my finger on it, all I knew was that I had to keep her safe. Hope came and sat beside me and gave me the sketch. There he was, staring up at me, that coward. 'This was my sister's when we were little. I have one to but...' She started crying softly. I put my arm around her 'I thought if I had this one it would make me feel better. Jane and I loved these. I miss them.' She said still teary eyed. 'Don't worry Hope, we will find them.' I said. Maria called me over and told me that her parents and her sister were the only family she has. Her uncle was overseas serving the army. Her grandmother died a widow before she was born and she couldn't find any other relatives. 'I'll take her. She'll be safe with me.' I said. As I was talking to Maria I noticed that Hope had gone and grabbed the other security blanket, both of the blankets were now sitting on her lap side by side on top of something. Hope was staring at the ground. It started to rain, ' great, just great, what a way to lighten the mood' I thought sarcastically. I went to my car and grabbed an umbrella. I ran over to Hope, she was trying to shelter the things on her lap with the blanket. 'Let me help' I said, she looked up at me with a weak smile. I helped her up and we walked to my car. 'You're coming with me, is that ok Hope?' I asked. 'Yeah' she said softly. We were about halfway to my home and she hadn't said anything. I was starting to get worried when she spoke up. 'Can I ask you something?' She asked quietly from beside me 'Of course' I replied. 'Why would anyone want to take my family on my birthday?' She said as she stared out the window. 'I didn't know it your birthday.' I said surprised. ' That coward should watch out, because when I find him...' I let my thoughts stop there before bad thoughts lead do bad actions.

After a good night sleep I got up and made breakfast. About 15 minutes later she came down the stairs. 'How old are you Hope?' I asked hoping to break the chilling silence cloaked around us like a thick fog on a cold winters morning. 'I'm 13 now. Jane and I have a party planned for tomorrow. I guess that's cancelled though after everything last night.' She said disappointedly. 'No, no. You can still go, just don't tell them about last night. It's best not to frighten them until my boss says it's ok.' I said with a soft smile. I was protecting her but I didn't want her to have no fun at all on her 13th birthday. 'Oh I made you something' I said as I put a cake on the bench. I had made it that morning before she woke up. 'Thank you.' She blew out the candles and smiled at me. It was the first time she had smiled at me. It was very comforting to see her smile like that, so warm and kind. After breakfast Hope went up into the spare room. She was sitting on the bed holding a photograph in a old wooden frame. 'Everything ok Hope?' I asked. 'Yeah, I just miss them I guess... Mark? What of my clothes and things? Could I go and get them with a friend?' She said. 'Of course you can Hope. I will take you whenever you are ready.' I said reassuringly. 'Thank you Mark'

I drove Hope and her friends Annabella and Elsie to pick up her things. We had to tell them what had happened but they swore to secrecy. When Hope and her friends went in I took a look at the photo she was holding before. It was a photo of her, her family, her friends and her teachers at Graduation. They all looked so happy. Who would have known that that very night after all the happiness that Hope would be robbed of her family.