Living in the Shadows: We are the Last (Book One)

Prolouge III: Confusion

Hazel's POV:

Hazel is not looking forward to doing chores. Although she has to admit that she should have some responsibility in this house for once; even in a wealthy one like the Elfairez's. Hazel lies on her bed, her head dangling off the edge. She feels terrible after what she did yesterday afternoon. She didn't mean to kick the rock that hard! She didn't know it would do any damage at all. I guess she didn't know her own strength, or weight. But even when Ashley had mimicked my same motions will the pole nothing had happened! Maybe it's just bad luck, right?

A knock on the door interrupts Hazel's sulking. "Waahhaaat?", Hazel moans, impatiently.

"It's me", Ashley's voice calls. "Can I-Uh-Can I come in?"

"Sure. Do you even have to ask? II've already been stripped of just about all my freedoms, anyway", Hazel snaps.

Ashley enters the room and sits on the bed next to Hazel. "Listen", she says putting a hand on her little sister's stomach. "We can make this fun!"

"And how exactly are we gonna do that?" Hazel says looking up.

"Well, first of all, I'm going to help you, and second, get in your bathing suit and meat me outside!"

Hazel pretends to look board until Ashley leaves the room and then leaps to her feet whisper shouting a silent, "yes!". She throws open her dresser drawer and gets dressed eager to have some fun in her life in the Elfairez home.

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Ashley mets her sister outside in her sunset colored bathing suit holding two scrub brushes and a bucket filled to the top with soapy water.

"Ready?"

Hazel snatches a scrub brush from Ashley's hand and plunges it into the bucket, splashing water everywhere. "Lets get scrubbing!"

Together, the girls through their bodies into the limo lathering it up. Suds and bubbles fly as the dirt and grit seep off the jet black metal in rivers. Soon, Hazel and Ashley are both soaked clean. The girls had been having so much fun that they only now noticed that Ashley's boyfriend, Chris was standing with his bicycle at the end of the walkway watching them.

Hazel looks up from her work. "Ashley?" she calls out, and slowly creeps to around the car. Right when she is about to round the corner, Ashley pops up with the hose in her hands, pointed at her sister like a gun.

"Put your hands up!"

Hazel speaks in a phony, small, high pitched voice. "Oh dearie dear dear!" she says acting terrified. "What in the world will I do now?!!" Hazel swings the scrub brush at Ashley. Drops of water spiral off it as the newly discovered weapon cartwheels through the air. You'll never take me alive!" Hazel yells. Ashley swiftly ducks the flying brush, pulls the trigger and water sprays everywhere. "Ahhhaaahahaaa!"

A small grin slithers across her face and Hazel the light bulb turns on in her brain. "Ya!" Hazel shouts and swiftly kicks the hose right out of her sister's hands. Hazel quickly scoops up the hose and points it at Ashley laughing mischievously. Ashley screams and spins around as the water showers on her.

There is a flash of light. Maybe it was just a sun glare? Who knows? But then....
....SCREEEEEEEEEEECH!

The sister's fun is immediately interrupted by the sound. Everything freezes and Hazel turns her attention to the limousine. All of the soap had already been washed off from their fun, but that is not what Hazel is looking at, nor what made the noise.

On the side of the limo, where Ashley is standing, is a long white streak on the once sleek black metal.

First me breaking the bricks of the patio and the house and now this?!! Hazel thinks. What is going on?!!

Before anyone can open their mouth, a voice speaks from the person they least want to hear at the moment. Hazel lets the water hose slip from her hands. It lands on the concrete with a FWAP.

"ROOMS, NOW!", Mr. Elfairez barks from the window. He'd been watching the girls the entire time. "Be downstair for a !meeting tonight!". He didn't even say 'family' meeting. "And no supper!"

Ashley doesn't hesitate. She grabs Hazel's hand and stiffly walks inside the house. Even Chris has left, not wanting anything to do with the situation. Especially since it involves the Elfairez couple. Some boyfriend he is, Hazel thinks.

Hazel pulls free of Her sister's grasp and slams the door of her room, wanting to be alone. The girls rarely got into trouble, but that was two days ago - before they saw those men.

Hazel already had strike one, when it happened between Hazel and Mr. Elfairez, three years ago. It was why Hazel is afraid of him, why she started taking marshal arts classes to defend herself, why Ashley doesn't know. And now strikes two and three happened.

How many strikes do Hazel and Ashley have?
Is there time already up?
Will they be prepared for what will happen next?

All of these questions swarm Hazel's mind. Hazel clutches the amulet around her neck. It was given to she and her sister by he parents before they died. The amulet is glowing slightly and feels heavy around her neck.

Ashley always told her little sister to "slay her demons". Now, Hazel is afraid. She does not want to be alone. She worries about what is to come tonight.

What if the future demons are monsters that she just can't slay?