Running To The Stars

Prologue

"Sapphire, get yourself in here."
"Coming!" I shout as I put down my book and hurry into the living room, where my drunken father awaits. "Yes?"
"Did you take my beer?" He asks, words slurring into eachother.
Yes. "No, why? Has it gone missing?"
"Don't worry, go to bed." Dad slumps down on the couch after locating a bottle of whiskey behind a cushion, wincing as he takes a chug. I run up to my room and slip on a coat, sighing heavily as I secure the beer bottles in my large pockets. I force open my window so that I'm able to get out onto the roof. I'm about to jump out until I hear a hesitant little voice coming from my doorway.
"Sapphire?"
My little sister Rose looks shyly into my room, clutching her favourite pink blanket to her chest.
"Where are you going?"
Smiling, I take her hand and lead her to the window.
"Saph, I don't want to go out there.." My little sister stares up at me with her big, blue eyes, frightened. Leaning down, I kiss her head.
"Trust me."
That's all I need to say to get her onto the roof. I go out after her, shutting the window behind me enough so that flies won't get in. Gesturing for her to follow my lead, I lie down on the roof so that I am looking up at the sky. We sit in silence for a little bit until Rose huddles into my side, cold.
"Sapphire?"
"Yes?" I ask, smiling slightly.
"Why are there so many stars?"
I think for a second before I reply.
"Each of those stars is someone who has lived and died. The sky puts their spirit up there so that they can watch over us, and so we never forget them." I explain to her as I play with her hair.
"Well," Rose wonders thoughtfully, "is that why I feel so safe underneath them?"
"Yes, it is. Because they are looking after you, and they are looking after me, and as long as we have the stars we will be safe."
"What about when the sun comes up?"
"When the sun comes up they will still look after us. The stars are always there, and love you so much." I tell her as she starts to drift off to sleep.
"They love me?"
"Yes, almost as much as I do, but not quite." Rose doesn't reply, her breathing soon evens out as she falls into sleep's arms. I gently tug her off me and go back into my room. Grabbing the blanket from my bed, I quietly slip back out and place it on both of us. The night is cold, but the stars look down at us like we are theirs. They smile at us as we drift off to sleep.

However, the stars aren't protecting us this night.

Gunshots ring out from inside the house, waking me instantly. How long have I been asleep? No longer than three hours. Rose shakes beside me, teeth chattering as she stares at me, scared.
"Sapphire? What's going on?"
Footsteps banging up the stairs.
"Sapphire?"
Doors slamming open. I can hear screaming. I think it's my mother.
"Sapphire? Sapphire, please! I don't understand what's going on!"
The footsteps are slowing down.
"Sapphire, tell me what's going on, please..." My sister begs, fat tears wobbling down her cheeks.
"Girls.. Come out.. It's safe, I promise." My dad's voice rings out, steady, trusting. I know he's lying, but I can't focus. It's like I've become a statue. Slowly, my sister edges towards the window. It's not until she's half way out that I regain my senses.
"Rose, no! Rose, come back, quickly!" I scream at her as my dad slams open my bedroom door. She turns towards me, my baby sister, her clear blue eyes meet mine. I see everything. I watch as my dad grins as he aims, and my sister's eyes go blank as she falls to the ground.
The beer bottles are heavy in my pockets.