The S.T.F. Files, Book 1: S.T.F.

Russian Mayhem

We walk along the dirt path in the forest - Riza and I. Its dusty outside on the hot summer day.

"Soo, about this S.T.F. stuff..." Riza says.

"I guess we are just kids with special abilities that no one would understand," I say.

"I guess that's true," she stops and looks at me uncertainly. "But what would I tell my parents? What are you going to say to your family?" Tears spring in my eyes. Family? My family.

"I'm free with the wind. I ran away from home," I lied. I could tell she knew I was lying from my eyes.

"Alison," Riza said, tapping her foot. I could feel her eyes burning through my skin.

"I don't have a family. In that attack before, the agents killed my family while trying to find me. I don't have anywhere to go," I blurt it all out. I was bawling my eyes out too.

"I think if my parents pulled a few strings, you could like with us," Riza tells me as we walk into town.

"I guess..." I say. I try to give her a hug when a police officer grabs my arm. Another officer grabs Riza's arms and places them behind her back.

"What are you doing?!" I yell.

"Ma'am, please stay quiet," the officer pulls me from Riza. He turns towards her. "You are under arrest for kidnapping."

"What?!" Riza shouts. "I didn't do anything of that sort!"

"Hush! All words will be used against you," the officer pushes her towards the jail.

"Riza!" I yell, trying to get away from the cops, but it was too late. They closed the iron doors of the jail behind her.

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"Ugh..." I say, waking up on a cold hard bench.

"So, you are awake," a woman says. I gasp.

"Where's Riza?" I shout. I look over to see her with her parents. I overhear the conversation.

"I can't believe we go on vacation and some how have to bail you out of jail?" her mom says, very upset.

"But I..." Riza starts.

"No buts," her dad steps in," You are in a lot of trouble." I walk over and block their way of the door. "Move aside young lady. Wait...aren't you the..."

"Riza didn't kidnap me. We ran into each other in the forest and she walked me back to town. The police mistook her and didn't hear my side of the story;. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you," I tell them.

"You didn't have to say that," Riza says.

"Yes I did. My family was killed and I have no where to go. Riza took me to town so she could ask you if I could live with you," I respond, looking at her parents. We all stand there quietly, looking at each other.

"I'd hat to intrude, but Alison McGrath, you will be going off to live with you Aunt in Russia," a police officer tells me.

"What?!" I shriek. Everything goes around in a whirl. I am in the car, no on an airplane now. I just flew half-way around the world. No I am sitting on a bench, waiting for my aunt to get me. I didn't even get to say good-bye to Riza.

"Alison, darling," a woman in over-dressed style comes towards me. "It's time to go home."

"Who are you?" I ask.

"I am Aunt Keeva. You are living with me," she says.

"Oh, brother," I mumble.

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The first day of school starts.

"Class, this is Alison McGrath. She is from America. You will treat her with respect," my teacher says.

"Nice to me cha" I say.

"You may go sit next to Dimitri," the teacher says. A boy with jet black hair and hazel eyes waves his hand to I know who he is. He looks kind of cute.

"So, today we will me continuing with..." and it goes on and on. This class is boring as heck, even more boring than classes at my American school.

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It's been three months since I have been here and left Riza. Dimitri comes by my house everyday to help me study my Russian. His parents made him, so he can learn to speak English from me. Ding-dong. Here he is now.

"Privet Aly," Dimitri greets me.

"Privet Dimitri," I reply.

"Kak vashi issledovaniya prodolzhayut·sya? Yavlyaet·sya li vasha tetya khorosho?" he asks.

"What?" I say. He talks way to fast in Russian.

"I said how have your studies been going and is your aunt well, let's try this again," he says. Ugh, I hate Russian, "Kak vashi issledovaniya prodolzhayut·sya? Yavlyaet·sya li vasha tetya khorosho?"

"Dobro i da," I respond. (It means good and yes)

"Good. Alison, I also have a problem," he says.

"What is it?" I ask, staring deeply into his hazel eyes. They flicker with a golden spark. So cute.

"My parents are going on a 6-month cruise and they left me in your care. They have already left for the cruise and their cellphones are at home."

"Uh huh," I say, still looking at his eyes. "Wait a minute, what?!"

"They left on a..." he starts.

"I heard that part, but..." I say. Aunt Keeva walks through the front door.

"What's wrong? And I have good news," Aunt Keeva announces.

"Dimitri's parents dumped him in our care while they go on a 6-month cruise," I say sadly. I didn't want my aunt to throw him out of the house.

"He can stay, but we are moving," Aunt Keeva says happily.

"What? What do you mean we are moving? I ask.

"My job got relocated to America. We are going back," she tells me.

I run upstairs. Yes! I finally get to see Riza again. But what am I going to do about Dimitri. He is coming with us but... I was uncertain. That is until water starts flooding the house. What in the...

~Pic of Dimitri on the side