Counting Stars

CHAPTER ONE - CAMPING IN THE GARDEN

Hey guys! This is Kady. I've been working on this story for a while and I think I enjoyed writing this story the most out of all three so far. I really hope you guys like it. Remember to tap the vote button and comment! I love talking to you. New Instagram is melody_1855.

CHAPTER ONE - CAMPING IN THE GARDEN

I shivered as I burrowed further under my blanket. It was cold tonight. More so than usual. So cold, in fact, that I almost considered going back inside and settling down next to the fan heater in the living room.

But I couldn't.

Not today.

The sky was too beautiful to ignore, and on nights like this, it was breathtaking.

I gazed up at the stars dreamily, imagining vivid scenes of these fiery, burning orbs of light racing through the dark. I imagined them landing on earth, a sun on the surface of our withering planet.

Now that would be a sight.

I grabbed hold of the packet of marshmallows I had managed to sneak out of Janet's secret stash. She was out tonight partying, so she wouldn't notice. So was Agatha, who was at a dinner, and Dad...well, who knew where Dad was? He could be at a meeting in town or he could be on the other side of the planet in a fancy restaurant.
But there was no point wasting time wondering where he was. He definitely wouldn't be in the same place tomorrow.

I might as well enjoy myself tonight.

After all, there was no telling if I'd be able to do anything on my birthday, which was coming up in twelve days.

I yawned, closing my eyes. I could still see the imprints of Orion's Belt engraved on my eyelids. If only I could stay awake to watch it. But Janet had made me write a history assignment for her last night that was due the next day, and so I had stayed up typing until after 6:00 a.m, which was about ten minutes before I had to get up for school.

It was safe to say I was exhausted. Working every night and then doing twice the amount of homework you get does that to you.

Slowly, my eyelids got heavier and heavier, until eventually, I was fast asleep.

I woke up to the sound of the pipes behind me gurgling and groaning. Quickly, I scrambled away as far as I could from the back of the garden so that I wouldn't get drenched if they happened to burst.

Yeah, that's right. As crazy as it sounds, my stepmother could easily afford pricey clothes and expensive brands, yet she couldn't find the money to keep the garden in check or to fix the pipes. Of course, she had me tend to the garden whenever it needed to look presentable, but she didn't trust me with a hammer or any other sharp, metal tools. I had given her good reason not to, after all. So the water pipes stayed as they were. It's not like Dad was ever home to check the state of the house, so why would it matter?

I was well aware of this, and I was sure I had turned all the taps off before I came out. It could potentially flood otherwise.

Wait....it could flood!

Bloody hell.

I surged to my feet and frantically dashed for the house, trying not to panic.

If the house flooded while I was alone...I knew my stepmother would find a way to blame it on me. And then I would be cut off from the few privileges I actually had.

I threw the door open, fumbling with the latch. Pulling the door shut, I headed straight for the kitchen.

I stared at the sink, confused. The tap was definitely off. Which meant that the water was coming from either Janet's personal bathroom or Dad and Agatha's suite.

And I hadn't been in either of them since Tuesday.

Something was definitely wrong.

I slowed my pace to a silent crawl as I reached the upstairs landing.

I stopped, examining the dark shadow that fell onto the floor, silhouetted in the moonlight.

Someone else was here. In the house. Someone who definitely wasn't a part of my so-called family.

Danger! Red alert! My instincts screamed as I decided then and there that attack was the better option. If I just had time to reach my bed...

Decision made, I immediately turned to tiptoe away...and walked straight into someone's chest.