{Unknown}

Prologue

It was dark, Emma thought as she took a deep breath of the polluted air. She hadn't seen anyone in what seemed like decades; but the memory kept flashing through her mind.

Noelle, Emma's little sister had been playing in the creek again, her feet were making baby footprints on the kitchen tile.

"Noelle! Go dry off!" Emma scolded her as Noelle giggled and scooted away. "Noelle, I mean it! If mother finds out you went in to the creek again, she will be very cross."

Noelle giggled. "Well mommy isn't even here right now!"

"Well, that doesn't mean that you can just go jump in the creek, willy-nilly, and soak the place. You can't expect me to clean up after you all the time!"