Darkness of the Moon

C10: Hazel

I walk around the giant house, trying to figure out how to find my room. Alec had to leave and speak to his father and Cristina and Jason had decided to start a make out session right in front of me, aren't they just lovely? Anyway, now I'm lost, I think. I think I'm walking in circles actually. Maybe I should give myself a tour while I'm walking around aimlessly.

I turn left again and find myself in the living room. A few children are playing and watching TV. A girl with beautiful, long wavy hair runs up to me and puts her arms up. I pick her up and hold her on my hip.

"Hey sweetie, what's your name?" I smile at her.

"I'm Hazel and you are Harper," she says poking my arm as she says my name.

"Yeah, I am. How did you know?"

"You're my brothers mate," she explains.

"That means you're Alec's sister."

"Yes, you're smart," she grins.

"How old are you, cutie?"

"I'm six, I turn seven soon," she giggles, "will you play with us?"

"Sure," I put her down and she takes my hand, leading me towards the other children, two more girls and two boys.

"Harper said she would play with us!" She announces.

The girls giggle and smile in delight.

"But she's a girl," she taller boy complains. He has dirty blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Then don't play with her then."

He huffs and walks away, dragging the other boy with him. The girls turn and smile nearly evilly at me. Oh god, what have I got myself into?

About two hours later I am covered in pink. Pink dress, pink makeup, pink glitter, pink ribbons, pink everything. The girls sit back, admiring their work. I discovered the one with the blonde hair is Grace and the girl with the curly red hair is Molly.

"You look pretty," Grace says smiling.

"Thank you, I think," I hear someone enter the room behind me.

"Hazel! What are you doing to poor Harper?"

"Making her pretty."

Alec walks over and picks her up, "she's already pretty."

My heart skips a beat. I smile shyly at him.

"But now she is pink!" Hazel yells.

"I can see that, how about you let her get changed and I will cook you pancakes," Alec suggests.

"Can Molly and Grace have pancakes too?"

"Of course."

They squeal and run into the kitchen, dragging Alec with them. I take the chance to wash off the pink glitter and makeup from my face and change into some shorts and a top.

When I get back, Hazel is sitting on the island bench and her friends have disappeared. Alec is mixing the batter for her as she rambles on about who knows what. He puts the mixture into the pan and leaves it to cook for a bit.

"Harper is pretty," Hazel tells him.

"I know she is," he picks her up and spins her around making her laugh.

"Down! Put me down!" She exclaims.

"Never!" Alec yells beck and starts tickling her. She giggles and squirms in his grasp, laughing uncontrollably.

The look on Alec's face is of pure joy, his smile wide and his eyes shimmering. He sets Hazel back on the bench and turns around to flip the pancake.

I slowly walk over, making my presence noticed.

"Hey Harper. Would you like to watch a movie after I finish making pancakes for this monkey," he says, ruffling his sisters hair.

"Sure," I say walking over and stealing some of Hazel's pancake.

"Hey! That's mine!"

I just poke my tongue out at her. She smiles and sticks hers out in return.

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I sit next to Alec, resting my head against his shoulder, it's late and we already put Hazel to bed. My eyes focus on the screen. We're watching some kind of horror movie, though I don't find it scary. Probably because half my life has been a horror film.

My eyes droop a little, the sound of rain patters on the roof and before I know it, I'm fast asleep.

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Pain. There is only pain, searing hot, burning, yet ice cold. Pins stab at my limbs repetitively and fire burns in my core, running through my veins. I hear screaming, a sound so ear piercing I swear it might deafen me. Something scrapes through the skin of my chest, as if trying to claw its way to my heart. I thrash and try to escape the torture. Lights flash around me, yet all I see is black. The screaming comes again, louder this time. It takes me a moment to realise it is mine.