RAIN & THE FIRE

Prologue

Screams echoed throughout the flaming house. "MOM! DAD!" I ran back up my walkway, but I can't move it's like there's an invisible wall. I shove and push with all my strength. But it's no use.

That's when I wake up.

Sitting up in a cold sweat. Looking at my old black alarm clock with red symbols reading 3:00 am. Tears stream down my face as I sit with my knees against my face soaking up my salty tears. Only a street light gleaming through my window making shadows of the night appear.

My tears turn into sobs as I try to control myself. Gasping for air I cup my hands and put them over my mouth so I can try to regulate my breathing.

After I finally stop crying I can feel the pounding of my head and the sting in my eyes while my face is damp.

The sun finally makes its way shining through my old dinghy room. I get changed into some old ripped jeans and an oversized t-shirt.

I walked down the creaky hallway making my way to the bathroom.

Splashing water on my face trying to look as if I didn't spend my whole night crying. I glimpse at myself in the mirror dark circles under my eyes I look sick. I take a deep breath while remembering its the last day of school.

I take a slice of bread and shove it in the toaster standing there in the kitchen alone. Drake and Sue are already at work leaving me to fend for myself.

The poping of the toaster breaks the silence. After spreading peanut butter on the toast I stare as it melts from the heat, I sit and eat in silence with only the crunch of my toast to consume the silence.

*Ring Ring* the first bell warns that class will start in 5 minutes. I slowly make my way to my first hour. Ignoring the whispers folding my arms trying to avoid eye contact with anyone. I reach my first-hour class. History.

I walk into the same class I have been all year, its always the same, the smell of a spring scent mixed with old mucky desks. I made my way to my desk far in the left corner. Slumping down in my seat waiting for this day to be over I grab a pencil. Good thing its a half of day. The class piles in as I fiddle with my pencil.

The loudness of the class overpowers the second bell.

"Settle down class. I know your all excited for school to be over but will still need to take your exam." Miss Finn a short little lady with her light brown hair always tied up in a bun.
She walks over to her desk and grabs our exam.

"Class when you are finished, please bring them up to me." She goes back to her desk and pulls out a book to read.

The rest of the day was a bore there were a few more exams then it was time to go home.

I made my way to the bus. Searching for an open seat someone pushes me causing me to trip and fall. The fall caused me to hit my knee against something sharp.

Pain shot through my leg as blood trickled down my leg contaminating my jeans. Laughs flourished all around me. I wanted to scream but I couldn't. Instead, I stood up and shoved people out of my way.

Walking home I didn't even realize the tears falling until my shirt started feeling wet.

Before I knew it I had walked to my old neighborhood. Kids were playing and riding bikes and parents smiling at them. Everything looked as if 5 years ago nothing had happened as if the cries of my family were never heard. It looked like a normal neighborhood.

My stomach sunk when I made my way to an open area where my house once was. Now there's a huge flower garden with a rainbow of colors and buried under that was my whole life.

Looking closer I see a boy my age with fiery red hair just sitting in the middle of the garden. Something seemed off almost familiar but I didn't have time to question it.