REMI HOOD

Prologue

19 years ago, Remi

'SMACK!'

I wake up to the sound of what I think is balloon popping. My birthday is tomorrow, and mommy told me that I am going to be a big girl.

"My little Remi, six years old? Wow, such a big girl!"

Mommy is the most beautiful girl in the world and the happiest. Our family always jokes about how she and I are twins. We have the same boring brown eyes, same facial features and same black-brown hair; we both have a typical Maldivian look.

I skip down the stairs to the living room where my parents are staying up late to decorate the room for my princess party. But when I arrive, there are no decorations or balloons. Maybe they are making the cake, I hope, but I am only greeted by silence and can't smell any cake baking. I feel so relieved when I spot daddy, he is standing in the middle of the dining room.

Why are the lights off? I observe. I run towards the room, thinking that mom and dad are gonna surprise me. I turn on the lights.

There daddy is, staring at me with pure rage and... Evil, in his eyes. His hair is a mess. Blood is splattered everywhere on his body. His white t-shirt is soaked with it.

I look down to his hand and I see him holding a knife that is dipping with bright red blood.

I feel my lips tremble. "Daddy, did you hurt yourself?" I ask. Why does he look so furious? I wonder. He grunts and leaves the room with red footprints trailing behind him.

That's when I see her.

"Mommy?"

I don't know why I am crying. I taste the salt from the tears that won't stop falling. Mommy is on the floor with what looked like the same blood from daddy.

Mommy is just sleeping, I tell myself.

I start to worry.

"Mommy, wake up!" My shrill screams echo back at me.

I turn mommy around. Why is she so cold? She doesn't really look like mommy either, is this not mommy? I wonder.

Then I see her eyes.

The moment I see those eyes, I know that my mom is gone. They stare into mine, but...

There is nothing there.

Looking into her brown-black eyes was once mesmerizing, but today it is different. It is like looking into a ghost, it had no life in it. Just...

Blank.

"No, mommy, please don't go," I hug my mom's frozen body. "You promised you'd help me blow all six candles with me!" I cry out.

She is not here. This is not mom, I conclude sadly. Her soul has flown away to a better place. My tiny hands let go of what once was mom.

"Such a big girl" mom's voice echoes through my head.

What would a big girl do? I wonder.

My hands tremble as I reach for mom's phone which happens to be on the floor. I dial a number.

332-2111.

Mommy told me that's the number to call in an emergency.

"H-Hello? Is this the police?" I sniff, snot running down from my nose into my mouth.

A friendly-sounding woman answers, "Yes dear, what's wrong?"

"My mommy is dead." I say simply.

"Dead?! Are you sure?"

My lips tremble as I reply, my voice growing small as I mutter a "Yes."

"Is mommy breathing?"

I bluntly say, "No."

"Honey, are you home alone? Can you please tell us your address?" There is a clear tone of worry in her voice.

I almost say that my dad is with me, but I stop myself.

There was something about the way he was standing. Something seemed very wrong.

The pure look of anger on his face was like...

That of a villain's.

I shiver at the memory. The knife... Why was daddy holding a knife? I sniff in confusion.

"Dear, are you there?"

I shake my head and rattle off my address. "No one is home." I state.

Daddy reappears into the room.

He had changed into his work clothes. He glares at me and snatches the phone from me to end the call. I start to cry all over again because of...

Fear?

Why am I scared? Am I scared of... Daddy? I gasp as he comes towards me and grasps my hair into his hand forcefully.

He starts, "You little bi-" I bite him hard on the arm before he can finish.

His expression of surprise changes into a horrific smirk. "Remi, oh Remi," He sings manically. "Why did you bite your daddy?"

"I-I don't know..." I stutter. Shivers go down my spine.

"Well then, you must be punished." He picks up a chair from the dining table. I begin to scream.

"No! Daddy, p-please don't-"

'CRASH'

The sound of the wooden chair smacking into my head was the last thing I heard before everything went black.