• Chapter 1

    The clock hit seven and the usual annoyance of the alarm ranged through the room. It wouldn’t be such a problem if the stupid thing had been fixed and would actually turn off when it was suppose to, but no, instead it went off at exactly seven every day of every week. The room, decorated with the plane old wall paper that’s been up for as long as she knew, was her personal space and each morning she was woken up like this. Why not get a new clock? The thing meant a lot to her. It wasn’t just some old thing placed for a useful purpose, it was a gift. A mothers gift. She didn’t really know her mother and each time the memory of her came up it just brought tears and loneliness. But for some reason each morning it was like her mother waking her up. Sleepily she reached over to her dresser and pressed the snooze button. “Thanks mom,” she said groggily. Trying her best to beat the temptation of going back to sleep, she pulled off her satin blue sheets and slowly slid her feet down to the floor.
    It was an early August day, and the sun was already heating up the morning. The cool wood beneath her feet felt good and it made her jump when the alarm went off again. With a sigh she took the old clock and pulled out the batteries. Laying them gently on the dresser, she kissed the top of the clock and placed it down as well. “Oh God!” her expression turned to discussed as she saw her image in the mirror.
    ‘What the hell was I doing all night?’ she pressed her brown hair down with the palms of her hands. Dark circles were formed under her eyes and the smeared makeup layered at the corners.
    She lowered her hands under the cold running water and splashed her face. The morning routine almost never changed: Brushing teeth, washing away last nights makeup, putting on new make up, finding something that’s actually been washed to wear, and off course having Dad make breakfast.
    “Smells good” she yelled as she came down the stairs. Today, surprisingly, she didn’t look half bad. A cotton tee with a school girl skirt. Not her style, but who knew maybe it could be.
    “Well it should because I made it.”
    Her father was a tall, largely figured man. From a strangers point of view he would even look threatening. She always thought people over analyzed, for all she knew he was the sweetest father anyone can have.
    “How are you this morning, pumpkin?” He asked with a huge grin on his face.
    “Ugh, I told you I don’t like to be called that.”
    She sat down and he placed a plate of two eggs and bacon in front of her. To her surprise her father wasn’t eating with her this morning. She stopped half way through and saw him just watching her.
    “What?”
    The wrinkles on his face creased as he tried to smile. “Its just that you look so much like your mother.” There was sadness in his smile, his eyes showed the true nature of his feelings. He brought his hand to the corner of his eyes and just simply shook his head. “I’m sorry Madeline, I know I promised I wouldn’t…”
    “Dad,” she gave him a reassuring smile. “I miss her too.”
    A blunt knock on the door followed by a shout interrupted the moment. “Hey! Madi, get your lazy butt of that chair and open the door, I know you can hear me.”
    Madeline and her father both gave each other the eye roll as she got up and opened the front door.
    Madeline and Susie where best friends since grade school. Susie had an upbeat personality and was like a sister Madeline never had. Since she could remember they looked out for one another. It was unfair to say that Madeline and Susie where one of the same because everything Susie had, Madeline was jealous of. She had the perfect body, the perfect car, the perfect boyfriend and she barely tried in school and still managed to get on the honor role.
    She stepped inside and waved a hello “how are you Mr. Cambride?”
    “Oh I’m doing quiet well, how are you?” Susie was the only person who didn’t jump at the site of Madeline’s father. “Well, its almost 8:30 and if we don’t hurry we are going to be late… again” she said giving Madi the look.
    “What?”
    “Oh come on!” she dragged her friend by the elbow out the door.
    “Bye dad!” Madi yelled closing the door behind her.
    Susie’s black Volvo sat parked in front of the house. She clicked the unlock button and the doors popped open.
    “You know its not fair.”
    “What’s not fair?” Susie answered as they got into the car.
    “That you get a new car and I don’t even have an old one.”
    The drive to the school wasn’t long, as usual Rock music was playing on the radio. Something about the day didn’t feel right, the sky outside was an eerie gray, uncommon for this time of year. Madi watched as the houses passed thinking about nothing in particular.
    They parked in front the main gates and rushed to their first period. The crowds of students through the halls made it almost impossible to get to class on time. Right when the last bell rang Susie and Madi dashed pass the door.
    “Nice for you two to finally get to class on time” Mrs. Frankie, their science teacher, commented with a monotone voice. Susie jabbed Madi with her elbow.
    “Its not my fault” she whispered as they made their way to their seats. Mrs. Frankie was a short plump women, probably in her mid thirties. Her voice never had any enthusiasm in it. One of those voices that could lull you to sleep if you were tired enough. For some god known reason they were talking about the reproductive system. A subject more suited for a freshman not someone in the twelve grade.
    As smart as Susie was, she was also lazy. Almost automatically she laid her head on her desk and fell asleep. ‘Great’ Madi thought. ‘Now I’ll have to take notes because someone will need to copy them later’.
    Mrs. Frankie’s hand slammed on Susie’s desk, this made her almost fall off her chair. The entire class gave a commotion of interest.
    “I will not have you sleeping in my class young lady! You have detention after school.”
    “B…But I wasn’t…”
    “You hold your tongue and don’t argue unless you want to give the entire class a quiz tomorrow.”
    Whispers and grunts came from every corner of the class. She slid slowly in her seat and for the remainder of the class gave Mrs. Frankie “the look”.
    The bell rang and they hurried out of the class. “Great job” Madi said sarcastically. “Now I have to wait for you after school.”
    “You don’t have to, its just that your too lazy to walk home.” Susie replied with a know-it-all smile. “Fine! You know what? I’ll just walk home because some people can’t figure out that it’s a classroom not their bed.”
    “Why are you getting mad at me?” Susie asked surprised. Madeline didn’t really know, it was like a feeling that something was wrong.
    “Fine, you walk home” before Madi could say anything Susie hurried down the hall and into her other class.
    During lunch it started to rain. The cool droplets fell onto Madi’s forehead. Today was a Tuesday and every Tuesday she ate alone. Not that she was a loner or didn’t have any friends, she just preferred the quiet. Oddly enough she was the only one who found rain in August a surprise. A chill ran down her spine as she held her arms together. There was something strange in the air. All the voices around her quieted to a hush and then she heard it. It was a cry for help, the sound of a child pleading. She didn’t know exactly why, but she started to walk towards its. Her feet picking up speed as she headed for the park behind the library building. It poured harder now, the trees swayed and the wind blew, and yet she kept on going. She ran now as the voice became clearer and suddenly she stopped. Frozen by the site that shaped before her.