Chapter 1

I pulled into the driveway, slamming the door shut I start to head into the house. I was pretty tired from work, my job was one of those people who do make-up for the dead, they call us make-up artists. Most people may find the job very creepy but I do not I actually find it pretty interesting plus you get to guess how they died and you can also make them look like a clown. Clowns are pure evil and pretty damn scary.

As a was walking to the door I noticed Bethany’s car was also in the driveway. I can’t stand my cousin Bethany. She’s so stupid and preppie and always really happy. I hate happy people they should all be shot in the head, blown to bits, or just plain poisoned. So as a little welcoming gift I took out my handy dandy pocket knife and slit her tires.

I turned the handle to the door and glanced around the house as it creaked open. It looked the same as always: holes in the walls from rats and hard headed, bad tempered, pea-sized brain, alcoholic father, cracked window that had to be replaced fifteen times, and stains on the rug that smelled really funny. Then I spotted Bethany sitting on the old worn couch watching my t.v. Mine.

"Hi, Victoria. When did you come home?" I gave her a scowl and went into the kitchen to grab some cool, iced drink . Bethany started to follow me.

"Are you okay Victoria? She asked me sweetly with a big sassy smile. God I need to get out of here I can’t take it before someone got hurt. And why won’t anyone kill Bethany already? Do I need to do everything myself?

"I’m fine not that you need to know." Die Bethany Die. The thought of her death just put a smile on my face. " When are you leaving?"

"I was going to leave at three but I can leave now if you want." "Bye."

A scowl replaces her ‘innocent’ smile. Grabbing her coat she walks outside. Turning back she begins to speak. But I decide to slam the door in her face instead, hoping to rip off her nose.

"Victoria what was that? Mom rushes down stairs. "Where’s Beth?"

"She decided to leave early... yea that’s what happened." I told her as I locked the door hearing Beth’s footsteps coming back. Heard her swearing, obviously she found out about the tires.

"Victoria what have I told you?"

"Don’t argue with Beth. Don’t murder Beth. Brush your teeth. And most importantly do not absolutely do not pay assassins to kill Beth. You’re no fun at all." A frown formed on her face but then it disappeared replaced with a smile and hearty laugh... until she heard Beth’s knocking.

"Well I’m going shopping and going to get Beth new tires. Next time that she’s over could you be nicer?" Not even guessing. "Watch the baby will you?"

Like I had a choice, oh well at least she was an adorable baby I could put up with. I found Clementine asleep in her crib tossing and turning she was. I then slipped into my room, which was more like a dungeon. Setting my alarm to eleven ,I dialed my best friend Athena’s house.

"Hi Ms. Vantin, is Athena there?" I could see her nodding at the phone in my mind and on the other end I heard her scuttling to get Athena.

"We leave at eleven. Meet me on the corner of Patterson and Legends. Don’t forget your things. If I’m not there in ten minutes I’ll call your cell."

"Right eleven, not there in ten cell. Don’t forget things got it." Lucy is a complete oddball.

I heard a cry coming from Clementine’s room. Her nap was over then. Glancing around her room I felt those damn fluffy stuffed animals staring at me. Clementine was waving her pudgy little arms around in the air wanting to be picked up. I bent down, my face hovering over hers. She stopped with her little fit, and flashed me a big smile. A smile crept on my face.

Clementine was the most adorable baby I’ve known. Noone can resist her smile and her laugh. I brushed away a lock of her curl hair. Clementine was a baby with curly strawberry blond hair, pale blue eyes, and dimples. I on the other hand had straight dark blond hair, grey eyes, and a devilish smile.

Six came along and dad walked into the door. I smelled alcohol on his breath, his eyes were bloodshot actually one was sealed shut. I wondered how many beers he got a hold of. He is the biggest drunk in this town. Swaying back and forth he collapsed with a stupid grin on his face. Leaving him there even with the door propped open, I walked Clementine to the t.v. After watching Family Guy I with her mom finally came over. Taking the groceries into the kitchen she looked at dad with disgust.

"I’m going to divorce you one of these days Harold." Then turning to me she said "Help me move your father and his drunk ass." She took his hands and I took his feet, always his feet.

After dinner dad finally came out of the bedroom. He started to yell for absolutely no reason at all. He began walking towards mom, with dirty dishes in her hands and she started throwing them at dad’s head. Clementine awoke from her sleep, and began to wail and scream. I was getting sick and tired of the violence, misery, the suffering. It was always the same. Every night it wouldn’t stop like deja vu.

I came up from behind dad, he didn’t notice because I was so quiet, so very quiet. I began to yell not remembering what and dropped my heavy textbooks that I was carrying. Being taller them him by a couple feet the books fell quickly coming down on his head with a sickening crack. It sounded very disturbing textbook and skull connecting, blood began to gush from an open wound. His eyes rolled into the back of his skull and he slumped to the floor with a loud dull thump like a tree falling down in a forest after being hacked down by a lumberman.

That was it I couldn’t stand this I needed to leave this awful place. I ran upstairs and into my room slamming the door shut and locking it behind me. Sweat pouring down my face, my heart was pounding and I could hardly breathe. I plopped onto my bed trying to calm myself I opened my book and began to read, once everyone was in bed I wrote mom a letter. Hoping she’d understand. It said: ‘Mom, I can’t take it anymore, it’s dad I can’t stand him. I’ll always love you and Lil’ Clemmie. I need to get away from here for at least awhile. By the time you are finished reading this letter I’ll be long gone. Please don’t come looking for me I’ll come back I promise. I’ll write when I have the chance love, Victoria.’

Quietly I gathered my things and left the note by the coffee pot. I skittered over to the side door and nearly tripped over dad in the darkness I should have kicked him, but I kept going till I was safely inside my car. Glancing at my watch I saw it was quarter to eleven. Turning onto Patterson once I got out of the garage, then onto Legends I spotted Athena. Athena ‘the goddess’ was a short teen with black hair and grayish-blue eyes and a pale face. She was carrying her backpack with her. She was leaving because her mom turned into such a vegetable after Athena’s dad died from lung-cancer after inhaling too much cigarettes, she may have been an only child but wouldn’t be missed. Athena was sixteen and I was seventeen. Not knowing where we were going, Athena hopped in. We needed to get far, far away.

Chapter 2

I haven’t heard from mom ever since we left. She didn’t send out search parties. We’ve been living in a tiny cramped apartment. There was bills to be payed and we had gotten so confused. We had decided we’d have to start stealing things of course we’d start out small with TVs and jewelry but then we would get bigger things like computers, laptops, whatever. The only thing I’ve stolen is candy from when I was a kid it was pretty easy.

Athena and I would sneak in the other apartment rooms and random stranger’s homes, making sure not to rob a house twice to keep a low profile. Always making sue noone was home out for dinner or whatever. We started with the Burden’s apartment taking the missus’ jewels and mister’s rifles. Three robberies each week and more dough came in. We started looking for a better apartment or a condo. The police were left dazed and confused the results never adding up, Athena was a volunteer police officer to make sure that we weren’t about to be caught. Noone was hurt at least not yet. Everyone got a fair share. Until one night.

May third, eight months after running away. Work was over and it was dark we liked to do the robbing in the dark. Learning this guy’s routine after spying on him for the past few days. Tonight when he was out I picked his lock and we were inside after he left. Stalking around this single childless guy’s house. Hours passed we collected lots of good stuff.

Then Athena heard footsteps outside, motioning for her to hide I slipped in the closet near the front door. Creak. The door opened the man of this house came. Turning on the lights he started searching for something probably his wallet. Then his head cocked to one side he heard something. I realized it was Athena she was somewhere in the living room. He began to investigate.

As he turned into the kitchen, I followed him. Will he notice me? He flicked on a light. He entered the living room, and I grabbed one of the knifes on the kitchen counter. I couldn’t let him find Athena. As soon as I raised my eyes I saw him staring back at me, my heart skipped a beat for a few moments I was frozen unable to control my movements. He swiftly started to come towards me reaching in his pocket.

That’s when I received control once again. I raced to my attacker, raising my weapon and thrusting it into him. His eyes snapped open and tried to shove me away, but he was too weak. I stabbed him again and again his screams reached my ears but I didn’t stop until Athena grabbed and dragged me away from him. Excitement and joy raced through my body, my blood was boiling and my soul was gloating. Oh one’s death felt so good. I stared down at my blood covered hands my eyes gleaming.

"Victoria what’s wrong with you? Look what you’ve done. Why?" Athena asked of me.

"My goddess was about to be found. I had to protect the goddess. I live and serve the goddess." Goddess was a nickname for Athena, for it was a goddess name. She looked at me strangely, she seemed worried.