Chapter 1
“You look so beautiful.” Mama said as she smiled atme, “your father will soon be home.” Mama added and I had the biggest smile onmy face.
When I heard the front door open, I could hear hisvoice through the hallways and I knew he was there.
“Don’t come down until Gabriel tells you to.”
“I won’t mama, I am very excited.” I smiled and shegave me the biggest smile.
Today is my twenty-first birthday and each birthday ofmine, my family would throw the most precious birthday for me, they woke invitemany because they know I don’t like people, just them.
I glanced at the mirror, no matter how old I am, sometraditions would never end.
My heart skipped a beat as I waited and I found myselftip topping toward the door, my eyes glanced across the hallway, it was emptyand quite until I heard a gunshot pierce through my ears.
“Mama.” I whispered so low, I had doubt anyone heardme.
—-
Racing through the hallway and heading into the livingroom, there was no one in sight, the room though was scattered, I saw thedecorations on the floor, my cake on the ground.
“Where are they?.” I heard a man yell.
Fuck.
“I can hear something.” Another voice said when Istooped in my tracks, my eyes filled with more tears, my heart skipped a beatand I could feel my fingers shaking against my dress.
I didn’t move, I knew they hear me if I did, yet Ididn’t dare.
“That room.” The other guy yelled and I heard themopen the door, that’s my chance.
I can’t go back to my room, I have no idea how manythey are, I can’t go and find my family, I don’t even know where they are,
I knew I have to hide, I found myself in the closet inthe living room, the door was a bit cracked, and I didn’t dare try to close it.
Mom has asked Gabriel a thousand times to get someoneto fix this door and he hasn’t, it makes the weirdest loudest noise whenclosing it.
——
“Bring them all in.” I heard the man say when Iwatched as they threw Manny to the ground, I placed my hand against my mouthcovering it as my eyes met his and Manny shakes his head, his eyes filled withtears.
“Look at all of you, we should have drugged thembetter.” The man smiled, I didn’t see his face, he didn’t come close but hisother friend, did, he has a tattoo on his hand, one I could never forget.
His eyes were all across the place, the huge coatcovered me in a way no one could see me unless you looked closer.
“What’s wrong papa bear? Are you worried you willdie?.” The man mocked, I didn’t have to see my father to hear the way his heartwould skip a beat. “Come on Daniel, arrange them all, I want to take apicture.” The man said.
Daniel, who’s face I could not see arranged everyone,that’s when I saw my mother, she didn’t know I was looking at her.
“Why are you crying? Do you think someone will saveyou? Where is your precious daughter, the princess who’s birthday we are allcelebrating.” The man asked.
“We don’t have time for this Liam.”
Liam, that’s his name.
Liam and Daniel.
The one monsters, they were smiling and laughingthat’s when Mama’s eyes met mine and she looked away instantly, she didn’t wantthem to know.
“She is not home, it’s all a surprise; she is meant tocome home with my oldest son tonight.” Papa lied, I didn’t have to see his faceto know how broken he is.
Nathan won’t be home until later tonight
“You lie.” Liam yelled, how did he know that.
My father didn’t speak and neither if anyone else, myheart skipped a beat, worried what they will find if they find me, I clenchedon to the coat even more and this time I looked away.
If I keep staring, it may end bad for me.
“Never mind, I would find her when the time is right,for now Danny look around, you never know where she could be.”
“We have don’t time for this Liam, you get this fucking over with.” Daniel yelled andhe nodded.
I didn’t have to look to know they took a picturebecause I heard the sound and I didn’t have to look to even know that I heard the clock of a gun.
I placed both hands against my mouth, the tears in myeyes didn’t stop and my heart beating faster than I had wanted it too, I amfilled with fear and anger.
That’s when I heard the first gunshot.
“Dios(God)” mama yelled. “Gabriel.” She yelled againand I shake my head.
A second gunshot followed.
Then another two followed and I could still hear thecries of my mother, my heart broke at every moment.
“Do it now Liam.” Daniel yelled, they are exciteddoing that, I shut my eyes when I mentally sang the song my papa would alwayssing for me when I had a nightmare.
It didn’t work, it didn’t stop me from hearing thehurtful sounds or my mama crying, that’s when I made the mistake of turning myface and I heard the next gunshot.
The blood spattered across the place, mama’s blood wasall over her favorite carpet when her body fell to the ground and papa was noteven given time to grief before I heard another gunshot. And the men didn’twaste time in leaving the house
I didn’t move, I didn’t even try to head to them, theycan’t be dead, it can’t be, my body felt frozen as more tears streamed down mycheek and I realized that.
I just lost everything and everyone.
