The Children We Love by Zenith-Jade at Inkitt

~Prologue~

Three kids play by the fountain at a park, as their mother watches from a bench, passersby are wandering about as the youngest is playing with another young child, their parent chatting with Molly, the mother of the three children, the other two children, a pair of nearly identical twins, a boy and a girl, were playing tag around the fountain. The young child leaves with their mother, leaving Molly and her three kids alone at the park, at least that's what she thought. The youngest child, Maxx Cordova, a beautiful angel of a toddler, with ginger hair and brown bangs, his green eyes glittering in the sun, freckles scattered his body, was playing in the sandbox, the twins, Mason and Masia Cordova were playing hide and seek, Molly was still watching from the bench, Masia came running to her mother

"I can't find Maxx Mama!" The girl cried, "I looked everywhere"

Molly Looked around, Mason was gone as well, "Masia Get in the car! Now!"

Masia ran to the car, locking herself in, the position of the car was behind a small wall of trees, you cant see the park, and the park cant see you, She waited and waited, she heard a scream and called the police, something she had learned to do from her older brother, before he ran away, she told them she heard screaming and she was scared. After they hung up the phone, she lay down on the floorboard, hiding. The next thing she knew, she was talking to a police officer, He was talking rather gently to the 8-year-old girl with fiery hair and pink colored eyes, freckles framing her fair toned face, "Your baby brother, Maxx, is okay, he was hiding the whole time, Mason's being taken to the hospital to treat his injuries, but he'll b-"

"Where's my mama?" She asked. She looked around

"Masia honey your momma is... She's gone sweet pea." The officer said, Masia cried, It's crazy how you can be so happy and have everyone you love altogether and then BAM! There's nothing left. Her mother was gone. And she thought she knew what happened. Boy was she wrong!

After a few months, Mason was out of the hospital. He had new scars, one ran across his whole chest, a burn. He had others scattered about. More, smaller, burn marks on his arms and legs, and a rose scarred onto his hand. It looked to be a burn but it was black. Like a tattoo.

The children had been in the care of the church, they were in that awful church for years before they were given to a foster home. A lovely woman by the name of Wilmah Elias, who had two kids of her own, took them in. The police had found that they had an older brother and were trying to contact him, as well as the children's father, which hadn't been working out.

MOTHER ELIAS had two children, a set of twins two years older than Mason and Masia, Zander and Zavier, Zavier was nice but he was kinda creepy, he kept to himself and only really talked to Maxx and his brother. His hair was straight and jet back where his brothers were curly and more blue-tinted. They shared the same green eyes and pale skin, but Zavier looked so much more... Dead, his hair was dried out, his eyes didn't shine, and his skin had no flush to it.

ZANDER was sweet, Mason thought he was the coolest person in the world. And 13 year old Mason was absolutely smitten. His hair was so shiny Mason Loved to brush and trim it for him. All Zander had to do was say the word and Mason would jump to the occasion. Mason learned how to cook, clean, sew, and other things. By the time he was fifteen. That's when it started going downhill.

When Mason and his sister were 17, Maxx was 13. Zander and Zavier were 19 at the time. Mason had gone with Zander to look for frogs in the pond by the house and Masia was at a friend's house. Mother Elias was cooking. Which left Maxx alone with Zavier upstairs in the bedroom. Even in full sprint It took Mason four minutes to get to the room after he heard the scream. Four minutes before Mother Elias stood horrified at the sight before her. Four minutes that Maxx had been in pain. Four little minutes that nearly cost His baby brother his life.

They all knew that Zavier was messed up. But he was always so nice with Maxx. He helped him with school and with chores. Zavier took care of him. No one ever thought Zavier would hurt him. But here They all stood. Maxx on the floor as Zavier stood over him, blood covered hand dripping and chest heaving "He wouldn't shut up." He had repeated that phrase hundreds of times after they found him. Mson was frozen, anguish and fear mixed with anger inside of him. His blood was boiling and freezing at the same time.

A few things happened at once. Zavier came out of it and saw what he did, apologizing and saying it wasn't him. Zander checked to make sure that Maxx was breathing while Mother Elias called for help, and Mason stayed frozen, glaring at Zavier with hatred. Zander moved away and stated that Maxx was breathing. Zavier stopped towards Maxx and Mason shoved him back harshly "Don't You FUCKING TOUCH HIM" His voice rose steadily

"Mason I did-"

"Stay Away From Him Or I Swear To God I'll Kill you!" Zavier sneered at Mason and shoved him back. Needless to say, that started a fight and the boys were pulled apart by the authorities when they arrived. Zavier attacked an officer and was detained. Maxx was taken to the hospital.

A week later Zavier was sent to the mental hospital, and Maxx was released from the ICU. He had a scar on the back of his head and his voice box was damaged. But other than that he was for the most part okay. Mason spent three days in a juvenile containment center for attacking Zavier.

A few moths after what happened with Zavier, The twins with Zander went exploring the town. Unfortunately that would be their last time. A group of thugs surrounded the children and attacked them, hoping to find something of value. Masia was merely knocked unconscious. Mason tried to protect his sister and so two of the men attacked him with their knives. Zander stepped in to protect Mason and he was stabbed. Sirens sounded and the men ran off.

When Mason came to, he was in the hospital. He had asked the doctors about Masia and Zander and they had said that Masia had been sent home being as she stayed with him for the whole 2 weeks he was in a coma. When He asked again about Zander they said that he wasn't with them when the cops arrived.

Mason had to stay in the hospital for a month after he woke up. During that time police searched unsuccessfully for Zander and the thugs. Two days before he was released from the hospital the policed announced that Zander was most likely dead. The day before his released the police announced that they had found and contacted his older brother, and that he was on the way to fill out the papers and take them with him. Masia was elated to hear that. Maxx was happy that they found him. Mason had no reaction.

So a week later they were all packed up and ready to leave behind everything. They left before Zanders funeral. Turns out it takes a while to plan one. Mason was in zanders room before they left. He was searching for something. "Mason what are you doing in here?" Mother Elias spoke softly

Mason turned to her with tears in his eyes "I'm sorry i just... I was looking for something that i could take with me... I just... I miss him so much." Mother Elias motioned to a box all packed and taped up

"I picked those out for you. I know you two were really close." Mother Elias hugged the boy

"You have no idea Wilmah" He sobbed as the woman shushed him. Mason took the box and held it on his lap in the car.

This is where the story starts.