I couldn't breathe. Oh god why couldn't I breathe?

My chest rose and fell but the air couldn't seem to reach my lungs. Emotions seemed to deprive my body of its ability to inhale as pain slithered from the depths of my soul and shock snatched the color from my chubby cheeks. My vision blurred, my sight grew hazy as it traveled along the white walls, droplets of dejection slipping from my lashes as my vision wandered over stuffed animals. My heart breaking as agonized orbs grazed over photos of happier times, over unless clutter I once begged to obtain. Red and blue forever tainting my perception as it continued to swirl along the edges of my view as if slowly corrupting everything it touched.

Small fingers brushed back my curls, its strong hold around my small figure being a partial shield to my incoming ache. "Its okay, Marie," she whispered into my ear repeatedly, her body rocking me to her reassurances like that of a warped lullaby. "Its gonna be okay."

My fingers clutched at the teddy bear held tightly to my chest wishing somehow it could protect me from the world. That it could somehow prevent this day from ever happening. My muddled hazel lenses rose from the cold wooden floorboards towards the sight of my father being held to the ground in the hall. His face was pressed into its hard surface, his white shirt crumpled, his skin flushed as the officer pressed forcibly into his spine as they cuffed his hands behind his back. Behind him inside mommy and Daddy's room stood my mother speaking calmly to another officer, her half packed bags forgotten on the bed. The red and blue as always projecting along the walls.

My Daddy groaned in pain as he twisted towards me, his eyes at last clashing with mine, finally seeing the damage buried within golden irises.

"Please," he begged the other officers; his gaze still glued to our figures huddled upon the bed. "Please don't do this in front of my kids."

Pushing away from Drea's arms I rushed towards him somehow knowing inside if I could just get to him, reach him I could help him. "Daddy?"

Firm hands caught me preventing me from moving further, my stuffed bear falling from my arms. I twisted within Drea's hold yelling, "Drea, he needs us."

Her tragic blue gaze remained on the sight of the policemen now forcing our father to his feet. Shame forced his lids closed, that red stain still tainting the front of his white shirt. He turned towards us, his eyes disconsolate as he whispered, "girls, I am so sorry."

They pushed him forward as I once again escaped Andrea's hold to run towards the doorway, "Daddy-."

Clutching the back of my shirt my sister hugged my struggling form close to her, her cheeks wet with moisture as they shoved our father towards the entrance. His strong figure for once appeared so broken as he slumped ahead, those blue eyes usually so full of laughter now extinguished of its former joy as he twisted back to yell, "Drea, you take care of your sister! No matter what, you keep each other safe!"

Footsteps recede into the distance until the sight of him all but vanish as a police woman mercifully closes the door to our small bedroom; shielding us too late from the view of our father's arrest.

My trembling arms rose to cradle my confused mind as my tiny form collapsed to the ground in tears while trying to make sense of the unexplainable. Trying to deal with sadness I was too young to cope with, trying to ease the helplessness consuming my heart at not being able to save him.

Arms once again wrapped tightly around me, my lids meeting as liquid trickled from their closure as I felt lips kiss the crown of my curls. Her own voice hoarse with emotion as my sister murmured, "Its okay Anna. I'm here... I'll always be here to protect you. I'll always be here to keep you safe..."

A tiny stone hitting harshly upon skin awoke me to the horrors of my entombment. Coughing, dust rises at my lips movement as my lids fluttered open to confront the sight of total darkness. Hazel lenses searched its blank void for some sign to where I now resided, for some clue to what happened, my skull pounding. My fingers twitched as if testing their ability to move, the sound of falling rocks scaring me back into immobility.

Sensing rather than seeing the nearness of others my mouth opened to shout for help just as my vocal cords froze, the words dying on my lips as flashes of images of footsteps causing the trembling of the earth's foundation as screams lingered in the wind seeped into my stunned mentality. Horrid pictures bombarded my mind of defenders of good being swept into flames...

"No," I murmured, my golden eyes frantically shifting trying to erase such images from my brain.

Visions of demons shrieking as metal sliced into skin, of Gabe...

My chin quivered as moisture pushed against the edges of my lids, "Oh god, Gabe."

I could see plainly my guardian bruised, his features pained as he screamed... as he yelled something undecipherable towards me. So clearly now I could see his battered form, those beautiful angelic gaze begging me to...what?

There seemed to be this unspeakable shaft of darkness shielding certain pieces of my memory. My breathing became labored as chaotically within the ebony tinted enclosure I attempted with every ounce of mental strength to piece the entire puzzle together only to cause a voice so remarkably like my own to sound out internally.

"Remembering won't help you any."

Coughing, my voice cracked as I forced my dry vocal cords to cooperate, "and forgetting has helped me so much so far?"

There was silence for so long I feared my darker persona had deserted me before quietly she retorted, "I'm only trying to protect you."

Squeezing my eyes shut to cut off such overwhelming emotions conquering my heart I shakily responded, "I realize this."

"Trust me, you keep unearthing secrets it will only end up hurting you in the end besides remembering really shouldn't be your main goal right now."

My cough altered into that of a weak laugh, "and what exactly do you think that should be?" I weakly questioned.

"Just take a look at where you are, Marie then ask me that question again."

My lashes parted, my eyes traveling over the darkness in rueful realization to the meaning to her words but as swiftly as the significance donned on me was as quickly as the image of Gabe resurfaced to further haunt me. "Look, I get that you mean well. I understand that now. Everything you do is in your own way of protecting me, of forcing me to slowly face what I try to hide from, but eventually the truth has to be revealed."

The sound of dust falling through crevices, the undistinguishable noises of life outside my encasement commenced before she said simply, "just remember... you were warned..."

Unexpectedly a series of painful images assailed my fragile mind as gasping my eyes widened at the horrific depiction of my protectors dying to shelter me replayed vividly. I watched unbearably as guardians were slaughtered at my feet, as ruthless flickers ate away a young girl's body as the shield collapsed. Tears dribbled from my lids, my head thrashing slightly in a useless attempt to stop the continuation of the imagery of Gabe, Andrea and I running away from the fight, Gabe's arms holding me as I watched Thomas's death.

"God, no," I moaned as visions of Katrina rejoicing in my pain morphed into that of Adriana as she demolished Gabe's sphere of protection only to toss him carelessly from my side. I observed like a helpless bystander as my sister yelled for me to run only for my form to be captured as I progressed. Powerlessly ensnared I remained as memories played out as if scenes of a movie rather than recollections of my damning past.

"Turn it off," I whispered as the welts upon my skin inflicted by darkness's touch began to burn as I viewed the creation of such cruelty before... before such a vast multitude of petrified cerulean took over my sight. Such panic lied inside those blue depths as Andrea twisted towards my imprisoned form, her body running blindly towards me before I could halt her.

"No, I don't want to see anymore!" I shrieked, tears now pouring not only from my eyes but from my shattering heart as I heard my own voice scream my sister's name. My eyes closed to the sight and yet the inescapable image continued even within the enforced darkness as red merciless beams sliced through my sister, blood pouring from her lips, those piercing blue orbs widening before everything that once was my big sister fell apart at my feet.

Sobbing in devastation I screeched, "I remember now. I don't need to see anymore!"

"You wanted to witness the truth," my darker twin mournfully countered.

Liquid now trapped within my sight I watched as my true derangement unfolded... the death I caused, the flames consuming life, the fear the guardians now regarded me with. I noticed demons cringing at the sight of me... even my stepsister too frightened to confront my rage.

...Oh god, I saw Katrina crying, petrified as her tormented form was turned to ash.

I shook my head in denial as finally I realized the words coming from Gabe's lips. Despondent, I whispered, "He was begging me to stop," a sob broke through my shaking lips, "he was begging me to stop... because I was k-killing... everyone."

"You were distraught," she reasoned.

My head shook miserably, "no... I was evil."

"No, you were-."

"I was no better than the demons who feed on the good."

Pissed at even the thought my inner self roared, "You are nothing like them! Emotion robbed you of commonsense, they only kill for pleasure!"

Tears melting the surrounding blackness I whispered, "I am no different. Katrina was right. I never should have been allowed to live."

"Katrina was mentally unstable! The girl had truly lost it! You can't seriously tell me you actually agree with her insanity?"

Attempting to swallow over the huge obstruction labeled guilt lodged within my throat I whispered, "All I know is a lot of courageous people died for what they believed in. Some," my voice broke as emotion seeped from my tortured gaze, "even at my own hand. The fact that I even draw breath right now is a travesty, an insult to their memory."

"So what now? You just give up? You die here?" she questioned.

My orbs tracked the tiny trickles of sunlight filtering through chunks of cement, its sudden brilliance clearing away some of the suffocating darkness, and finally I realized what had precluded me from death once again. Surrounding my battered figure lay rock suspended only by my seemingly ceaseless strength within. My head shifted weakly at the sound of people hard at work trying to recover the injured from within the rubble.

"Frank, you got anything?" A man yelled, its voice sounding distorted from my enclosed position.

"I wish I did. All I keep finding is body parts. Rob I'm afraid to say it, but I think we're no longer looking for the wounded but the bodies of the dead."

Their voices trailed away from me as I finally allowed the shifting of rocks until sunlight stroked my skin, the revealing of my blood covered face at last visible.

"No, I don't just give up here," I retorted as I concentrated what little strength I had left on the removal of large portions of cement from around my untouched limbs as gradually beams of bright light surpassed the darkness as I tentatively allowed a stained bruised palm to rise from the mounds of rock. Climbing from within my hole, limbs battered; leaking crimson liquid I crawled out onto the rock's hard surface. Resting upon my back, my eyes on the dazzling sight of sky's glorious dawn I actually managed a smile at the stunning vision.

"Oh my god Frank, we got someone over here!" that same voice I vaguely recognized screamed just before the pounding of several footsteps rang out around me.

Tear's released from frightened orbs down my dirt caked skin blinding me as I shifted to sit up, the sight of firemen hurrying towards me scaring me as much as the rushing of demons. Only it wasn't what they would do to me that I feared it was what I would do to them. Controlling my emotions I raised a feeble palm towards their forms freezing them in mid-run. The delight became trapped upon their features, the wind all but dying in the stillness as finally I allowed my eyes to wander over the results of my unwitting carnage.

The flames were now extinguished, the bodies of the dead still buried underneath the wreckage, but there was no parking garage left. A few lonely columns remained standing but as far as I could see there was nothing but mounds and mounds of broken cement. My head turned, my dirt streaked curls brushing over one shoulder before my mouth fell open at the sight of what was left of the mall. The wall that connected to the parking garage was now gone, the inside of the building now demolished, open for all to see. Exposed for all to gaze upon the hundreds of black bags of the dead rescuers had already discovered. Levels had collapsed, the glass roof had shattered upon those running whilst blood covered the tile that fallen debris did not conceal. It almost appeared as if someone had taken to pouring gallons of red paint over the scene. I closed my eyes for a moment in an attempt to contain the overwhelming culpability surpassing my damned soul.

"Anna-."

My body twisted quickly, bruised limbs aching in protest, "Gabe?"

"You have to stop this," his voice taunted, the image of him across the garage so clear I could have sworn I could have reached out and touched him. But this was no forgiving moment after the mistakes of the past. This was a haunting resurrection of my massacre. "You're killing not only demons but innocents too!"

Shaking my head in denial I watched as the image dissolved before my very eyes. My troubled gaze watching as shaky blood covered hands pushed to help me rise until I stood upon unsteady feet.

"No, I won't die here," I whispered to my darker self while trying desperately not to give in to my vast chasm of depression opening up inside my chest as I hobbled carefully over broken stones towards the street. Halting upon the sidewalk's start I openly gazed in wonderment out at the precession of police cars crowding the lot, the horde of reporters eager to get a story, the family members of the deceased blending into that of the onlookers. All life around me had frozen; locked into the horror of my own making before I compelled one battered limb to progress before another, forcing myself to leave the scene.

The wind like the touch of the forgotten suddenly swept through my curls forcing my body to stop, the vision of Andrea's hand touching mine barraging my mind.

"As long as we are together that's all that matters..." lingered within the breeze.

Moving in a blind panic I raced back to my burial place, my fingers frantically digging through rock until the sun glittered off the gold band's surface. Picking up my sister's severed hand I twisted the butterfly ring off her finger, seeing the droplets hitting her skin before I realized I was crying. Trembling I placed her palm back onto the ground before covering it with dirt feeling as gutted as the first time we buried her.

Wavering for a moment I swallowed my grief with difficulty before picking my dazed form back up, my sister's ring gracing my finger as I retraced my steps back towards the street. This time I ignored the spectacle that had become of the surrounding area of death as I stumbled my way out into the morning. My mental hold at last faltering as the sounds of cries entered the air, the resonance of sirens, the noise of life bombarding me from all sides as slowly but surely I disappeared from sight.

....................................................................

Materializing at the base of Aunt Grace's staircase my hands clutched my abdomen tenderly as I limped towards the series of endless steps. The sight of the stairway appeared to grow as I gazed upon them, my body already throbbing at even the idea of attempting such a seemingly arduous feat of climbing them. I made a move towards my challenge wincing at the sound of the floorboards giving in. My body paused, my ears alert to any and all reaction to my ineptness within the house. I heard footsteps coming towards me before the kitchen door swung back, David's eager face pausing directly opposite my startled form before quickly I slipped into his compliant mind wiping my existence from his brain as I hurried to hide behind a bookcase.

I allowed my eyes to peek from behind my choice of concealment watching as this cloaked demon peered around the space fervently, his eyes altering to that bloodthirsty red as he scanned the area, his senses telling him something more lied in wait but his sight deceiving him. I noticed the anger simmering from his enraged figure at finding nothing but empty air. Hesitant footsteps followed his trail, Grace's body still clad in a crumpled yellow tank and pants she'd slept in, her long blond tresses like a cloud of tousled gold around her shoulders.

Her features appeared pale, those eyes so like Andrea's reddened as if she'd been crying, "was there anyone there?"

He noticeably grimaced at the sound of her voice before he shook off his demonic urges, altering back into his role of loving fiancé as he shifted back towards her, gathering her small form to his strong torso. "I told you you're jumping at shadows. No one is in this house."

She shivered, her head resting near his heart for a moment before she moved away to pull her white robe more securely around her figure, "It's just... they haven't found her."

His fingers caressed her disheveled tendrils lovingly, "I'm sure Anna Marie is fine."

Her chin wobbled in pent up grief, "it's all my fault."

My eyes blinked away the moisture at the pain my disappearance was causing her. David peered deeply into her blue irises before calmly and clearly stating, "It's no one's fault."

"I talked her into going. She didn't even want to-."

Hugging her to him again, "you have to stop this. You've been tearing yourself apart since the police came to your door last night."

Pushing him away I watched as she spun towards the gathering daylight, her hand rising to cover her trembling lips, "you just don't get it." A lone trickle of sadness slipped down her cheek, "I wanted her to be better."

My brows furrowed in confusion, the tears I held in dribbling free.

Twisting towards him she ragged, "I believed she didn't belong there, and look at us now! That little girl is dead and who knows who else because I let her back on the streets!"

"You don't know that Anna had anything to do-."

"And you don't know that she didn't!"

My wounded gaze fell, my sight shifting towards the sight of the Christmas photo still hanging on the adjacent wall. Andrea and I tearing open presents while Aunt Grace handed us brightly colored packages, my mom happily watching us from the couch. My dad had shot the photo a few months before he was taken. It was the last picture of us all together.

"I should have seen the signs," Grace muttered mournfully, "hell David, the girl was talking to thin air claiming that she could speak to the dead!"

I watched as David mover closer, his arms once again enclosing around my despondent aunt. "The police wanted to speak to her for questioning," he reasoned, "that doesn't mean-."

She glanced up at him intently, her eyes bleak, "how long," she interrupted, "how long can I remain in ignorance? I can't be her... I won't!

"Can't be who?"

"Carmen," she declared tiredly. "Their mother was blind to everything around her. She led those two girls into that house..."her eyes fell bleakly onto the framed picture of Andrea and me playing in the backyard. Her fingers delicately tracing over our features, "it's really a wonder Anna held it together this long considering all the tragedy she's faced."

The news announcer broke into the tragic silence that lapsed after her words as David took the photo from her trembling fingers, placing its golden frame back onto the glass table.

"Breaking news, the search for survivors continues after the catastrophic collapse of the Mount Adams Mall. The death toll continues to rise while authorities are still unsure of its cause..."

I watched as David slowly ushered Grace back towards the kitchen, "everything is going to be okay. All of this will be cleared up soon, and Anna will be found."

"They're unsure of the exact number of the fatalities, Tom," the news announcer continued, "but we can say this is the most heartbreaking tragedy to happen to the MountAdams community in a long time."

David glided my Aunt back towards the scent of breakfast cooking, his body sudden motionless within the door frame, his figure twisting to allow his piercing green eyes to travel once more over the empty room. "Trust me Grace," he whispered for only me to hear, "Anna Marie can't hide forever."

The door swung shut at last allowing me to release the breath I had been holding in while blessedly taking his horrid image along with it. Choking back the depths of my despair I shuffled the rest of the way upstairs, my footfalls light as I made my way into my room. I quietly closed the door wishing I could shut the guilt and remorse out too, my head resting along its wooden surface, my eyes closed.

"Marie."

My lids prized openly quickly, my heart pounding as I stared dazedly up at my big sister, "Andrea?"

As if resurrected Andrea stood before me, her features pleading, her palm resting on the hip of her mini skirt, her black high heeled boots moving towards me before she halted mere footsteps from my reach. "Marie, I'm not trying to keep you in the dark right now. I'm not trying to prevent you from being normal."

Trembling, useless liquid gathered within my gaze. Was this some cruel trick from fate? To taunt me with memories so realistic until it truly drove me mad?

"Andrea?" I questioned as I took a step closer.

"I'm telling you that something about tonight doesn't feel right."

A sob broke through knowing her past warnings had fallen on deaf ears. Had this memory really only happened last night?

"I'm sorry Drea, you were right. I should have listened," I admitted, my arms at last clasping around her only for her form to dissipate like smoke captured by the wind. "Oh God, I should have listened."

Taking a deep laborious breath while trying to thrust the wave of misery from my heart I blindly stumbled towards the bathroom. My eyes landed on the bloody clothes still crumpled in a ball hidden within the small linen closet. Shaken fingers grasped knobs, the water hitting porcelain making me fear the sound of hurrying footsteps. Remaining motionless I waited with a pounding heart only to hear nothing before I eased the blood soaked clothing from my skin, forcing my bruised form beneath its warm spray.

The water burned my ravaged skin, the soap stinging my cuts and still I scrubbed. I scrubbed away dirt as if somehow it would cleanse not only my marred skin but my flawed soul. The past's reemergence behind closed lids, images of unnecessary death, visions of my sister's warnings... her demise only caused me to rub harder. Dripping, my tears mixing with trickles of the shower's spray I stepped out onto the cold tile before hurrying to slip into fresh clothing. The jeans I quickly shimmied into still clung to wet skin, the blue tee revealing the finger sized bruises along my arms. Shoving my marked limbs into a red hoodie, my feet slipping into the first pair of sneakers I could find I made my way back into the steam filled bathroom. Stepping cautiously over wet puddles and damaged garments I halted before white porcelain.

My fingers gripped the edges of the sink's surface until white surrounded my knuckles as my eyes closed attempting to control the frantic beat of my heart before I grasped the towel moving to wipe the mist from the glass. And finally clear there stood my mirror image awaiting my arrival... only it wasn't truly me for her eyes were completely scarlet and upon her features lied not even ounce of fear.

"I always knew this day would come. The day when you would at last be ready to know the truth."

My lashes fluttered as I tried to hold back my hidden agony, "I wouldn't call this exactly being ready, but I know that I want," I paused taking a deep breath. "I need to know what happened that night."

Taking in my trembling form, my weakened appearance she replied calmly, "you already know a large portion. Would it not be best to leave the past alone?"

My brows creased over mystified lenses, "you were the one always taunting me to-,"

"Yeah, and I'm also the only one who would know exactly what you've been through these pass couple of days."

I shook my head, tears falling from my damp lashes, "no, I need to know the truth. I need to know what And-," a sob broke through before I could halt it, "I need to know what Andrea was hiding."

A brow rose over smoldering orbs, "does it really matter now?"

Enraged my fist slammed into the hard ivory surface harshly, "of course it does! I need to know why you hated her so. I need to know what exactly she hid from me." My voice turned hoarse as I held back my emotions, "what was so important that she let it drive a wedge between us, and I need to know exactly what the hell happened to me that night."

Emotionless she regarded my features, her silence lasting so long I feared she'd refuse me before at last she retorted, "I never hated her. I guess I just held less respect for the morally righteous forever judging what they were guilty of themselves."

"What does that even mean?"

Ignoring my question she continued, "You must know that once you look into secrets there will be no going back from it."

"I know that-."

She grinned knowingly, "Aww little Marie, but do you truly understand it?"

Beyond irritated with clever wordplay I responded, "Please do not confound me with riddles as you've said before I've been through enough."

Laughing at my unexpected spirit, "I wondered if the smart ass in you had truly disappeared. It's nice to know it still lingers under such sadness."

Wiping away the moisture from my cheeks I stood determined, our gaze connecting, "will you help me or not?"

Smirking she simply held out an open palm, "Baby girl, I'm just a gate keeper; you've been in control of this journey the whole time."

My eyes fell to that offered hand before they rose back to stare into such crimson orbs.

My darker self as if sensing my hesitation felt it necessary to caution, "Do know Marie that this ride into memories won't be like our last."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that you won't just observe you'll be a full participant."

My eyes shifted hysterically trying to make sense of her words, "does that-, does that mean-."

"You can not prevent death," she supplied forcefully already realizing my train of thought. "Andrea's path is already written in stone. You will be inside of a memory so nothing can be changed from its original course. The only difference is this time you'll have to relive everything you're running from."

My vision fell back to that open palm.

"All I need to know Marie is... are you ready?"

My palm shook even as I steeled my resolve to halt its tremble as it rose, my fingers quivering as my arm lifted to touch the coldness of glass. Fingertips expecting to touch a solid surface glided seamlessly through the mirror's exterior, the glass parting as if my palm was dipped into silver liquid, ripples surrounding my finger's indention like that of stone sinking into a river. Lips parted as a whispered gasp fell from my startled features as my hand disappeared into my reflection until I felt warm flesh sliding beneath my grasp. Our eyes met as I responded boldly, "I think I'm beyond ready."

At last I allowed my darker half to pull me fully from the safety of the bathroom and into the vast formidable unknown.

Instantly I found myself surrounded by that life extinguishing darkness as it eclipsed everything beyond the bathroom's illumination. I twisted back the way I had come only to glimpse the emptiness of the hollow white tiled room behind me before my sight clashed with amused scarlet.

"Already having regrets?" she mocked.

"Where are we?" I questioned while gazing out at the seemingly endless fathoms of obscurity.

Smirking at my confusion, "this is the in-between of reality and consciousness. The chasm of vacuity that surrounds your true memories, the void that corrupts everything you perceive."

My chest rose and fell rapidly, "and how... how exactly do I get to truth?"

Her arm extended pointing onwards, "simply by choosing to depart from shadows and embrace the light."

My body shivered as I took an unsteady step towards the surrounding darkness, away from the safety of the mirror. I turned back towards my darker self realizing she still stood motionless against the glass. "You're not coming?"

She shook her head regretfully, "No Marie, this is one journey you must take on your own."

Biting down on my wavering lip I shoved away the doubt and fear I currently felt plaguing me as I stiffened my spine before walking onwards into complete and utter nothingness...

"Anna, we were supposed to leave twenty minutes ago," my mother's voice raged towards my stunned figure.

Panicked eyes widened at the sudden receding of night's blanket as everything around me slowly became clear like an unhurried unveiling of the core exhibition. At last I saw clearly the extravagance of wealth lining the hall's walls, the brilliance of the chandelier shinning down upon us, my mother once again dressed in her beautiful lavender ball gown, Rick behind her in his tux. My sight fell upon his figure, hate consuming my future self while feeling only sadness cling to my past heart.

"Anna, Anna! I am talking to you," my mother harshly interrupted, her fingers snapping before my eyes. "Did you hear a word I just said?"

Feeling the emotions of the past and yet realizing that this may be the last time I'd see my mother once again alive I felt myself smile. The words tumbling from my lips automated, my inner impulse fighting my limp limbs to reach out and hug her. "Mommy, can't I go with Andrea this one time? I know I failed my test but-."

"Anna, Our decision has been made. You're watching Courtney tonight."

"Why can't Adriana do it?" I pleaded to deaf ears while internally knowing this conversation was pointless as she continued to kill every ounce of wishful thinking I once harbored.

I watched her take in imaginary flaws within her compact wondering if even now did she suffer even a glimmer of self doubt in her decision to move us here, or was it only after Andrea's death that slowly the destroyed pieces of her distorted fairy tale at last began to come together to slowly reveal the truth. I watched as she spoke, my past heart breaking as she lectured instead of understanding my feelings all the while wondering how someone so beautiful could have such low self worth that she could crave such delusions while sacrificing our happiness. That she could blindly choose wealth, privilege, and power over the safety of her children.

Heels sounded on the landing, my eyes rounding quickly to gaze upon the sight of my sister forever coming to my rescue. "Oh no, wouldn't want to ruin a night full of deception, conniving rich folks persuading people out of their hard earned money to fund a corrupt platform built on lies."

Glazing upon such familiar blonde tresses, the heart shaped face, the rich blue tint of Andrea's irises I could have wept at such cruelty... at such blessed wonderment of being able to see my sister standing beside me alive and well again. My eyes wondered from her back towards my mother, my heart constricting painfully within my chest as I quickly realized here I remained surrounded by those I loved and would soon lose all over again. Outwardly my appearance only showed the now trivial misery of the past while inside I knew the true definition of desolation.

Rick moved easily towards Andrea but it was only now that I could see clearly her discomfort at having him near, now I noticed the slight paling of her skin as his fingers brushed against the back of her neck, could detect the sick joy he took in flaunting his depravity in front if my mother's oblivious eyes. Andrea's trapped agony reached out towards us, begging our mother to notice the torture she continued to suffer only for our mom to firmly encase herself further into her own mirage of blissfulness of a happy family.

"You girls should really appreciate your stepfather more. I don't think you realize all the hard work he does, and the quality time he sacrifices that he could be spending with us," she chastised, her ignorance of the truth honestly baffling.

Her adoring gaze she awarded upon the morally corrupt sickened me as he playfully smirked, "Carmen, don't lecture. We all know of Andrea's love for me. It's almost as much as I love her."

I sent a surge of power to my limbs attempting to force my body to propel his wretched form from my sister's side as I observed him holding her body firmly against his, watched him take pleasure from her pain, but regrettably it seemed my darker image was right. I remained nothing more than merely an observer when it came to changing the past, and yet a full participant when I felt the heavy weight of sadness engulf me at the idea of my hopes of leaving tonight fully dashed.

Completely ignorant to everything around her Carmen reprimanded, "Now don't you feel bad for your words Andrea? I really think you should apologize to your father."

Anger literally consumed sapphire lenses completely, its color darkening to dark royal blue as she broke free from Rick's hold, "although you like to pretend as if I don't, I already have a father!"

Exhaustion robbed my mother of her youth for mere seconds, as age lines appeared along her skin, "Andrea, really do we have to do this tonight?"

I felt the warmth of a body behind me just as fingers softly dug into my curls, that deep voice ringing out to further taunt my older sister. "And I would never dream of attempting to take his place." I felt my stepfather's repulsive arm slide around my shoulders hugging me close to him, "no replacing your father is not what I have in mind at all."

Unshakeable fingers grasped my chin, his green gaze searching mine, the lust that confused me in the past now evident to my hate filled lenses.

"I swear Anna; you get more and more beautiful every time I see you."

At last I saw his ideal of the future reflected within his eyes, his undying need to obtain me, his crazed obsession to claim my body as his own.

His sudden departure from my side calmed the nervousness raging within me, but it did nothing to halt the bleak realization that he would never stop hounding my existence. As long as I breathed, as long as I resided upon this earth Rick would pursue me. I would forever have to look over my shoulder, watch those I love expire at his callous hands in his quest to capture me, and truly what kind of life was that?

Blinking away my distress I realized I had missed most of the conversation going on around me as Rick now at my mother's side smiled ominously down at my sister before retorting, "No, I think Andrea deserves a night out with her father."

A car's horn sounded in the distance as panic began to erupt within my alarmed heart as inwardly I screamed for Andrea not to get in that car.

Rick's eyes remained oddly contented as he continued, "I think this most certainly is one ride Andrea really shouldn't miss."

Blindly I watched as my sister eagerly raced down the winding staircase, my laden footsteps slowly trailing her path, her heels clicking against polished wood. Her blonde hair streamed out behind her, a glorious grin upon her lips. At the entrance of the doorway she twisted back towards me, my eyes glimpsing her rare projection of total happiness before dejectedly I observed helplessly as Andrea sprinted out into the rain. Watched as she dashed directly towards death all the while bound deeply within the confines of my inner cell my future self remained cursed, inwardly ensnared shrieking horrifically soundless for her to come back.

Carmen's footsteps sounded out as she eased down the stairs, silk brushing against polished flooring, "you gaze out at her as if this is the end of the world, as if you will never see her again."

Beyond disconsolate inside I silently responded, "You just have no idea..."

My younger self turned to glimpse such beauty regarding me with such contempt as silent tears trickled from my gaze, "one night. All I asked for was one night."

Groaning as she picked up her wrap from the hall's table while managing to completely ignore my sorrow, "oh god, Anna don't start. I swear you and your sister will be the death of me."

Rick swept pass me, his cologne mixed with the lingering scent of demoralizing triumph was nauseating as he placed his cell phone into his side pocket, his footsteps following my mother's out into the foyer. "The car's waiting, my love."

"Great," she responded, her hands busy picking up her small bejeweled matching clutch, her gaze forever checking her reflection. Our eyes met within the glass as I remained standing alone along the bottom step. "Don't look at me with those eyes, Anna."

My brow rose, "you mean lenses exactly identical to yours?" I countered mockingly.

Quickly she rounded back to me, her expression peculiarly pissed, "no, I mean with the same cruel, judgmental lenses of your grandmother's irises."

I gasped quietly feeling the true abhorrence she held for her own heritage before I managed to whisper, "Maybe you're only seeing what you want to see."

Inwardly I knew truer words had never been spoken.

"And maybe you should remain in a child's place," she viciously spat as she distractedly brushed away a speck of imaginary dirt from her dress. Her spine stiffened as if great posture somehow guarded her mind from returning to the past before arrogantly she raised her chin regarding me coldly. "Courtney has had dinner already and you know her bedtime on Fridays is at ten. You make sure she is bathed and asleep by then."

My despondent gaze fell to gleaming wooden floorboards as they walked quickly towards the door. My mother similar to that of my sister's action turned back to me once framed within the entrance, our matching eyes once again clashing.

"One night of minding my words isn't too much to ask, Anna Marie. One night of babysitting your little sister really won't kill you."

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(I know sorry, I'm like super late with an upload. Life got in the way lol. Anyways, I was going to try and fit the whole memory into one chapter but that is clearly impossible seeing as I always have the length of my chapters in the back of mind. My chapters are already long enough, so as you can see I'm going to have to split that famous night into two parts. At least it won't feel rushed if I do it this way. The parts that have already been revealed in former chapters I'm trying to brush over and not add as much detail considering you should already know what happens, but while adding parts that haven't been disclosed. I hope its turning out right. Thanks for reading so far...)

To be continued...