• Chapter
    1


    It was one of the darkest nights of the season and the two Greendale children were snug in their beds. Suddenly they awoke to a THUMP! They slowly crept down the creaky wood stairs to take a look around. What they saw shocked them! The house was destroyed and their parents where gone! Suddenly the youngest child, Alison came down the stairs. She was four and a half and had short, blonde hair and sparkly green eyes. She wandered into the living room looking about. Seconds later she returned with a piece of paper, “weed” she said, which means “read”. “Ok Alison I’ll read it” said the oldest child Macy. Macy was thirteen, had long silky brown hair and big brown eyes that softened when ever her baby sister was near. Macy frowned a worried frown as she realized the note was in her mother’s tiny neatly written handwriting. She slowly began to read the message to her sister... “My dearest children, we are sorry we didn’t tell you sooner but your father and I have to go away for a while. Be strong and know we love you dearly, love Mom & Dad”. Macy was so shocked she couldn’t breath! She knew she would have to take care of her little sister now, but she didn’t know how. She looked down at those sparkling green eyes, so innocent. She had to come up with a plan, and fast!
    Later that night Macy packed her and her sisters’ clothes. “Come on Alison were going on a trip!” “What about mama and papa” Alison said quietly. “They said we must go alone” Macy said, knowing that her little sister didn’t understand why her parents where gone. Macy herself wasn’t too sure either, but she knew she didn’t want to stay put and wait! She felt she had to do something, but what? So they left the house at about 11.00 o’clock to head to their uncle’s house. Macy estimated that it would be at least a two hour walk. They had been walking for about fifteen minutes then they saw a diner that was still open. Macy woke her little sister who was sleeping atop her back, “Alison time to wake up I found a place where we can go call Uncle.” Alison slowly awoke and looked at the diner. Something smelled yummy! “I’m hungry” Alison said half awake “We will try to get some food but first we have to call Uncle. When they walked into the diner it was like walking into a thick grey fog. “Excuse me sir?” Macy said coughing “do you have phone I can use?” “Yes we do, over there on the wall” the man said. He looked Chinese. He was bald and had a black mustache.
    Macy walked over to the phone and dialed her uncle’s number. The telephone rang two times and then an answer, “hello” said the deep male voice on the other end of the phone “hello is this Uncle Mat?” Macy asked slowly. “Yes who is this?” said the voice. “This is Macy your niece. Our parents are gone, or uh, were taken and Alison and I have no where to go. We need somewhere to live! Can we stay with you?” “Oh Macy, um, I’m so sorry, but ah, you can’t stay with me. It’s just not, um, possible right now” Macy couldn’t believe what she was hearing! “Then where are we going to stay? What is going to happen to us?” Macy shouted trying not to become hysterical and lose her temper with her uncle, but she was getting irritated. This just wasn’t right that children should be left to care for themselves! There was a long silence on the other line then she heard her uncle’s voice, “you could stay with your Aunt Tica.” “Who?” Macy asked. She had never heard of any Aunt Tica before! “Your Aunt Tica is my wife’s sister. She lives in the Arctic and she has wanted to meet you for a long time now.” Tired and desperate, Macy said glumly, “well I guess we don’t have a choice.” “Where are you kids? I’ll send a cab to pick you up.” “We’re at Sashays diner.” “What’s the address Macy?” “1844 Avian Ave” Macy said, glancing at the address scratched across the inside wall of the phone booth. “Ok Mace, I’m going to call a cab to come and get you” “Ok Uncle Mat, thank you.” Macy had never felt so alone in her life! She hung up the phone and bought her sister a soft pretzel with the rest of the money she had saved up from her babysitting job last summer. By the time her sister was finished with the pretzel the cab was there to pick them up. They climbed into the cab. It smelled horrible! As if something had died in it! “Macy, where are we going?” Alison asked. “We’re going to Aunt Ticas” Macy answered.
    After a long, dark, bumpy and smelly ride, they arrived at Aunt Tica’s house. It was about six o’clock in the morning, and the grey foggy dawn was turning into an equally grey, gloomy day. Aunt Tica’s house looked very old. The roof was sagging and the bricks were cracked and crumbling all over. The girls walked up the uneven stone steps to the old wooden door and knocked. They waited what seemed like forever when finally a woman came to the door. She looked to be about sixty. And had long black hair and dark eyes, with a mole just above her upper lip. It had one gross black hair growing from it. Macy was instantly afraid of that mole!


    “Hello aunt Tica” Macy said hesitantly. “Hello Macy and this must be your little sister Alison.” Said the old woman, gesturing towards her sister. “Yes, you are correct” Macy answered “Well, come on in and I’ll show you to your room.” When they got to the room, the girls stared in disgust. It was dimly lit, musty and smelled like old stale smoke. “Your bed is over there in the corner. I’ll let you get settled in” She left the room and shut the door. “Macy, why do the walls move?” Alison asked scared. “Because this house is old” Macy answered. “Come on Alison, lets go set up the bed” When they saw the mattress on the ground they where a little confused. It was blue and looked damp, and had brown spots...yuck, stains, everywhere! “Is this our bed Mace?” “Yes it is for now.” “It’s yucky though! I don’t like it!” “I know Al, but it will have to do. I’ll go ask Aunt Tica for some clean sheets. Macy went down stairs to ask her aunt for some sheets when she heard her talking on the phone. Macy decided to listen. “Those little brats don’t know what there up against! I’ll dispose of them faster then my garbage! I ain’t no nurse maid, ya know!” Macy was shocked! Why would her aunt want to dispose of them? She had to find out.
    Later that day, Macy decided to venture to the library down the street to see if she could get some information about who this “Aunt Tica” really was. She found her Aunt Tica’s files and read them slowly to herself. Turns out, Tica’s age was twenty three! Macy stopped in horror. Her uncle Mat had told her that Aunt Tica was about fifty! Macy continued... charged for forgery, identity theft and... CHILD ABDUCTION! Macy was so terrified that she could hear her teeth chattering! She flew back to the house as fast as she could to call the police. When she arrived at the house she soon discovered her sister had gotten into trouble with her aunt, and neither was any where to be found! She grabbed the phone and dialed the police, but there was no answer! So she decided to take another sticky, dead smelling cab to her Uncle’s he had to know something!. On the ride there all she thought of was how to free her sister. Then suddenly she heard the driver call that they where there. She slowly walked up to the house and took a deep breath. Instead of knocking, she pushed through the unlocked door. She stopped and observed the place it was very nicely decorated. After looking around a little she began scouting for her sister. She finally found her on a fancy dinner plate dressed like a pig with a huge apple stuffed in her mouth! Macy ran over to her sister and started to untie her, when all of a sudden she heard the sound of her aunt Ticas voice, “you little oinker! I knew you would come back for your little brat!” she hissed. “What do you want?!” screamed Macy, “I’ll do anything!” Anything?” her Aunt Tica said with an evil smile. “Stop!” yelled her uncle Mat! “Leave them alone!” “They chose their fate!” she hissed. “And you have also chosen yours” she grabbed their uncle by the collar and dragged him into the kitchen. There Macy heard all. “You double crossing no good idiot! I had their parent’s fortune in my fingers and you let it escape! As long as I live, you won’t set another finger on them!” Tica became overthrown with rage, grabbed a butcher knife, and did away with Mat. “No!” Macy screamed under her breath. “See what happens when you mess with me?” she said angrily. She became more overthrown with rage when she saw that the children had escaped while she was busy with Mat!
    Meanwhile, Macy and Alison where on their way to the police station. When they got there they where greeted by the police chief. He was a kind of plump man and had a brown curly mustache. “What can I do for you ladies tonight?” “Our uncle did dead!” cried piggy Alison “You mean he was killed? By whom?” “Turner Tica” Macy said, still terrified that she had seen her uncle’s death. “Thank you kids, I will look into it. You can stay here until your parents come and get you.” Macy stared down at her feet, she could feel the stinging in her eyes and the tears drip from her cheeks “they’re gone” Macy said slowly, trying not to break out in hysterics. “Well, don’t you have relatives or something?” “No,” she said sadly. “Ok just take it easy for a bit and I’m sure we’ll find out more tomorrow.” said the chief. Minutes after the chief left Macy caught a glimpse of the daily paper. The front page said “orphans kill uncle in battle of rage!” Macy scrolled down to where her aunt Tica put in a comment that read “they stabbed him violently! I tried to stop them, but the baby tied me up!” their pictures where added and it said:
    Reward
    $20,000!

    Chapter 2

    Macy quickly scooped up her sister and fled the police station! As she ran down the street she thought to her “will I ever get out of this mess”? Macy ran and ran, and though it was only five minutes it felt like an hour for Macy, who was carrying little Alison in the nap sack she had stolen from the police station. After another four minutes or so of running, Macy noticed an old wooden sign up the way. She slowly walked up to the sign and read what it said... “Adoption Center,” Macy read to Alison. “Maybe this place will help us!” “Yeah ya” Alison chirped wildly, getting herself all tied up in her blanket. After carefully untying little Alison from the blanket, and kissing her on the cheek, Macy and Alison walked inside and up to the help desk. “How can I help ya?” asked an older woman who looked about sixty. She was pale, had dark hair, black eyes and the ugliest dimple on her chin. “Hello. I’m Macy Greendale and our parents have left us and...” “Stop!” shouted the old lady who, by the way, went by the name of Sally “What did you say your name was girl?” Macy Greendale” Macy replied feeling her heart jump into her throat. She watched Sally take out the newspaper with their case on the front cover! “Look children, I know you’re probably innocent” Sally said in a semi sweet voice. “You do”? Macy asked in disbelief. “Yes darlings. I don’t think you and your little sister have the power to just kill a man like that. It’s preposterous!” Sally reassured Macy, practically clenching her teeth as if it pained her to say that they were innocent. “Now, where are your parents?” asked Sally. Macy could feel the tears starting. Where is a good question, Macy thought! It pained her to think about her parents. “They’re gone” Macy said tears dripping down her cheeks. “Well darlings lets get you to a bedroom to rest until we find someone to come and pick you up. Is there anyone we could call?” “No” Macy said sadly. Minutes later Macy and Alison were led upstairs to a room that was brightly lit, and had a cradle next to a king size bed. What a beautiful room! And what a beautiful view of the ocean! While the children were busy looking out the window at the beautiful sea side view they didn’t notice that Sally had locked the door on her way out!
    After a while of setting up the room and getting settled, Macy started getting hungry. She went to the door and attempted to open it. She tugged at it for the longest time until she gave up. Why do adults find it necessary to always be locking doors? She decided to try something else. Using the bed sheets tied together, she made a long rope going out the window. She would attempt to climb out and escape to freedom and find her parents! After climbing for a while, she thought she was near the bottom when she set her foot on something bumpy. She peered down to figure out what it was. She was so scared she froze in place! She had placed her foot on top of an alligators head! It took a few seconds for Macy to collect herself, and quickly climb back up the rope and back into the bedroom, forgetfully leaving the window wide open. She went over to the bed and stretched out on top of it, and started thinking about her parents. She wondered if they missed Alison and her as much as she did them. But her thought process was interrupted by her sister’s giggle as she absentmindedly crawled into the alligator’s mouth! Macy quickly ran over to the window and racing down the rope, scooped her sister out of the mouth of the beast’s mouth! She made it back to the window and once inside with her sister safe and sound, she slammed the window shut! Barely able to catch her breath and collect her feelings, she heard Sally walk up to the door and unlock it. “Hey, what’s going on?” Macy said clenching her teeth, still a little angry from the whole alligator incident. “Children I have great news for you, your parents are here!”





    Chapter
    3
    Macy felt her hopes rise she was actually thought she was going to see her parents finally. But her hope was shattered when she walked into the main hall. These weren’t their parents! They were Ticas goons! All Macy knew, was that she wasn’t going back to Tica and she was going to make darn sure of it! “No, these aren’t my parents! Let me go!” Macy screamed in pure rage! “Macy dear, lets go” yelled Tim, the man who was posing as Macy’s father. He was bulky and had a black beard that looked as though it hadn’t been washed in a while. Still screaming and kicking her and Alison were dragged into an old car that was really old and rusty. Sitting trapped in the old car, Macy finally spoke up. “What are you going to do to us?” Macy asked quietly. “We’re taking you back to your Aunt Ticas and then we will figure out what to do with you.” murmured Lisa, the lady who was posing as Macy’s mother. She had blond hair, violet eyes and the dirtiest teeth Macy had ever seen! Alison started to cry, witch triggered the anger of Tim. “Shut her up!” screamed Tim, red in the face with anger. “I’m trying, you don’t have to yell” Macy said, trying to comfort Alison. “See what we’re reduced to Lisa? Just last month we were standing right by Tica helping her, and now were carpooling her two snotty noised nieces!” If being locked in a fish smelling car wasn’t enough, Tim kept making the rudest comments about Macy and her sister. It was another hour before they arrived at Aunt Ticas ‘house of dumb’, as Macy had begun to think of it. As Macy and Alison were dragged out of the back of the car, Macy looked for ways to escape. The only thing she saw was a window way at the top of the house that had a rope ladder hanging from it. Maybe that would come in handy somehow. Before Macy knew it she and Alison were stuck in the same old stinky room with the moldy mattress. Why was everywhere they went so SMELLY? Ugh! Being the curious one of the family Macy slowly crept down the creaky wood stairs and poked her head into the kitchen so she could listen in on their conversation. “Great job Tica we have their fortune in our fingers” cackled Tim “I know I’m brilliant” added Tica. “Hey people, not that this isn’t fun, but what are going to do with the kids? We can’t keep them here.” “Good point,” hissed Tica in irritation. Macy froze in horror when she heard Tim say “look up there on the steps. Looks as though we have a little eavesdropper.” Macy immediately ran back up the stairs and into the bedroom. She didn’t have to wait long till she heard her aunt and her two goons come crashing through the door. “You could have knocked!” Macy said, purposely trying to sound irritating. “Look you little twerp...” started Tim, who was looking as though he was about to hit somebody. “Calm down Tim dear, we must be nice to poor Macy” said Tica. Meanwhile in the corner Alison was playing with some rocks that Macy had collected for her on their journey. “Be nice to me? You’ve put me and Alison through hell!” “You think this is hell? I’ll show you hell” screamed Tim ready to kill Macy. “Tim!!” screamed Tica “you need to stay calm, remember what the doctor said” “yes dear” Tim said sheepishly. “Look kids us kind of feel bad for you, so you’re going to summer camp” said Tica very nicely. To where?! Thought Macy. This was just too bizarre for words, so she said nothing...






    Chapter
    4
    When Macy stepped out of the beat up old car she felt her stomach turn. “This is no camp, it’s a prison!” “Exactly Macy you didn’t actually think we were going to be nice to you” her aunt Tica snickered. “Yes children either you give us your fortune or you’re spending the rest of your days here!” Macy stood frozen in place there was no way they were getting there money even if they had to pry it out of her cold dead hands. “Well” Tim started at her yet again losing his temper. “No way are you getting our money” Macy said sounding very brave. “Fine then a couple weeks in here may change your mind” Tim yelled as he grabbed the girls and threw them inside. Macy what are we going to do” Alison said crying “I don’t know Alison” Macy answered feeling her sisters pain. They started walking towards the cabins until she ran into something. “Hey girly you need uniform” said a man he was very large and had one patch of hair on the top of his head. “What” Macy said she couldn’t understand the mans accent without saying a word he handed Macy two uniforms. They were white with blue stripes. “Don’t wear stripes” Macy said holding up the uniform “yeah no stripes” Alison added sticking her tongue out at the uniform. “Either you wear uniform or I pummel you to pulp” said the man starting to get red in the face, so after Macy stared at the man for a few seconds she went over to her and Alison’s cabin. It was old but still decent she looked around a little more she found a note and to her amazement it was in her mothers neat and tiny handwriting. “Alison come here!” Macy yelled in excitement. Alison slowly walked over to Macy “Macy I hate this outfit” Alison complained “we wont have to wear it for long I found a note from mom” “from mama” Alison squealed looking up at Macy who slowly began reading the note “dearest children I have good news and bad news, the bad news is your father past away while digging a whole for that horrible women Tica but I do have good news I was able to escape I’m going to hide out in a village a few miles away so if you get a chance come and find me I miss you dearly love mom” “are we going to find mama” Alison asked starting to sound scared “soon” Macy said happy to hear from her mother again but sad that her father was dead. Later that afternoon Macy went out to look around while Alison was sleeping. She walked to an old abandon shack and opened the creaky door inside she found a boy chewing on a piece of bread. He had dusty blond hair and blue eyes that sparkled like the ocean. Macy slowly closed the door just as the boy poked his head up “why hello” the boy said “who are you” Macy asked staring at the boy “I’m Jared and you are” Macy Greendale” Macy answered slowly. “Macy this may be hard to believe but I’m your brother







    Chapter
    5
    “You’re my what” Macy said sounding confused she never heard her mother talk about a brother “yes about seven years ago our mother dumped me with Tica” Jared said trying to make Macy believe that he really was her brother “but why did she dump you with Tica” Macy mumbled now pacing back and fourth thinking hard trying to figure things out. “Honestly Mace I don’t know why she said she was having issues with my father” “what was your fathers name” Macy asked Jared who was now on his feet and slowly walking towards her “his name was Drake” Jared replied “my fathers name is loise” Macy said felling tears running down her cheek. “Well I guess there’s no way I’m going to convince you that I’m your brother” Jared said glumly to Macy who was kneeling on the ground with her head in her hands crying. “Ii believe you” Macy mumbled. She slowly stood up and walked Jared to they’re cabin. When they arrived the first thing Macy noticed was that Alison was red in the face and shaking all over. She quickly ran over and put her hand on Alison’s forehead “she’s burning up” Macy said looking at Jared with a worried face. “I’ll get wet wash cloths and try to get her fever down and you try to get someone to help” Jared said already in the bathroom getting the wet rags. “Thanks Jared” Macy said while she ran out of the cabin. She ran over to a man who was standing in the middle of the dusty field watching the kids work. “Excuse me sir can you help me my sister Alison is really sick can you help” Macy asked looking back at the cabin “look doll face I aint no doctor deal” said the man who didn’t even look up at Macy who was now starting to get really frustrated. She quickly ran back to the cabin to help Jared. “How is she” Macy asked Jared who was giving Alison a cool bath in a wash tub “no change” Jared said feeling very concerned. “We have to keep her fever down as low as possible” Macy said grabbing a bag of ice and pouring it into pillows for Alison to lie on. The next couple of days were backbreaking work until one day Macy and Jared came back from Supper finding Alison soundless and motionless. Macy ran over to the side of Alison’s bed and felt her tiny little hands “she’s dead




    Chapter
    6
    Macy fell to her knees and cried “what did I do wrong” Macy cried “you didn’t do anything wrong we both tried hard to keep her alive but she was just too sick” Jared said putting his arm around Macy. “Oh Jared” Macy said putting her arms around Jared thinking she would never let go “What do we do now” Jared said almost breathless from Macy’s strong hug. “I don’t know” Macy said letting go of Jared and walking over to Alison’s bed looking down at her motionless body laying there so innocently. “I think we should give her a proper ceremony” Jared said smiling at Macy. So the rest of that day Macy and Jared dug a hole just big enough to fit Alison’s tiny body witch they buried later that day and since they didn’t have a stone they used a white rose that Jared had found. Days past all Macy and Jared could do was sit around and talk about the memories of little Alison. “So Jared how old is you now you never told me” “oh I’m sixteen” Jared said slowly “oh” Macy said looking at Alison’s baby pictures and remembering everything that had happened to them. “You know mace, we can’t stay here moping here forever” Jared said with a devious smile” “what do you mean?” Macy asked confused “I mean we have to escape and find mom” Macy slowly stood up and slowly walked to the gate starting a new adventure.