It was cold at six-fifty in the late evening of a lazy February and seemed even colder when a foreboding didn't seem to stop.

Amanda had a weird sixth-sense going on in the back of her head as if something would happen. She tried to ignore the visions that flashed in her eyes. There was something that wasn't making sense at the moment and she couldn't put a finger on it.

Maybe it's a premonition?, she thought.

After an early lunch, Amanda was getting ready for tea and mixing the batter for cake and brownies—Debbie's favourite.

She was looking forward to see the expression on Debbie's face when she returned from her errand at the grocery store.

Amanda was eager to see Debbie's reaction, and her lips curled upwards in a joyous smile. 

She looked at the evening sky and saw its dusky golden-reddish hue, Amanda felt happier than she had felt for ages.

The prospect of a family tea together felt so special, it made Amanda giddy with the anticipation. The smell of the cake wafted through their drawing room where Ron was playing with their cat, Tabby. 

Amanda softly hummed the song Everything I do, I do it for you.

Ron walked in the kitchen and helped himself to a chair. 

"The smell is heavenly, Mandy. You were humming your favourite song, honey. It's been days since I have heard you singing. What's up? Anything special today?"

"I was thinking last night about Debbie's destiny and the fact that maybe she needs to know what she is. Maybe hiding the knowledge isn't the best decision after all, Ron. Ignorance can be fatal for her." 

"In the near future, what if she never learns and gets to know what she truly is? Suppose the mark glows at the right time--when it thinks Debbie is ready and her destiny unfolds before her eyes and she doesn't understand. What then?

"What if we are not there for her when the sign happens? We are talking about magic here. Powerful magic. You know what I'm referring to. What if she doesn't understand the meaning of the glow, Ron?"What if we are not there to tell her what it means and how to use it?"

"We could be long gone before the event, Ron."

Scratching his chin slowly, "I was contemplating the same thing, Mandy. You were right, I agree it's time we tell Debbie the truth and not hide anything from her. She should be aware of all the facts and have a working knowledge of how to face them. Keeping her in the dark will only harm her."

Debbie was singing along to the song blasted through her earphones--Whatever it takes, I've got the adrenaline through my veins, oblivious to the strange looks of the passerby.

She skated along the bicycle path leading up the grocery store, and hopped up the sidewalk to view the public garden from across the fountain at the crossroads. 

Her Punisher Butterfly Beginner skateboard was a present from her mom and dad on her thirteenth birthday. The 31-inch, with Canadian Maple had lovely colour graphics on one side and a heavy duty grip tape on the other. It was beautiful and she loved racing it.

At the grocery store's edge, there was a hooded guy was standing with his hands in his pockets, looking through the window display at the kids playing inside the aisles. He didn't lift his head, so she couldn't be sure if he was checking her out. Debbie cruised along to the road down the other side and halted just in front of the garden in the shade of the trees, slowly edging back to peek around the corner.

The hooded guy was still at the fountain's edge, but not gazing at the fishes anymore. With his gaze firmly fixed on the water in the fountain, he seemed to talk, his hand under his long gelled hair.

Fiddling with his cellphone? Or just another paraniod talking to himself? This city has a lot of them lately. Debbie thought. And there's just one way to find out.  

With her eyes filled with determination, Debbie skated back into full view.

She fixed her gaze firmly on the hooded guy. Their eyes met for a moment, and he lowered his head and looked away. Turning his back, he walked away in the direction of the garden.

Following him would be a waste of time. And if he was what she suspected him to be, he wouldn't lead her anywhere. Confronting him was a risk she wasn't willing to take. Her parents had taught her not to engage with anyone looking suspicious. She didn't want to think of the consequences that'd follow. That was out of question. What if-- and the speculation send a slight shudder with tingles up her spine.

Well...let him follow her. It's time he got some exercise. she thought.

With a impish smile, Debbie switched on her iPhone again and skated away.


In another part of the city at the same time-

Red answered his phone. "Tell me."

"I think she knows that we are following her," Dan said. "Didn't have the guts to follow me back, though. She's smarter than our calculations of her."

"That's bad. Would've made your job a lot easier."

"So what do you suggest we to do now, Red?"

"You did your part, Dan. We'll go for the grab and hit."

"Well, she's on skates. That should—"

Red hung up on the call. Last thing he needed was Dan's assessment of the girl. He called another trusted aide- John. 

 "She's yours."

"Who has eyes on her, Red?"

"Dan is on her trail. Just go and just finish the job."

"Fine."

Red put down his phone, leaned back and rubbed his eyes. The target would be wary, but they'd handled targets like her before. He got up and poured himself another beer. He needed to keep his spirits up in case of anything.

Debbie spotted the white van slowing down as she skated on the pavement on her return journey home. Up ahead was a side street, and behind her was a cyclist. No one suspicious this time, only a man in a suit, riding a hybrid.

Cyclists—even slow ones—tended to overtake skaters, but this guy had been behind her for at least five minutes, so he was probably checking out her out.

Her heart beating fast, she fled to the safety of her home.

Dropping her bag on the sofa, "I'm home, Mom." Debbie strolled into the kitchen.

"Did you get the milk cartons like I asked you to?" Amanda inquired.

"Yup, I did."  

Sniffs the aroma in the air. "Wow, mom. From the chocolaty smell, I guess you have made brownies and some cake for me? I'm curious- what's the occasion, Mom?"

"I want- I mean, we want to tell you something, Debbie. There's something you should know about yourself. It's about the mark on your back and the destiny that follows regarding it. All this later. First, let's have the cake."

"Ron... Ron... The cake's being served with some steaming hot coffee and a hot choco-strawberry shake for Debbie."

With a twinkle in his eye, Ron teased, "Coming. Calm down, Mandy. I'm not so far that you have to yell for me. It's not the end of the world."

Sitting down on the table, all of them had just started eating and enjoying the dessert, when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it. You finish your brownie, Debbie. And don't forget to leave some for me, Mandy!"

Opening the door and a guy wearing black glasses and black trench coat, walked in.

"Woah... Wait. Do I know you? And how can a stranger like you just walk in my house?" Ron let forth a flurry of questions.

Ignoring him, the guy in black just asked, "This is Deborah's house, right?"

"Yes, this is Debbie's house. I'm her dad. How can I help you? Sit, I'll call her."

"No need for that." The man answers in a gruff voice. "I'll get to the fucking bitch."

"Wait, you ha--" The words died on Ron's lips.

Brandishing a pistol, he storms through to the kitchen.

Debbie looked up and saw a guy through the door with a gun in his hand. Terrified with a scream leaving her mouth, she looked at her mom frozen, throat choked- no words forming on her lips.

Looking outside the kitchen window she saw the 2016 Ford Mustang GT, the blue colour gleaming under the streetlight. Exerting herself, she threw the plate at his face, but missed.

"If you value your life, stop right there, Deborah."

"How do you know my name? Who are you?"

"I know everything about you. You little fucking prick."

There was a mask covering his face. The only thing visible was a tattoo on his right wrist. Debbie struggled to see the mark. All she could make out was crossed swords. It was as if she had seen that mark before somewhere. Where had she seen it? Debbie reflected.

"I'll fend him off., Debbie. You run." In an attempt to stop the guy, Amanda lunged at him and tried to claw at his face to remove his mask. But he twisted her right arm and slammed her against the wall, injuring her head and rendering her near unconscious.

Waving the gun in the air, he pointed it at Ron who had come at the door. He said, "You see this?"

Before Ron could react, the bullet whizzed through the air and made it through Ron's heart. Aiming at Amanda, the guy turned and shot her point blank in the head.

There was ringing in her ears as Debbie watched her world collapse before her eyes. She exhaled, not knowing she was holding her breath for so long.

The man left as fast as he had come, giving her no time to think.

She hurried to her Papa, her eyes overflowing with tears like the Niagara falls.

Taking his head in her lap, his blood staining her dress. "Papa. What happened?" She sobbed. "And why?"

"Debbie--my girl. I don't have much t-time. There's some--something you should know. The mark--"

"Don't worry. I have seen the mark, Papa."

"Not th-that mark. Your mark. Th- The one on- on your back, Debbie." Ron was breathing heavily. His breaths came out laboured and short.

"Mandy-- your mom, was a crown princess of Karlynndwain and you are their heir to the kingdom. The mark. You ha--"Saying these words, Ron closes his eyes and his head drops off from her lap.

"Karl--what? I don't understand. Tell me more, Papa!"

"Papa... Papa... PAPA." She tugs at his shirt violently. "Wake up. Don't go. DON'T LEAVE ME. PAPA.

Debbie rushed to her mother and cradled the lifeless, blood-stained body in her arms. Sobs tore through her as she clutched her mother's face. 

 WHAT WILL I DO WITHOUT YOU? PAPA! MAMA! TAKE ME WITH YOU! 

PAPAA! MAMAAA!!!!!!!!!!

Debbie's screams echoed in the deathly silence of her house.