The night rolled in sooner than I could ever expected. Nighttime always seemed to help me relax in an odd twisted way. Most people were scared of the dark, me I absolutely loved it.

Walking past my moms bedroom, I could hear her faint snores from the other side of her door. I sighted, lucky she was sleeping in her room and not on the couch or I would of probably hit her with a pillow. Her snores always started quiet, and then gradually increase in volume. The next morning I would usually complain to her face that it was her snores were what woke me up. But she always dismissed my comments and complain and send me off to school.

I missed those days. The days where we were all careless of the things around us. We never understood the possible dangers of the world. But as we grow up they seem to surround us more and more till we are in the inner circle.

The night sky was filled with the starry night. Tonight was perfect. The stars were so visible that with a naked eye you were able to trace the many constellations that filled the world.

Nights like these, my memories came flooding in like a hurricane.

We begged for hours to convince our moms to let us out.

Max tugged at his moms pants "Mommy!" He continued to whine. His mom looked down at him, something flashing through her eyes in that moment.

She smiled down at us and slowly nodded her head "I guess we can watch for awhile." We jumped up and down in happiness once we register her response. "But.." She held in warning, knowing that this motherly tone worked on any kids. Max and I waited in anticipation for aunt jackie's response. "When I say it's time for bed, that means it's time for bed" I whined in response, not liking the idea of going to bed, I wanted to stay up all night!

"Iris.." Max held in warning, trying to match his own mothers tone. I obliged, rolling my eyes in the process.

Max, aunt Jackie and I then went to the balcony. On the wooden surface laid three different blankets. One black, one red and one purple. Max jumped in excitement, clutching onto the red blanket for dear life. "This one is mine. I call dibs."

I looked down at the purple and black blanket. Neither of them was as fuzzy as the red one. Max noticed me not taking a blanket. He walked towards me, starring straight in my eyes. As if I was sending him the message through our minds, he understood. Reaching down, he picked up the purple and black blanket. First, giving aunt Jackie the black blanket then giving me the purple blanket. I only stood in my spot, starring at the wool material.

Max let out a huge sight. He grabbed my hand and dragged me to a spot on the deck. At first I thought I might get a sliver up my bum. But once max placed the purple blanket down and wrapped us with the red, I didn't care anymore.

He pulled me closer to him, whispering in my ear "How about we share?" His hot breath tickled in my ear, making me want to giggle.

"Look kids!" aunt Jackie pointed in the far distance of the sky. And straight across was the comet itself.

Huh, lucky max and I wouldn't be those kids who didn't see the comet.

I missed those old times with max, we were so close. But now I don't know how to talk to him. How am I going to explain why I ran out of his house two weeks ago and not show up to school for those whole two weeks.

Everything was too complicated for my liking. If only my life could be simple. If only my mother never decided to move. She just had to change my life around. Everything was her fault!

My head snapped into a direction when I heard a snap. Silence - snap!

I knew it couldn't be an animal because animals don't tend to get this close to our house. So only left one possibility, an intruder.

Back at our old house I would of brought my gun that was in my room every time I came outside. However I was too distracted to  bring it. I really needed to start paying attention and take extra precaution if he's out of jail. I know he's after me and I need to stay safe.

I reached down in my black leather boots, pulling out my double edge knife. Taking a strong grip on it, I called out to whoever was out there. No response.

The snapping got closer, with every snap my heart beat increased. My heart beat was at full max by the time someone stepped out of the bush. I was going to die! He's back for going to take me and bring me back to that old barn and do who knows what after he did that to me the first time.

"Relax Iris" a voice called out in worry. I visibly relaxed when I recognized the voice, but inside I was still patronized of the fear of the past.

"Is it done?" I shivered while retracting my knife and putting it back in the boot it belongs. The knife was a present from my uncle, it was like "hey! Welcome to gang life! You'll need this knife to survive" present. It was my first and favourite knife.

My uncle stepped out of the forest and stalked towards my direction. As he stepped beside me, I started to worry. What if my mom heard him and came out? Would she call the cops? Expose him and myself in the process. I looked up to my uncle, and to one day to see him in prison breaks my heart. It goes the other away around also.

Looking at my uncle, I noticed the dark bangs under his eyes. He was just as stressed about the situation as I was, might be even more which didn't make any sense at all because I had the worst end.

"I added more men to track him down. But you know he's really hard to catch. Also, I added two of my top men to watch over you. They'll only come out if there's serious danger though" I listened intensively, taking in every single detail. I was grateful my uncle was watching my back, even though he was the one who exposed my back in the start.

"I don't want him near me" I shakily whispered. Even as my voice as a whisper it felt like I was yelling with the quiet area.

My uncle pinched the bridge of his nose "I'm trying the best I can Iris. But you got tangled up badly." I wanted to scream in his face that it was his fault because he's the one that introduced me to him.

My arched straighter "Well" I spoke confidently "Try harder uncle. Or this will blow up in your face as it's blowing up to mine" My mothers brother nodded his head in understatement and walked off to the bush. Back to the mysterious life of a gang leader.

"One day this will be all over and you'll live happily ever after"

Even as I try to convince myself I know it will never be true. Not until he stops chasing me and ruining my life.

Picking up my glass of whiskey, my throat was drenching in thirst by the end of the shot. Instead of drinking H2O next, I simply filled another glass and drank that one. Over and over till I managed to consume 5 shots.

The bottle was empty when I tossed it in the garbage can. I knew when my mother finds out she will not be happy at all. But I didn't care. I didn't care for anything anymore, only for more alcohol.

I picked up the phone and dialled the known number.

"Iris?"

"Meet me at the keg in 10 minutes"

The line went dead.

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authors note

Im trying guys I'm trying!!!

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