6.

In a modern world as what we have today one would expect we have more acceptance, more understanding and more love than what there would have been in times gone by. You might expect that today's world would come together quicker than ever before though this is not quite true, not always at least.

Days should belong to the past where people who are thought of as being different are treated as being different and accusations of witchcraft is something that most definitely should belong to the past but no, today's world is as cruel and as rough as it has ever been, perhaps at times it is even more so.

School can often be a special place, filled with good and not so good memories that can last a lifetime; it can also be a very difficult place, a place as cruel and harmful as almost anywhere else on the planet.

Cassandra's first couple of years in school were as ordinary a time as it would be for any child with possibly the exception that she was quieter than most. Though she was so quiet and so young she kept to herself without really keeping to herself. She was always a pleasant child, never a moment's trouble and more often than not she could be seen with a smile on her face. She would not and could not be a cause for trouble for anyone else ... ever.

The first sign, the first moment that had others looking at her in a different light occurred when she was seven years of age. A child had fallen over out in the playground and scraped both her knees. There were tears of course and many gathered around this fallen child. Cassandra's gut reaction was to head straight to the other little girl no matter the fact that a teacher had got to the child first.

Cassandra began to emanate a glow the moment she reached the other child and her whole surroundings went ghastly quiet. Adults in close proximity had no idea of what to make of what was happening. Hands were placed from one child onto the other and the injuries, as insignificant as they were, vanished. Almost as if a moment had been rewound or as if a fall had not occurred at all, tears had subsided and scraped knees were no longer scraped. Was this something of a minor miracle?

A child being just that, a child, knew not to hold back, didn't think twice about aiding another, for isn't it the right thing to help another if you are in a position where you can help another? Possible consequences of her actions were not even a consideration. A child was hurt and another child stepped forwards to help.

As is in today's society, news of such an event spreads quickly bringing about believers and doubters then further dividing groups of people into three. There were those who saw the miracle and wanted to celebrate it. There were those who would want to abuse a gift if a gift truly exists and there were those who were angered and possibly frightened too, sighting the end of the world no matter the fact that something good had happened.

There were many quick to judge the child a witch and wanted something done about her before all Armageddon broke loose. Armageddon may be on the way but not because of a little girl called Cassandra. If anything, she is in this world to see that Armageddon doesn't get the better of it and at that, her seat is to be a back seat or a passenger seat at most.

Things really did quickly get out of control, crashing in upon the White's ever so quick. Before long there were many a person camping out on the street the White family lived upon. Some wanted healing, some wanted their piece of the pie, some wanted a scoop, and some wanted a modern day hanging or burning citing the possibility that the child could have many powers, powers she might use against others just as quickly as she used one power in good conscience.

Ultimately what could be done other than for the White family to move on to somewhere new and somewhere far away from what had been up to this point their home? They are not crazy, their child is not a witch, and Human nature just is exactly what it has always been ... Human Nature.

It would be a no-brainer to move away and begin again, and this begin again began well. Again, with Human nature being what it is and with all that the modern world is, things were determined to change or at least catch up. Cassandra knew she was different even at a young age and she understood when her parents told her to resist any urge, she may have to help others. She is a good child with a big heart and a very special gift and resisting the urge to help others is something that goes against just who it is she is.

Helena and Mark so much wanted a compromise. Why should their daughter not do a good thing when it is something she could do so easily? If someone is hurt and needs aid, if Cassandra can bring that aid then she is only to do so if it is absolutely necessary.

Eighteen months in a new town, Mark had a new job. It paid well enough for the White family to survive with reasonable comfort. At a new school, Helena made it a habit to bring Cassandra directly there and to come collect her too. Home is only minutes of a walk away, still there many reasons not to let Cassandra come home by herself or with another child or child's guardian. Mum always done the school run.

Indeed, just those eighteen months in and something occurred that Helena did not notice, she could not have noticed even if she could have known what to look for. A parent, a mother from the previous town they lived in, stood outside the school where Helena waited. This other mother and her family had by chance just moved to this new town and had chosen the very same school for their child to attend.

This other mother waiting to pick up her child was sure she recognized Helena White though when Cassandra came out to meet her mum the other mother definitely recognized the child. Cassandra may be eighteen months older; she may have grown in recent months still she was the same child and a glow still exists, an ever so faint glow that is almost ever present, interpreting this glow can cause problems.

A modern world too, can anyone really hide in plain sight with technology and social networking being what it is? Rumours and accusations are spread online and pretty soon there are more groups along a divide. Hatred and fear spread quicker than love could and over the coming months looks are thrown towards the White family beginning at the school Cassandra attends.

It is not paranoia, noticing these looks especially under the circumstances with which the White family come from. Six months pass and the Whites are really feeling it. Something horrid is once again coming at them and they know they need to move on again. It may be two years now since they last made a move and they may be living relatively comfortably financially but still, money wise, they can't just jump ship at a moment's notice.

Work needs to be found in another town and housing would have to be sorted and arranging such takes time though time is running out. Fear and anger win out. People fear what they do not know or understand. If a child does have the power to heal then what else can she do? People choose to fear the worst rather than expect the best or hope for the best.

A mobbing has been arranged and has come before action could see the Whites move on. Believers in all things good are too few in number to make a difference or to provide any assistance. Indeed, a mob has gathered, having come to the White household wanting blood. Trapped inside there is nowhere to go. Emergency services have been called but cannot arrive quickly enough.

Petrol bombs are thrown through windows and a house goes up in flames so quickly. Stay inside and burn alive or attempt an escape and face a maddening crowd. Mark, Helena and Cassandra wait, and they wait some more. Smoke builds and flames spread everywhere; still intruders make their way inside and attack both parents relentlessly. They want the child too, but the fire is getting out of control.

'Mommy ...' a child calls out.

No matter who or what she is, there is only so much she can do. It's too late. Cassandra comes out of a corner she has been cowering in. She sees her parents lying separately, battered and bloodied. If only she can get to them, she could heal them or at least try to heal them and try to help them out of the house. There is so much fire between her and them. The heat is unbearable. Breathing becomes more and more difficult by the second. She has to get out of the house for she is not immune to being burned. She is not immune to death.

Emergency services do arrive while the flames continue to grow. Police back away the crowd; fire fighters tackle the fire and attempt to find a way to get to a family at the center of the blaze. Divine intervention tackles shadows of which there are many and only Cassandra is saved. Mum and dad's deaths are horrible, and their demise will be something Cassandra will never recover from no matter who or what she truly is.

A man in robe stands over Mark and Helena. He ensures that both sets of eyes are closed and that burns were minimal, his protection only provided so much. He soon stands, holds his arms out forwards with the palms of his hands facing upwards. He prays a moment before vanishing with the knowledge that Heaven will be ready to greet the souls of two good people.

Outside the burning White household, a friend of light awaits. His timing will play a part in Cassandra's future. After her rescue he is to aid her move on, quietly and without anyone else noticing. He will bring Cassandra to a place where she will be safe. It won't be the safest or the best of places, but Cassandra will be fine, Sammy Fontaine will do all he can to ensure this.

Cassandra is only nine years old; her parents are gone though there is someone looking out for her and in approximately four years' time Cassandra will meet a certain Majella smith. Far from being actual sisters in more ways than one, there is a sister like connection between the two and the future of the world may just be left to them to save.