Written by user DarkParadise321

I watched as the shadows danced, the world oblivious to their presence. I felt the urge to open my eyes to escape the land of dreams. Except I didn't, for the fear that I'd miss something important, something that would be irrelevant to the ordinary mind. For just a single action can tell the story of a lifetime.

The homeless crept into the alleyway, unmoved by my presence. They darted their eyes back and forth, an unsettling feeling in the air. One of them, a teenage boy, gripped the hand of a blonde haired girl beside him. His lips were moving frantically, a worried expression on his face. She just stared at him, trying to hold back her tears.

Suddenly, a woman crept towards them, her large cat like eyes looking at the girl sympathetically. She laid her hand on the girl's shoulder. Suddenly, they froze, watching as the alleyway began to glow a startling red, blue and white. Police sirens filled the air and the girl took one last look at the woman and boy, before taking off towards the ear piercing sound.

" Miss Pepper?" Edmund's voice called.

I sat up in my bed and looked around my room. The light streamed in through my white lace curtains, blinding me for a quick moment.

"Yes?" I answered, watching as the door to my bedroom opened.

Edmund stood in the doorway, wearing his best suit and grasping a dampened handkerchief. His dark chestnut hair stood rigid in a perfect comb-over, gelled in place. He seemed to be holding back tears, and may I say that he didn't do it very well. He had been our butler ever since I'd been born, but to say the least, he was more like a second father.

"There's been... An accident." he whispered, trying his best to look me in the eye.

"Accident?" I cried, staring at him in disbelief. He approached me slowly, trying to find the courage to speak.

"I received a call this morning from the police. It appears that your parents got into a car accident. I'm sorry to tell you this, but by the time they arrived at the scene, it was too late. Your parents... They're dead."

I sat in my bed, my mouth wide open in disbelief. My lips began to quiver and without warning, tears began to stream down my face.

"No. No, this can't be happening. This is all a joke!" I cried, retracting into a fetal position on my bed. Edmund came over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Pepper, please look at me." he whispered. I peaked my head out and looked at him, breathing heavily. I was in control of my tears, trying to stay strong. They weren't dead, no way.

"Please tell me this is a joke." I wailed, clenching my fist together. He stood there silently for a moment, before looking at me with sadness.

"Miss Pepper. They're not coming back. This is no joke." he said quietly.

My breath came in short ragged gasps and tears dared to fall down my cheeks. I let out a soft wail, not having the strength to take it anymore. Then and there, I let the tears fall. Edmund wrapped his arms around me, trying to console me.

"Shhh... It's going to be alright." he attempted to console me, but I didn't bother to listen. Nothing would be alright. Ever again.

The knock of a door echoed throughout the house, causing me to jolt upright. Edmund hesitantly unwrapped his arms from around me. I stare at him, my lip quivering, shakes taking hold of my body.

"I'll get it." he whispered and slowly made his way to my door. He looked over at me for a moment longer before stepping into the hallway, his footsteps echoing through the empty house.

I began to take deep slow breath, hoping that the sudden motion would stop my urge to scream. To scream in grief.

"Hello, and how may I help you?" Edmund's voice echoed from the main entrance. Curiosity taking hold of me, I crept out of bed, edging towards my bedroom door. I peered into the hall silently, wanting to know what the visitor has to say.

"My name is Keren Shallows. I work for child services. I'm here for the child." she answered sleekly, placing a hand on her hip.

"Why?" he asked, a hint of panic in his voice.

"That is not your concern. You have ten minutes to get the child down here, or I'll have to drag her out of here myself."

"I'm the family butler. I've known the girl for fourteen years. I believe I have the right to know." he said, testing her patience.

"And I believe that you could get arrested for interfering with a sub division of the police department."

"I'm not going to ask." Edmund snapped, before marching up the stairs and back to my room. He opened the door and peaked in, not surprised to see me standing in front of him.

"We're going to need to get going now, Miss."

"Yes, yes we are." I said softly.

"Now, what would you like to wear?" he asked me, stepping towards my closet. He opens the door and walks in, sighing at the amount of clothes.

"Maybe something fancy." I mumbled.

"Oh yes." Edmunded answered, coming out a moment later with a beautiful green velvet dress. I wiped my hot tears off from my face and smiled as he laid the dress gently onto my bed.

"I'll wait outside until you've finished putting on your dress." he said politely, exiting the room.

"Thank you, Edmund." I said silently, too quiet for him to hear.

I took a step towards my bed, grasping the dress tightly. My parents had bought this for me with the instructions that I'd only wear it when they unveiled their new product at the Christmas party. They had said that everyone from Mains Inc. would attend.

Mains Inc. was founded by my grandfather, Carson Mains. The corporation specialized in medicine. They had a large skyscraper which held all the main laboratories where the company designed and manufactured their multitude of products. The corporation then split off into different chains, one specializing in pharmaceuticals, another specializing in human vaccinations and many others. The laboratories' own sterilization unit and procedure was also designed by the company itself. Once my grandfather had passed on, killed by cancer, the company was inherited by my father, Winston.

I stared at the dress for another moment before finally proceeding to put it on. Once I had finished, I cried out to Edmund,

"You can come back in now." he opened the door carefully and smiled sadly when he saw me in the dress.

"You look beautiful." he said, his sad smile still on his lips. I frowned in return, looking away from Edmund's pitying gaze.

He went back into my closet for another moment, before coming out with a wooden box. He placed it ontop of my white dresser and opened it, taking out a black sash and black high heels. He walked behind me, before wrapping the sah around my waist. I stood there silently with my head down.

"Here Miss Pepper." he said quietly, handing me the black high heels. I found a spot on my bed and slowly slid them on my feet.

"Now, since we don't have too much time, I'll quickly think of something to do with that hair of yours." he said, giving me a small smile.

"It's that bad?" I asked, watching as he gets a brush, elastics and bobby pins and comes towards me.

"Perhaps." is all he said, before quickly brushing my hair out and putting it into an updo.

"There." he said when he finished. He took me by the hand and led me to the mirror that hung atop my dresser.

I took a step towards it and stared at the mirror for a moment, taking in my features. I had soft baby blue eyes with golden blonde hair to match. In that moment, my lip began to quiver. My parents were the only thing on my mind. I suddenly spun around and rushed over to Edmund.

Being fairly short, I stood just below his jaw, grasping onto him tightly. Knowing that he'd be furious if I got his suit wet from my tears, I tried my best not to cry.

"Pepper, it'll be alright."

"No, you're just lying to me." I muttered, resting my head against his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around me, at a loss for words. There was no point telling me anything else, because all he would do is try to give me false hope.

"You have two minutes!" Keren called from downstairs.

"We might as well get going. I'll fetch you something to eat for the ride." Edmund grumbled, dusting himself off.

He walked towards the door and held it open for me. I quickly ran down the stairs, staring at the woman. She wore a black jacket, skirt and black stilettos. Her raven black hair was tied in a tight ponytail, so tight in fact that it pulled at her face. It only made her seem even more bitter.

I watched as she pursed her fiery red lips and stared at me, willing me to go faster. She wanted to leave, that much was for certain. Her motives, on the other hand, were quite hidden.

"That woman makes me nervous." Edmund whispered from behind me.

"I don't blame you." I answered, watching as Keren began tapping her foot impatiently.

"Are you going to go any faster?" she screamed at us.

On that note, Edmund and I picked up our pace, rushing down the stairs. Keren glared at me as I stepped beside her, careful about not getting too close.

"I'll just be a moment longer." Edmund cried as he raced past us, going into the kitchen.

When he was out of sight, Keren took the opportunity to take a close look at me. From the corner of my vision, I watched her eyes search me up and down. I wouldn't be in the least bit of shock to be told that she was judging me.

"You must be Pepper." she sneered.

"And you must be Keren." I shot back, looking her straight in the eye. But before she can reply, Edmund walks towards us, carrying a silver platter.

"Here, Miss Pepper. I've got your breakfast." he said, stepping beside me

"Spoiled brat..." Keren muttered under her breath. She turned to the set of mahogany doors and pushed them open, allowing the frosty air to infiltrate the room.