As I slept, I dreamed.

I dreamed of my childhood; I dreamed of many times I had spent time with my parents. There was the time we went to an amusement park, then there was the circus, then the zoo.

Then my mind replayed their death.

"Mom, are we there yet?" I asked, scooting forward in my seat so I could see my mother, who was on the passenger side of our small black car.

She glanced back at me. "Sit back, Chrystal. You'll get hurt sitting like that if something happens."

"I'll be fine," I said, waving off her order. "So? Are we almost there? I feel like I've been in this car for ages!"

Mom sighed. "Yes, Chrys, we're almost there."

"Yes! What's the surprise? I can't wait any longer!"

Mom glanced over to Dad, who was staring at me through the rearview mirror. He seemed to be taking me in as he thought about whether or not to tell me. Finally, he sighed. "Go ahead and tell her, Rose."

"Yes!" I cheered, then leaned even further forward.

Mom turned her body to face me, and I sat back slightly, but not as far as she had directed me to originally. "We've taken in another servant, dear."

I felt my shoulders slump. "Is that the whole surprise? Just another servant?"

Mom rolled her eyes and smiled. "You never let me finish. You need to do better about that, Chrys. Do not interrupt people."

"Okay, okay. Fine. But what else is there?"

"This servant is a girl about your age. You've always said you wanted a sister. This is the closest we were able to get you. Her name is Jasmine. She'll be maintaining the flower garden for us. It shouldn't take her long each day, then the two of you can hang out and do whatever you want together." Mom lost her smile for a moment. "We've noticed how lonely you've been lately, Chrystal. I know you haven't been able to make friends with the other children in the neighborhood, and you're homeschooled, so you can't make friends anywhere else. I just thought..."

I stopped her. "Mom, I'm okay. I understand why you've had me homeschooled, and I love the tutors that come in every day." I gave her a bright smile. "I can't wait to meet Jasmine. I hope we get along!"

Mom smiled again. "I hope so, too, Chrys. I really do."

The next few minutes were all a blur. There was the screeching tires, the metal crunching, the glass shattering. The cuts on my body burned, the pavement beneath me was hot, my eyes wouldn't open, liquid was beginning to pool beneath me.

I didn't know how long I was lying there, floating in and out of consciousness, but at some point, I heard sirens, then people were shaking me. I felt my eyes pried open. I saw the blurry faces of men and women wearing masks and uniforms. I heard someone yell, "She's still alive!" and then more people come over and lift me onto a stretcher. My head fell to the side, and I saw my mother and father both still in the car, blood covering them.

"Chrystal!"

I bolted upright, clinging to my blanket for dear life. I quickly checked my surroundings, trying to figure out where I was. My mind took a moment, but finally started to comprehend. I took in the walls of the cave, the fire burning about ten feet away, and Sebastian's worried face inches away from me.

I took deep breaths, trying to calm myself. Beside me, Sebastian was whispering to me, saying it was only a dream, that everything was alright. Finally, my racing heart began to slow, and I released my death grip on the blanket over me.

I raised my hand from the blanket and lightly touched the back of my head. I could faintly feel the scar that went down my scalp. I sighed in relief when I felt no blood on my head, and leaned against Sebastian.

"I should've died that day," I said aloud. "I still don't understand how I survived."

"What?" Sebastian asked, his concern seeming to grow.

"I was so stupid. I hadn't listened to my mom. I hadn't worn my seatbelt. I'd flown straight through the windshield. That's what they told me, at least."

Sebastian concern turned into sympathy as he finally began to understand what I was rambling about.

"They'd both worn their seat belts. Neither of them flew from the car like I did." My eyes were watering now. "I thought seat belts were supposed to save lives. Why did they die and not me?"

Sebastian was holding me now, letting me cry as I clung to him.

"It was a stupid hit and run." I spat the words out in anger between sobs. "We still don't know who did it."

Sebastian said nothing.

"I didn't even get to go to their funeral. I was in the hospital." I cried even harder. A moment later, I sat up. Tears were still running down my face, but I looked Sebastian in the eyes, trying my best to let my determination through. "I won't lose anyone else, Sebastian. I can't. I... I..."

"Chrystal, you have my word that nothing will happen to the others. As your servant, I cannot lie to you."

I smiled through my tears and leaned against him again. He held me as I slowly stopped crying and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

(Hey guys! Sorry to spring this on all of you so suddenly, but I went back and read this story and realized that I hadn't said how her parents had died. I hadn't meant for this to be how it was revealed, but it just kinda came to me and felt natural (if that makes any sense.) Hopefully you all were able to enjoy it, because I actually had fun writing this one! See ya in the next chapter! I love you all!!)

(Also, for those of you who don't read the messages I send out, I have completed this story. There are I think seven chapters left that I need to post, which will come out (hopefully) every Saturday. But as you read, I need you to let me know what you think of the story. I'm still trying to decide if I want to write a sequel, and the only way I'll do it is if you guys want it. So please tell me how I'm doing! I only want to make you happy and improve myself.)