Prologue:

Young, Different, Alone

Dark, it’s still dark.

There was no sunshine in my room. There never was. My aunt liked it that way. She didn’t want anyone to see disgusting little me. I was so different from everyone in my family, it hurt. My mom had the nicest brown eyes and the brownest hair like the color of chocolate. Her skin was a warm caramel shade and my dad was a fiction story that I changed every time someone asked.

It’s getting darker and it’s only noon.

I didn’t understand why I was so different. I had dark hair and brown eyes just like mom. My skin was way lighter, but I was just like her, in my eyes. Mom died in a car accident when I was about six or seven. My aunt took me in and locked me away. She calls me “Snowflake” or my favorite “Ghost.” She took away my light bulb in my room and boarded up my window to stop sunlight from revealing my face.

It’s hot… I’m getting thirsty.

---

I lay on my bed staring at the pitch black ceiling. Nothing, but darkness surrounding me and I felt so alone. “What did I do, God, to deserve this?” I ask the heavens. Like always no answers, no voices, not even a whisper. I didn’t really expect much of anything anymore, but it didn’t hurt to ask. I sat up and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. With a heavy sigh, I pushed myself up and drug myself to the door. “Auntie, are you home yet?” I yelled out the door. It was Devil’s night and the eve of my birthday. My aunt likes passing candy to her neighbors and stuff, so she went to the store earlier. The silence meant there was either no one there or she was ignoring me again. I took my house keys and picked the lock.

The brightness of the light stung my eyes and burned my skin, which had become paler in the dark. After adjusting to the new light, my eyes panned over the bare room. Everything had been moved, there was nothing in sight, just imprints on the carpet where chairs and things had sat for so long. “Unbelievable.” I noticed a note on my door. I read aloud. “Kailyn, I moved to a bigger house with less people around to hate you. I’ll be back for you later on today. Aunt Sylvia.” My throat closed and tear blurred my vision. She left me… alone.

---

The car ride was awkward. Auntie didn’t say a word, she just drove and occasionally she glanced in my direction. I stared out the window; this was the first time I left our small city of Warner Valley. I was born and raised there and thought I’d die there too, but I was wrong. We were on our way to California, were all the pretty girls were. I’m not sure if it matter or not that we were only moving to Ventura, California. It was a long and uncomfortable ride. Around four and a half hours, Auntie was trying to strike up a conversation. “So, I enrolled you in a school. Hopefully, you’ll make friends and stop being so depressing.” I gave her a fake smile. “Gee, I hope everyone accepts me and my ghostliness.” I said putting my headphones in and blasting my favorite BMTH song, Empire. “Ugh, this girl!” Sylvia yelled. “Turn down that insanity.” She said after ripping my headphones out of my phone.

Breathe deep, what would mom do…

“I apologize if I offended you.” I say through gritted teeth. “You better be. Tainting my car with your unholy sludge.” She said turning on the radio. “I think we need to pray.” She turned to a Christian station and blasted the worship. I shifted uncomfortably as she sang songs I didn’t know or want to. A man began to talk about Jesus and how he was called a blasphemer. “Our sweet blasphemy.” I blurted unconsciously which caused my aunt to his me repeatedly. I slumped in my seat and fell asleep.

“Kailyn, my beautiful daughter.” A tall man with slitted hazel eyes that were like two sparkles of unknown jewels. His silky, wavy, black hair is worn in a style that reminded me of a tangled bush. “Daddy?”  I asked he just gave me a soft smile. Tears rolled down my cheeks. “I’m sorry for everything. I should’ve been there for you and your mother.” I reached my hand out for him. He reached out his hand and grabbed mine, pulling me out of the car and into his arms. The soft wind and dim sunset playing around us. I closed my eyes in pure bliss.

Suddenly, the soft hug turned into a tight squeeze. I pushed away to see dark eyes peering into my soul. His once angelic face was now that of the devil. He was my worst nightmare.

I tossed and turned in the front seat of the now parked car. “Ghost!” the witch screamed hitting me awake. “Don’t kill me!” I cried sitting up from the slouch. “Get out, we’re home.” She said the world was dark.

Just like I like it…

I got out of the car and grabbed my bags, followed Sylvia through our gate and up our stone path. I stood out on the porch as she checked out the house. The chilled are caressing my cheeks. A man reopens the door. His luxurious, straight, bone-white hair is neck-length and is worn in a precise, practical style. He is tall and has a graceful build. His skin is ruddy. He has thick eyebrows. His wardrobe is dignified and classy, with a completely black color scheme. “Hello, Seimera.” He said his prominent British accent pounding at my ear drums. I looked at him in shock for a few speechless seconds. “M-my name is Kailyn.” He chuckled deeply and whispered. “Not anymore.” I nodded. He welcomed me home and introduced himself. “I’m Aaron Quincy, your aunt’s fiancé.” He said showing me my room. “We’ll act like your parents, so as to give you a normal life. Your name is the same just switched around and we’ve changed your last name to Quincy.” I nodded still speechless.

This was happening too quickly. “So, my aunt’s my mom, you’re my dad, and I’m your normal teenage daughter?” He nods. After my aunt enters and hugs me. “Seimera, Aaron and I are your new parents. It’s realistic because you, now, have a reason to have your mom’s accent.” I nodded and asked them politely to leave. Sylvia left, but Aaron showed me my new things around my room. I thanked him and closed the door behind him. I changed into my pajamas and flopped on the bed.

I was in a new place.

                            Everything had changed.

                                                  I had a new chance to be young, different and hopefully not alone.