Prelude

Shaylan
1990

BEEP.BEEP.BEEP.
4:30am.
Ugh,thoughttenyearoldShaylanassherolledovertoturnoffheralarmclock.Shewas
alwaysdoingthis!Settingheralarmwhenshewasalreadyhalfasleepandmessingupthe
numbers.Heralarmshouldhavebeensetfor7:30.Plentyoftimetogetdressedandreadyfor
herfirstdayof6thgrade!Shewassurprisedshecouldsleepatall,whatwithallherexcitement.
Shaylancouldntwaittostartmiddleschool.ShewasastraightAstudent,highhonorroll
eachmarkingperiod.Hadatonoffriends,butacoregroupofthreegirlswhocalledthemselves
theBratPack,afterthe80smovietheirmomswouldntletthemwatch,butLiamsecretly
allowedwheneverhewatchedthem.HermomalwaysaskedLiam,21,tobabysit,butshewas
tenandhewasherolderbrother.Itwasntbabysittingsomuchasbrother/sisterbonding,
Shaylanthought.
SherememberedonetimeitwasjustherandLiamhangingoutoneFridaynightwhile
MomandDadwentdancing.Mollie,themiddlechild,was17atthetimeandlivinguphersenior
yearofhighschoolbeforeshestartedcollegeintheFall.MomandDadmadeLiamswearhe
wouldhaveShayinbedby10andabsolutely,undernocircumstances,washetoallowherto
haveicecream.Theybelievedsheatewaytoomuchsugar,despiteherpediatricianassuring
themshewasnormal.Liamnoddedlikethegoodsonhewasandassuredhisparentsthathis
babysisterwasingoodhands.Andshewas.Justsneakyhandsaswell.ThemomentMomand
Dadwereoutthedoor,Liamhandedherabowlofherfavoriteicecream:mintchocolatechip
withHersheyssyrupandrainbowsprinkles.Theytwoofthemlaugheduncontrollablyandrolled
ontheflooruntilthestitchesintheirsidesubduedandtheycouldfinallyenjoythedessert.
Shaylanclosedhereyesandsmiledatthememory.Shelovedherbrotherandwas
thankfulshehadhiminherlife.
Justasshewasbeginningtofeeltheheavinessofhereyelidsassleepbegantopullat
her,sheheardthedoorbellring.Withoneeyehalfslitopen,theclockread4:42stillnottimeto
getupanddefinitelynotthetimeforthedoorbelltoberinging.Nervousofwhomightbeonthe
otherendoftheirfrontdoor,Shaylanslowlygotoutofbedandthrewonherbathrobe.Shefelt
reassuredassheheardherparentsfootstepstentativelymakingtheirwaydownthestairs.She
followedintheirwake,silentthoughasnottofrightenthem.Shesawherfatherpeerthrough
thepeepholeandflingopenthedoor.Hermomsteppedupclosenexttotheirdadandgrabbed
hishand.Infrontofthemstoodtwouniformedpoliceofficers,illuminatedundertheglowofthe
porchlight.
Iseverythingokayofficer?herdadasked,tryingtomaskthepaniccreepingintohis
voice.
ImafraidnotMr.Marrin.Maywecomein?saidtheshorterofthetwoofficers.
Whatisthisabout?hermothersvoicequiveredwithfearanddread.
YoursonLiamhasbeenarrested.
WHAT?roaredherfather.

Why?askedhermotherindisbelief.
HewasfoundstandingoveryourdaughterMolliesbody.Holdingtheknife.

ThelastthingShaylansawwashermotherfalltotheground,herfathercatchingherinhisarms
andcradlingherastheirsobsbecameone.ThepoliceofficerandShaymadeeyecontact.And
atthatmoment,sheknewsomethingwasntright.

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Chapter1
GASP***
Shaylanwokeupdrenchedinsweat.
Damnit.Anotherdream.Howmanymorecanshetake?
ShaylangotupandwalkedtothebathroomwhereshefoundherMigrainemedicineand
pouredherselfasmallglassofwater.Themigrainesalwayscameafteroneofherepisodes,
asthetherapistcalledit.NightmareswasthetermShaychosetouse.Hercurse,wasanother.
Ithasbeentenyearssincethatgodawfulnight,whydothedreamsstillkeepcoming?Shell
havetomakeanothertherapistappointmentbecauseclearlyitsnotworking.Shewenttocourt
orderedtherapywhenshewastenitwasaconditionofherbrothersadmitionofguilt,thathis
youngersisterreceiveservicestheycalledit.Shewentbecauseshehadto.Shewouldgoand
stareattheoldwomanwhodefinitelyownedcatsandsmelledofmothballs.Ittookthreeyears
beforethewomansatShaysparentsdownandtoldthemitwasfutiletocontinuecoming.Her
parentsthenenrolledheratanothertherapist,whichthisonesheoutrightrejected.Therapywas
forcrazypeople.Shewasntcrazy.Shewasjustdealingwithhersistersdeathandherbrother
beingthemurderer.Totallyandcompletelynormal.
However,inhighschool,Shaylanmaybedidgoalittlecrazy.Butnotmentally.
Rebelliously.Shestarteddrinkingat14,smokingat15,andgoingtoravesat16.Sexdrugsand
rockandrollwasthemottoshelivedby,anythingtonumbthepainshefeltfromnowbeingan
onlychildwhohadanalcoholicfatherandreclusemother.
Tothisday,at20yearsold,successfullyenrolledinherjunioryearofcollege,Shaylan
doesntknowwhatsnappedheroutofherwildyears.Shewokeuponedayandwasjusttired.
Aged.Shefoundatherapistonherown,onewhowasyoungandwillingtolisten.Afterafew
monthsofgettingherlifebackontrack,sheturnedherattentiontowardsherparents,theonly
familyshehadleft.Shedidntcarethatsheguiltedthemintotherapy,itworked.Theyrenot
perfect,andtheyrenottryingtobe,butnowthreeyearslater,theyarecloserthantheyhave
beenintenyears.Herfatherissoberandhermotherhassincefoundmeditationandyogato
useasacopingmechanism.Onpaper,thingsaregreat.

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LIAMDONT!screamedShaylan,asLiamlungedforward,tacklingEthantothe
ground.Tiedupasshewas,therewasnothingshecoulddo.Shepulledandshetugged,tono

availotherthanincreasingtheropeburnonherwristsfromherefforts.Fromherposition,she
couldonlywatch.Ethanlandedasolidpunchtothejaw,butstillcouldntholdacandletoLiams
passion.Tenyearsinjailforacrimeyoudidntcommitwillleaveyouwithenoughemotionto
takedownanox.