Shadow Walkers Chapter 1

1

CHAPTER ONE2

Amber's blond hair hung over her eyes. Tall and slender, such a young beautiful girl. Strong, ambitious, and full of spirit she always spoke her mind. Today she just wanted to go un-noticed. As she sat in the corner of the room she moved her hair out of her eyes. She wanted to examine the room. She was searching for a place to hide. Her attention was drawn to a young girl, shoulder length dark hair and she wore glasses. She was about as tall as her, she would be perfect. She was a quite girl and never got into any trouble either. Exactly the environment Amber had been looking for.3

The dark haired girl stood up from her seat. She walked out of the room. Amber figured she was going to the bathroom. Class was not yet over so she could not be changing classes. Amber got up quickly and began to follow her quietly. She did not want the girl to notice her. Amber completely fed up with the day, she just wanted to hide and get away. 4

The girl walked into the girls restroom on the north hall of the school. It seemed a little peculiar to her, why did she not just go to the one by their class room. Amber did not let this changer her mind. She needed to get away from this day. Amber waited on the other side of the bathroom door for a moment. Amber took a deep breath, and pushed on the door softly. She was trying to prevent making any sudden noise. She knew that she did not suppose to be doing this but she could not take it no more. Her parents would not find out, she had never got caught before. She had always took safe precautions. She entered the girls bathroom.5

Once inside the bathroom she could see the black stall doors. No one else seemed to be in the bathroom but her and the girl. This would be the perfect time. The dark haired girl's shadow lingering out of one of the stalls. Amber knew she must do it now or never. She walked over and stepped into the shadow on the floor and disappeared. 6

The school bell rang and it was time to go home. Every student was ready to go home. They all walked out of the school in a crowd, some getting in cars and others onto big yellow buses that were parked in front of the school in a nice long line. Bustling to the buses they were loaded and ready for departure. The engines cut on one by one. The bus in the front of the line began to move forward. Three children began to run beside it. The dark long haired girl in the front with two boys trailing behind her were all yelling for the bus to stop. The blond haired boy and the dark haired boy running right behind the girl. They all looked to be teenagers. 7

The bus driver finally noticed the children in pursuit of the bus and come to a complete stop and let the three youths board. With heavy breathes the three kids walked up the steps of the bus greeted the bus driver and then looked for a seat. The bus was full from front to back. Finally the boy behind the girl said, “There are two seats empty in the very back of the bus.”8

The girl then preceded to the back of the bus with the boys following her, The dark haired girl with deep blue eyes sit down on the right of the bus. The boys sit in the seat directly across from her. The boy with dark sandy blond hair turned and spoke in a breathless tone, “That was close.”9

The dark haired boy with dark blue eyes, and dark skin said to his older brother beside him, “Yes, It sure was. We nearly missed the bus.”10

The girl with long dark curly hair looked over to her brothers that was sitting beside her in the next seat then asked in a worried tone, “Jeremiah, have you seen Amber?”11

The tall slender boy with sandy blond hair answered her, “No Hope, I haven't seen her at all today. She is probably hiding like always. The taunting has been worse this week, more than usual.” 12

Hope then looked bewildered and ask the dark haired boy that look about 10 years old, “Robert, Have you seen her today?” 13

Robert answered her, “Yes, I seen her just before lunch.”14

“Did you talk to her when you seen her today?” Hope asked trying to find a clue to were Amber was.15

Robert replied, “No, but she looked really sad. She probably did like Jeremiah said. She is hiding like always.”16

Hope then broke in and said, “She knows better than to do that. We have to be careful.”17

Jeremiah announced to Hope with a hint of aggravation in his voice, “you know she has always been careful when she hides. She will not be seen.”18

She began to argue her case, “Yes, she has always be careful but that does not change the fact that Mom and Dad told us not to. Second of all secrets always come out if you are not careful.”19

Robert interrupted with a defensive reply, “Well, we all know Amber is careful.”20

Hope retaliated with a cool tone, “If Amber is not on this bus, Mom and Dad will be angry. That will be her problem not mine. I have told her not to be doing this.”21

Jeremiah in a unbiased tone spoke directly to Robert and Hope, “She will show up, she always does . Don't worry about her.” 22

While the young teens sat with sulking looks upon their faces, the empty seat beside Hope was filled with a dark shadow. In an instant Amber's figure appeared and she said, “Did I hear my name?”23

Hope nearly jumped out of her seat. “Don't do that. Don't sneak up on me.”24

Amber replied with a big smile on her face, “I did not mean to startle you sis.”25

Jeremiah chuckled out loud, “See there, she is here now. No worries, except the funny look on Robert's face.”26

Hope giggled with relief, “Yes, I see her. Jeremiah your face looked just as shocked as Robert's did.” 27

Robert laughed, “And you Hope, you nearly fell out of the seat.”28

Amber spoke up in a enthused way, “I really am sorry, I did not mean to startle any of you. But I have to say, the looks on all your faces were pretty amusing if you ask me.”29

Jeremiah breathed, “Next time give us a warning or an hint of your arrival.”30

Amber laughed, “Okay, I will announce myself next time.”31

Robert replied in a cool laugh, “Yes, please do.”32

Caught up in the laughter and shock of it all they did not first notice the attention they had brought to their selves. Jeremiah looked up and notices that several students on the bus had turned to examine all the noise. “Hey guys, we must be a little quieter. Look we have drawn attention to ourselves.” 33

Hope looked at the children on the bus looking at them. With a stern tone she asked, “What are you looking at? Take a picture it will last longer!”34

The children on the bus turned to face the front of the bus quickly. They did not want to have to deal with her. Hope told her siblings, “We must wait till we get off this bus before we say any more.”35

Jeremiah and Robert nodded their heads at Hope in agreement then began to talk silently to each other. Hope turned to Amber and said in a dry tone, “You know better!”36

Amber just looked at Hope with a, not again! look upon her face. The rest of the bus ride home the girls did not even speak a word to each other. Finally the bus come to a complete stop and Jeremiah and Robert got up and made their way down the bus isle. Hope got up and Amber followed her. After they were all a safe distance from the bus the air break released with a swooshing sound and the bus was off. 37

They each walked quietly up the long paved drive way. The trees covered both sides of the road so nothing beyond was visible. The road to their home was covered by trees, which gave it the appearance they were walking through a tunnel. It seemed as if they had walked a mile when they stepped out and the sunshine hit their faces. The forest opened up to a bright green field. Beautiful statues decorated the yard, flower beds everywhere. The colors of spring danced all around making the ground look like a piece of heaven. 38

The four siblings stepped off the driveway and began to walk on a handsome path. Hope being the oldest was walking in the front of them all. She had just turned 15 years old. Amber walking just a foot behind her was 14. Jeremiah of the age of 13 and Robert the age of 12, walked behind their older sisters to the castle. 39

The castle was so big and magnificent. It looked like something out of a story book. In perfect condition, you could see every detailed ancient engraving and carvings along the deep gray stone. It had four towers that hinged to the castles foundations. They were so tall that they looked like they touched the puffy white clouds in the sky. Hope entered the big black iron door first, the rest followed her inside. The interior would almost put the outside appearance to shame. Big windows that towered about 10 foot tall, the roof itself was about 20 foot high with a spiraling stair case in front of them at the end of the long hall. 40

Chandeliers hung above them and beautiful pictures of their family's decedents hung on the walls. They each walked down the long hallway and arrived at the foot of the stair case. Neither of them spoke a word. Each one preceded up the winding stair case. After about four floors they come to a room that had four hallways. They each look at one another in silence. Amber was the first to break the silence that was lingering between them, “I am going to my room to do my homework. I will see you all at dinner.”41

Jeremiah agreed, “I am to. Talk to you later.”42

Robert said, “Me also, Until Dinner.”43

Hope was the last to reply, “Yeah, Talk to you all later.”44

They each split up and walked down a hall all their very own. Then each one come to a door that was made of heavy thick wood. Each one of them opened the door up and headed up the stone stairs that lined the wall. It was if they were climbing the inside of a tall cylinder. Yet again they all stood in front of a door, they opened it and walked inside their rooms. Each one of them had begged their parents for the one of the towers. They wanted their own little place. Their parents finally gave in and let them each have one of the towers to make their room. With each of their own personal touches they created a room unique to fit their personalities. Each one of them sit down at their desks and began to do their homework. Each thinking about the secret they had to keep hid.