Demon Queen: the Mayhem of Miki Hatch (Chapt 1)

Ok, so let’s get the basics straight about me. My name’s Miki Hatch, but you just call me Mick or plain Miki. I’m eleven; just turned. I’m also one of the shortest people I know. Not including littler kids. I’ve got weird cat eyes. I actually wouldn’t mind being called Kat instead of Miki, but that’s kinda overdone. If you ask me. I live in Brooklyn. I currently live with my Grammie in our apartment. I used to have a Grampie, but he died. I’d rather not go into that. I attend a prestigious (aka, snobby) school in Manhattan. Again, not my favorite topic of conversation.1

Now enough of that. Time to get on with things. I was currently in the middle of English class when I got called to the principal’s office. ‘Perfect timing,’ I thought. I’d finished the class work before the end of class, and I was bored. I expected I would be getting a mouthful from my teacher later about drawing on my exercise book. I wasn’t concerned about what I was being called up for. I was a part of principal Greger’s daily routine, since I was always getting into fights. Well, if they don’t like it, then don’t mouth off about where I come from!2

But I hadn’t gotten into a fight all week.3

I went straight through to Greger’s office. No need to wait. After all, she did say come straight to her office didn’t she? Nothing about waiting rooms in that announcement!4

But when I opened the door, the old hag didn’t look like she wanted to rip my head off, as per usual. She looked...scared. With some sympathy and a touch of sadness. “Miki,” she practically whispered. “Come sit down. There’s something you need to know.”5

***6

I couldn’t believe it. It was an accident they said. Found by her work colleague apparently. She just tripped up and fell.7

I can’t believe it.8

I don’t want to believe it.9

Yet I’m crying my eyes out begging that this is just a horrible nightmare. When I wake up, Grammie will be sitting in the kitchen with a cup of coffee and bagel. Just like she had this morning.10

Oh they don’t understand. They’re saying that other people have lost loved one too. I can talk to someone, if I like. And they’ll find me a new home, with a father and a mother and everything. And I can still go to this school!11

I don’t want a new family! I don’t want to go to this school! And I defiantly didn’t want to talk to just anyone! Yeah I bet people have lost loved ones. I bet they found it difficult. I even bet they still cry at night when they’re not even thinking about them. But Grammie was all I had! I didn’t care about my possessions; don’t have much of ’em anyway. Grammie was all I cared about. Now I don’t even have her. It’s not fucking fair! I never even had a mom or dad! Life knew just where to kick me so that it’d hurt.12

I don’t remember flying out of room and leaving the school, but I must have. I just remember wanting to go where no-one can find me. Somehow I found myself in the park near my apartment block. How did I even get into Brooklyn? Well, I did have a train pass.13

As I sat on a swing and looked around, I realized the sky was getting dark. Weather forecast: exactly how I feel. 14

I felt so numb. It was like I couldn’t even move. Wait, I can’t move! Why can’t I move?! What’s going on?! What’s wrong with me?! Isn’t anyone nearby? Why isn’t someone telling me to go home?! Asking me why I’m not in school?! Where is everyone?!15

Grammie, Grampie, where are you?16