Title Pending ( chapter one)

My heavy feet trudged through the thick winter’s snow. I was not in a light mood, I was distraught. My life was crumbling down on me, and I didn’t feel that there was anything to live for, now that my abusive parents killed my poor baby sister, Annabel. She was the only thing that kept me going, seeing her face every day. She was only five years old, and her life had ended before it had really begun. I hated my parents. The only thing I was the slightest bit grateful for from them, was the fact that they brought me into the world. Other than that, I would feel no different if they died. I would actually be quite relived if they died, but I feared that if they found Annabel in the limbo, then they might torment her for eternity. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, especially her.1

I just couldn’t stand the sight of my parents so I moved to my nana’s house. Despite having a daughter that was capable of killing a child, my nana was a very kind, warm, smiling person. As well as mam, nana had one other child, my Aunt Susan! Susan was my role model. She was the successful owner and manager of a popular beauty salon in the town centre. She had told me once that I could have some free sessions, but I never got to because of mam. Mam and Susan never got on. They fell out a couple of years back because my mam was jealous that Susan was having a better life than her. But now that I am living with nana, I can get some time to get those free sessions.2

My nana never did agree with mam and dad’s ways, and the family just broke apart. She was deeply ashamed and appalled when she found out what had happened to Annabel.3

I was walking back to Nana’s from school, carrying my rucksack on my back, which was full of books and homework. The class teacher had given us some very interesting home work, well it was interesting for me. We had to write our life story so far. I didn’t know if I would be able to cope with writing all of the things down that I had tried to put behind me.4

Suddenly someone jumped out in front of me. I eyed the person up and down, and was horrified to see that it was my mam. I hadn’t seen her for half a year at least! She grabbed my shoulders hard and pulled me into an alleyway. I reacted fast, “Get off me now, or I’ll ring the police!”5

She stepped back, knowing that it was not an empty threat. But she wouldn’t leave me alone! “Please Abby, hear me out.” She pleaded.6

I didn’t know whether to listen to her or not. I really did hate her, but she looked rough and tired. I didn’t like seeing anyone in that way, not even mam. “What’s been happening at your nana’s?” she asked quietly.7

“Why would you care? You never did actually care about me or Annabel. Remember, that’s the daughter that you killed!” I ranted. How could she just walk back into my life and talk to me as if nothing had changed. “You must know that what happened then was a complete accident!” she explained.8

I was furious at her and her lies. “How can what you did be an accident? Holding a five year old’s head under water until they died is not what I would call an accident!”
And with that I ran away, back to nana’s house, to tell her about what had happened.9

I met no one else on my way home, so I got there quickly. I went through the front door and put my bag down on the shoe box in the hallway. “Nana! Are you here?” I called through the house, my voice echoing.
A cheery little voice came in reply, “Yes darling, I’m just in the kitchen!” I walked into the kitchen to find my nana sitting in her little rocking chair by the window, where she usually did all of her thinking.
“Nana, can I talk to you?” I asked. The smile on Nana’s face faded away, “What has happened to you? Have you been hurt?” She asked quickly, looking me up and down. I was happy to see that at least she cared about me, mam didn’t, that was clear enough.
“No Nana, I didn’t hurt myself, I just...” I trailed off.
“You just what?” My Nana asked me curiously with her, I’ll find out whatever it takes, face. I gave in almost immediately. “ On the way home from school I saw... mam. I didn’t talk to her willingly,” I informed her, “ She just kind of grabbed me and pulled me into an alleyway! Then she started talking to me saying that she didn’t mean to kill Annabel. I mean how could that have been an accident, even she knew that!” I ranted. I just couldn’t stand even thinking of my parents. I suppose my dad was the worst, because instead of just hitting me and Annabel, he even hit mam! But mam never left him because she ‘loved’ him. But I think that they were more like partners in crime than lovers. I wanted to give them some sort of revenge.
My nana’s face held a sad expression, showing all of her wrinkles, though she didn’t have many as she was only fifty-two. “Did you call the police?” then she looked as if she had just remembered something, “No, otherwise you would be at the police station, not here.”
I replied, “I almost called the police, but she didn’t talk to me for long.” My Nana nodded and then walked to the back door, looking out of the window at the flowers and trees in the garden. “You knew you would see her again someday and the world isn’t paradise, but you did the right thing Abby. Go and have a bath and get yourself into some nice warm pyjamas.” My Nana told me.
So I left the kitchen to do as she said. I was going to get my revenge in some way, I just needed a good plan, even if it killed me, like Annabel.
I had a bath and thought about what had happened that day, and got more and more angry as I did.
Once I had washed I ran up to my room and lay down on my bed. The soft, plump cushions were warm to the touch and I got under the covers to get away from the cold. I turned and looked at the picture of Annabel, which was the only one I had. I guarded it with my life, because my sister was my life. I sometimes wish it had been me that had been drowned by mam, instead of Annabel. She didn't deserve it, neither of us did. But it was fate that Annabel would die, and it was my destiny to avenge her death.