Chapter 1 Memories

*YEARS BACK*

Nadia stepped into the doorway, excitement written all over her face as she walked in, beaming with pride.

The sun cast a warm glow on her graduation day.

Yes, it was her graduation day from Highschool. One of the best days of her life that she had anticipated for so long. It was finally here!

But it turned out to be the worst day of her life. The most horrific nightmare she had ever had.

The welcoming front door hung open as she entered the house, casting a dreading chill.

As she approached, she heard muffled screams and shattering glass piercing the air.

Her heart sank!

What was going on?

"Mom? Dad?" Nadia called, uncertainty creeping in, voice low as fear took its toll on her immediately.

Nadia moved further, trying to get a glimpse of what was happening, but a hand immediately clamped over her mouth, silencing her.

A firm arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her into the shadows, away from being seen.

"Shh! Quiet, don't make a sound," A low, urgent voice whispered.

It was her male friend, Marcel, who was also graduating on the same day, just like her.

They laid low in silence, making no sound. Nadia watched in horror as the masked figures execute her family.

Her father crumpled helplessly. Her mother's pleas ended abruptly. Her little siblings crying their little voices out.

"No...no...no," Nadia whispered, struggling against Marcel's grip. She tried to break free, but Marcel grip on her tightened even more.

"Keep still," Marcel whispered, keeping his voice as low as he could.

"Please have mercy....have mercy. Spare my wife and kids, kill me instead," Nadia's father pleaded, his hands shaky. But their response was another bullet, shot right on his wife's chest.

Blood splatered everywhere.

"No, please!!" Denisco begged, his eyes wide in horror as he watched his wife's life slowly leave her.

He had been shot many times already, and just as he was about to speak again, they shot him dead, his body instantly went limp.

Nadia watched as her parents begged for their lives to be spared, but those people only play with them like toys.

Her heart ripped apart in her chest, aching badly. The only thing she could do was cry her eyes and heart out, while she stayed hidden.

After Killing them and leaving. Nadia came out, heartbroken as she watched her family laying in their pool of blood.

Their chest still, a clear sign that they had stopped breathing. Gone forever. While she cried.

Marcel only stood and watch. He couldn't do anything either. He was devastated, just like Nadia.

"Who are those people, Marcel!? Tell me who they are!" Nadia turned to Marcel with teary eyes and yelled, asking who they were, but he had no clue, just like her.

"Marcel, tell them to wake up, please. Just tell them to wake up. They can't leave me like this. What am I supposed to do? Tell them to wake up, they know today is my graduation day, right? So, how can they leave just like that?" Nadia's heart shattered into tiny pieces. Her tears streamed down like a fountain, blocking her vision.

It felt like a dream. A nightmare she badly wanted to wake up from.

Heartbroken and overwhelmed, before Marcel knew what was going on, Nadia ran out of the house into the rain. Marcel called after her immediately, afraid that those devils might still be around lurking.

But Nadia didn't listen, she kept running to no particular direction.

Even after going after her immediately, Marcel still lost her. He couldn't find her anywhere.

Nadia finally stopped running, and sat around a corner, far from her house, not minding the rain that started pouring down heavily. The pain made her unaware of the harsh cold biting her skin.

Tears mixed with rain as the scene of how the monster cruelly shot her parent.

What did they do wrong.

Her parents were the kindest people she ever knew. The best gifts life gave her. But those cruel people had to take them away.

Why? Why would they kill such people? What wrong did they do?

Her parents could never even get anyone upset, let alone doing something to warrant such cruelty on them.

Her eyes felt heavy.

The cold and harshness of the weather made it hard for her to breath. The pain tearing through her guts, making her head spin.

"Help me, someone, please...." Her weak voice came out lowly, eyes slowly closing.

Soon, before she could utter another word, she lost consciousness and everything blacked out.