Allison watched the building burning. Her son was in there. That’s all she kept repeating in her head: _my son, my son, my son. _She couldn’t bring herself to scream, to cry. She stared and shook, hoping that the firemen were able to get inside and save who she saw as the best part of her. The building was a grotesque site against the backdrop of the sunset.

Mark clawed at the ground, gasping for air. He wondered if his mother was outside waiting for him, and if he’’d ever see her again. He couldn’t see or hear anybody else around him. There had been so many people around, but now - nothing. He wondered what time it was, and if it was getting dark. Inside, it was getting dark for him, despite the fire.

Briggs stared at the fire from atop a warehouse. What a beautiful job I have done, he thought, looking down at the building. From fire comes purity, he knew, and this town needed some cleansing. The building was a gorgeous site against the backdrop of the sunset.

Mother's Perspective:

I stand at the precipice of a life-altering decision, the weight of my actions heavy on my shoulders. For years, I felt like a ghost in my own home, unseen and unheard, my existence barely acknowledged. And then, like a ray of sunlight piercing through an eternal gloom, he came into my life, making me feel alive again. I am aware that leaving is a betrayal, not just of my vows but of the family we built together. Yet, this pull towards a chance at happiness is too strong to resist, even if it brands me as selfish. I carry both the guilt of my actions and the hope for a future where I am valued.

Every step away from the life I knew is a step into the unknown, and with each step, I battle the turmoil within. The joy of newfound love is tainted with the sorrow of the life I'm leaving behind. My heart aches for the pain I've caused, especially to my daughter, whose world I've turned upside down. But I must follow this path, not just for me, but to show her that sometimes, we must make difficult choices to find our true happiness. For now, I will give her space. I know she is angry with me and doesn’t understand right now. But one day she will come around. One day she will see how many countless opportunities I gave her father. I just pray she never has to feel the emptiness I have felt as a woman.

Father's Perspective: The silence of the house echoes the hollowness in my heart. I never imagined a day where the love of my life would walk away, leaving behind nothing but memories and a lingering scent. I see now, too late, the countless moments I took her presence for granted, the small affections I withheld, and the silent cries for attention I ignored. The pain of her absence is a constant ache, a reminder of my failings. I am consumed by a regret so profound; it threatens to drown me. If love could be measured in tears, surely she would see the ocean I've cried and know how much she means to me.

In the quiet of the night, I replay our life together, searching for the moment it all went wrong. The 'what ifs' and 'if onlys' haunt me, each a cruel specter of a different life that could have been. I wonder if there's still a way to mend the broken threads of our family, to weave us back together into something whole and beautiful. But deep down, I fear it may be too late. I just don’t understand how she can do this to me. How could she do this to our daughter?

Daughter's Perspective: My world has shattered into a million pieces, each shard a reminder of the family we once were. I can't look at Mom without feeling a storm of anger for tearing our family apart, for choosing someone else over us. I'm drowning in sadness, watching Dad's spirit crumble, knowing I'm powerless to fix what's broken. They say time heals all wounds, but this betrayal feels like a wound that will never stop bleeding. I'm angry at her, heartbroken for him, and lost in the middle of their broken promises.

As I walk through the halls of our now fragmented home, I feel the ghost of laughter and love that once filled these rooms. The echoes of a happier time come alive to haunt me, and I'm left wondering if they were ever real. I'm torn between the love I have for my mother and the resentment for her actions. It's a battle between understanding and condemnation, and I'm caught in the crossfire, struggling to find my footing in the aftermath of their decisions. How many how do you fix? What’s already been broken? And how do you forgive the unforgivable?

“You must be joking? Our little girl would never do a thing like this?” Brenda said.

Det. Lee looked our at his partner. Det. Badlands extended a hand as they outlined the details of the case. Brenda’s eyes grew wide as they explained the plot her daughter planned against them.

Their words slipped over her. The edges of her vision darkened and sounds disappeared. Thoughts of Lily filled her brain. Waiting for years to have a baby, going through miscarriage after miscarriage. Going into the adoption process, Hugh was so confident but she was afraid. Hearing they had been selected. That first blurry photo on their toddler’s file.

Their baby, their joy, their whole life revolved around their dear sweet Lily. Their miracle babySuddenly panic surged up her thought.

“You’re wrong!” Brenda screamed. “You don’t know her, you don’t know us. We are a happy family!”

The TV was on silence. Hidden in a big comforter on her loveseat, Flora watched the television and scrolled on her phone for news of the case. I’ve done all I can do, she thought. She didn’t want anyone to get hurt but she also didn’t want to get involved. Flora was just a first year teacher in this affluent school district. The rich are different. They close ranks and protect their own.

Flora had overheard the pair talking, Lily Olsen and her obnoxious boyfriend Jimmy Edwards. Smug and entitled like a lot of the high schoolers, but Jimmy had a sharper edge. Flora had watched them. She watched the pair of them with their hard eyes and sidelong glances.

She wanted to believe it was a joke. When she saw Lily talking to Ricky, one of the school’s misfits, Flora’s suspicion sparked. Lily was a queen bee. Flora followed them. When she saw Lily talking to a stranger, an older guy, big and intimidating. Flora sent an anonymous message to Lily’s mom, a warning.

What more can I do? she thought. Tap, tap, Flora walked to her back door. She picked up the note slipped under her door addressed to Miss Davenport. She screamed and sank to her knees in her kitchen.

Arms folded, Lily sat. She didn’t like to wait. She didn’t like to be told what to do. Her parents were always telling her what to do. She couldn’t stand them. Lily wasn’t going to prison. She thought of that idiot and all his mistakes that night. This was all Ricky’s fault. Lily thought of all the people in her way. She thought about convincing her folks the cops were wrong. She thought of her boyfriend tying up loose ends. Jimmy, it was all up to him now. Smiling, Lily stretched and went to sleep.

There’s things we don’t even know, people around us who contribute to the pain. “Genesis, how can you continue to trust these people, they only ever wanted to hurt us”. I look at my sister with weary eyes. She’s to trusting, to forgiving. She looks at me as if she were trying to comfort my mind. “One thing they will never get from me is fear. I won’t allow them that power over me”. I sit and listen to her words, they echo through my brain. Am I giving them power? “Listen , I think we need to leave. Before things start to get worse”. Luna looks over at me, then at Genesis. “If we don’t leave now they’ll separate us”. “We’ll where are we even gonna go, and what if they catch us? Then that’ll be really bad. Maybe we should just stay until the morning.” I was exhausted, and tired of running, all I wanted to do was go to bed. “No! We don’t have time to relax Jay, what don’t you get about that? We are in a war! We need to find the red house so they can help us, or else we could risk being caught”! Luna starts to get mad as she paces back in fourth in this 400 square foot box we’ve been hiding in. “Listen, everyone just needs to calm down, and breath. Yes we do need to leave but we also need to rest as well, we’re very well hidden. Let’s just take n hour to rest and come up with a plan… okay?” Genesis takes Luna’s hand and pulls her in for a hug. “I can tell your scared we all are, but as long as we stick together we will be okay”. I put my head down, scared by the thought of us being separated, scared by the feeling of being alone and even more scared of dying.
Luna sits down to my right, as genesis sits to my left. “Remember before, when we would stay up all night planning our futures, our hopes, and our dreams. Who would’ve thought we’d live through a war”. Luna pauses for a second as she looks at us. “I will die for you guys, your all I’ve got. If we don’t make it out..”.. “Don’t say that Luna! We will make it out”. Genesis grabs Lunas face, making her stare deep in her eyes . “ We will make it out together, we will, I promise we will”. They pull eachother in while crying in each others arms. “But what if we don’t Genesis, then what? What do we do then”? I look up for confirmation, but she shared the same worries. I could see it in her eyes. “Like I said I won’t allow fear to control my thoughts or emotions, I won’t allow them that power”. Genesis gets up and walks over to our bags. She starts to pack all of our stuff up, getting us ready to head out. I start to feel the butterflies again, I look over at Luna. I can tell she’s starting to get mad all over again. How can you blame her we just watched them murder her mom while we hid in silence. “Stop looking at me Jay, just let me be”. I look away and look down at my nails. I’d be bitting them right now but there’s nothing left to bite. “Okay, everyone grab there bags , we’re about to head out”. Genesis says. “Wait, wait, what’s the plan, where are we gonna go, ugh I don’t know if I can do this”. I start to grown even more nervous. “Listen Jay, do you wanna be murdered like my mom? Do you want your life to be taken and forgotten. If we stay here we will die, if not from the men, then from starvation. We have to go, we have to fight for ourselves. So stop worrying, get up, and pull yourself together. Or I will leave you behind.” I look at Luna, but she looks away.

Ba-thump!

My heart thudded violently against my chest, pounding in my ears. I gasped and felt my hands shaking as they rose to cover my mouth. The boy in front of me merely smiled awkwardly, pulling his hand out from behind his back and holding out a single rose.

“So what do you say?” Levi questioned, looking into my eyes. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I felt tears springing into my eyes as I threw myself onto him. My arms fell around his neck. “Of course!”

I heard Levi chuckle as his arms crossed behind my waist. “I’m glad that you’re as happy as I am, i’ve been wanting this for so long,” he muttered into my hair. “I wish you would have asked sooner, then,” I laughed.

We stood like that for a few more seconds before pulling away. He smiled at me nervously and extended his hand, the one that wasn’t holding the rose. I didn’t hesitate to take it.

Ba-Thump!

I nervously looked over Eve’s shoulder as everything clicked in her mind. My eyes scattered around the scene behind her and searched for Florence. Within seconds, I found her.

She wore a smile and gave me a thumbs up with both of her hands. I smiled, looking back down at the girl in front of me. “So, what do you say?” I asked, hoping that I wasn’t rushing her. I couldn’t help but dive into her amber eyes, which filled with tears. My mind scolded me for being so impatient, because now she was crying. Before I could say anything, she threw her arms around my neck and nuzzled her face into my chest. “of course!”

I felt my heart jump in my chest with joy and I laughed lightly as my arms automatically clutched around her waist. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face, even if I wanted to. I searched once again for Florence, but she was gone. I shrugged it off. Maybe she didn’t want to see the lovey-dovey aftermath of what just occurred. I redirected my attention back to Eve.

“I’m glad you’re as happy as I am, i’ve been wanting this for so long,” I admitted. “I wish you would have asked sooner, then,” she said with a laugh. After a few more tender seconds, we pulled apart. I extended my hand to her, and she gladly accepted it.

Ba-Thump!

I watched as Eve slightly jumped with surprise as Levi asked the question. I remember him rehearsing it with me over and over again. I can still clearly hear his calm voice asking “will you be my girlfriend?”

At the time, I was calm too. Maybe a little exited, as I pretended that he was asking the question to me. Maybe that’s why it’s so hard now, maybe it’s because I can see the girl the question was aimed to all along.

Levi nervously searched for me, and once our eyes connected, I was done. My heart let out another thud before shattering completely. I held back my tears and wore my most convincing smile, pushing my shaky hands into two thumbs up. He smiled and tore his gaze away from mine, focusing back on his actual girl.

I pressed my back against the wall and let my hands find my face as the tears started flowing. How could I have been so stupid? Why did I agree to come and watch as he broke my heart? Stupid, stupid Florence.

I looked over at the scene again, watching as the two embraced. I had enough. I turned around and ran, not daring to look back.

What a beautiful wedding The bride was blushing The groom was gushing And the guests went wild with glee

The wedding was a disaster Bridzilla was a cruel master Poor Groom lacked luster Leaving the guests a bluster

My precious daughter is gone Wedding now over with a song Leaving me with bills too long Love went right, not wrong Tessa🦋

Part I: Jason Strange. The victim.

I can’t take it anymore! I’ve been treated like a clown in his cell for the past six months, and now I’m desperate for freedom. I’m becoming more irritable, banging the iron bars harder than a boss slams his fist on a desk in anger. My teeth are clenched, my eyes are wide and my face is red. I began to kick the iron bars repeatedly. After a few harsh, bleeding moments of kicking, I got tired. I bent over, panting like a dog. Tired or not, I was getting out of this disgusting prison cell whether the world cares or not!

Part II: Lucky Cyrius. The guard.

I was sitting at my office desk, eating a cherry-flavored cupcake and savoring the sweet taste. I kept hearing Jason kicking the cell. Great… I’m gonna have to shut him up soon. I figured I might as well get it over with. Upset, I got my baton, and marched over to Jason’s cell, where he stood angrily. I began the conversation.

“What’s wrong now?”

“I want out!”

“Well, you’re not going to be getting out anytime soon. In fact I think I may need to strap you to your bed if you continue to act like that.”

“Why do you hate me so much?? You know I didn’t do it! You know I was controlled!”

I paused, thinking.

I then replied, “As hard as it is for me, I had to follow the law.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I still love you, Jason… I really do! But it hurts me to say this; you’ve ruined your reputation.”

“I can get it back! Just let me out!”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

As I turned to leave, Jason grabbed my wrist.

“Lucky… please. I can change, you know I can!”

I felt bad for him, but then again, I didn’t know if I could trust him. I pulled my hand away, knocking over my gun holster. The gun fell to the floor and let out a shot…

Part III.

Someone in this room has been shot. The other is going to feel unimaginable amounts of regret. They are going to feel the weight of Mount Matterhorn on their shoulders, symbolizing their guilt. And I’m going to hit a turning point.

“No…”

This was bad, horrible, horrendous, terrifying. The body of my best friend was propped against the wall blood splattered everywhere. Without thinking I called the police and they arrived in minutes. Me and my two other friends were both taken into interrogation. I was sweating profusely as o waited for my turn. Praying that I don’t look suspicious.

Here I was, sitting in a uncomfortable metal chair across from a large burly police officer. He asked me questions about where I was and what I was doing. Teddy was dead. To be honest I never liked the dude I just hung out with him because he was friends with Lila. Teddy never seemed like the type to kill himself so he had to have been one of us. It couldn’t have been Rufus though he’s just so innocent. The police officer looked grim and disappointed as he told me to leave the room.

Teddy is gone. He’s gone, as in dead, as in never coming back. Rufus had been panicking but I was just trying not to cry. They were asking me questions. Yes I was asleep, no I didn’t hear any weird noises. Was I ready to admit that I think I know who did it, no I’m not. Ty never liked Teddy, he can also be a psycho sometimes. I’ve seen him beat a kid until bloody and on the verge of death then two minutes later forget what happened entirely. Rufus couldn’t have done it, but Ty could have. My best friend was gone because of his crush. The police closed the case a week later deeming it not as important as others.

Mom: I can’t believe it! All day I’m hard at work keeping this house running - cooking, cleaning, organizing, doing laundry, making sure everyone has their homework - and when I ask my son to come set the table for dinner, he ignores me! When he finally answers my call, he comes barreling in like a football player and knocks the whole plate of burgers I just brought in from the grill off the counter and onto the floor! Dinner is ruined! And now, all he can do is glare at me, as though it were beneath him to apologize. How did I end up raising such a thoughtless and ungrateful teenager?

Boy: Why can’t Mom just leave me alone? I’ve had a crappy day. The dog ate my homework and my teacher wouldn’t believe me, and I got sent to the principal’s office, and I got my ass kicked at dodgeball in gym class, and that stupid bully Roy followed me halfway home on his stupid bike. Now I finally get one minute to myself in my room, and Mom starts screaming at me from downstairs! If she wants me to hear what she’s saying, why doesn’t she come up and tell me instead of shouting? So then I don’t want to make her mad by making her wait, so I run on down. How was I supposed to know she’d left the burgers teetering on the counter like that? It’s not my fault!

Dog: Oh my gosh!!! There was a big crash and now the floor is covered in hamburgers!!! This is the best day ever!!!

It's nothing we've ever seen before, not on the Celeste at any rate. This is... it's just plain gruesome, obviously, and I guess it's really sad for the Mistrals. But that's honestly about it. I don't quite understand why Zephyr's shivering like this room is the coldest place they've ever been, or why Leo's giving the two of us those looks. Maybe it's 'cause I'm not reacting much, maybe it's just curiosity.

I mean, I've seen this before. Mum. Rose. 

Rosa.

Isabella Mistral is dead, and that's awful, and Zephyr's pale as a bloody sheet (which, really, is a bad way of putting it -- a sheet covered in blood obviously has colour) when they're not even scared of blood. I suppose I understand why Leo would be adamant about, well, not looking at his sister's body, but Zephyr? They've got no reason, right?

And we have to look, don't we? Otherwise, an innocent kid is going to prison for something someone else did. So... why are we just standing here?

How on earth can Fliss be so calm about this? Look, she's touching those sheets that are covered in blood, and just, like, not bothered. By any of it.

I know she understands the gravity of the situation, since she's actually doing something, but I can't make my feet move. I have to do something, have to help prove my own innocence, but that fact -- the fact that I have to do that -- is leaving me paralysed in what can only be described as horror.

I'm being framed. And I don't know why! Why would anyone aboard this ship want me in prison? I'm not even fourteen yet, and as far as I know, I've never done anything bad enough to warrant something like this.

Leo's tons of help as well, isn't he? 'Anyone aboard this ship could have framed you, technically'. What a comfort that is!

I can't even work to distract myself from the fact that there are only five days until we next land. Five days to solve a murder with hundreds of technical suspects. Hundreds.

I'm doomed. I am actually going to prison, and my family aren't ever going to hear about it. I know they won't, because they never seem to read any of the letters I do manage to send. There's a stack of unopened letters they use as fuel for a fire from time to time, and they're all mine. 

Not that they'd be too surprised, I suppose. They always said I'd end up rotting away in a cell.

I can’t look.

Izzy’s dead. Really, truly dead. And I was here, and if I woke up surely I could have saved her.

And I didn’t wake up.

The idea makes me feel ill, but not much is worse than the sight of what all three of us know marks a mutilation of a… certain kind.

God, my eye hurts. Badly.

Maybe I should be thankful that Mother’s response to the idea that I may have killed Izzy (which, for the record, I did not) was just to hit me. Sure, it hurt, but she can do worse.

So much worse.

By now, it’s just… normal.

But this is about Izzy, not me. So… I’d better try and help them, I guess.

Not that I’m going to be much use while her body is still here.