Chapter 2: New Beginning

When I woke up, I found myself in an alley with trash and dirt all over the ground. As I got off the ground I tried thinking of where I am and how I got here. That's when all the memories came rushing back. I remembered my family being brutally killed and the people who caused all of it.

I ran out of the alley and tried to find the nearest person but it was still dark and I assumed it was around 3 A.M. where the only people out are those looking for a good time, drunk, or up to no good. So I decided to look for landmarks that I know to find my way home. I saw the huge building that my family owned and decided to head there for help.

As soon as I got there I tried opening the door only to find it locked and I had no way to enter the building. I then remembered there was a police station that was a couple blocks to the South of this building, so I started running in that direction and in about 15 minutes I was at the station. Luckily I saw people in there so I rushed in and went straight to the front desk.

"Please help me, my family was murdered and there were three people and, and, and…"

"Whoa, slow down there kid. Tell me what happened slowly." said the man at the desk. I started to slow down and think of what happened but when I started remembering what happened I fell to my knees and started crying. I cried and cried until my eyes stung from crying too much. The man behind the desk called for someone to take me away to comfort me and ask what happened. I was taken to the back and was questioned by a detective who told me his name was Detective Adam.

I told him everything to how I was driving to school then jumped out and ran to school through the alley to being kidnapped by that strange man named Ghost, and then I talked about how the three people were interrogating my father for who he was working with to how they killed my whole family, to finally me coming here. He told me he was sorry for what happened and that no one should go through the kinds of things I went through. He then started asking me if I can remember anything about the three people so he can identify them. I told him about how Tiny was a tall, muscular man with a short temper, Snake was a pretty woman that was very rationale and seemed to be the leader of the three, and finally of Ghost being pale with an army style haircut and having an evil and menacing personality.

Detective Adam then asked me if there was anything else to help them identify who they were. I then remembered the emblem in Ghost's jacket, The Pale Shadows. I told him what I saw and if they are a well known organization. Detective Adam then told me this was some very vital information and I helped him save a lot of time. I asked again if this was a well known organization, but he just told me not to worry about it and he would catch my families murderers in no time.

After that was all done Detective Adam asked me if I had any close relatives or friends I can call to pick me up. I told him my family was never connected and that the only close friend I had was my best friend Amanda Stuckle. Luckily the Stuckle family was well known so we got a hang of them pretty easily. The detective told them my situation and that they were the only people I knew and that he needed them to pick me up. 30 minutes later, Amanda and her mother and father came to pick me up.

When Amanda saw me she started running towards me and started crying and said, "I was so scared when I lost you this morning and now I was more terrified knowing what happened when we got a call from the detective." As she was holding me it reminded me of my brothers and how they would hug me when I was sad or down and I started crying. I cried and held onto her and I told myself, 'This will be the last time I cry. I will avenge my brothers, I will kill the people that murdered them.'

Mr. and Mrs. Stuckle took me to their house and let me live with them for now until I found a family to take care of me. I told them I was very thankful and will find a way to repay them in the future. They smiled and told me to sleep on the couch for tonight and tomorrow they will get me a real bed. I thanked them again and I went to the couch to go to sleep.

In the morning Amanda woke me up and said, "Hey, it's time for school so get up and come get breakfast." It was then that I realized my stomach was screaming at me to eat some food. I got up and walked with Amanda to the dining table and waited for one of the maids to finish making the eggs and bacon.

"Josh, Amanda, come and get your breakfast." said the maid from the kitchen. Amanda and I walked to the kitchen and picked up our plates and headed back to the table. As we were eating I suddenly realized something. "Wait, I don't have any clothes to change into. What should I do?" Amanda looked at me and said, "Don't worry, we'll get them after breakfast and you can change there and pack some clothes to bring back here."

"Thank you for everything you and your family has done for me Amanda." I said. "Of course we will help you when your in trouble. Besides if I didn't help you, I would be considered a bad friend." Amanda said smiling.

After breakfast we headed back to my house so I can pack some clothes and change what I had on. When we got there I tried not to look at anything because I didn't want to see any pictures or items that would remind me of my brothers. I got to my room and started packing a bag full of my clothes and essentials. As I was packing I found a necklace in my sock drawer. The necklace was a plain chain necklace with a silver ring on it. This necklace was a gift my brothers got for me on my 7th birthday when my parents forgot about me and did nothing for me. I was hiding in my room trying to forget about it and say my birthday wasn't as important as my parents job but this still made me feel empty inside. It was then my brothers came in and gifted me this necklace and told me that as long as I have this they will always be there for me.

I smiled and put the necklace around my neck and said inwardly, 'I love you guys. I hope you're watching over me from wherever you are now.' I continued packing and finally got dressed and started heading towards the door. When I reached the front door I looked back and said my last farewell to this place.