Chapter 1

The sign of a threat is approaching...

            Zack woke from his dream due to the smell of breakfast. That dream again but it feels so real. Zack had been having the same dream everyday for a week. He didn’t know if it was normal or not but best decided to keep it to himself.

"Zack, it's ten o'clock. Time to wake up." His sister, Lara, was standing in the doorway. She was two years younger than he and Zack was fifteen. His sister's head disappeared from behind the door and Zack could hear her footsteps going down the stairs.

            Zack let the smell of breakfast fill his nostrils.

            Wait, did she say ten? It was then he realized that his sister said it was ten and he hurriedly got dressed in his school uniform before rushing down stairs. The sun was shinning bright through their kitchen window reminding Zack of how late it was. The whole house seemed to be illuminated in light provided by the sun forecasting that it was going to be a beautiful day in terms of weather. His mother was the only person he lived with besides his sister. The table was set and in the living room Zack could hear the television.

            His mother was washing dishes when she heard her son bolting down the stairs.

            "Zack, Sorry for not waking you earlier." His mother was also watching a small television that was in a corner sitting a couple of feet away from the sink.

            "Mom, now I’m going to be late and you should know that the teacher has an ear full waiting for you. I can’t wait until I can get a new alarm clock this afternoon." It wasn’t until Zack looked at the table and saw that it was set that he wondered why his sister was still in the house.

            “Don’t worry about it. Do you think I’m a complete psycho? I already took care of your school problems now sit and eat, please.” He sat down as his mother lowered the volume on the television in the kitchen.

            “May I ask what’s going on? Is it something special?” Zack said as he started eating from the plate his sister set in front of him.

            "Actually, I didn’t think it was such a good idea for you to go to school today." Zack almost choked on his food. His mother had never suggested anything like that before. She was one of those parents that believed in education leading to a better future. There was no way that she would go against her own philosophy. At least, not unless she really had a good feeling that something wrong was going on or might happen. She had it back when Zack’s sister had been caught in a burning blaze that happened a couple years back.

            They were living in a temporary apartment before they officially moved into where they were living now. Someone had left the gas on from the stove next door and something went off. Luckily, no one was in that particular apartment when the explosion happened but Lara was left alone at because her mother was at work and Zack was out buying groceries at a local shop. When Zack heard the explosion he noticed the direction that it came from and rushed fearing the worst. When he arrived at the site he was surprised to see that his mother was already there despite her work shift ending in a couple more hours. She was crying hysterically some how knowing that her little daughter was still inside the now burning building. After several agonizing minutes the firefighters that arrived earlier were walking out of the building with an unconscious and soot covered girl. Besides the smoke in her lungs and a small burn on her shoulder she was fine. Zack later asked his mother what was she doing at the apartment so early and she merely said it was a mother’s intuition. She said she had it all the time.   And as many times Mother's feelings are always right I better take her word for it. Zack thought it was creepy. His mother always had these dead on gut feelings.

            “There have been a number of fires today and the police are thinking that it may be arson." She continued and Zack's sister looked hopefully at her mother.

            "Does that mean I don't have to go to cram school either?" Their mother dried her hands on the dish towel and smiled her gentle smile.

            "That's right honey; you don't have to go to any school related programs today." Zack's sister gave out a “yes” combined with a fist pump in the air and rushed back up stairs to change out of her pajamas. Zack's mother turned to him. "Zack, could you please watch your sister and take good care of her? I'm going out." Whenever Zack's mother said "I'm going out" that normally meant that she's going to the store. She grabbed her purse and gave Zack a warm hug and gave one to his sister when she came back downstairs dressed in her summer wear; Shorts and a tank top. Their mother seemed to be trembling even though she was trying to hide it.

            "Mom, are you okay?"

            "Y-yes. I'm just getting what people call hot chills. It is a little warm." She tried putting on a smile but it didn't put Zack's mind at ease. She rushed out the door and he could soon hear the car drive off.

            Zack was having a gut feeling that he suspected his mother frequently had. It was a feeling telling him that his mother wasn't coming back.

Reviews

[Paris France]

Pretty good, nice descriptions. I like your use of sensory detail, like smell, touch and hear. A lot of writers forget that in their writing. However, I was slightly confused as to the “not going to school because of arson”? Were the kids staying home to make sure no one came to burn their apartment down? If that’s the case I would make mention of that. At first it sounded like the school was a victim of arson.
Also, at certain parts when you use dialog I am confused as to who is talking. Be sure to mention “ Mom said” or indicate whomever is finished talking. Other than that, great work. I really want to know what happens to their mom.
God bless : )

[ANGEL.X]

interesting chapter, i like the ending... curious to know what happens next and what happens to zacks mother.

[Daydreamer54]

Wow intresting first chapter! I wonder why he's mom was acting that way... Anyway, Zack’s Lara had- Zack's sister.