Prologue

                                    

                                          
It was my fifth birthday. A lot of people - mostly from dad's work place. I don't even know what he did as a living, but he seemed happy, his grin wide as he stood next to mum, who was dressed so elegantly, that you might have mistaken the ceremony for some fancy ball. I loved how beautiful my mum was. Her long purple gown slid on the floor as she walked towards me and handed me a large box covered in a bright silver wrapping. 
                          
"Thank you" I said as she placed it on the table.
                          
Dad picked up his champagne glass and hit it softly with a spoon. The noise echoed throughout the large room. People who were roaming around the balcony walked down the two sets of stairs that lead into the event room, which was draped in streamers, banners and the sparkling lights that reflected from the chandelier, that hung from the roof. Everyone was looking at me with plastic smiles. I used to love being the centre of attention. 
                          
"Do you want to open it?" Dad asked with his hand around mum's waist, squeezing her closer to him. 
                          
My older sister, Eva, was sitting next to me with a gentle smile that she always wore when she was truly happy. 
                          
I nodded vigorously, ready to hack at the wrappings and see the mystery inside. But...
                          
A deafening crack brought a shattering silence into the room. The next thing I saw was a whip of fire flashing across my eyes. Screams filled my ears and many of the guests ran for the exit. 
                          
The fire ripped through the walls and floors. Even the stairs were a light. It was horrific. 
                          
"Mum! Dad!" 
                          
Eva grabbed my arm and we were looking for our parents in the flames. Many people were burning alive, their faces destroyed. It was the first time I've seen people die in front of me. 
                          
Soon we found our parents but it was too late. Their screams were piercing. Dad was in shock and he couldn't move but mum was jumping around and trying to flick the dancing flames off her. But they were burning and could not be saved. 
                          
"Eva!!" Mum shouted over the cracking and the bursts of sparks."Take your brother and go. Don't stay!"
                          
"Mum!" Eva called but the cracks of the ceiling collapsing muffled her voice. I pulled Eva's arm and we ran to the door. The further we were away from the crowd, the louder the screams got. Once we made it out the pillars that were holding the veranda fell just as we escaped. The entire house was ignited. 
                          
Eva and I stared in horror.
The last thing that I saw in this house was one of the banners.
                          
Happy birthday, Cloud.
                          
***
                          
When I was twelve, I came home from wandering around the neighborhood. It was boring but I couldn't do anything else. I wished to go back to my real home, and play near the oak tree with Eva; she'd be the pirate and I would run away from her until she caught me. But nowadays, Eva was always at home and I hated it when she was alone because she didn't know how to defend herself, like I did. I also noticed that she didn't want me around so I left her.
                          
"You're home?" She seemed surprised. But when I saw her face, I was surprised myself.
                          
Her eyes were rimmed red and giant bags hung under her eyes. Her face was tear stained. 
                          
"Are you okay?" I say, no louder than a whisper. My sister had changed ever since the death of my parents, but she had also been distant. Being around her makes it seem like I was in the same room as a murderer.
                          
"Cloud," I barely heard her. Her mouth is trying to shape the words until a voice is found. "They're not dead. They're not..."
                          
"Eva," I muttered. She was so scared but I could feel that she had lost her mind after the confronting death. "It was an accident." I kept telling her, but at that moment she ran around the small apartment like a mad man. She ran into her room and slammed the door behind her.
                          
"Eva!!" I banged on the door until my fist stung in pain. She was holding the door, but soon I could feel her pressure off the door handle and heard her feet pad through the room. When I opened the door she stood on the windowsill, her face struck with tears.
                          
"I'm gonna see them again," Eva hissed through her teeth.
                          
"Eva, don't you dare--" 
                          
It was too late. She pushed herself back and fell out of the window. I ran in time to hear the shattering noise of the impact to the ground.
                          
I was speechless. I knew she was destroyed, but suicide was never in her mind. At least I thought it wasn't. But now she has left me and I'm all alone. Alone.