Chapter One: The Night My Life Shattered
Hi, I’m Amara — and I’m just 12 years old.
I used to live in a small house with my mum, dad, and older brother, Max. My dad worked for a man named Mr. Li Zhang. Back then, we lived in China. Then one day, out of nowhere, Dad said we were moving to New Jersey. I still don’t know why he made that decision — or where he got the money to move us so suddenly.
After we arrived in New Jersey, Dad stopped working for Mr. Li. He became a taxi driver. He didn’t earn much from it, but it was enough to feed us. Life in our new home wasn’t perfect, but it was peaceful — until that night.
It was around 7 p.m. when I heard strange noises coming from the living room. Curious and confused, I tiptoed closer — only to see something I’ll never forget.
My dad and brother were fighting with strange men. The room was filled with shouting, punches, and the sound of things breaking. I was frozen with fear. I wanted to run, but my tiny legs refused to move.
Through all the chaos, I heard the men shouting my dad’s former boss’s name — Mr. Li Zhang.
There was a man dressed in all black, sitting calmly in a chair like he owned the place. I guessed it was him. Mr. Li looked at my dad with eyes colder than death and gave a quiet command.
Just like that, his men forced my dad and brother to their knees.
And right before my eyes...
Mr. Li stabbed them both to death.
I watched my father and my brother bleed out — helpless, broken, gone — and I couldn't even scream. My whole world shattered.
I felt a warm hand behind me. It was Mom. She was crying too, but she didn’t let it show. She quickly gave me a necklace and whispered in my ear, “Run, Amara. Please. Don’t look back.”
I took the necklace and slipped out through the back door. I tried to run — I really did — but I couldn’t leave her. I couldn’t leave my mom to die alone in that house with those monsters. So I turned around.
If I was going to die, I wanted to die with her.
When I went back inside, I saw them beating her mercilessly. She still kept fighting, still tried to protect me — even after everything. But they pushed her so hard, her head hit the wall with a sickening thud.
I ran to her, crying, not caring if I got caught. I sat beside her broken, dying body, clutching her tightly.
With the little strength she had left, she smiled at me through her tears.
“Be strong for me, Amara,” she whispered. “And whenever you miss us... look at the necklace.”
Then she took her final breath in my arms.
“Mom... please wake up. Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me alone with these bad men...”
I looked up, and all their eyes were on me. Cold. Soulless. Monster-like.
Then I saw the bloodied knife on the floor — the same knife they had used to kill Dad and Max.
And something inside me... changed.
