Starting Fires

“You are exactly like your mother!” Ryder walked away from me. Those are the words I had been wanted to hear my entire life, but now that I have, I don’t feel how I thought I would. I thought I would be proud, and glad to hear them. I’m the opposite now. I’m regretting this every second.

“I can’t believe you would do that!” My 12-year-old sister, Charlotte, stomped away with Ryder. I stood there, shocked. I can’t believe I did that either. It wasn’t that I cheated on a test, or I hurt someone by accident. It was way, way worse. I joined my mother’s side of the war. The war, with my siblings, my boyfriend, and my friends on one side, trying to save the world, and my mother and her team trying to destroy it. Why did I pick my mother? My entire life I’ve been living in her shadow. I’m the oldest kid in our family, and my mother basically raised me to be her pawn. But… at the same time, I love her. And she raised me on her own, after my dad left us. I mean, he left us when he found out Mom was trying to destroy the world, but still. She’s my mom. My siblings hate her. A lot.

“This thing? That we’re doing? Between us? It’s OVER Maya.” Aiden gestured between us and left. My younger brother, Simon, just glared at me and followed Aiden. I sighed, and sat down. This was the wrong decision.

“Maya? Hey sweetie. What’s wrong?” My mom asked, walking towards me. At least now she’s not trying to kill me.

“Nothing. I’m okay. Just kind of tired,” I told her.

“Well, you’re with us now. You’ll be okay.” I’ll be okay in custody of the people trying to kill my siblings and destroy the world? I’ll be okay with the people who hate my boyfriend — ex-boyfriend now, and my friends? This was definitely the wrong choice. Now I’m freaking out. Calm down Maya. You can escape. You’re strong. My mom wrapped her arm around me, and everything I was thinking about melted away. My mom finally cared about me. Finally. The wooden bench I was sitting on felt cool against my bare legs. I pulled my jean shorts down a little more, and swept my brown hair into a messy bun.

“I like your sandals, Maya,” Ugh. Ryan. My mom’s boyfriend and partner in crime. Literally. I hate him, even though I love my mom, and I guess I work for him now? I looked down at my silver sandals that made my dark purple toenails pop out.

“Thanks,” I said. My mom squeezed my shoulder and stood up. I took a deep breath and followed her into the van headed to their headquarters.

In the back of the van, I could hear Ryan and my mom whispering.

“Do you think this is just a plan to attack us?” Ryan asked. My mom shushed him and they talked in lower voices, so I couldn’t hear anymore. I wish this was just a plan to attack them, but no. No, this is for real.