this fire didn't hurt her; it forged her power

"I still don't understand why we're coming to live in a town that you guys despise so much," Thalia spoke up as she sat in the backseat of the family vehicle. Her eyes looked from one window to the other, taking in the town that they were going to be living in from now on.

Laws were perfectly mowed, the grass greener than the shirt she was wearing. The houses were perfectly put together as if they were all newly renovated, the same with any building in sight. Nothing seemed broken, abandoned, or old.

It was almost as if the town they were in had been completely redone and it had been founded and built within the last few years. It felt off, despite how good it looked.

But then again, Thalia always felt that way.

She never felt comfortable, or at home. She never found the love and comfort most found in families, despite her parents trying hard to give her that love. She knew she was pushing the little love she did receive from her family, but she felt certain feelings of... resentment toward her parents and she didn't know why.

"Grandpa needs us," Was the same response Thalia got any time she tried to bring up the reason they needed to move to Ohio.

She rolled her eyes, leaning back against the seat again. "Lori, you say that every time."

Lori glanced at her husband before back at her daughter, quickly facing forward again. "Again with the first-name basis I see."

"Thalia, we're just doing what's best for us, okay?" Her father then responded, looking at her in the rearview mirror as he drove.

"What's best for us or what's best for the man you claim is my grandfather whom I've yet to meet?" Thalia asked sarcastically in return.

"We don't just claim that he's your grandfather, he is your grandfather," Will said, glancing between the road and Lori - who sat silently in the passenger seat.

"He's not my grandfather," Thalia muttered bitterly. "Just because he helped in conceiving whichever one of your guys' mothers he knocked up doesn't mean that I'm going to walk in all sunshine and rainbows and call him poppa."

"Thalia!" Lori scolded, looking back at her daughter with shock. She then looked at Will, who sighed.

"Honey, this is all very soon," Will told his wife. "I would've been the same way."

"Yeah, but you're no contact with your family." Lori retorted.

Thalia watched, keeping her mouth shut despite how hard it was. She loved to spout her mouth and say anything she could to stir the pot, but this time she was finally getting information about family - even if it was the tiniest bit.

She knew nothing about her family. Nothing besides her name and her parents. She had no siblings, cousins, aunts, or uncles - her parents didn't even have close friends she could consider family. It was just them three just as it's always been, and she hated it.

"You should be too," Will told Lori.

Lori gasped, looking at Will. "What's that supposed to mean? We- we just let my father die alone?" 

"That's not what I'm saying, Lor, I'm just saying after everything he's put us through..." He trailed off.

"Will," Lori lowly spoke, motioning her head to the backseat where Thalia sat.

Thalia just watched her parents and how they interacted, obviously hiding something. She didn't know what, but she'd at least try and find out.

"What did he put you through?" Thalia asked.

Lori shut her eyes in annoyance, rubbing her temples. "N-nothing. Just the usual father-daughter issues everyone goes through."

"Everyone goes through different things, Lori," Thalia said. "Some girls don't even have dads so how would your situation compare to that?"

"I'm your mother, and if you realize that not everyone is blessed to have a father maybe you should treat yours with some respect." Lori scolded.

"Like you did with yours? What did he do to you, anyway? To make you run away for so long only to come back when he's too crippled to move." Thalia spat at the older woman.

"Thalia Jo!" Lori exclaimed, looking back at the young girl. "Stop talking to me like that. Whether you like it or not the move is happening and we're moving in with your grandfather. You will treat him and us with respect."

Thalia said nothing, slightly stunned that her mother stepped up to her. Usually, she broke down and cried during their fights, with Will pleading with Thalia to stop being so mean. She knew she was mean, and she knew what she was saying was hurtful, but she couldn't help it.

Pressing her lips together, she sighed as she crossed her arms. "I'll shut up for now, but just know I still don't like it."

"Well, your opinion doesn't really matter in this situation now does it?" Lori asked just as sarcastically.

Rolling her eyes, she looked out of the window again. The car ride couldn't end soon enough, and although that was enough of a relief she knew she'd be just as stressed as she'd have to meet this estranged grandfather she'd never even heard of until a week ago.

Will pulled over into the nearest gas station, ignoring the questioning look on Lori's face. He sighed as he pulled into the parking lot and turned the car off. Turning to Thalia, he sent her a sad look.

"TJ, go grab something to drink will ya?"

"You paying?" Thalia asked, looking at him with raised brows.

Will pulled some cash out of his wallet, holding it out. "Here. Get us something and whatever you like. We still have a bit of a drive till we make it to Grandpa's. Get something to satisfy until dinner, okay?"

Thalia looked at both Will and Lori with narrowed eyes before sighing, taking the money from his outstretched hand. "Whatever," She muttered, pulling herself out of the car.

She looked at her surroundings before making it into the gas station, out of view from her parents.

Looking around, she made a disgusted face at the choices of junk food they had on the shelves. It was the same everywhere they went - out-of-date snack cakes, stale chips, and hard candies. She looked around, picking and choosing the best options although she knew none of them would satisfy her grumbling stomach.

After grabbing a few drinks she walked to the front, sliding the items across the counter roughly.

It was silent as the clerk rang up the items, the look on their face showing they would rather be anywhere else except at work. They didn't attempt to make the shitty small talk most cashiers do, and Thalia didn't bother either. She didn't care to, and even if the worker had been in a good mood she wouldn't bother in keeping up with the conversation.

Sighing, she waited impatiently as the worker slowly put her items in a bag. After handing the money and getting her change she snatched the bag from the counter, she walked through the door without a word.

Glancing at the car, she watched as Lori and Will yelled at each other. She knew it was going to happen the moment Will sent her away, that's how it always went. They acted like they hated each other and it made Thalia question if they ever truly did love each other.

Why be with someone you don't love?

She'd never understand it and for this reason, she'd never allow herself to be that vulnerable. It made people weak. And although Thalia was a lot of things, she wasn't weak.

"Damn," She mumbled to herself as she realized she was going to be stuck in the car with them after this fight. "Way to make a situation worse, you guys."

She walked toward the car, her eyes on her surroundings. She took in the setting, the nature, all of it. The shine was bright as it felt hot on the top of her head, and she covered the top of her eyes with her hand as she noticed a girl standing by herself in the distance.

The girl looked both ways - not noticing Thalia. She then leaned back against the wall as someone approached them, the two of them exchanging what looked to be money and drugs.

She couldn't tell what type of drug, but it was obvious it was something.

Thalia's brows pushed together in confusion. Of all the things she expected from moving to Ohio, it wasn't a drug dealer in broad daylight.

The girl suddenly looked over, making eye contact with Thalia. Thalia didn't back down or look away, and instead just tilted her head to the side. The girl looked afraid, and instead of confronting Thalia for what she'd seen, she cowered away behind the building.

"TJ!" Will called out, catching the girl's attention.

She looked over, seeing that whatever her parents were arguing about was done and over with. The two weren't talking, with Lori leaning against the car door as her arms were folded over her chest.

Will held onto the steering wheel, seeming just as frustrated - if not more. He waved for Thalia to come, only causing the girl to roll her eyes as she walked toward the car.

She took her time, knowing she was only frustrating her parents more. She didn't care though, as she usually didn't. She'd make this just as hard for them as they were making it for her.

It was silent between the family as Will continued the drive to Springwood. Thalia listened to music, her volume loud enough to where she couldn't hear her own thoughts.

After what felt like forever, they finally passed the sign.

Welcome to Springwood! It read in forest green letters. The sign was as good as new, reminding Thalia of the houses and other buildings she'd seen before entering. Almost as if they knew that people would be arriving today, everything looked to prim and proper. Perfect.

Well, this town won't be so perfect for long, Thalia thought as they drove further into town, a small smile on her face as she thought about her arrival.

If she was going to be forced to be here, she'd make Springwood everyone's own personal hell.

++

Hope you liked the prologue <3 It wasn't my best, but I'm super excited for the story to begin and it can only get better! I can't wait to write further into Thalia's family and past!