Tristan 

  "Tristan, run to the front door and don't look back"
   
    "What about you mama?"
    
     "I'm right behind you. Now run"
  
      "Where is she?!! Where is she?!"

I woke up with a start, voices ringing in my head. It wasn't the first time I was waking up because of those voices but it kept my blood pumping every single time. My alarm rang making me jump and I turned it off, my hands a little bit shaky.

   I wore my joggers and put on my canvas ready for morning exercise. I walked to Shawn's little house at the side of the house and unlocked it. Shawn happily ran out even though it was just 5am. I put a leash on him and jogged out of the house.

    I walked back to the house and left Shawn to run in before me. I saw Maria standing by the front door with her hands on her hips. I smiled at the annoyed look on her face as Shawn ran past her into the house with his dirty feet.

   "Morning Maria" I greeted hugging her. She playfully shoved me away closing her nose.

   "Go take a shower boy, you reek" she said.

    "Yes ma'am" I raced back up the stairs and into my room. It was already neat like no one used it, Maria's magic. I quickly took a shower and went downstairs and the sweet smell of breakfast invaded my nostrils.

   "I'm starving" I whined as Maria set the plate down on the table. She shushed me and went back to the kitchen. I followed her like a lost puppy to get water and I saw the gas burner flames. The glass cup I held fell on the floor as I stepped back. My vision became blurry and I opened my mouth and closed but no words came out before I blacked out.
*****
    "Does he take his medications?" I heard a voice ask.

    "I give him the tablets regularly but I can't guarantee if the silly boy takes them" Maria said, her voice broke at the end showing that she has been crying.

    "It'll keep getting worse if he doesn't try to help himself" the doctor said, disappointment dripping in his voice, not that I was surprised.

   "Thank you doctor" Maria said and I heard the room door shut. I sat up and stretched my stiff back. Maria looked at me with sadness in her eyes and I gave her a small smile.

   "I'm fine, Maria" I tried to assure her but she shook her head.

   "I'll go get water for your medicine" she said.

   "I don't want them Maria" I whined but she shot me a glare before walking out. I don't need them because they don't work...
******
   " Cameron what the heck did you do to your hair?!" I asked in amusement as Cameron walked into the coffee shop quickly. His head was covered in a baseball hat but it was obvious there was no hair under it.

    "You didn't see it last night?" Drew asked and I shook my head recalling getting called to come and pick my two crazy friends that were causing a fight at a party. Not just any party but a college party. So I was driving on a dark road with two teenage boys puking all over my car by 1am.

   "A college chick told him she liked guys with short hair and the drunk idiot used scissors on his hair. He didn't completely cut it though but this morning was hell. He had to run to the barbers to finish the job" Drew explained and I chuckled, typical Cameron.

    As we sat down on our table, a pretty dark skinned waitress walked towards us with the most bored look on her face. Cameron immediately had a grin on his face as he tried to shoot his shot.

   My phone rang and the caller ID showed it was my father. I walked towards the door and answered it.

   "Come back home this instant" he said and that was all it took for me to know that I was in deep shit. I heard a couple of gasps and I turned only to see our table cloth in flames. Someone used an extinguisher to turn it off before I could even register what was going on. The smell of smoke rushed to my nose and I froze. A wave of deja vu washed through me and my hands shook like never before. Cameron rushed towards me and dragged me out.
*******
     As I drove into the house, I noticed my dad's car parked haphazardly  in the middle of the compound. I saw the front door open and Maria came out sobbing. She carried her luggage which was twice her size and walked out of the house.

   "Maria!" I called out running to her. She looked at me with tears pooled in her eyes. I hugged her immediately and she sobbed more on my shoulders. "Maria what's going on?" I asked frantically.

   "Don't argue with him please" she said hurriedly as one of the security men opened the back door of the car for her. "Just be a good son and apologize. Even if you are not wrong just say sorry, okay?" She pleaded and hugged me again. My hands were limp by my side as I registered what she said. Before I knew it she was already entering the car.

   "Maria.." I said in a whisper. As the door closed, she gave me a sad smile. "Not again, please don't go" I pleaded sympathetically but the car was already out the gate.
******
~Korisa