Chapter 1: Desperate Decisions

Mandy set the last dish into the cupboard with a sigh. The chores were finally done! She smiled and pushed a blonde curl behind her ear.

"Mandy?" a small voice asked. She turned to find her little sister hiding behind the door. "Can you play now?"

"Of course." she picked up the tiny eight year old. "What would you like to do?"

"Why don't we go to the park? It's warm out today." her younger brother suggested. He sat at the dining table, a well chewed Popsicle stick between his lips.

"Would you like that, Hailey?" the shy girl's brown eyes sparkled at the thought. She scrambled out of Mandy's arms and slipped her shoes on. Mandy and her brother followed suit. She grabbed her hobo bag, and they left.

"Hey, Mandy?"

"Hey, Max." She responded.

"Why do you have your art supplies?" the young boy asked. Mandy slapped her hand against her chest, mouth agape in an expression of mock hurt.

"There are more than just art supplies in this here bag! I also have snacks, a pocket knife, water, a unicorn carcass-"

"Unicorn carcass?" Hailey squeaked. Mandy chuckled.

"Just making sure you were paying attention." She smoothed down her sister's straight black hair. Mandy took a seat on the bench near the river, the children ran off to play tag. A moment in her peripheral vision caught her attention. A barn owl was perched a foot away. She stared at the bird in awe before grabbing her sketchbook.

"You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen." she whispered. Her pencil flew across the page, creating the gentle curve of a beak, graceful feathers, strong legs, and wise eyes. She studied his eyes closely, capturing all the expressions running through the seemingly endless onyx orbs. However, one emotion stood out among the rest.

" You seem fairly lonely for an owl so young. Would you like a friend?" she dug through her bag and pulled out a baggy of goldfish. She dumped a few crackers into her palm and offered them to the owl. He crept closer, leaned in, and took the salty treats. He glanced from her, to her bag, and back to her.

"Hoo," he cooed, cocking his head. She handed him another.

"You seem like a friendly little guy. May I pet you?" She cautiously moved her hand toward his head. She hesitated slightly, unsure if he'd allow her to touch him. He pressed his head to her fingertips. While she lightly brushed his brown-and-white speckled feathers, a melody popped into her mind. She began to softly sing.

"As the pain sweeps through, makes no sense for you

Every thrill is gone, wasn't too much fun at all

But I'll be there for you as the world falls down

I'm falling deeper, falling in love."

The owl's eyes seemed to widen the slightest fraction. He stepped closer to her. Her smile was dazzling.

"My mother used to sing that to me. She died when I was thirteen, a year after the twins were born." she gestured to her younger siblings. "Whenever she sang that song, she'd tell a wonderful story. A story of creatures, betrayal, and magic. Her story inspired this." she pushed down the sleeve of her sweatshirt to reveal a tattoo of a barn owl. The owl was perched on a tree branch on a night of a full moon. She pulled the gray shoulder back up.

"Mandy? Who are you talking to?" Max threw a rock at her, which she caught without a single glance. She looked at her brother, who looked so much like their mother. Both the twins had her black hair and brown eyes. However, she inherited her father's looks; blonde hair and aquamarine eyes. She shook her head to clear her mind of her parents.

"I'm talking to this handsome owl." She tossed her snack baggy away and tossed the rock over her shoulder. Max cocked an eyebrow.

"Why talk to an owl? He can't talk back."

"I don't know, but there's something about him that piques my interest." She stroked the avian's feathers. "Maybe it's the way he doesn't fear humans. He seems fairly regal, maybe it's that?" None of that was true, maybe the regal part, but there was something familiar about him. She couldn't quite place what.

"Whatever." Max waved his hand in a dismissive manner and ran off.

"Children, you can't live with them, you can't live without them." she sighed with a chuckle. The owl nudged her hand with a "Hoo."

"If you're asking for more food, it ain't gonna happen." she hooked a finger around the chain of her locket and fiddled with the pendant. A small animal scurried through the grass behind the bench. The owl's head swiveled around at full speed, listening intently. His eyes narrowed as he slowly made his way closer to the noise. His wings unfolded to their full span as he dove for his kill. He pecked at the squeaking ground for a few seconds before flying back up to his perch, a mouse crushed between his beak. He gulped down the furry rodent. A giggle slipped through Mandy's lips.

"A fierce little guy, aren't you?" her nails trailed his feathers. Her peace didn't last much longer.

"Mandy!" Hailey's normally soft voice echoed throughout the empty park. Something was wrong. Mandy shot off the bench and high-tailed it to the where she last saw the twins. Nothing. She checked under the bridge, behind trees, and even behind the concrete figures scattered around. They weren't anywhere to be found. A soft ripple on the surface of the lake made her stop in her tracks. She dipped her hand under to feel around. She caught hold of a hand and pulled Max from the water, Hailey tucked into his side.

"What happened?" She asked. Hailey started to shiver.

"A c-couple of m-men tried t-to take us. M-max remembered what y-you told us to d-do, so we hid u-under the water." Hailey stuttered out.

"Let's go." Mandy started to grab their hands.

"Mandy! Look out!" Max yelled. Mandy didn't have time to react before she was yanked from the hood of her sweatshirt. She gasped as a boot pressed its way into her windpipe. Though she couldn't see her brother and sister, she could hear them crying when the other man picked them up. Mandy let her own boot fly upward, ending up square between her perpetrator's legs. He crashed down next to her.

"You...bitch!" he gasped out.

"Steel toes, you tick!" She ran after the man carrying the children. Once she caught up to him, she landed a side kick into his stomach. The children were dropped down and all three took off. They ran into the woods, taking the indirect way home. Mandy could hear another set of footsteps up ahead. There was a third man!

"Max, take Hailey and under that fallen tree. Now!" she whispered. They ducked under the tree, out of sight, just before the third man rounded the corner. Mandy pretended to be terrified at having become trapped, slowly backing away from the twin's hiding place.

"I thought for sure you had two little brats with you, sweet cheeks." the black clad man chuckled darkly. Two arms circled around her own, pinning her arms behind her back. Her muscles groaned in protest.

"Thought you could get away from us?" he asked, hand trailing up her spine. She shivered in disgust.

"No, but you might want to avoid trying for children anytime soon, Numb Nuts." she growled out. The guy who picked up the kids circled her and Numb Nuts.

"Where are the kids? There's no way they got away that quickly." he pulled a knife from his belt. He walked toward the fallen tree. Panic started to set in. Mandy struggled against his hold on her. She leaned forward and slammed her head into his nose. She made a run for it, knowing all three men would follow her. However, she didn't count on Hailey crawling from her sanctuary. The man in the back of the group noticed Mandy staring behind them. He smirked.

"Kids! Run! Now!" without hesitation, they ran in the opposite direction. The armed man wasn't far behind. Mandy made a U turn and changed gears, running full speed. White and tan flashed in the corner of her eye. She didn't notice before, but the owl had followed them into the woods and had watched the whole thing. Her lungs began to burn. She knew she won't be able to run for much longer. Up ahead, the children had hidden back under the log, Mandy knew they weren't safe. With another glance at the owl, she knew what she had to do. She squeezed her eyes shut and crossed her fingers. I hope this works. Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"I-I wish the goblins will come and take the twins away...right now."