Alex and Ella Stone

A cute 8 year old girl with long, flowing, light brown hair and thoughtful dark brown eyes jumped into the car.

“Hurry, Awex!” She said. The 12 year old she was referring to laughed, and got in next to her. She had the same hair as her sister, only longer, and her eyes were piercing and dark brown, not thoughtful.

“It’s Alex, not Awex,” The older sister corrected her. Ella, the 8 year old, grinned.

“Alex,” She said. “I just like calling you Awex because I’m the only one who can.” She grinned at her. Alex laughed and ruffled her hair.

Their parents were in the front seat. They were all very close as a family, especially the two siblings. They were headed to the store to go last minute Christmas shopping. It was Christmas Eve in Dale, and they had forgotten a few things. Alex wanted to get something for Ella. Ella wanted to get materials to make something for her sister.

“I’m going to make you the best present!” Ella grinned at her sister. Alex smiled lightly at her. She looked out the window, at the falling snow.

“It’s so pretty,” she commented. Ella agreed by nodding her head. She looked down at the ice on the road. It didn’t seem safe. That was when she heard the squealing of tires, slamming of the breaks, and the sheer horror on her parents face as their car spun off the road. It spun in circles, and finally came to a stop by hitting a pole head on. After a few moments of agonizing silence, Alex’s voice pierced it.

“Is everyone alright?” She whispered. She heard her sister’s soft crying.

“Mommy and daddy…they’re not breathing!” She cried.
~~~
Six hours later, Alex and Ella were sitting in the hospital waiting room. Alone. Their parents had been pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. They were waiting for their Aunt and Uncle to come and get them.

Ella had been crying nonstop. Alex had tried to be strong for her, and now, as Ella lay asleep, her head on her lap and her cheeks tear-stained, Alex finally allowed herself to cry. She didn’t know what to do. She hardly knew her Aunt and Uncle, and Ella had been so attached to their parents, more so than her, even. Ella needed people; Alex didn’t, at least not as much.

Alex was crying softly now, her shoulders shaking.

“Mom, dad…..I don’t know what….to do….” She whispered. The room was empty, except for the two. It was around 3 am. Alex and Ella had been treated for their minor injuries. Ella had a few bad bruises, and Alex had stitches in her arm. But aside from that, they were fine. Physically, at least.

It was then that Alex knew what to do. She had to be there for her sister. She couldn’t let her see her this way. It wasn’t fair to her. She would hide her emotions, and take over the role of parents for her little sister. She had to be strong for her. Ella needed her.

She managed to stop crying, just as a nurse walked in.

“Your Aunt and Uncle are here,” She said quietly, and stepped aside as the man and woman walked in. The woman looked much like their mother, since it was her sister. She was teary-eyed, as was the husband. Ella awoke, and the two adults rushed over, wrapping both of them in a tight hug. Alex didn’t like it. She didn’t want their pity. But Ella was crying again, so she didn’t say anything about it.
The next day they went back to Dale. It was Christmas day. They were packing up their things, only the essentials, as their Aunt and Uncle had told them. All their furniture would remain here.

Ella had finished getting most of her things, and had fallen asleep on her bed. Alex was putting more of her things in a backpack, and then walked into Ella’s room. She sighed, and sat down on the bed next to her sister.

They didn’t know a thing about the strangeness of Dale. Though they had met quite a few of the residents, they didn’t know much about them. That some were vampires, and most, if not all, were dead. Though Alex remembered seeing a certain boy more than once, once when she was 5, and again when she was 9, and he always looked the same. Issac, she thought his name was. He didn’t seem to age. And the more she thought about it, none of them did.

She remembered once she had run into Issac when she was alone. She was around 12, the same age she was now. He was flirting with another girl around his age, which was about 17. He gave her a weird vibe, so when she saw him coming towards her, she kicked him hard in the leg and ran. Though her violent nature didn’t really show through until later.

She shook off these thoughts, and instead looked down at her sleeping sister. She brushed a strand of her hair behind her hear.

“Merry Christmas, Ella,” She whispered.
~~~
They were standing near the door an hour or two later. Ella looked almost….asleep again, so Alex knelt down and started to button up her coat for her. Then she slipped her mittens on her small hands, and put her hat on. She then started to put her own stuff on, when Ella spoke.

“Alex,” She said. Alex looked at her, pausing in her buttoning of her coat.

“Yes?” She asked.

“Do you think things will ever be the same?” The 8 year old girl asked. Alex froze, then sighed, kneeling down to be eye-level with her again.

“No,” She admitted. She saw the tears coming, and quickly said “But I’ll take care of you. You don’t have to worry about a thing. I’ll always be there for you.”

Ella felt a tear slip down her cheek, and Alex wiped it away with her gloved hand.

“Now come on, Aunt and Uncle are waiting for us,” She said, taking her younger sister’s hand. They walked out the door and into the cold weather, about 5 bags around them on the ground, and one on Alex’s back.

She glanced to her right, and thought she saw Issac. He still looked the same. She blinked, but then he was gone. She frowned and looked forward again, not really caring anymore. Their Aunt and Uncle pulled up, and they packed their things in the back. Then they were off to a city on the other side of the country.
~~~
It was a long car ride. 15 hours, not even including breaks or gas stops. They did it all at once, for they wanted to get there fast. Ella had slept most of the time, leaning on her sister’s shoulder. Alex hadn’t slept for even two minutes. Every time she did,s he saw her parent’s faces again.

As she was staring out the window, feeling her eyes start to droop again, she saw the house. It was huge, much bigger than the one they lived in in Dale.

It had two floors, and about 5 bedrooms. As they pulled into the driveway and their Aunt and Uncle got out to get the bags, Alex gently shook her sister awake.

“We’re here,” She said quietly. She didn’t say we’re home. This would never be home, and she knew that. Ella seemed to understand her feelings, and kissed her sister on the cheek. Alex smiled and opened the car door, stepping out and stretching. Ella followed suit.

“We’ll get you furniture and more things soon,” Their Aunt said, breaking the silence. They were pretty well off, and could afford it.

Alex didn’t seem to hear them, and had started towards the house, holding her little sister’s hand.
Their rooms were upstairs. Alex’s was on the far left side of the house, Ella’s right across from hers.

Alex was unpacking her few possessions. She had all of her clothes, as did her sister. They also had most of their belongings; they had never had many in the first place. Ella had taken a picture of their parents from their bedroom, as had Alex. The same picture, each with them in it. Alex looked so happy, an arm around her little sister, her mom’s arm around her, her dad’s on Ella’s.

Things could never be that way again.

Alex sighed, and started unpacking. She put away all her clothes in a matter of minutes and, having no dresser, left some out for later. She had an air mattress for that night. Alex knew it wasn’t Christmas anymore, and that she would dread that day for years to come; the anniversary of her parent’s death. Well, technically Chrstimas Eve.

She soon stood up and walked into her sister’s room. She was asleep on the air mattress, her bags still unopened. Alex smiled lightly and started to unpack her things for her.
The next day they went shopping.

Ella would talk a little, but Alex hardly said a word, except to her sister. Their Aunt and Uncle thought they would grow out of that soon. Oh boy were they right.

But for that day, they just bought some clothes, books, anything they wanted to. Ella stocked up on books, replacing most of them that she had left behind. Alex just bought some CDS and a CD player. Then they got a bed for each of them, a dresser, a mirror, other essentials, and went home.

By the next day, they were completely unpacked. Ella had made her room look exactly the same as it had at home. Alex didn’t want to be reminded of home, so she made it completely different.
They started school again after about 2 months. Ella was in the lower school, still being 8, and Alex was in middle school, being 12.

Alex was a bitter child for a while. It was just how she was, sarcastic, rude, sharp-tongued, violent. But as she slowly healed, she started to be rebellious, and not changing a bit.. She was 14 when she got in her first fight. She beat up a kid, a boy her age, who had made fun of her sister, who was then 10 and in the 4th grade. She had been given a warning, saying her next fight would get her expelled. She didn’t stop, though. Another kid made fun of her sister, and she got in a fight with him, too. Then people started to challenge her, to see if she was really as strong as they had heard. She had had 3 chances, and got expelled before the end of the 9th grade. She was put into another school close to that one, and started out with a reputation. She was sad not to be at the same school as her sister anymore, though.

One day, when she was 15 and on her way home, she saw her sister getting pushed to the ground by other 6th graders. She started towards them, intent on teaching them a lesson, not by hitting, of course, they were so small. She only hurt those her own age or older. But as soon as they saw her they ran off. Apparently her reputation had spread even here.

Ella knew that she was soft underneath it all, though, and let her take care of her like she had when she was still 8. Alex would tuck her in at night, keep close to her, keep her safe, just as she had promised that one snowy night 3 years ago.

By the time she was in the 10th grade, everyone knew not to mess with her, though the select few still did. She was kicked out of another school, forced to go to one even farther away, giving her longer to walk every day. Ella would wait for her, though, outside of her school, and they would walk home together.

They lived in New York City, and it was beautiful, yet dangerous. Part of the reason Alex insisted Ella wait for her.

The Christmas Eve when Alex was still 15, and Ella 11, they were downstairs with their Aunt and Uncle. They were worried about Alex, and it was obvious. Ella had pretty much gone back to normal, talking a lot and reading in her room most of all. She had a great love of fairy tales, and as she got older she got into more action-like books. But she was a very good reader, and a very bright girl. Alex didn’t talk much at home, except to Ella. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her Aunt and Uncle, it was just that she didn’t really know what to say to them.

They opened their presents. Ella had received 4 books, a stuffed animal, 30 dollars, and a few other things. She was ecstatic. Alex had received two DVDS, 4 CDS, and 30 dollars. She smiled and thanked them. She was polite, and was really happy with her gifts, though she didn’t jump up and down like her younger sister did. Later that night, they were both curled up on Alex’s bed, watching one their DVDS.

“Do you miss mom and dad?” Ella asked suddenly. Alex frowned, pausing the movie, turning to look at her younger sister.

“Of course I do,” She said quietly. “Why?” Ella just shrugged, and kept watching the movie.
~~~
By the time Alex was 16, she had been kicked out of her current school. She was in the third one she had been in since they moved here. She had a reputation throughout the whole town now. She had beat up several kids in her grade who were mean to her sister, and given warnings to those who were in her sister’s grade who picked on her. But at home, she was the sweetest, gentlest sister you could imagine. She still took care of Ella like she was a little kid, and although she didn’t always like it, she let her. They loved each other more than anything else, and Alex was always looking out for her.

During the summer before 12th grade, Alex flew her and Ella back to Dale to see their house one last time, and try to let go of their mom and dad.

However, as Alex parked the car in their driveway and Ella ran inside, Issac came over. At least, she /thought/ it was him. It wasn't possible, was it? He hadn't aged /at all/. She was weirded out as it was, when he came up to her and started to tell her how she had grown an dhow pretty she was. He was /flirting/ with her. As he reached out to touch her, at least, that's what she /thought/ he was doing, she grabbed his arm, flipping him onto his back and standing over him meanacingly. She twisted his arm, yelling at him to never touch her before letting him up. Ella walked out in time to see him get flipped. She didn't recgonize him as Alex did, and when Alex let him up, she ran over to him, apologizing profusely, but Issac just scoffed, glaredat Alex, and left.

They stayed for one week. During that time, Alex didn't see him again.

That was the last time they would see Dale. At least while they were alive.
~~~
Alex managed not to get kicked out of her school again, although she had been almost arrested once for a fight. She was 17 when she and her sister died.

Alex had just met her sister near her school. The sun was setting.

“I’m so sorry,” Alex apologized quickly. “I didn’t mean tto make you wait so long. But I had some makeup work to do.”

Ella smiled at her.

“It’s okay. Let’s go home,” she said quietly, reaching out her smaller hand for her sister’s. Alex smiled, and took it. She was 17 and in the 12th grade, her sister 13 and in the 7th. Alex would graduate the end of the year. It was October 20th, and nice and cool out. Halloween was getting close.

“Let’s take a shortcut,” Alex said suddenly. “I don’t want to be out when it gets dark.”

“But---“ Ella hesitated.

“It’ll be fine,” Alex insisted. “Come on.” Ella hesitated for another moment, but finally followed her sister, taking her hand again. As they headed into the alley, the sun sank lower and lower. Alex picked up her pace, holding her younger sister’s hand tightly. She was getting bad feeling as the first rays of darkness hit the alley behind them. Then she heard the footsteps. She spun around, but saw nothing.

“Come on,” she urged her sister, picking up her pace. She started at a slow jog, when she felt the cold steel pressed against her neck.

“Don’t move,” A voice growled.

Yeah, like that would happen.

Alex smirked, letting go of her sister’s hand, ducking down and spinning around, kicking the man in the legs, hard.

“Run, Ella!!!!” She shouted. “I’ve got this, just run!!”

Ella shook her head, standing off to the side. “No!” She protested.

Alex didn’t have time to respond as the man came at her again. She managed to duck his swipe with the knife, and tackled him to the ground. They rolled around, struggling.

“Run!!!!” Alex shouted again. Instead, Ella ran over, trying to pull the man off of her sister. He had gotten the upper hand, and was about to deliver the final blow to her. Ella grabbed him, and tried to force him off. He turned, slashing the knife across the young girl’s throat. Alex froze as Ella fell to the ground.

Memories of their life together flashed behind her eyes. Her only sister, her beautifu, sweetl little sister, who would never hurt a fly, who always saw the best in people, who always tried to make peace, who hated violence, lying dead, in a pool of her own blood…..

She let out a cry of rage and kicked the man off of her, hearing the crack of a few ribs as she did so. She came at him with all she had, managing to break his nose and dislocate his arm.

“You killed her!!” She shouted. “You killed Ella!”

Unfortunately, her rage made her blind, and she didn’t see him get behind her. He slashed at her arm, and she stumbled back. He stuck the knife in her stomach, and her eyes widened.

“You should have just stayed still,” The man’s gruff voice whispered, as he pulled the knife out. Alex fell to her knees, feeling the blood spilling out. She tried to breathe, but couldn’t. She fell on her side next to her sister, watching the man run off.

“C—coward,” she coughed, feeling blood trickle out of her mouth. She took one last look at her sister, before she closed her eyes for good.

At least she thought so.

After finding their bodies, their Aunt and Uncle had them buried back in Dale, next to their parents. Alex and Ella woke up there, and have been living there with the other dead and such ever since.