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Ch. 1

I didn't realize that I fell asleep. But I knew I wouldn't wake up. Because I was dreaming.

It was Thanksgiving at my house; we ate the traditional cooked turkey. My mom spent all day cooking it, making sure it was just right for the family. Me, Mom, Dad, and my husky Fang. Fang got a piece or two of the turkey. "Gotta let the dog celebrate to" my dad always says. We ate, we talked, and we laughed at my Dad's jokes. And we were together as a family, that’s what counts.

We all went to bed with full stomachs of hot cooked food. I fell asleep almost instantly; Fang was keeping my feet warm while he slept at the foot of my bed. At around midnight, I woke up to hear loud explosions from the distant. Fang was already awake and was pacing around my room and kept looking out the window. I went in the living room and saw my parents were already up and they to were looking out the windows, my mom had a worried look on her face. Dad's face was also filled with worry, but also anger that they were coming. The explosions kept getting closer. My mom grabbed my hand and brought me downstairs, and I huddled in the corner of the basement. I watched as my dad came down along with Fang, dad was carrying his shotgun. Fang came at my side and made sure I was ok. I wasn't, I was scared of what was going to happen.

It felt like forever as we waited in the basement. We were all quiet, not making a sound. Then we heard the front door getting broken down, and footsteps entering the house. They were here in the house. A few seconds went by when we heard them talking, "there is no one here, lets move on to the next house" a man said. "No, we were told to take the family that lives here, a family of three along with a dog. I was informed that they were home tonight. Search every nook and cranny for any type of door that they could be hiding in" a woman's voice commanded. Her voice was strong and powerful but yet very feminine.
"Yes ma'am!" a group of men yelled. The footsteps went in different directions in the house. And what we heard next broke our hearts. Glass was breaking, silverware breaking, books being torn, beds being turned over, and whatever else they could find and destroy. This went on for at least an hour and half, in that time I dozed off. My dad woke me up and opened a small door big enough for me and my dog to go through. He told me to go in the door, told me I would be safe in there. I did as he said, "mother, father..." I reached out my hands for them to take and come with me so we would all be together, safe. "Shhh, Roma, that room is only big enough for you and Fang. There is enough food in there to last a few weeks for the two of you. I love you my sweet daughter" mom told me and gave me a loving hug. I looked at my dad, "I love you dear Roma. Fang, keep her safe for us" my dad kissed my head and patted Fang's furry head, Fang licked my dad's hand almost saying "don't worry I'll keep her safe". My dad closed the door, and I locked it from the inside. I sat down on the cold stone floor, my dog by my side and listened quietly.

A few minutes went by as I sat there in the room with my dog. My parents were still in the main part of the basement. I could hear my dad comforting my mother, telling her that everything would be alright. What I heard next, was one of the scariest things I've ever heard. They found the hidden door to the basement and were making their way down the steps. So many footsteps, I estimated about fifteen of the men, and then the one woman who was in command of them. I heard my dad's shotgun go off. A scream. He shot one of them, but the gun was taken away. I heard it clatter on the stone floor. "No, we don't want to become monsters!" I heard my parents yell as they were dragged up the stairs. My mother was sobbing; my father kept yelling and most likely trying to fight them off. But he couldn't, there was just too many of them.
"Where is your daughter?! Where is she?!" the woman asked my parents in a angry voice. "We aren't telling you where she is!" my parents yelled back at her. "Fine we'll have to go without her, we have to keep moving. Take them away!" she commanded and my parents were taken away. Motors started, and they drove off until I couldn't hear anything anymore. Just my breathing, along with Fang's.
I turned around and took a look at the small room that I was in. It was kinda cozy. There was a bed for me, and a blanket for Fang by the top left hand corner of the room. Opposite of the beds was a shower and a toilet. Close to the bed was a fire stove, to keep the bed and room warm and to cook. By the bottom left hand corner of the room was a shelf of food, and dog food and by the shelf was a pile of wood.
I stood up and sat on the bed, and started thinking, thinking real hard. I was going to be stuck in this room until someone came and found me. But who would know that I was here? And if I was found will I be safe or in danger? So many questions were in my head.
I laid down on the bed, the bed was small. Only big enough for a eight year old. But that didn't matter to Fang, he jumped up and I snuggled up against his soft fur. His fur cradling my head, he licked my cheek and he soon fell asleep. My eyelids started to get heavy. Sleep soon consumed me.

I woke up back in the real world. I remembered that I was in the Underground's library. I felt something furry and soft up against my leg, I looked down, Fang was laying next to my legs under the table. I looked around and saw only a few kids and adults sitting at other tables reading. Looks like they didn't notice me taking a nap. That dream, it always finds a way to crawl in my head while I'm asleep. I laid my head on the table and groaned slightly. "That dream still coming to you?" a soft voice asked me. I looked up and saw Dorris, a kind old lady that watches over the library. She had her gray hair in a neat bun and she wore a brown dress with the Underground's symbol on the shoulder, the phoenix. The reason the pheonix was our symbol is because, if a phoenix dies it always comes back. We will never disappear, there are thousands of people like us around the world.
I nodded, "yea, it came back again" I mumbled. She came over and patted my shoulder, "don't worry dear, it happens to all of us" she said. "Did it happen to you?" I asked her. "Yes, it happend for a few years, and sometimes I still get that dream even as old as I am" she said. "Well, better get back to work. Just try not to think about it dear" she said and walked off back to work, helping Undergrounder's check out books. "Its so hard to not think about it" I mumbled. Fang whimpered from below me, I patted his head trying to reasure him that I was ok. Even though I wasn't.
I grabbed my bag and left the library, waving to Dorris before I left. Fang right behind me as always. I walked through the Underground's tunnels that were lit by torches.
That dream, that nigtmare is the past. This is the present.