It was a cold Monday morning in the quiet suburb of Sweet Valley. Alison, known as Ally to her friends, was in the kitchen making breakfast for her parents. All Ally Times had ever known in the eighteen years of her life, was her suburban life spent with her parents, Marissa and Mark Times.

Ally was a beautiful with fair skinned, green eyed, small nosed brunette, looks she had inherited from her mother.

Her parents were still in bed arguing about something Ally could not quite make out, when she decided to knock and surprise them with breakfast in bed. She wanted to ask them if she could go to a party later that day which would be at 23:00 p.m. She was buttering them up as this was meant to be the last party for her and her friends.

Her friends, Samuel, Brandon, Scott, Samantha, Bree, were all in the same school and in the same grade and had just graduated from High School. Scott and Ally were the first in the group to become friends since they were neighbours. They had been friends since the age of eight when Ally and her parents moved there. She then befriended Sammy and Bree in school and the boys were Scott’s friends.

They were an inseparable group. They did everything together and people thought they were dating but they were just really good friends. They had planned to go study in the same city but attend different universities and colleges. They were very much excited about leaving, they wanted to have fun for the last time in their home town and the party was the beginning.

Ally knocked and entered the room. They were both smiling when they saw their breakfast and thanked her. Ally handed them the tray and they started eating. She didn’t know whether they’d let her go but she was about to find out.

“Mom, dad, can I go to the party tonight?” she asked both her parents.

“Sure honey, just don’t do anything you wouldn’t usually do.” Her mom said, kissing her on the forehead.

Ally couldn’t believe it; she screamed with excitement and hugged them. She thanked them and promised to behave. She left their room to go call her friends. As she was entering the bathroom she heard her mom scream. She ran back towards their room and threw the door open. She saw her dad packing.

“What’s going on? Dad? Mom?” she asked confused, looking from one parent to the other.

“Nothing honey,” her dad said without breaking his packing routine. “We have to leave when you get back from the party. We are no longer safe in this house.”

Ally didn’t understand, the confused look on her face was obvious.

“Sweety, we promise to tell you everything when you’re back,” her mom said. “Now go and enjoy your final night with your friends,” she said kissing her on the forehead again and turning around towards the door, unaware of how true those words were.

Marissa heaved a sigh when Ally left; she felt her daughter was old enough to understand the secrets they had been keeping all these years. Mark was not so sure. They told her to go and get ready, that her dad would drop her off at her friend’s house.

Ally got dressed and asked her dad to first drop her in town as she needed to buy a few things. When she kissed her mom goodbye, telling her she loved her, she couldn’t have known that that was the last time she would ever see her.

When they arrived in town, Ally didn’t want her dad waiting for her, saying Scott and others would pick her up. Again, she kissed him goodbye and told him she loved him, not knowing what lay ahead for all of them.

Ally disappeared into the mall.

She went into a shop and bought herself a cup of coffee to warm herself up from the chill of the morning. As she walked out her phone rang and she looked for it in her bag. As she was taking it out she bumped onto a guy and split half of her drink onto him. She apologised for being clumsy and was wiping the guy’s shirt. She didn’t notice that he had quickly squeezed a few drops of liquid in her drink.

He assured her that he was fine and he walked away. A second after he had left she was stopped by people selling perfumes who wanted her to try out a few samples. She accompanied them to their shop where she tested a few and bought two for herself and her mother. She paid and walked out where her friends were waiting for her, forgetting her coffee in the shop. They left for the party.

Ally and her friends had arrived at the party and looked for the birthday girl. They handed her the presents and she was happy. Snacks were served and they all gathered in the lounge where they sat down and others were dancing.

They were having lots of fun that Ally hadn’t realised that it was late. It was passed the time she had promised to be back by, but she was surprised that her dad had not called to shout or tell her he’s coming to pick her up. She decided to enjoy the little freedom they had given her and not worry.

It was only 01:30 a.m. when she told Scott she wanted to go home. Scott was too drunk and so Brandon drove. She said goodbye to her friends with that beautiful smile of hers, threw kisses in the air before getting inside the car. They first dropped Scott off and then her. She said thank you to Brandon kissed him on the cheek and ran to her door.

She waved goodbye, for the last time and Brandon took off.

***

Tell us what you think: What do you think the danger is for the Ally’s family?