.::The Four Tales::. Chapter 1

A 14-year-old girl stepped out of a library close to her home. She walked purposefully without paying much attention. Her short, dark braids swayed back and forth while she walked. Her light chocolate brown eyes kept straight ahead, determined.
"Hey, Elyssa!" someone shouted out from behind her. Her eyes broke out of concentration and she swiveled around to meet them. It was a male, probably around her age. But as she wondered why he wanted her, he triped right into her. They fell onto the concrete sidewalk. He got up, rubbing his light blond hair.
"Sorry about that! My name's Laverne." He held out his hand for her. She took it and got up.
"What did you want me for?" Elyssa asked. "And why did you fall onto me?" Her voice was starting to rise.
He raised his hands. "Hey, I didn't try! I tripped!" Remembering her first question, he added, "Oh, yeah. I need to show you something." His emerald eyes shone with happiness and agreed with his mouth.
"What is it? Where will you take me?"
"Umm, I can't tell you that. But Micah wants to see you." Elyssa groaned inwardly. Micah was her older sister, who was a singer/songwriter. But there was always something different about her . . .
"Well, are you coming?" Laverne snapped her out of her memories.
"Alright, fine." Elyssa sighed.

* * * *

When they arrived at the place, Elyssa realized something. She had never seen this place before. She stopped to look at it. It looked like an apartment, but it looked unkept, with plants growing out of it, in it, on it, and around it! The grass was unkept and she could see holes where animals have dug a tunnel.She noticed something at the corner of her vision and turned. It was a sign saying The "Four Tales." Elyssa turned toward Laverne, her eyes were wide with disbelief.
"What is this place?" she asked.
"This," he replied, his face calm and smiling, "is our home."