Jane could barely keep her exitement at bay. She had been waiting for today since like a whole week. That was a long time for a 7 year old girl.

Her parents and older sister looked on with bemusement as she practically vibrated with energy. It took all of her energy not to run or skip.

"Come on!!! Were gonna be late!" She whined as she ran over to pull her dad to move with the futile effort of an enthusiastic child.

"Okay. Okay" her father said as he chuckled lightly. Harold was a big man with a light brown hair. He wore a simple Tshirt adorned with a christmas tree and a tigers logo. It was his favorite baseball team and he always took his two duaghters to watch the games.

Erin was the opposite of her husband. Fit and more subdued in her taste of clothes. Opting for a casual blouse and dress. She was trying to hide her own chuckle behind one hand as uncle Toby followed after.

Jane didnt really know how she felt about him. He was the quite sort who kept to himself even at parties or when the whole family got togethor.

He always seemed tired and.... Sad.

None of that mattered to Jane though becuase she knew today was going to be a great day. She woukd get to see Santa! And if she was reaaallly good her mom had said she woukd get to watch a movie!

Such was the worry of children. As they got in the car and drove to the mall she watched out the window looking for anything to distract herself. Car rides were boring.

"So whatcha gonna ask santa for?" Her older sister asked. Alice was 16 anc already had a mature look accented by the gere families natural black hair and green eyes.

"Cookies.... no wait... uh a TV.... nooooo.... hmmm... aha! I'm gonna ask him for sighned baseball." Jane said in the exited offtopic babble of children her age.

Her sister kept her entertained as they drove towards the mall.

Festive lights and other forms of holiday cheer covered every store front and home. Detroit like many cities dreased itself in jolly finery.

Eventually the car parked into the packed parking lot of the errence mall. It wasn't one of the big malls but it served its purpose as families and gaggles of children hurried to get inside.

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Jane skipping merily stopped when she heard shouting. She turned towards the noise curiously and started to get an uneasy feeling. They seemed really mad.

Her sister noticed and distracted her by conjuring a cloud of butterflies at her. Much to the younger girls delight.

Her sister was a powered. A person born with a superpower that let them defy the laws of the universe. Of course Alice had the best power in Janes completely unbiased opinion.

They entered into the mall and Jane was immediately distracted by a stall selling cookies. Her dad "reluctantly" gave in to her please for just one cookie.

She came out with 3 much to her mothers consternation. She gave an evil look to Harold that promised future repercussions. Harold just ate his own cookie giving Erin a half hearted shrug. Harold dropped the cookie as a horrified look consumed his features.

He grabbed Jane and pulled her to the ground as the unmistakable sound of firearms being discharged was heard.

It was chaos in seconds. Screaming and panic took over janes entire world as her dad picked her up and started running while holding on to her.

The rest of the family followed suit, as panicked people ran in every direction.

They hid behind a small stand selling signs as the entrance of the mall exploded in a ball of fire. Men wearing mask, some in suits, while others simply adorned themselfs in tattoos.

They kicked, punched, shot, and some even used powers. One man shot jets of water powerful enough to knock people of their feet.

Jane screamed as one of those jets of water hit the stand cuaseing it to rock, her dad holding onto her tightly. As the water poured around the stall.

A man carrying a pistol fired off shots that would bounce of objects to hit targets.

One of the men in suits was pushed near the stall. Arching electricity cuasing bullets to reidirect from him.

Her dad saw what was about to happen and shoved both his duaghters towards their uncle who pulled them out of the way just in time.

As the man stepped into the puddle the electicity crackled and sparked across the stand and Jane watched in horror as her mom and Dad jerked and fell down.

One of the signs fell off the stall onto the jerking convulsibg form of her dad. "LOL" as if the world were laughing at her.

She struggled and bit and kicked at her uncle as he ran with her. Somewere they had lost Alice in the choas.

But Jane Didnt care. She just needed to get to her dad! He was fine. Of course he was. He was her dad.

They hid in a clothing store for what felt like an eternity. Eventually the fighting calmed down as the unmistakable sirens heralded the end of conflict.

Jane waited as her uncle seemed to relax and took the moment to run out. Her uncle calling out to her but she ignored him.

She HAD to get to her dad.

Then she stopped right in front of her dads body. No not body! He was just sleeping.

She gently nudged him. He needed to get up. She tried the same with her mom.

Then she shook both of them. She kicked them next. But they didn't wake up.

They would never wake up.

It was soppossed to be a good day. This couldn't be happening.

She sat there bawling begging her parents to hig her and tell her it was all a joke. Anything! She tried prayer. She tried waiting.

Her uncle picked her up and hugged her crying form as she watched her parents be taken out on a stretcher.

She cried as she learned what death was in the worst ways.

She cried when no one could find her sister.

She cried. Cried. And cried again. But it didn't make things better. It didn't bring them back. They would never come back.

Never scold her. Never tell her that they loved her. They would not make sure she did her homework. Never take her to the movies.

Because they were dead. Nothing she did would change that. She hated herself for it.

She didn't eat. She eventually didnt even cry. She just wanted it all to be over.

She just existed.