She propped her baseball bat up against the wall, crouching down to get a better position. Under her breath, she muttered, “One, two, THREE!”

And on the third count, Maritza pushed the vent cover up and grabbed her baseball bat, crawling under and into the next room. And off she wnat, to find the key. Except, she landed herself in Mya’s room. She spotted Mya’s favourite doll, that had the same hair as her.

Maritza brushed her blue hair out her face and examined the doll, tears forming in her eyes.

She then sat down on the bed, clutching the doll to her chest, hugging it like it was her long-gone best friend. Usually brave and never-caring about anything, her personality drained away as you watched her.