The Survivor

Part One: The Disaster

Nephertarie sighed. The weather outside was sweltering hot. The sun scorched the land like fire. The girl laid on the ground and heaved a dramatic sigh. Her skin burned, body beaded with sweat. Her house was anything but cool in the land outside was quite barran, but it was the best she had. Except for the mango trees. A tingling feeling ran up her arm– She would have shivered but she was too hot – at the thought of the sweet, juicy, mango treat. Her family owned – In a way – a mango farm. Technically it wasn't theirs, it was a rich man's in Port-Au-Prince, the capital city in Haiti. It was made up of 4 acres. The house was about 5 m x 3 m (It barely took up any space), A small shed, and their pitifully small timber pile. But it was a waste, they earned but three Gourde a day.
Nephertarie's mother, father, and brother were all outside building a shed to keep the little tools that they had. She thought about going out to help them, but it was just too hot. She dismissed the thought and strode over to a colourful mat that lay in one of the far corners of the family's house. The mat was actually her bed. One early August day she had gone to wander in Grande-Goave--the nearest town--and found a trader looking for jewelry supplies. Months earlier Nephertarie had found an odd blue stone, she had used it as a good luck charm and brung it with her everywhere. Out of curiosity, she asked the trader what she would trade for the pretty stone. The trader's eyes lit up. She disappeared behind her little stand and pulled up a rug of wonderful golden, red, and green. Nephertarie was then the one to have her eyes lit up. It was a direct trade, that August day.
Now the young girl was crouched on her knees on the colourful mat, examining her shell collection. You see, Nephertarie was one one vanity. She collected many little things that she found. Beside her little rug was a heap of things that could be traded in Grande-Goave. They could be traded for tools, lumber, a better lifestyle. Did she know that? One can never be certain.

It was January eleventh. Nephertarie was outside sorting tools into their correct places in the finished shed. Her mother was in Grande-Goave with her brother, her father out collecting more timber.
A handmade hammer suddenly slipped from her grip. It landed on her left foot and she yelped in pain and surprise. "Need help?" A sarcastic voice sounded behind her. She recognized the sound. "No!"
"Aww, did little Nephertarie get hurt..?" The voice was oozing with menace, urging her to spin around and punch the speaker. "Shut up!" She snapped, rubbing her foot and refusing to look at her big brother.
"How rude!"
Nephertarie heard his arms fold by the sound of his scrawny muscles scratching against one another. Her brow was furrowed, her foot aching. Suddenly she spun around and got to her feet, glaring at her sibling. Her fists flexed and contracted.
"Are you going to hit me?" He asked flatly. It was more a dare then a question. Nephertarie exhaled deeply, picked up the basket of tools, and went on with her work. "I'm impressed, it's the first time you haven't lost your volcano of temper!" He sneered. Nephertarie wouldn't give in! She had given into his clever taunting one too many times. She would not do it again, no matter how much she wanted to smack him across the face! He began to jump up and down, his black hair swishing across his face. He started to wave his arms in Nephertarie's face.
"STOP TOUCHING ME!" She screeched. "I'm not touching you! I'm not touching you!" He chanted.
"Edward! KNOCK IT OFF" Ed fell silent. But Nephertarie knew it wasn't over.
"Okay!" He slapped a tin of nuts and bolts off the shelf. Nephertarie stumbled backwards before she could get hit. The shower of metal had stopped, Ed's gleeful face was now visible. Now the young girl was fuming. Edward looked at her, his expression slowly fading. There was a moment of silence. Then---Nephertrarie swore. Very loudly at that. Ed knew he'd crossed the line, but he was too late. Nephertarie's eyes widened, her mouth twisted in such an ugly form. She jumped into a sprint, crashing into her brother. They both fell to the ground in a tangled fist fight. Ed rolled away and Nephertarie tried to jump on him again--one second too late. He skittered away across the field. Nephertarie was happy with her work and she disappeared into the shed once more.