The bitter cold air seethed through my clothes as I sat, perched on the edge of a tall cliff that towered over our small town below. Every year on the same day, the people of Rosewood would display an array of fireworks to celebrate the towns "family like community". 'Welcome to Rosewood. We hope you enjoy your stay.' reads the sign as you enter. Just another ordinary town in the outskirts of Texas. The harmonies of cheers arose as each firework shot up to the sky, shattering violently into fragments of colourful sparkles.

"This is pathetic." Ruby muttered from behind me. I couldn't help but smile, she was right. I turned to face her. The patch of grass beneath us was frost-ridden and crunched under my feet as I stood up.

"Can't we come here like a normal family for once in our lives?" Carly moaned, still sat with her legs dangling over and wrapped in a blanket, staring up at the smoke filled purple sky.

          Emma sat quietly and said nothing as usual, leaning against a tree and reading intently. Although shy, Emma was definitley the most beautiful. Her wavy blonde hair cascaded down her back, her face small and pale in contrast with her shimmering aqua-blue eyes. She wore fairly thick black glasses that prominently hid her features, giving her the mask she desired. "Nerd", "Four-eyes", "Geek" were the words usually spat at her during school, which bothered us. As Emma was the youngest, we found it in our stride to protect our sister from anyone who caused her pain. Especially Ruby. The eldest, and the scariest. She too had the signature wavy long hair, yet found it in herself to dye it jet black. Her eyes were a piercing green and were rimmed with thick long eyelashes. Similarly she had a pale complexion, yet stood out because of her rosy red lips.

"Come on. If we stay here we're sure to catch something." Ruby said cautiously, looking into the forest behind her.

 "We'd catch something just being around you." Carly muttered as she dusted her jeans. I chuckled and took Emma's hand to lift her up.

 "You better watch your mouth if you want some hot chocolate." Ruby grinned, turning on her heel and heading first into the gloom of the damp forest.

          We sauntered through the forest, winding around trees and overstepping fallen logs. The air felt heavy and thick as a layer of mist shrouded our feet.

"Okay, because thats not creepy." Carly panicked, gripping Emma's hand who groaned in protest. Twins by nature, yet they couldn't be more opposite. The same sapphire blue eyes, the same golden curly hair, same pale heart-shaped face, yet Emma was the outcast at school with Carly being the 'it girl'. The twin people actually remembered.And to top it all off, she was also head cheerleader.

 "Get a grip." Emma snapped.

 "Whats with the hold up? Keep moving and we'll be out of here." I shouted back. I stopped walking when I realised I could no longer hear their footsteps. Ruby was already quite far ahead, jumping over logs and swiftly dodging bushes. The moon was my only source of light, like a torch being shined onto a blanket of navy blue. It highlighted the trail in front that we had made earlier, but darkened the rest of the forest. "Emma? Carly?" I questioned nervously. Silence replied. "Guys this is not funny. Where are you?" I edged back up the trail, scanning the trees in utter fear. Did the mist just get thicker? I swiftly turned to walk back in the direction of Ruby as a dark figure stood before me. I fell back onto the floor in shock and screeched in despair. Chuckles erupted from the twins as Carly threw the blanket to the leaf smothered floor. They laughed in unison, Carly struggling to breathe as she climbed off of Emma's shoulders. "That was not funny." I replied moodily, shifting my hair behind my shoulders and pushing past them both.

"You should've seen your face!" Carly cackled ecstatically as Emma echoed her fits of laughter.

 "Lets go. Now." I demanded. When Ruby wasn't around I was allowed to be bossy. We all shared the quality of liking authority, as long as we were implying it. I started to stomp back along the path, the twins trailing behind still laughing and mimmicking my actions. "Guys thats enou-" I turned to say, as a high pitch scream pierced through the air and shook the frame of the forest, sending a flock of ravens into the mist filled sky.

          My body went numb. The laughing had stopped. My expression of horror mirrored onto their faces. "Ruby." Emma whispered, as I promptly sprinted through the forest in the direction of town, the twins darting breathlessly behind.

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The small town of Rosewood is like any other town. On the outside.

Many unknown secrets lurk within Rosewood, and when the newly mysterious Riley moves into town, the Diamond sisters find out the difference between love and loyalty.

updated Nov 20 '11 by Erica