Cursed by Death

Chapter 7

        I walk home from school, staring dejectedly at the pavement as I go. Who will die next? Why me? Why must I go through this? A tear trickles down my cheek.
        All of a sudden, I smell something.
        Smoke.
        I look up to see a plume of thick smoke coming up from what used to be my aunt's house.
        Three firefighters and two police officers are standing at the scene. I run up to them.
        "Excuse me," I say, a lump in my throat. "D-did anyone happen to... did anyone get out alive?"
        One of the firefighters glances sadly at the other two. "I'm so sorry, miss, but... everyone in the house was killed."
        I fall to my knees. Suzie was just a baby. Penny had stayed home from school with the flu today, and Aunt Martha stayed home to take care of her. The only person who wasn't in the house was Uncle Ted.
        "Callista!"
        I turn and see Uncle Ted jumping out of his car across the street. He starts to cross without looking both ways.
        "Uncle Ted, no!" I scream, but it's too late.
        Out of nowhere, there's a thunk as a car hits him. He's tossed twenty feet, and lands on the hard tar with a thump.
        I run over to him.
        His chest hitches as he strains to breathe. "C-callista..." he manages to say. Blood pours out of his mouth. He gasps, and his head falls to the side.
        He's gone.
        The police officers gently lead me away and sit me down on the curb.
        This day can't get any worse.
        But the Reaper isn't done with me yet.
        My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pick it up.
        "H-hello?"
        An official-sounding voice answers. "Hello, is this Callista Fox?"
        I swallow. "Yes... who is this?"
        "This is the hospital calling. Your grandparents were in an accident..."
        I let out a scream. Tears stream down my cheeks.
        "Your grandmother died on the scene, but your grandfather survived and told us to call you-"
        "Where is he?" I sob. "Take me to him! I need to see him! Please."
        The voice on the other end sighs. "We're so sorry, Ms. Fox, but he died ten minutes ago from internal bleeding."
        My vision goes black as my head hits the pavement and I pass out.