The Sound of a Child's Scream
an excerpt

When I came back into the house around seven o’ clock, I found both of my parents drunk in the kitchen. “Where’s Nick?” I asked, only half expecting an answer. “He’s upstairs with some friends,” My Mom said. Her words were slurred and it sounded like she was having trouble speaking coherently. I muttered my thanks and went up the stairs two at a time.
I rapped my knuckles on Nick’s door. “Can I come in?” I asked. My brother opened the door a few seconds later.
“Sure. Hey, are the ‘rents…you know…” he said, meaning ‘Are they wasted?’.
“Yeah, and it’s only seven o’ clock,” I replied, sitting down in his desk chair. Up until this point I hadn’t noticed the other three boys in the room. I blinked, trying to wipe the startled look off my face when they all began laughing. “Hi,” I whispered quietly. I really should pay more attention to my surroundings.
“Stop laughing at her,” Nick snapped, and all they boys instantly shut up. He put his hand on my shoulder and looked at me. “Can I talk to you, privately, for a moment?”
“Of course,” I replied, knowing it would be about Mom and Dad. I stood up and we both walked out into the hallway. “You don’t want them to know Mom and Dad are wasted, right?”
“They kept saying stuff like they hated people who drank irresponsibly. Can you try to get them to go to bed?”
“Of course. I’ll keep them quiet, too. I’ll be back after I have them settled,” I said, smiling at him and turned to head down the hall, but Nick caught my hand and pulled me back into him.
“Thanks, Rei,” he said, hugging me tight. When he let go I smiled at him again and dashed down the hall and into the kitchen.
“Mom? Dad? Do you guys want to go to bed? I’m sure you’d feel better in the morning if you did,” I said, trying to sound as polite as possible. My Mom just laughed giddily and I rolled my eyes.
“No!” My Dad screamed, making me jump. He smashed the beer bottle he was holding, sending a shower of glass fragments down onto the floor and across the counter. Only the neck of the bottle (where his hand was) was still in-tact. He jumped from his chair and leaped across the counter at me.

(AN: I've decided that my story is going to take place in New Orleans, then something major is going to happen to Rei [the main character]. So, if anybody reading this knows any important bits of information, they'd be welcome. Thanks!)