Starr Sinclair Chapter 1 is the first chapter of my young adult fantasy novel. It is a work in progress. This story follows Starr, a teenage girl who has lived a life on the move with her father, Carl, constantly uprooting from one home to the next. Despite her frustrations and Carl’s promises that each move will be their last, they are packing up once again. As Starr struggles to understand why her father is so intent on running, flashbacks and mysterious warnings hint at a hidden danger tied to her past and her mother’s sudden disappearance. The narrative builds tension as Starr’s upcoming sixteenth birthday approaches, along with revelations that could change everything she knows about herself and her family. Themes of trust, protection, and the unknown weave throughout the story, leading to a looming confrontation with forces far beyond their control.

Chapter 1

Starr Sinclair – On the Road

…Curled up in a ball on the scorching pavement, she lay next to her father’s lifeless body, drenched in blood. When the last storm cloud disappeared from the sky, a frigid breeze brushed against her, causing her to shiver. She was cold and alone. She opened her eyes, the sky now clear. The sun glistened through the remnants of thin clouds above, illuminating the ground around her.

She needed to get up. She needed to get help. As she tried to sit, pain surged through her body, and she writhed in agony. Bruised, broken—damaged goods. She closed her eyes and slipped into a deep sleep.

#

Buzz…
The alarm vibrated through her subconscious, startling her awake. She shot up in bed, her heart racing. Realizing it had been a nightmare, she took deep breaths to calm her staggered breathing. She was scared. The only vivid memory of the dream was lying next to her father’s dead body in the middle of a Nevada highway. She shook the image from her mind and collected herself.

“Honey, we’ve got to get moving,” Carl called up to her.

“I’ll be down in a few,” she responded.

Carl was her father. Since she was three, he’d been the only parent in her life. As far back as she could remember, it had been just the two of them against the world. Her mother had died in a tragic car accident twelve years ago.

She groaned—it was moving day again. When they’d moved here, he’d promised they’d stay for a while. Once again, a month later, they were packing. They had moved five times in the past three years. This was the sixth. Annoyed, she got out of bed, dressed quickly, and tossed her remaining personal items into a box on the floor. She took a final glance around the room and sighed. After all the hard work they’d put into the house, she didn’t want to leave.

She thought back to how the house looked the day they moved in. It had been awful. There were gaping holes in the floors of every room, the kitchen and dining area were infested with roaches, the counters were cracked, and the cabinets were broken. Mold oozed from the sinks, toilets, tubs, and walls. It had been disgusting.

Her father had bought the house because it was supposed to be their last home. He’d told her it was a “fixer-upper,” promising they wouldn’t have to move anymore. Henceforth, last week, when he told her they had to leave, she was furious. He hadn’t given a reason, just told her they were headed to North Carolina. While she was angry, she couldn’t stay mad at him forever.

“Starr Sinclair! Let’s go! The movers will be here any minute,” he bellowed.

“Okay, okay! I’m coming!” she shouted back.

They were only taking the essentials and personal belongings of sentimental value with them. The movers would load the rest into the truck and transport everything to their new home in North Carolina. After ensuring she had packed everything she needed, Starr headed for the stairs.

#

When she reached the landing, her father was waiting with a cup of coffee. She gratefully accepted it, sipping as they spoke.

“I know you’re upset about the move,” he said.

“What gave you that idea?” she retorted sarcastically.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s the lack of enthusiasm,” he said, raising an eyebrow. “Or maybe it’s the fact that you’ve been sulking all week, glaring at me like I crushed all your hopes and dreams.”

She studied his face. He was looking at her with genuine concern. His brow furrowed, and his top teeth bit down on his dry bottom lip, waiting for her response. When she didn’t give one, he sighed.

“You’ve got to give me something, Starr,” he muttered.

“What do you want me to say? Of course I’m upset! We’re moving again!” she snapped. “You promised this was the last time, that we wouldn’t have to do this anymore. And you won’t even tell me why we’re moving!”

She could feel her anger rising. She glared at him, her fists clenched at her sides.

“Why move me to this place, fix it up, and then drag me away again?” she demanded through gritted teeth.

“I’m sorry I broke my promise, but it’s for your safety,” he said gently.

“Safety? You’re with me! What could possibly be dangerous?” she asked, finishing her coffee.

“Now’s not the time for this. We’ll talk about it on the road,” he promised.

“Yeah, right,” she muttered.

“Promises, promises… What’s the point of making them if you don’t intend to keep them?”

“That’s enough. Go upstairs and make sure you’ve got everything you need. And when you come back down, bring a significantly new attitude with you too,” he ordered.

Frustrated, she stomped upstairs and slammed the door behind her. Sitting on the bed, she hugged her knees to her chest and cried.

#

Carl took a deep breath. He loved his daughter more than anything in the world, and all he wanted was to keep her safe. When his wife had disappeared, he swore he’d do everything in his power to protect Starr. There was a looming threat, people out there who wanted to harm her, and he couldn’t tell her the truth—it would only frighten her.

They’d moved every six months, not because she was in immediate danger, but to stay ahead of it. His wife, Charlotte, had left twelve years ago, leaving only a note:

“Carl,

I love you and Starr more than anything in this world. I write to you now, terrified for our lives. I’m not who you think I am, and our daughter isn’t either. I have to leave, but you must protect her. There are people who want her dead. If I stay, they’ll find her. Take what you can and get out of here. There’s enough money for both of you to live on forever.

Please don’t look for me; you’ll only put her in danger. Move often, so they can’t track her. At midnight, on her sixteenth birthday, she will come into powers you can’t imagine. You must take her to my sister Clarissa’s in North Carolina. She will explain everything.

I’m sorry I can’t be there. Keep her safe!

All my love,
Charlotte
P.S. Clarissa’s address is: 14598 Sinead Drive, Birch, North Carolina.”

Carl fought back tears as the memory of the note flooded his mind. He had to be strong for Starr. There was an imminent danger that he couldn’t explain to her yet. He kissed his index finger and touched the back pocket of his jeans, where he kept the letter, always close to him. As he shook the memory from his mind, he walked to the stairs.

“Starr, time to go,” he called.

“I’ll be down in a minute!” she replied.

Carl pulled a small box from his pocket. Inside was a bracelet that had belonged to his wife, adorned with a silver wolf charm he had bought for Starr’s upcoming sixteenth birthday. He quickly jotted a note:

My dearest Starr,

This belonged to your mother. I thought it was time you had it. I’ve added something special for you.
Happy Sweet Sixteenth. I love you.

Love,
Dad

He placed the note in the box, folded it, and tucked it into his pocket. Afterward, he began loading their belongings into the car.

#

Starr sat on her bed, wiping away the last of her tears. She hated fighting with her father, but she didn’t understand his obsession with moving all the time. What was he trying to protect her from?

She stood and went to the bathroom, pausing to glance at herself in the mirror. Her face was blotchy from crying, and her auburn curls were pulled into a loose ponytail that had started to unravel. She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and dabbed her face, frowning at the dark circles under her eyes. The stress of renovating the house, followed by a week of packing, had exhausted her. Additionally, she hadn’t slept much, helping her father pack from dawn until midnight.

She yawned, washed her face, and returned to her room to grab her box of belongings. It was time to go.

#

Finally, Starr reached the bottom of the stairs and admired the work they’d done. The house had undergone a transformation. They’d replaced the floors, fixed the kitchen, painted, and rebuilt the fireplace. The place was beautiful now, and she hated leaving it.

Stepping outside, she felt the scorching Nevada heat hit her. The temperature gauge read 110 degrees Fahrenheit. She sighed. Her father was leaning against the car, waiting for her with a smirk on his face, his hair sticking to his forehead from the heat.

She adored him. While he’d been everything to her, taking care of her since she was three, always ensuring she had a roof over her head and food on the table, she was still mad about the broken promises..

They stood together, looking at the house one last time.

“I think I’m going to miss this place,” Starr muttered.

“Me too,” her father agreed.

#

They stood in silence for a moment, both lost in thought. Starr was still furious, but she couldn’t help feeling a pang of sadness leaving the home they had worked so hard to make livable. She glanced at her father and saw the same look of regret in his eyes.

“I just wish I knew why we have to keep running,” she said quietly, almost to herself.

Carl stiffened but didn’t respond. Instead, he turned to face her fully, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“I’ll explain everything, Starr. Just… give me a little more time,” he said softly, his voice laced with something she couldn’t quite place—fear, maybe.

Starr wanted to push for answers, but the look in his eyes stopped her. She’d never seen him like this, not in all their years together.

“Okay,” she whispered. “But you’re going to have to tell me soon. I can’t keep doing this.”

Carl nodded, clearly relieved she wasn’t pressing him further—at least for now. He opened the car door and gestured for her to get in.

“Ready for North Carolina?” he asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“Not really, but I guess I don’t have much choice, do I?” Starr replied as she slid into the passenger seat.

He chuckled softly as he closed her door and walked around to the driver’s side. When he started the engine, Starr glanced back at the house once more. She had a feeling that whatever was coming next was going to change her life in ways she couldn’t begin to understand.

The car rumbled down the long gravel driveway, kicking up a cloud of dust behind them. Starr leaned her head against the window, watching as the house grew smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror. Soon, it was nothing but a dot on the horizon, and then it was gone.