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[throughtheflamesnovel]

THROUGH THE FLAMES

Lydia Jane has her whole life ahead of her at 18; friends, family and talent. When known arsonist, Ethan Hawthorne, escapes from the mental hospital, Lydia lives in fear, watching the people of Portland begin drop like flies.

Why was Ethan going after the people she cared about? Why not take her instead?

[throughtheflamesnovel]

MAIN CHARACTERS

• Lydia Jane

- Protagonist

- Full Name: Lydia Nicole Jane

- Born on July 16, 1997 to Jon and Lily Jane in Portland, Oregon

- Age: 18; 21 in Epilogue

- Marital Status: In a relationship with Jack Daniels

- Physical Appearance: Brunette, with brown eyes and ivory skin; stands at 5′5″ and has a slim build. She doesn’t generally wear makeup, and prefers sneakers over heels.

- Personality: Caring, but a little bit naïve. Introverted, but socially active, as she is quite good at making friends. She has a calm demeanor, but can be pushed to the edge at times.

- Education: Honors diploma from Cleveland High School (2016); 2nd year Psychology student at Bronx Community College (2018)

- Biography: Lydia was born at Portland Memorial Hospital to Jon and Lily Jane in the middle of summer in 1997. In her childhood, Lydia was extremely playful; she had a favorite Barbie doll, Belle, as named after her favorite Disney princess. While playing at the park one day, 6-year-old Lydia made a lifelong friend in 7-year-old Jack Daniels; he stood up for her against her bully, Eric Thomas, and the rest was history. When Lydia was nine years old, she found a love for singing after a school filed trip to a Beauty and the Beast musical; she loved the conveying of a story through a sweet melody. In 8th grade, when she was thirteen, Lydia developed a crush on her best friend, Jack, which grew over a course of five years. Through The Flames begins with an 18-year-old Lydia, still playful, with the voice of an angel, relishing in her flawless life.

• Ethan Hawthorne

- Antagonist

- Full Name: Ethan James Hawthorne

- Born on March 22, 1986 to James and Delilah Hawthorne in Milwaukie, Oregon

- Age: 29; 12 in Prologue

- Death: Killed by Lydia Jane on September 27, 2015 (30+ stab wounds)

- Physical Appearance: Raven hair, brown eyes and ivory skin; stood at 6′0″, with an athletic build. Mostly seen wearing  long black trench coat, Ethan was seen as being rather menacing.

- Personality: Intelligent, but socially inept as a child. Lacked empathy; killed Lydia’s family for his own selfish needs to be the only one in her life. 

- Mental Health: Psychosis- a mental disorder characterized by a disconnection from reality.

- Education: Wilbur Middle School (8th grade)

                    Weekly tutoring at Arbor Place (12-18)

- Biography: Ethan was the second born child to James and Delilah Hawthorne at Providence Milwaukie Hospital. At an early age, Ethan showed signs of psychotic behavior: aggression, agitation, hostility, excessive word repetition, social isolation, and a limited range of emotions; as a baby, he never cried, or smiled, or giggled, being somewhat docile. He never felt any affection towards his parents, or his elder sister; not to anyone. That was, until Vivid was born. Vivid became his entire world the day she was born, and he made sure she knew it, too. As smart as he was, being able to do high school algebra in the 4th grade, and reading college-level books like Crime and Punishment when he was only 11, Ethan believed the only way he could be happy was to eliminate his parents and elder sister, leading into the Prologue of Through The Flames. 

• Jack Daniels

- Protagonist; Lydia’s best friend turned love interest

- Born on January 16, 1997 to Janet Daniels in Spokane, Washington

- Age: 19; 22 in Epilogue

- Marital Status: In a relationship with Lydia Jane

- Physical Appearance: Jet black hair and brown eyes; his skin is a tanned and he stands at 5′11″ with an athletic build. Mostly wears plaid flannels and jeans, with a signature pair of brown working boots.

- Personality: Optimistic, and sees the world through a fresh pair of eyes; not one to let minor inconveniences get him down. Very likable, and acts of a voice of reason.

- Education: Diploma from Cleveland High School (2016); 2nd year business management student at Bronx Community College

- Occupation(s): Waiter at Royal Coach Diner (2018)

                           Waiter at Janet’s (formerly)

- Biography: Jack was born to a 17-year-old girl named Janet in the middle of winter in 1997 at Providence Holy Family Hospital. He and his mother lived in Spokane with his grandmother until he was six, ripping him from his kindergarten class mid-semester, causing him to get held back. In the summer before 1st grade, he met little 6-year-old Lydia Jane, and stood up for her against a bully. From then on, Jack felt like it was his responsibility to protect Lydia. They quickly became the best of friends, and they, luckily, were in the same classes all through elementary school. However, once they entered high school, Lydia began to change: physically, and Jack couldn’t help but take notice. Through The Flames begins with Jack as a 19-year-old senior at Cleveland High, trying to figure out how to tell Lydia of his feelings without ruining their close friendship.

• Lily Jane

- Protagonist; Lydia’s mother

- Full Name: Lillian “Lily” May Jane (nee Smith)

- Born on April 2, 1970 in Portland, Oregon

- Age: 45

- Marital Status: Widow (Jon Jane)

- Death: Killed by Ethan Hawthorne on September 25, 2015 (shot in the head)

- Physical Appearance: Silver hair in a pixie-style haircut; violet blue eyes and fair skin. She stood at 5′6″ with a slim build, a long face, and had a typically laid-back sense of style.

- Personality: Typically vibrant; loved her husband and daughter with all that she was. Protective of her family, and was a very emotional person. Lily loved taking pictures, and had made a family scrapbook over the past 25 years; it was very difficult for her to look at after Jon’s death.

- Education: Honors diploma from Cleveland High School (1988); master’s degree in interior design from Portland Community College (1992)

- Occupation: Interior designer (1994-2015)

- Biography: Lily was born to a poor roofer named Jerry, and his wife, Carrie, in early April at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. Sadly, when Lily was only eleven, her mother died from pneumonia, leaving her father in a chronic state of depression; he drank heavily and eventually lost his job. When Lily was 13, her father lost their little two bedroom house to the bank; this set into motion having to move in with Jerry’s sister, Marie. Luckily, Marie lived in Portland, so Lily didn’t have to leave her friends at school. Once entering high school, in 1985, Lily met a boy named Jonathan Jane. Instantly smitten, the two began to date; they were both driven, and wanted the same things out of life: Lily wanted a place to call home, and Jonathan wanted a family of his own. On August 18, 1990, Lily married Jonathan Jane, whom she began to affectionately call “Jon”. The two of them lived on an allowance that Lily got from her aunt Marie every month until Jon got a good paying job. In 1993, Jon got his relators license and began to work for a family-made firm in the rich part of Portland; a year later, Lily began to work as an interior decorator, mostly working with weddings. Then, in October of 1996, Lily became pregnant; both 26, both with good jobs, it was the perfect time to start building their family. In late May of 1997, Lily’s father suffered a massive stroke and died; being seven months pregnant at he time, Lily didn’t attend the funeral, afraid the stress would affect her unborn child. On July 16, 1997, Lily brought Lydia Nicole into the world, and life became utter bliss for the Janes. Leading into the events of Through The Flames, Lily had just celebrated her 25th wedding anniversary with Jon, and the two were more in love than ever.

• Anna Bailey

- Protagonist; Lydia’s best friend

- Full Name: Annette “Anna” Grace Monroe (nee Bailey)

- Born on August 1, 1997 to Adam and Anne Bailey in Portland, Oregon

- Age: 18; 21 in Epilogue

- Marital Status: Married to Tommy Monroe

- Physical Appearance: Raven hair in a pixie-style haircut, with dark brown eyes, ivory skin, and thin lips. She stands at 5′5″, and has a petite yet athletic build. Typically dressy, wearing skirts and heels anytime she can, and wears makeup even when sitting home on a Saturday night, making her the complete polar opposite of Lydia.

- Personality: Bubbly and energetic; optimistic and thinks of Lydia as her sister. She cares deeply for her friends and family. Anna, while mature for her age, still looks at the world through glassy eyes, firmly believing that everyone deserves a happy ending. 

- Biography: Anna was born to Adam and Anne Bailey in the first of August at Portland Memorial Hospital. In her childhood, Anna was very extroverted, and loved being the center of attention, which only became ore as she grew up. She found a love for acting at a young age, starring in her first play in 2nd grade when she was 7. Sadly, when she was 13, Anna, and the Baileys, suffered the loss of her mother to meningitis; Anna and her father, and Laura were utterly devastated. However, when Anna met country boy, Tommy Monroe when she was 15, he helped speed up the last stage of her grieving process: acceptance. The two quickly became enthralled with one another after meeting at the summer fair in Portland. Tommy was Anna’s first for everything; she lost her virginity to him when she was seventeen, at one of Tommy’s many parties that he threw anytime his uncle was out of town. Anna was sure about their love and figured “why wait?” Leading into Through The Flames, Anna has not a worry in the world; Julliard was a guarantee, and her and Tommy were solid.

Dr. Adam Bailey

- Protagonist; Ethan’s former psychiatrist; Anna’s father

- Full Name: Adam Gerard Bailey

- Born: December 29, 1969 in Lawton, Oklahoma

- Age: 46

- Marital Status: Widower (Anne Bailey)

- Physical Appearance: Dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and has a beard; stands at 5′11″ with a buff build. He typically wears sweater vests and wears black-rimmed glasses when reading.

- Personality: Intelligent and introverted; never dated again after his wife’s death, instead choosing to focus on his daughters. He also has a guilty conscience, feeling as if he failed Ethan in terms of being his doctor.

- Education: Honors diploma from MacArthur Senior High School (1988); associate’s degree in psychology from the University of Oklahoma (1993)

- Occupation(s): Out of work psychiatrist

Psychiatrist for Providence Medical Olympia (formerly)

Psychiatrist for Arbor Place Mental Health Services (formerly)

- Biography: Adam was born to a CEO and his fashion model wife in late 1969 in Lawton, Oklahoma. Adam spent most of his childhood in the care of his grandmother. When he was 15, his mother died from a drug overdose; Adam found it hard to grieve her death, as he barely knew the woman. Same goes for when his father died in a plane crash while Adam was away at college at nineteen: he barely knew him. Adam attended college in Norman, Oklahoma at OU. As did a young lady from Enid, Oklahoma; her name was Anne Maxwell. Adam and Anne were friends at first, both majoring in psychology, and they became study buddies. Their flirtation went back and forth for a few years, until Anne switched her major to early childhood education; the two then grew apart. When Adam graduated, he moved to Seattle, Washington while Anne finished her studies at OU. A few years passed; Adam dated around but nothing really stuck, as he couldn’t get Anne out of his head. In the summer of 1995, Adam spotted Anne at the local coffee shop in Seattle while she was visiting with her aunt; they talked a lot over the next coupe of days. Anne was gearing to move to Portland, Oregon, where she had landed a 1st grade teaching job. Over the next 8 1/2 months, the two maintained a long distance relationship, and eventually married in late November 1996; they found out Anne was pregnant on their honeymoon, and they made home in Portland just in time for the birth of their daughter. Anna gave birth to Anna on August 1, 1997, and then had another daughter, Laura, in early March, four years later. Sadly, in 2011, Anne died from meningitis, leaving Adam to care for their two young daughters. Leading up to Through The Flames, Adam still struggled with the death of his beloved wife, while also stressing over the recent escape of Ethan Hawthorne, and knowing exactly what he was after.

• Tommy Monroe

- Protagonist; Anna’s boyfriend/husband; Lydia and Jack’s friend

- Full Name: Thomas “Tommy” Ryan Monroe

- Born on December 3, 1997 in Houston, Texas

- Age: 18; 20 in Epilogue

- Marital Status: Married to Anna Bailey

- Physical Appearance: Honey blond hair that falls just to the nape of his neck; he has brown eyes and slightly tan skin from his childhood in the Houston heat. Tommy stands at 5′10″ with an athletic build; he typically wears plaids and jeans, with brown cowboy boots.

- Personality: A true country soul, he loves playing his guitar, especially when covering Anna’s favorite songs. Kind, gentle, and attentive, Tommy has a typically calm demeanor, much like Lydia.

- Education: Technical honors diploma from Cleveland High School (2016); majors in general studies at Bronx Community College (2018)

- Occupation: Sale associate at Footlocker

- Biography: Tommy was born to Tom and Andrea Monroe in early December at Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital. Tommy hardly knew his parents as they were killed in a car crash when he was only 4 months old. Lester Monroe, his uncle, took custody of him and raised him as his own. The Monroes, having owned a long string of oil refineries, were quite wealthy. When Tommy was 14, Lester moved him and himself to Portland, Oregon, as the new home office for Monroe Oil was located there; that’s when Tommy met 15-year-old Anna Bailey, and he fell for her, point blank. He became close friends with Lydia, Jack, and later on, Holly. Leading into Through The Flames, Tommy and Anna were still together, Tommy planned on proposing to Anna before she left for Julliard, after graduation.

• Holly Johnson

- Protagonist; Lydia’s friend

- Full Name: Holly Lee Johnson

- Born in Santa Monica, California

- Age: 17

- Death: Killed by Ethan Hawthorne on September 24, 2015 (strangled)

- Physical Appearance: Golden blonde hair and dark brown eyes; stood at 5′7″ with an athletic body type. Holly had an exceptional sense of style, having Anna’s sense for expensive blouses and Lydia’s taste for retail jackets.

- Personality: Holly was head cheerleader, so she was quite energetic and extroverted; was quite naïve, her only plans after graduation being marrying her boyfriend. Friendly, and shy at first, Lydia and Holly became very close after she helped Holly break her shyness.

- Education: Cleveland High School (10th-12th)

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (formerly)

- Biography: Holly was the only child of author, Torrance Johnson, and his actress wife, Monica; she grew up with much love from her father, but hardly any attention from her mother. Monica was too preoccupied with becoming the next Audrey Hepburn. When Holly was 13, her mother abandoned her and Torrance, moving to Hollywood to “make a real name for herself”; she changed her name from Monica Johnson to Jackie Jewl, and made a line of pornographic films. It wasn’t long after that, when Torrance and Holly packed up and moved somewhere new; he opted for the small town of Portland, Oregon. There, 14-year-old Holly quickly made friends with Lydia Jane, who became her best friend. She also began to date Eric Thomas, an 18-year-old senior; at first, it was one-sided: Holly liked talking to him, but Eric just wanted to get laid. Holly was smart, making him wait, causing Eric to truly fall in love with Holly, as she had with him. Upon Through The Flames, Holly and Eric had been dating for nearly two years, and Holly was finally ready to give him her virginity.

[throughtheflamesnovel]

MINOR CHARACTERS

• Jon Jane

- Lydia's father

- Full Name: Jonathan "Jon" Jane

- Age: 45

- Marital Status: Married to Lily Jane

- Death: Killed by Ethan Hawthorne on September 22, 2015 (burned alive)

- Physical Appearance: gray hair and blue eyes; stood at 6'0" with an athletic build. Jon was professional, and mostly wore a suit and tie to work.

- Personality: Very protective over his daughrer and only wanted the best for his family moving forward; he firmly believed that Jack was not good enough for Lydia.

- Education: Honors diploma from Cleveland High School (1988); Realtors' license from Realtor School of Oregon (1993)

- Occupation: Realtor for Hasson Company Realtors' (1993-2015)

- Biography: Jon spent his entire childhood in an orphanage; when he was 15, after months upon months of begging, they allowed him to go to school with kids his own age. There, at Cleveland High, he met Lily Smith and thought she was pretty. He fell in love with her over the next four years and they married on August 18th 1990. All Jon ever wanted was a family, and a good job; he got both. In the summer of 1993, Jon got a good job at a realtor company; in October of 1996, Lily conceived a child. A daughter, whom they would name Lydia Nicole. It was the perfect age, the perfect time, and they lived little Lydia more than life itself. Leading into Through The Flames, Jon had just celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary with Lily, and he makes it clear that he does not like how close Jack and Lydia have grown to be.

• Janet Daniels

- Jack's mother

- Age: 35

- Marital Status: Single

- Physical Appearance: Brunette; light brown eyes and stands at 5'5" with ivory skin; has an athletic build. Janet's hair is always curled, and she wears black most of the time.

- Personality: A tough cookie to crack; very protective over her son, and blamed Lydia for Jack's near-death experience.

- Education: Mead High School (1998)

- Occupation: Restaurant owner/chef at Janet's.

- Biography: Janet Daniels had a rough start in life, being born to a sixteen year old prostitute and her pimp in the backseat of a 1977 Chevrolet Camaro; Janet’s childhood was something no child should ever have to go through. Living in filthy conditions, with her mother having a different man in her bed every night, Janet was taught that sex was just something fun to do; meaningless. At eleven years old, Janet was placed in foster care after her parents were arrested; six counts of illegal prostitution and eight counts of illegal drug dealing. Tyson, her father, was sent to prison for twenty years; Gina, her mother, was given five years at a woman’s correctional facility in Seattle, Washington. Janet’s foster family typically left her to her own devices, and like her mother, Janet became sexually active at the young age of thirteen, losing her virginity to her sixteen year old boyfriend; he broke up with her when he graduated. Janet, sixteen, then had rebound sex with his 24-year-old brother, resulting in her pregnancy with her son. Embarrassed, Janet never told him of her pregnancy, believing he’d want nothing to do with his unborn child. When Janet was eight months pregnant, Gina got out and requested to have her daughter back; Janet was happy to go home with her mother, hoping it could be a fresh start without her toxic father around. They both got waitressing jobs at a diner in town. In January of 1997, Janet gave birth to Jack; Gina helped her daughter out a lot, allowing her to finish school. Six years passed before Gina went back to her old ways;  Janet came home from work one day to find her six year old son crying over his grandmother’s dead body. With a mixture of fury and sadness in her heart, she fled with her son, only stopping once she was six hours away, in Oregon, to call the paramedics. In Through The Flames, Janet owns a restaurant named Janet’s; she bought it on lease after a few months on living in a motel in Portland, using the money she took from Gina’s apartment.

• Julie Ryan

- Choir teacher; Lydia’s close confidant

- Age: 28

- Physical Appearance: Golden blonde curls and brown eyes; stands at 5′7″ with an athletic build

- Personality: Southern charm; kind and extroverted; a great teacher and a true friend to Lydia

• Laura Bailey

- Anna’s sister

- Full Name: Laura Marie Bailey

- Born on March 1, 2001 to Adam and Anne Bailey in Portland, Oregon

- Physical Appearance: Dark brown hair and eyes to match, with ivory skin; stands at 5′5″ with a petite build. Like Anna, Laura enjoys wearing makeup and expensive, brand-name clothing.

- Personality: A lot like her sister; bubbly and energetic.

- Education: Da Vinci Middle School (8th Grade)

• Dylan Harris

- Cleveland High Student

- Age: 15

- Physical Appearance: Sandy blond hair and brown eyes stands at 5′4″ with a fair complexion.

- Education: Cleveland High School (9th grade)

• Torrance Johnson

- Holly’s father

- Age: 43

- Marital Status: Single

- Physical Appearance: Blond hair and brown eyes, standing at 6′0″

- Occupation: Author

• Melissa Jaton

- Victim of Ethan

- Age: 34

- Marital Status: Widow

- Death: Killed by Ethan Hawthorne on September 27, 2015 (slit throat)

- Physical Appearance: Sandy blonde hair and blue eyes; stood at 5′5″

• Tylee Jaton

- Victim of Ethan

- Age:13

- Death: Killed by Ethan Hawthorne on September 27, 2015 (stabbed)

- Physical Appearance: Blonde hair and blue eyes; wore her hair in a braid and stood at 5′4″

• Sandra Clover

- Eric’s mother

- Age: 32

- Marital Status: Married to Andrew Clover

- Physical Appearance: Raven hair, brown eyes, and stands at 5′6″

• Andrew Clover

- Eric’s step-father

- Age: 39

- Marital Status: Married to Sandra Long-Thomas

- Physical Appearance: Raven hair and blue eyes, standing at 6′0″

• Sherrie Blanchard

- Julliard Musical Associate

- Physical Appearance: Blonde hair and blue eyes; tall, at 5′8″ with soft beige skin

• Dr. Jones

- Holly’s attending doctor

- Physical Appearance: Bald with silver/grey eyes; stands at 5′6″

• Nurse Irina

- Holly’s nurse

- Physical Appearance: Light blonde hair and grey eyes

• James Hawthorne

- Ethan’s father

- Full Name: James Jedidiah Hawthorne

- Born on March 23, 1963 in Milwaukie, Oregon

- Age: 35

- Marital Status: Separated from Delilah Hawthorne; in a relationship with Billie Larson

- Death: Killed by Ethan Hawthorne on September 22, 1998 (strangled)

- Physical Appearance: Light brown hair and brown eyes; fair-skinned and stood at 6′1″

- Education: Diploma from Putnam High School

- Occupation: Auto-shop owner/mechanic; Hawthorne Auto Repair

- Biography: James was born to a mechanic named Jed, and his wife Cecilia. Unfortunately, Cecilia died giving birth to James, so he never got a chance to know his mother. He grew up in a nice house, in a good neighborhood, and never wanted for anything. Growing up, his dad was like his best friend, teaching him all about hunting, and sports, and cars. When James was sixteen, while visiting his grandparents in Salem, he met Delilah Farris; she was thirteen. James’ flirting game was strong that night, and Delilah developed a strong crush on the older boy. All three days that James was in Salem, he spent with Delilah. He nicknamed her Della, and the two shared their first kiss the night before he left. Once arriving home, James tried calling her everyday but there was never an answer; James was obsessed with Delilah Farris. After two weeks of nothing, James became fed up; he bought a bus ticket and rode over two hours to Salem, and to Delilah. James walked in the night, finding Delilah’s home with the lights on. Delilah answered the door, a purpling bruise just under her left eye. Furious, James demanded to know who had harmed her; Delilah tried to brush it off, claiming she ran into a door at school. Her father came to the door, then, and a fight ensued. Gangly 16-year-old James against a 45-year-old ex-convict was not a fair fight, but James won, punching and kicking; he took a few jabs himself, and fell down a few times, but he got back up. After falling through the glass table, Delilah’s father was knocked unconscious, and the two teenagers fled. Over the next three months, James and Delilah grew extremely close; Jed offered Delilah a home, no questions asked. James learned that Delilah got daily beatings from her father ever since her mother passed when she was eleven; he secretly wished he had killed him. On Christmas night, after knowing each other for a little over six months, James made love to Delilah for the first time; that night resulted in a pregnancy. Although they were both terrified, James only sixteen and Delilah just now fourteen, they kept their unborn child. Jed, being the man the man of God that he was, made the two get married; On January 26, 1980, they married when Delilah was a month pregnant. On September 11, 1981, Delilah gave birth to a baby girl; they named her Samantha June, named after Delilah’s mother. The three were happy together for a time; however, in 1985, Jed was diagnosed with lung cancer, which was already well progressed. With nothing for the doctors to do, James was by his father’s side every waking moment, until he eventually died in his sleep. James was devastated, feeling like he lost his best friend; the night of the funeral, however, James just needed to feel close to someone and he and Delilah made love, resulting in her pregnancy with their second child. It was a rocky one for Delilah; James began to drink heavily, no doubt stressed from having to take over the auto shop his father had left to him. On top of that, she had to take care of Samantha, who was only three years old at the time, all the while only being eighteen years old herself. James was falling into a depression and didn’t want to be around anyone or anything. On March 22, 1986, the day before James’ 22nd birthday, Delilah gave birth to a baby boy. Ethan James, after his father; but, James wasn’t there. He was too busy having sex with Billie, the mechanic he had hired to help out at the auto shop. James didn’t admit this to his wife until she was 7 months pregnant with their third child in 1997. Delilah didn’t have any choice but to forgive him; they two children and another on the way, and they lived off of James’ paycheck. On July 22, 1997, Delilah gave birth to their third child; Vivid Nicole. Only a month later, after finding James and Billie together in his office, Delilah called it quits; James let Delilah and the kids keep the house, and he moved in with Billie. Through The Flames begins with the Hawthorne family still reeling from the impending divorce between James and Delilah after 18 years of marriage, all the while trying not to break their children’s spirits.

• Delilah Hawthorne

- Ethan’s mother

- Full Name: Delilah Kaye Hawthorne (nee Farris)

- Born on October 11, 1966 in Salem, Oregon

- Age: 31

- Marital Status: Separated from James Hawthorne

- Death: Killed by Ethan Hawthorne on September 22, 1998 (burned alive)

- Physical Appearance: Raven hair and caramel brown eyes; stood at 5′4″

- Education: Stephens Middle School (8th grade)

- Occupation: Waitress at Red Lobster (8 months)

- Biography: Delilah was born to Johnny and Samantha Farris in 1966; she spent most of her childhood with her mother, as her father went to prison for vehicular manslaughter when she was only four years old. In November of 1977, Johnny got out on good behavior, and returned home to his wife and eleven year old daughter. Not long after, Samantha died of head trauma; Delilah never knew for sure, but she suspected Johnny killed her mother. That’s when the beatings began; at breakfast, after school, before she went to bed at night. Her life was hell, and Delilah saw no end in sight. When she was thirteen, Delilah found a savior in sixteen year old James Hawthorne. He was sweet and flirtatious, and Delilah was instantly smitten with him. Johnny, was however, less than ecstatic that Delilah had gotten a real boyfriend. Her beatings got worse, managing to sprain one of her ankles when she pushed her down the stairs. Delilah refused James’ phone calls, terrified of her father; when James showed up on her doorstep two weeks later, a mixture of fear and hope passed through her. Fear of what her father would do to both of them; hope because she finally saw a way out. Delilah fell in love with James when he fought for her, and won. When she saw her father’s body, passed out on the broken glass table, she prayed that he was dead. They left together, and Delilah knew she’d never love another man the way she loved James Hawthorne. Returning to Milwaukie with James, she found a home. On Christmas night that same year, after only knowing each other a little over three months, Delilah and James made love for the first time, resulting in the pregnancy of their first child; James’ father, being the man of God that he was, insisted that the two get married. On January 16, 1980, they got married at a lovely ceremony in a snowy landscape. Then, eight months later, Samantha June was born, completing their little family. The three of them were happy for a while; James finished high school and worked at his father’s auto shop, and Delilah was a fourteen year old stay-at-home mom. Then, in 1985, James’ father died from lung cancer, and their marriage started to deteriorate. Out of grief and loneliness, the night of Jed Hawthorne’s funeral, Delilah conceived her second child from James; Delilah thought this child would somehow bring James out of his depression, and drunken stupor, but she was wrong. She gave birth to Ethan James on March 22, 1986, but James wasn’t there to see the birth of his son; in reality, James was having sex with his new mechanic, Billie Larson. Delilah, however, didn’t find this out until she was 7 months pregnant with their third child, leaving her with no choice other than to forgive him. Delilah didn’t have a job or a high school diploma, with two children and another on the way; she knew she couldn’t survive without James. On July 22, 1997, Vivid Nicole was born, bringing peace to the Hawthornes. For a time. For Delilah, it was the last straw when she found James and Billie together in his office, thus setting into motion their long coming divorce; they both believed that’s what was best. James was in love with Billie now, and Delilah admitted she hadn’t truly loved James in many years. Leading into Through The Flames, Delilah has a good waitressing job at Red Lobster, and has all her children under one roof; her impending divorce from James was in its final stages and she was actually happy about it. 

• Samantha Hawthorne

- Ethan’s older sister

- Full Name: Samantha June Hawthorne

- Born on September 11, 1981 in Milwaukie, Oregon to James and Delilah Hawthorne.

- Age: 18

- Death: Killed by Ethan Hawthorne on September 22, 1998 (burned alive)

- Physical Appearance: Raven hair, dark brown eyes and ivory skin; stood at 5′4″

- Education: Putnam High School (12th grade)

- Biography: Samantha was born to teenage parents, 17-year-old James and 14-year-old Delilah; she had a happy childhood, though, living with her parents and grandpa Jed. She was a grandpa’s girl and was devastated when he died when she was four. Samantha had a close relationship with her mother, as her father was almost never around after the death of her grandfather; she witnessed the downfall of their marriage, through two more children, Samantha saw their couldn’t possibly last. Though she loved her siblings, Ethan and Vivid, more than anything, Samantha couldn’t help but wish her parents had stopped with her. Moreover, Delilah filed for divorce when Samantha was seventeen; she couldn’t help but think “about time”. Though she never knew what made her mother file, she figured it had be a really good reason. Leading into Through The Flames, Samantha and her siblings lived with their mother, and she helped her mom as much as she could to take care of Ethan and Vivid without James around.

• Vivid Hawthorne

- Ethan’s little sister

- Full Name: Vivid Nicole Hawthorne

- Born on July 22, 1997 to James and Delilah Hawthorne

- Age: 4

- Death: Killed in a car accident with her foster parents on December 24, 2001

- Physical Appearance: Dark brown hair and brown eyes, with an ivory complexion.

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MENTIONED CHARACTERS

• Eric Thomas

- Holly's boyfriend

- Age: 21

- Death: Killed by Ethan Hawthorne on September 23, 2015 (burned alive)

- Physical Appearance: Dark brown hair and honey brown eyes

- Education: Cleveland High School (dropout)

- Occupation: Bartender at Chex's, an adult bar

• Lester Monroe

- Tommy's uncle

- Age: Mid 50's

- Occupation: Oil Refinery Franchise owner

• Annette "Anne" Bailey

- Adam's wife; Anna and Laura's mother

- Age: Mid 30's

- Death: Meningitis (2011)

- Occupation: First-grade teacher

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TEACHERS OF CLEVELAND HIGH

• Miss Perri

- Gym Teacher

- Age: Early 30's

- Blonde hair and hazel eyes

- Stands at 5'8"

- Had Lydia, Jack, Holly, Anna, and Tommy for P.E and Health class during their years at Cleveland High

• Ms. Bellman

- History teacher

- Age: 30's

- Strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes

- Stands at 5'4"

- Had Lydia and Anna for 1st period European History

- Was very strict, and secretly thought Lydia was a bad influence on Anna

- Had an affair with the calculous teacher, Mr. Vaughn

• Mr. Vaughn

- Calculous AP teacher

- Age: 41

- Brown hair and blue eyes; wears glasses

- Stands at 6'3"

- Married to his college sweetheart with an 11 year old daughter named Kylie

- Had a sexual affair with the history teacher, Ms. Bellman

- Was Lydia's homeroom teacher

• Mr. Marion

- Economics teacher

- Age: Late 20's

- African-American

- Black hair and brown eyes; has a slight beard

- Stands at 5'10"

- Married

- Was Lydia and Holly's economics teacher their senior year

• Mr. Kallum

- Science teacher

- Age: Early 50's

- Brown hair and blue eyes

- Stands at 6'0"

- Lydia and Jack's 7th period chemistry teacher

• Mr. Haetligh

- Geometry teacher

- Age: Late 50's

- Grey hair and blue eyes

- Stands at 5'7"

- Jack's 6th period geometry teacher

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DELETED SCENE #1

Ethan first sees Lydia

July 22, 2015

Arbor Place Mental Health Services

Portland, Oregon

She would've been 18 today. These were the first thoughts on Ethan's mind upon waking up that morning.

Vivid, Vivid, my Vivid.

She was all Ethan thought about; he was obsessed.

He told him she died; car accident. Dr. Bailey told him Vivid...was dead.

Ethan didn't believe him. Not his beautiful and giggly baby sister; not Vivid.

He had written a letter to Vivid every single day since being shoved in that hell-hole; 6,143 days in counting. Most were telling her he'd get out one day, and they'd be together like they should be. He promised that he'd take care of her, always. He wrote of how he missed her smile, and her deep brown eyes; he missed her giggle, and she way she just fit perfectly in his arms.

Then, he began to draw her. He drew a cute little girl with a toothy grin; drew a beautiful young woman with dark brown hair and warm eyes, with the same toothy grin.

He imagined her in school; he thought she would be smart, and talented. Ethan thought Vivid was the most precious thing in the world, and that's how everyone else would view her, too.

Boys would no doubt take notice of Vivid's natural beauty, but she would deny them. Ethan believed there was only enough room in Vivid's life for one person, and that was him.

Vivid would always be his, and only his.

"And here with us is the Cleveland High School choir teacher, Mrs. Julie Ryan. Please tell, how is it you've won the Portland Music and Arts award three years in a row now?"

"Well, my girls are great. Dedicated and real, each and every one of them bring something special to our group. We listen to each other, and follow each other. Communication is key."

"Let's talk about your headliner this evening."

"Lydia Jane, oh yes! Lydia has been my star pupil since she came to me her sophomore year. She was so timid, but I knew a voice like hers needed to be heard. She's a very unique girl, no lie, beautiful inside and out."

"Lydia, Lydia, come over here!" Something made Ethan's head snap to the television in his bedroom; his heart jumped into his throat in shock.

Vivid.

He drowned everything else out as she began to speak.

She was so beautiful.

"I just love to sing, the thrill, it keeps me going."

She was beautiful, with a passion behind her eyes.

What made Ethan happy was that she looked nothing like their mother, or Samantha; she had her own unique beauty, and she owned it.

"Vivid." He whispered her name. "You're alive."

For the first time in sixteen years, a smile crossed Ethan's face.

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DELETED SCENE #2

Jon's Final Call

September 22, 2015

Hasson Company Realtors' Office

Portland, Oregon

"Did she walk to school with that boy after I left?"

Lily sighed into her phone. "He has a name, Jon. Jack. Our daughter's greatest friend."

"You see the way he looks at her, Lily? And, she him?"

"So? Honey, Lydia has never had a boyfriend before. That's a bit odd for her age, so I'm glad she's finally taking notice."

Jon sighs. "Anyone else, Lillian. Anyone would be better than Jack Daniels."

"What is with your animosity towards Jack? We've known him since he was a kid, and he's never been anything but good to our daughter."

"It's not animosity, I just... I think Lydia can do better, a lot better. I mean, the boy is nearly twenty and he hasn't graduated yet."

"I told you, honey. He got held back in kindergarten because Janet switched his schooling in the middle of the school year. Not his fault."

"Whose side are you on?"

"Our daughter's happiness, and Jack is part of that happiness."

Jon scoffs. "He better not screw up Julliard for my little girl. She deserves it. A voice like hers, she could be the next Cher."

Lily laughs. "Oh, Jon. Your age is showing."

"Oh stuff it. You love Cher." Jon snickers.

"I love you, Jon. Always."

"And forever. Lily, I promise, one day we will have it all. A nice big house on the country side. We'll see Lydia's children play and pray she loves her husband half as much as we love each other."

"And, what if that man is Jack Daniels?"

Before he could answer his wife's question, Jon hears the fire alarm sound.

"I gotta go, sweetheart."

"Is that an alarm?"

"It's just one of them statewide drills, you know how they do. Love you."

"Oh, I love you, too. Always."

"And forever." He finishes their vow before hanging up.

Jon smelled the smoke.

Then, he saw the flames peeking under his office door.

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DELETED SCENE #3 Holly's Death

September 24, 2015

Portland Memorial Hospital

Portland, Oregon

Holly Johnson felt like a prisoner in her own mind.

She felt everything; heard everything.

She heard her dad and Mrs. Jane talking to her. It hurt her at how hurt her father was; she was all Torrance had after Holly's mother abandoned them.

She heard Jack teasing her, yet again. She remembered warning him that if he ever called her Barbie again, she'd tell Lydia he had a massive crush on her.

Guess all bets are off when one is in a self-induced coma, Holly thought.

She heard every word Lydia had said about getting better, and that trip they had taken last year. Holly wanted to smile, but she has zero control at the moment. It felt like some kind of deep sleep; Holly was scared she'd never figure how to wake up.

Holly didn't want to cause anymore pain to Lydia; her father had just been killed, and now one of her closest friends was in a coma. Holly owed everything to Lydia Jane.

Upon coming to Portland, and Cleveland High, Holly didn't know anyone. She was shy, and not very good at talking to new people; she was like her father in that sense.

Lydia was her best, and only friend, at the start. Lydia introduced Holly to her friends, and while Holly felt intimidated by the bond that Jack, Anna, and Tommy shared with Lydia, she still stuck around. She got to know them. And they became the best friends Holly could've ever asked for.

Eric, Holly thought of him suddenly. Was he alive?

They were about to make love for the first time, that's the last thing Holly remembered.

Eric Thomas was her first real boyfriend, and she loved him more than she loved shopping; Holly really loved shopping.

You gotta wake up, Holly thought to herself.

It was like a mantra to her, as she repeated it over and over to herself.

Wake up.

Wake up.

Wake up.

Wake up.

Wake up.

Wake up!

Then, Holly felt a vice around her neck; she couldn't breathe.

What's happening?

She felt pressure around her throat, tight, rough fingers pressing down around her trachea.

"Stupid bitch, just die." Holly heard the deep voice of a strange man as her throat felt tighter and tighter.

Holly felt defenseless, unable to move; all she could do was lay there.

Wake up, Holly! Wake up! She screamed at herself.

It was no use; she began to lose consciousness in her sub-consciousness.

And when she saw a white light, she went into it.

I'm sorry.

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DELETED SCENE #4

Jack at the Pharmacy

September 27, 2015

CVS Pharmacy

Kearney, Nebraska

"Can I help you find something?" An older woman asked Jack as he stood in the feminine hygiene section.

Jack tore his eyes from the constant string of tampons and condoms to meet the older lady's probing eyes.

He cleared his throat, trying to find the words.

"My girlfriend and I, uhm... Do you sell something called a 'morning after' pill?"

Jack had been awake since early Dawn, his thoughts running wild, researching on his phone; the chances of getting pregnant the first time was more than 50%.

It was stupid what he did, making love to Lydia without any kind of protection. Twice.

With everything happening, her getting pregnant would be a nightmare.

"Ahh, yes." The woman smirked knowingly, leaving Jack a few more feet down the aisle. "You're lookin' for Plan B One-Step." The woman handed him a medium-sized white package; the price tag on the shelf read $39.95.

"This the most expensive?" Jack nonchalantly reads the back of the box.

"The cheapest." She says in a rough voice, a matter-of-factly.

Must take within 72 hours after unprotected sex.

One tablet. One step.

"How old are you, son?" The woman asked, her tone a bit softer.

"Nineteen." Jack avoided her gaze.

"And your girl?"

"She's 18, just turned eighteen in July."

Jack hears the lady sigh, causing him to snap his head up.

"That's unfortunate."

"It is." He agrees.

"Answer me something, son. Your girl," she silently asked for a name.

"Lydia."

The woman smiles. "What a beautiful name. This Lydia, do you love her?"

Jack nods, silently, never being one to get all gushy, especially with a woman he doesn't know.

"If Lydia loves you, too... That's all you need."

"It's not." Jack disagreed, thinking of the one man that threatened his and Lydia's happiness.

The woman shrugged. "Of course, it's not my business, but... don't make a snap decision. Something like this," she motions to the box in Jack's shaking hand, "changes everything." The woman smiles sadly before walking away.

Jack stared down at the package in his hand; it felt like it weighed a ton.

This decision weighed a ton.

Could he make this decision for Lydia? Would it be right to?

It wouldn't just be Lydia's, but Jack's child, as well.

My child, Jack thought. I could be a dad.

He imagined a little boy with dark brown eyes and jet black hair, like his.

He imagined a little girl with rich hair and tan skin; flawless and beautiful like her mother.

Jack made up his mind then.

Slamming the package down on the shelf, Jack left the pharmacy as quick as his legs could carry him.

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DELETED SCENE #5

Jack's "Death"

September 27, 2015

SUPER8 Motel

Kearney, Nebraska

"Where is she?"

The hairs on the back of Jack's neck stood up.

"Where's Vivid?"

Jack slams the back door to his mother's car before facing Ethan; his eyes wandered down to Ethan's hand, where he held a sharp blade.

"You can't have her."

"Oh, but I already do. Her blood courses through my veins."

Jack tasted metal as he bit into his fleshy him, his fists clenching at his sides.

"She's more mine that she'll ever be yours, Jack."

Jack, while big and rather intimidating, had never swung at another person before.

Until now.

Jack aimed for Ethan's head, but missed when he ducked.

Ethan caught Jack's arm, squeezing it tightly in his grasp; Jack tried to use his other fist but it also got caught.

"She'll be better off with me, you know." Ethan taunted Jack, laughing as Jack headbutted him with a grunt. He released Jack and stumbled backwards.

The pavement spun under Jack's feet and he fell to his knees; the lack of food and stress, Jack was weak.

Ethan grabbed the handle of his blade, smiling at the sight of a weak opponent; he walked up to Jack and promptly slit his throat. One clean swipe.

Jack's eyes widened as he clutched his throat, a dark blood already coating his hand.

Ethan gripped the back of Jack's blue t-shirt and drug him backwards, behind the motel, by the dumpsters; he threw Jack's body onto a mountain of garbage bags, crunching glass sounding under Jack's weight.

Ethan leaned down, close to Jack, and spoke.

"You're gonna die now, Jack. You'll bleed out. Vivid and me will be long gone."

Jack's usually warm eyes were ones of anger, hate, fear and instability; all in one.

Ethan left; left Jack Daniels, a man who only wanted to take care of the girl he's loved his entire life, to die.

Die alone on a dirty pile of trash bags.

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FUTURTETAKE

*July 13, 2019, approximately 10 months after the Epilogue*

• Lydia and Jack are still together and more in love than ever; Lydia still goes to her therapist every Tuesday and Thursday, where the topic as of recently is her parents and how she misses them. She is attending BCC, working on her bachelor's degree is psychology, with the hopes of becomng a psychiatrist in six years time.

• Jack has just graduated from BCC with an associate's degree in business management, working on getting a loan to open his own restaurant, which he plans to name Lyds, with the hopes of having a live singer every other week.

• Anna and Tommy have just celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary, July 1. They have a 4-month-old daughter, Lillian "Lily" Drew, whom Lydia and Jack are the godparents of.

• Anna quit Julliard, and is devoted to being a stay-at-home mom; Tommy's job, plus his inheritance from his parents, leaves enough money for their family that Anna would never have to work a day in her life.

• Adam Bailey went back to work as a psychiatrist for Arbor Place, in the hopes that he won't fail anyone the way he failed Ethan.

• Torrance Johnson moved back to Santa Monica, and got back together with his wife; sadly, their daughter's untimley demise, brought them back together.

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SETTING (PT. 1)

1.) MILWAUKIE, OREGON

- Ethan's childhood and also shown as where Tommy Monroe lived

2.) PORTLAND, OREGON

- Where a good portion of the novel is set, where all the main characters live

*Lydia and Jack are forced on the run and pass through many towns from Portland, OR to Enid, OK*

3.) BURNS, OREGON

4.) BOISE, IDAHO

5.) CODY, WYOMING

6.) CRAWFORD, NEBRASKA

7.) KEARNEY, NEBRASKA

- Jack and Lydia pass through here, and make love for the first time

8.) GREENSBURG, KANSAS

- Lydia passes through here after Ethan kidnaps her

9.) ENID, OKLAHOMA

- Finally, this is the place where Ethan Hawthorne meets his demise

10.) NEW YORK, NEW YORK

- Jack and Lydia, Tommy and Anna, live and go to school here, each getting a happy ending

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SETTING (PT. 2)

11.) HOUSTON, TEXAS

- Mentioned as the place Tommy moved from when he came to Portland

12.) SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA

- Mentioned as the place Holly and her father moved from when they came to Portland

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RESIDENCES (ETHAN HAWTHORNE)

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RESIDENCES (LYDIA JANE)

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RESIDENCES (JACK DANIELS)

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RESIDENCES (ERIC THOMAS)