Chapter 1: Kidnapped
Violet’s POV
The chirp of birds pulled me from sleep, a comfortable warmth still clinging to me. I stretched, yawning deeply. I don’t bother with alarms; the birds always wake me at the right time.
I entered the bathroom and looked at my reflection. My long brown hair was tangled, and my brown eyes still felt heavy with sleep. I splashed water on my face and stepped into a warm shower.
Afterward, I searched for something to wear. I settled on a brown sweater with “Unicorn” embroidered across the chest. I never understood why it was brown, given the subject matter. I paired it with black ripped jeans and Adidas sneakers, then grabbed my school bag.
Downstairs, my parents were already eating breakfast. They glanced at me and rolled their eyes – a gesture I’d grown accustomed to.
The reason they act this way towards me is because of the accident tha- My thought was interrupted by my father’s sharp tone.
“Are you just going to stand there?” he spat.
“Bye, Dad, Mom,” I whispered, avoiding their gaze.
I left the house and walked to school, which wasn’t far.
My best friend’s house was on the way. I walked toward it and rang the doorbell. Faith opened the door, smiling.
“Hey girl,” she said, pulling me into a hug.
“Hey idiot,” I replied.
We walked the five blocks to school together. Faith and I have been friends since we were babies. She’s always been there for me, a steadfast protector.
We arrived at school, finding the usual bustle. We walked toward my locker, and I quickly grabbed my textbooks.
“Can’t wait until school’s done,” Faith groaned. We’ve already mapped out our future after graduation, even decided where we’ll live. Just eight more weeks.
The bell rang, and we went our separate ways. I didn’t have friends besides Faith. My school was clean, but the students… they were a problem. Everything else was perfect.
I sat at my desk, waiting for class to begin. I looked at the space beside me and frowned, memories surfacing.
“Stop looking so sad. It’s your fault. Don’t forget that,” a voice sneered. It was the queen bee, and I instantly stiffened. I mostly meant her when I said the students were a problem.
It was my fault…
Six hours crawled by. Finally, it was time to go home, though I wasn’t excited about it. My parents would be out until midnight, as usual, at the club or simply avoiding me.
Faith and I walked home together. We were three blocks from school, three blocks from Faith’s house.
A black van began following us. I pretended not to notice, whispering to Faith, “Don’t look back. There’s a black van following us.”
Faith’s eyes widened. “Run,” she breathed. I nodded.
“3…” “2…” “1…”
We ran, blindly, desperately, glancing back to see the van still gaining on us.
I spotted the forest and pointed toward it. We plunged into the trees, running for ten minutes before we finally stopped, breathless.
“That was close,” Faith gasped.
“I know.”
Voices drifted toward us. “Hide behind the trees,” I whispered, and Faith obeyed.
“They’re here,” a voice said. “I know it.” “Their scent is strong. They’re here, very close.”
I risked a peek, but luck wasn’t on my side. A pair of brown eyes met mine. I quickly looked away.
Shit.
Shit.
Shit.
“Found one,” a man said. I heard footsteps approaching. As he reached me, he whispered a single word.
“Mate.”
He grabbed my forearm, hauling me toward his companions.
“Please, let me go,” I begged.
“Where’s your friend?” a man demanded.
“I-I don’t know,” I lied.
He snarled. “She’s here, and I know it,” he said to a man with light blue eyes.
“I’m here,” Faith declared, surrendering herself.
“What?! Faith, run! What are you doing?” I yelled.
The man grabbed her.
“Mate.”
He whispered the same word. What was it with them and “mate”?
“You two can either come with us quietly, or it’ll be the hard way,” the man holding Faith said.
“Hell no,” I said.
The man grabbing me growled.
“Hard way it is.”
Those were the last words I heard before darkness swallowed me whole…