OliviaThe baton cracked against the side of my skull with a sickening force. White-hot lights exploded across my vision as I crumpled to the floor, the world tilting violently around me for the second time that day. Deep voices barked orders, heavy bootsteps thundering across the cheap linoleum.I blinked sluggishly, my eyes refusing to focus. Four… no, five bulky shapes loomed over me, indistinct in the hazy gloom. One of the figures reached down, seizing a fistful of my hair to
OliviaI slipped through the open doors of the ballroom, my pulse thundering in my ears. The grand hall was like something out of a movie, all glittering chandeliers and polished marble floors. Small clusters of well-dressed guests meandered about, sipping from elegant flutes of champagne while soft orchestral music played in the background.Normally, an event like this would have been exciting to attend. Perhaps, in another life, Nathan and I would have attended this ball arm-in-arm as
OliviaThe unmarked door gave way to a dimly lit hallway, the cracked tile floors and peeling wallpaper a far cry from the opulent grandeur of the ballroom. The sounds of the party, muffled now by the door, continued on in the background.Thankfully, Dan hadn’t seen me. Or at least, I hoped that he hadn’t; but still, I needed to move quickly just in case he noticed his missing keyring.
NathanThe rough burlap sack was yanked off my head, and I blinked furiously against the sudden harsh glare of morning sunlight. My burning eyes took a moment to adjust after being plunged into darkness for so long.Once the blur cleared from my eyes and I was finally able to make out my surroundings, I could see that we were outside now, in what looked like an abandoned quarry or maybe a construction site.
Olivia“Wakey wakey, little mouse.”Before I could even collect my bearings of the strange and barren surroundings, a sharp kick to the backs of my knees sent me flying into the shallow pit. A pair of warm arms enveloped me, but did nothing to stop both of us from tumbling to the gritty soil.Gritting my t
OliviaThe gunshot never came.Slowly, almost dreading what fresh horror awaited me, I peeled my eyes open.And blinked in utter disbelief.We wer
OliviaI stepped off the boat, the scent of fresh pine and earth filling my nostrils. A rush of relief washed over me as I felt the familiar air of our pack’s territory after what had felt like an eternity away. We were home, finally safe from the horrors we had endured.It had been three days since the scene at the quarry—three short days since the world had almost ended.Not a moment went by
OliviaBefore I could ask what was going on, Freya was already walking across the clearing. Her steps were slow and measured, but at the same time, there was a level of eagerness to them—like she was walking toward someone she was excited to see, but was also in disbelief at the same time.Nathan, still standing beside me, turned to catch where my gaze was drifting and furrowed his brow. “Who’s that?” he asked, cocking his head to the side. “Someone Freya kn