TemperanceI am deep in the forest. Deep enough not to know my way back. Trees and snow surround me.As I stupidly walk along the edge of the iced-over pond. I hum a song my mother once sang to me whenever I was younger. I don't know the song's name. Or words. I remember the rhythm.Then I stop and turn towards the pond. I took a deep breath and stepped into the ice. I balance myself on the slippery ice below me.I start walking out towards the middle of the pond. Then to my horror, I hear cracks from under my feet. I hold my breath and stand perfectly still.Then the ice cracks more. I try to shuffle away. Then the ice gives out under me. I plunge below the ice into the freezing water. The water feels like knives stabbing me.Under the ice, it is dark. I swim back up to the surface and struggle to catch my breath. I grab onto the ice that is still holding up.I weakly pull half of my body out of the ice water, leaving my legs in for a second. I take a deep breath of the freezing air

TemperanceI open the door to be filled with shock. Alec stands in front of me with Connor and Zander behind him. I feel my heart drop as I make eye contact with the man I had just broke. "W-what are you d-doing here?" My hands shake with anxiety coursing through my body. I watch Alec carefully, flinching as his arms embrace me. I stay still for a second, assessing the situation that I have been thrown into. His arms wrap around me tighter, my head starting to feel light. Do I tell him that he's making me light headed or do I let him continue?I thin my lips, agreeing with my heart to let him have this moment. "I am so so so sorry for the things I said. I didn't mean them." He whispers into my hair. Tears pull in my eyes at his words, my hands gripping his shirt. God, I missed the smell of him. My mind spins in circles on what I should do. I know I can't see him. I know Austin will never let me be with him. Is it fair to hold him back? Is it fair to hold myself back?FUCK I

Temperance It's been three weeks since Austin told me I would be traded. Today is the day for the auction. Then tomorrow I will be taken to the sick person who buys me. Other than myself, Austin, and Vicki, no one else knows about the auction. Not a word goes out to Chris or Kenli from the threat that they will pay for my mistake. Meaning that my selfish actions for help could get them hurt. I can't have them get beat for my actions, so I remain silent. I don't cut anymore... It's more of that I can't cut. The beatings died down in the last week in hopes that I will have little to no bruising for the day of the auction. Meaning, that Vicki also checks my body for bruising or scratching. Imagine her surprise when she found self-inflicted cuts lingering on my body. She ran to Austin, and they tore the room apart until they found my weapon. My cuts are just scars now. They look gross. Uplifted and discolored skin in a line on my body. Scars aren't supposed to look pretty, though.

Alec As soon as I park in my driveway, I jump out of my car and go into the backseat. I pull Temperance out and rush her inside. Immediately I get the shocked expressions of my family and some of the guys that had stayed over the night before. Tearing my attention away from everyone I hear Chris behind me, screaming at the doctor through the phone. I ignore my father's disapproved look towards the situation. He would've never expected me to fall so low as to risk everything for this girl. "What's going on?" Arella scrambles to her feet, stepping towards the unconscious girl in my arms. I immediately step back, refusing to let anyone Temperance doesn't know to touch her. "Holy shit! TEMPERANCE?" Zander jumps up from his seat on the couch and runs over to me. His eyes switch between Temperance and me. "What the hell happened?" Connor appears beside Zander, stealing a question Zander was seconds away from asking. Avoiding their questions, in a hurry, I lay Temperance down on the ne

TemperanceWith my back pressed firmly against the door, I feel my feet start to slip from under me. As Alec continues his attempt to get the door open I reposition my feet to hold the door shut. I can feel my legs weaken, threatening to give out as tears stream down my face."You have to let me in at some point!" His pleading voice is muffled through the door. I slide down the door, careful to keep my weight against it. My hands find their way to my mouth, covering a sob that threatens to spill out.With his attempt of ramming his shoulder against the door, I feel the anger inside me spill out. "I hate you!" I yell only to immediately regret my words.The ramming against the door ceases with, "Do you mean that?" His voice shows signs of him being displeased as if his worry has turned into shock."Did you ever care about me?" My mind wanders through the months where he was a constant thought in my mind. "I thought about you every day. It turns out I should have tested my luck somewher