Chapter 1 Everly

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the quiet streets. Everly sat cross-legged on the floor of her cozy bedroom, her sketchbook resting on her knees. The soft hum of the air conditioner filling the room.

Everly's pencil glided across the paper, sketching the intricate details of a fantasy world she often wished to escaped to. Her green eyes sparkled with creativity, her brunette hair falling in loose waves down her back.

She was lost in her art, oblivious to the world outside. The sun started going down and it was becoming late, so Everly decided to go to bed. Later on in the night the sound of shattering glass pierced the silence.

Everly jumped, her heart pounding in her chest. She slowly got up from her bed and slowly started walking towards the sound. Then bedroom door creaked open, and a masked figure stepped inside, their movements swift and deliberate.

Everly screamed, but her voice was muffled by a hand clamped over her mouth. Everly struggled, her mind racing, as she was dragged out of her home and into the night.

Later, in Everly’s perspective…

I woke up in a room that is dark but not too dark, and huge. tied to a chair, in a corner of the room. “Heh… from the books I read, wouldn’t I be put in the middle of the room?” I mumbled under my breath.

“If you’re gonna speak, say it out loud. Mumbling isn’t gonna get you anywhere… especially when you’re gonna be screaming by tonight,” says a man emerging from the shadows.

“Screaming? why would I be screaming? You’re not gonna rape me, are you?” I ask

“Maybe,” he smirks, “It depends,” he says mockingly.

“On?” Why am I here? I’m only 16, I have no possibility in having beef with anyone besides… crap! “Did Nathan sign you up for this? If he wanted to talk he could’ve just came to talk to me,” I say, starting to get a little annoyed.

“Hm. Not necessarily. We know you have connections with him. And he has something we want,” he says it in a tone that gives a chill down my spine.

“Connections? I guess you probably think he’s a friend or a brother or something. But actually, he’s not anything to me at all. More like an enemy I suppose. And now that y’all know this, you can let me go now.”

He laughs and turns away and heads towards the door. “If that’s the case, why did he go to your house earlier?”

“What? What do you mean? I don’t remember him coming over at all,” I say this hesitantly. Why would he go to my house?

“Apparently he found out you were missing and came rushing over.” He says with a slight grin.

….rushing over? Why would he be so concerned about me of all people? He hates me.

Seeing my confusion he says in a semi-flirty tone, “Enemies or not, you’re clearly important to him, therefore you’re not going anywhere. And that leaves you to all to myself.”

“Wha-what do you mean by that!?? D-don’t touch me, I’m not a toy for your… your selfish desires. Pervert,” I say concerned.

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