Prologue

We're creatures who crave love and attention, and sometimes we make the wrong decisions to get both.

Chapter One

Explosion

It was raining. That's how I met him. A fiery blur was fading in and out of the crowd of people. Weaving like they were making a pattern in crochet. My eyes darted around following his figure with every turn and twist that was made by him. I sighed in disappointment as he finally disappeared from my line of vision. Gone just like a butterfly.

"Grace!"

"Hm." My eyes snap towards Sophia who is big eyed and looking quite concerned. "What?"

She let out an exasperated sigh as she ran a frustrated hand through her hair. "Well," She started, "You're getting all wet! Come back under the umbrella." Making wild hand gestures she yanked me back under the safety of dryness. "I don't want you getting sick."

I scoffed at her with a roll of my eyes which earned me a pinch behind the arm. "Ow. Quit that!" Scrunching my nose in disapproval I drape my arm around Sophia's shoulders. "I am so happy that I get to spend my young years with you, my dear Sophia. Even with your constant nagging and excruciating pinching." Smiling softly I gently place a friendly kiss on her cheek.

Taking in a quick gasp she flicks my face away. "Can you not use me as a tool for your PDA! Thank you."

Her ears were beat red and I snickered as leaned closer and breathed into her ear,"Oh? Ms. Sophia seems to be embarrassed." Watching her press her lips into a thin, white, line she shoved me off of her shoulders. "Aw." I pouted as she glanced over at me. "Why is my best friend so rude to me? What have I done to deserve such a horrible punishment?" I cry to her with mock hurt.

She chuckles but continues to walk and I happily trot next to her. We walk in a blissful, comfortable silence while listening to the music of the rain. As we slowly reach my apartment I feel the happiness slowly drain from me with every step closer to that God Forsaken House. "Hey Sophia this is as far as you have to walk me, okay? I love you! See you tomorrow!" I talk over her protests before running off and up the staircase. "Here goes nothing.." I whisper to myself as I enter my "home". Dread instantly strikes me as I see my father standing by the couch staring at me with a crooked smile on his face.

"Well, well, well. I am just so glad to see my favorite daughter." His words are slamming into each like a train wreck while his beer gut hangs over his belt, and his face drips with sweat despite it being 63 in the house. He takes a unstable step towards me. "Come here, girl." I begin to shake and feel my knees grow weak and my teeth chatter within my skull. "I said to come here. Don't make me get angry." He smiles but grows very serious as I stay frozen to my spot in front of the door. Flee is the only word that is in my head, I turn to grab the door handle when I feel his fat, bear hand grab at my hair and drag me to the couch. "Oh, now you just made me mad." He spits in my face as he attempts to speak. Climbing on top of me he licks his lips as he rips open my shirt. "Mmm." He purrs as runs a finger down the middle of breasts.

"Get off…" I mumble weakly and gently try to push him off of me. "Please, get off. Get off. Get off." I repeat and repeat but my pleas are continually ignored. They always are. I feel his finger reach down my pants and roughly slam themselves inside of me. "GET THE FUCK OFF!" I bellow as I head butt him in the face. Quickly shoving him off I run toward the door but he catches my ankle. I fly forward and he drags me toward him. I claw at our carpet floor begging my bitten off nails to find some grip. No, no, no, no. This is not happening. I have to escape. Rolling over on my back I look him straight in the eyes and slam my foot square into nose. Blood sprays out of his face and soaks the bottom of my jeans. Jumping up I throw myself out the front door and find myself sprinting towards Sophia's house. Completely unaware of the blue orbs that were watching me.

Collapsing down on Sophia's couch I begin to cry. "Sophia I can't go back. He'll kill me." She crawls toward me and gently wipes away the tears that stain my face. "Please…help me." Burying my face into her chest I let out shaky heaves, and awkward wailing noises like I'm calling to whales down in the deep. I felt myself gasping for air as she ran her hand through my hair.

"Grace. Look at me." Lifting my head I meet her gaze. I could feel the puffiness forming around my bloodshot eyeballs. "Why did you never tell me? I could've helped you sooner. I could've…I could've.." Her voice faded off as she fell into her own fit of tears. "I could've done something! I'm going to murder that motherfucker!" She exclaimed before covering her mouth in shock. Sophia almost never used a curse word and when she did it almost as if Jesus himself was in the room. Cleaning her tear streaked face she pulled me into the warmest embrace in history. "We're gonna tell my parents when they get home tonight, and we're gonna get you the heck out of that house. Because there's no way that I will let you stay there."

Staring at her in awe I almost burst into tears again. "I love you so much! I don't know what I would do without you. You are the best possible thing to happen to me."

She flashes me a stunning grin before jumping up and snatching the tub ice cream from the freezer. "You deserve to eat this ice cream until you feel better and I will order us some Thai Food. Does that sound good?" She giggles. I nod my head as I watch her happily grab her phone and begin to dial.

Lying down in the guest bedroom I sigh. I want to sleep with Sophia.. I think grudgingly as I stare up at the ceiling. Ugh. How can her parents think I can sleep alone after today? Rolling over on my side I let out a loud gasp as I see a pale face pressed up against the window. His Sebastian Sea blue eyes wide with glee that I had taken notice of him. He tilts his head to right and lets out a, "hahahahahahahahahahahahaha." The laugh was deafening. It was loud. It was the sound of mania itself. I felt my mouth open to call Mrs. Smith but he put a long, skeleton, pale finger up to his carmine colored lips. "Go to sleep, beautiful." He cackled through the window.

I feel my breath hitch in my throat as he ducked down from the window. "What the fuck?" Clamping shut my eyes I pull the blanket over me. I'm safe under the blankets. I'm okay if I stay under the blankets. That's when I hear my room door creak open. My body is shaking like crazy and my eyes are darting back and forth in my sockets as I hear the footsteps tiptoe to me. I'm gonna die. He broke in and fucking killed Sophia and her parents. What am I going to do? Oh my god. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK. "Grace!" I feel the blankets being ripped from me and I scream bloody murder and begin to thrash and kick my legs. "Oh my god. GRACE! It's me Sophia!"

I stop my embarrassing flailing and stare up her. "I hate you so much. What are you doing?" I hiss up at her as I silently curse myself to death.

"Did you hear that laugh?" She looked down at me completely terrified and my gaze soften. "I thought maybe it was one of those maniacs that escaped from Arkham so I had to come check on you."

Sitting up I gulp down the lump in my throat. "I heard the laugh but I'm pretty sure it was just some stupid kids planning a prank. Go back to sleep." I felt guilt bubble within me as I lied to Sophia but I didn't want to scare her anymore and what if that guy came back? The cops couldn't do anything. Not with the way the maniax are.

Throwing myself back down on my bed I shut my eyes and force myself to get some sleep.

"Hehehehe." My eyes snap open. I know that laugh. I know that fucking laugh. "Ohohohohohoooo. She is even pretty while SHE SLEEPS." I gulp down a sob and grip onto the sheets.