Hello people!
So, a friend of mine has been begging me to write Twilight for a very long time now, which is probably bad, because I haven't read the books. I've just seen the movies. I'm not the biggest of fans - but I find the Cullen's pretty awesome! So, in honor of my friend, Emily, who now lives in Hastings, I'm going to give this a go. This is a prologue... There are a lot of time skips, but it's necessary. Bigger details will come over time. I plan on reading the books while I work on this, so please, be patient with me! :)
NOTE: If something is written in a different language, I'll write it in italics (for example, nearly every spoken line in this chapter!). The language will be specified, so don't freak out... But pre-warning- it starts of as French! :) I decided to do it like this instead of actually writing it in French and then having to write the translations later. Just figured it would be easier. :) now... Alice's visions will possibly be in italics also, but I'll figure out what to do about that - and what to do about Edward's thoughts. Seeing as neither are relevant to this particular chapter, I won't worry about it just yet. But don't worry, I'll make it work. :)
NOTE 2: The school I mention in this chapter actually exists and is in fact a boarding school. However, the age requirements are slightly different. I changed it for the sake of my story and whatnot... It's a very good school, so if you're into boarding school, you should check it out :)
For now... I hope you enjoy this brief introduction.
Prologue
Nearly everyone living at Ile Saint-Louis was excited to see Sophie finally returning home from the hospital with her newborn. Sophie and Jean Laurent were well known, for many different reasons, amongst the Ile Saint-Louis residents.
"Oh! She is beautiful, Sophie!" exclaimed Anne Marie, a plump lady, in her mid-fifties, who spent most of her time either in church or spreading rumours amongst the neighbourhood.
Jean Laurent was never fond of Anne Marie - in fact, Jean Laurent wasn't fond of many people at all. Sophie, however, was constantly involved in everything. Whenever there was something new to be taken care of within the community, Sophie was the first to sign up to help. Sophie enjoyed participating in different charities. She'd spend an eternity doing so, if she could. There were many times in which Sophie would travel to different countries in Africa or Central America, on a programme to build houses and schools for those in need. Naturally, the people of Ile Saint-Louis soon found out that the married couple of three years, Jean and Sophie, were expecting their first child, and even during her pregnancy, which already wasn't the easiest, Sophie maintained herself active within the community. As soon as Sophie found out she was pregnant, she began the search for an au pair. She knew she'd need someone to watch over her little bundle of joy whilst she was busy with charity work. Sophie also knew she'd want her child to receive the best education possible, so, during the sixth month of her pregnancy, Sophie contacted her former Headmistress, Madame Baptiste, from Collége Alpin International Beau Soleil, in Switzerland, and informed her that her child would be joining in four years time. Everything was seemingly perfect in Sophie's mind, even if her husband, Jean, was growing more and more distant by the day.
Jean worked in finance in central Paris. He was out of the house by eight, and only returned after eleven. Sophie knew all too well his working hours ended at five, but Jean enjoyed meeting friends at Mantes-La-Jolie on a daily basis. On several different occasions, Jean returned home, causing a slight ruckus and awakening many of the early birds of Ile Saint-Louis. Anne Marie was one of those early birds, and she wasn't one to allow things to slide by. One night, after Jean returned from yet another night out in Mantes-La-Jolie, very much intoxicated and smelling of cheap perfume, he began slamming his fists against the oak door of his home. It was clear to those observing, including Anne Marie, that Sophie didn't want Jean near her while he was in that state. Sophie was seventh months pregnant, and the last thing she needed was for Jean to hurt her and end up locked away, leaving her to deal with the child on her own. However, the police did eventually show, and Jean was required to spend the night in a cell. The following three weeks went by smoothly, with Jean leaving the house at eight, but returning by six.
Sophie went into labour at eight and a half months of pregnancy. She spent fourteen hours in labour before she was finally allowed to see the face of her newborn. It was, as she had guessed, a girl. Jean wasn't pleased.
"I painted the room blue for a reason." was the first thing Jean said about his child. Sophie, however, didn't mind. She was glad to finally be able to hold her child in her arms. She was happy she could finally have someone she could unconditionally love in her life. That night, Jean went to see his friends at Mantes-La-Jolie, where they drank beer to celebrate Jean becoming a father.
It was two days after Sophie and Jean's child was born that they returned home. The residents of Ile Saint-Louis gathered by their home, each person hoping to glance at the newest edition of the neighbourhood. Sophie eagerly held up her daughter in her arms. "This is Annalise!" Sophie told her neighbours. Jean simply scowled at the nosey people and strolled into his home.
...
By the time Annalise was old enough to start school, Sophie had already enrolled her in ballet, swimming and English lessons. Since the age of two, Annalise would be awaken by Andrea Mason, her au pair, fed breakfast, and the two would be heading to a swimming lesson by eight. Sophie wanted nothing more than her daughter to experience as many different activities possible - in her mind, every new skill would guarantee a better credit with Collége Alpin International Beau Soleil.
Annalise found her first day of school to be terrifying, at the very least. There were hardly any four year olds that stayed at the boarding school, and Annalise felt very much alone most of the time. Annalise found Madame Baptiste to be extremely intimidating. Annalise was required, at all times, to remain perfectly poised and well-mannered. Her school uniform had to be in the best shape, always, otherwise someone would come along and fix it, and they would create the biggest fuss over it, and you would be the talk of the school for hours. Annalise had suffered that, twice, before she learned to wear the uniform the exact way Madame Baptiste liked it. It was only in March, a little before the Easter break, that Annalise made a real friend - Clair. Clair and Annalise looked quite alike, with their dark brown, shoulder length hair, so one of their teachers, whom Annalise found to be quite nice, began calling them 'twins' - and they remained known as the 'twins' until Clair announced she was leaving the school when they were ten. Annalise wasn't sure what she was going to do at school without Clair around.
"Anna, we'll be friends forever, no matter where in the world we are." Clair yelled out of her parents car, as they drove away from the school. Annalise waved, she waved like a crazy person, silently hoping Clair's parents would change their mind decide to allow Clair to stay.
Annalise and Clair lost touch after Clair moved to Russia with her family, and Annalise felt lonely at school once again. On many different occasions Annalise tried to convince her mother and father to allow her to go to a normal school in Paris, like many of the children who lived at Ile Saint-Louis, but Sophie would remind Annalise that Collége Alpin International Beau Soleil would guarantee her a place in brilliant universities, such as Cambridge and Oxford. Being only ten, Annalise didn't know much about universities, what they offered, and what she would be required to do there, but this was something both Sophie and Jean couldn't comprehend.
...
For the first time since Annalise started boarding school, Sophie had decided to stay in France for Easter instead of travelling to Haiti. Annalise was beyond exhilarated when she saw her mother arrive to pick her up from school, instead of Andrea. Annalise had told her mother all about Clair's departure, and the farewell party her year had prepared for her. Annalise also expressed her desire to stop the ballet lessons and attempt martial arts instead, but Sophie was against this.
"Annalise, you're a small and delicate girl. You're not meant to do something dangerous like martial arts. Ballet is perfect and you're so good at it." Sophie would say, every time Annalise attempted to get out of ballet. Her mother was right, Annalise was good at it, and it was for that precise reason that Annalise wanted to try something new. "And you're getting older now, Annalise, so it's about time you started learning to wear heels, like every girl should. You can't do that while learning martial arts, can you?"
"You don't always wear heels, mother." Annalise said, cheekily.
"I only don't wear them if I'm in the middle of nowhere, helping to build a house, Annalise. Otherwise, you'll see me in heels." Sophie retaliated.
"How about tennis? I've always wanted to learn properly-"
"If tennis is at a different time to ballet, then yes, my darling." Sophie said, but Annalise frowned. Tennis, ballet and martial arts were on at the same time. Normally, students who enjoyed all three, would do a term of each, but Annalise didn't have such luck. "And languages? How many are you doing now? I've asked Madame Baptiste to make sure you can do as many as you can possibly fit into the schedule."
"English, German, Italian and Greek." Annalise listed, seemingly uninterested. "Mother, about ballet-"
"Why aren't you doing Mandarin? Or Spanish?" Sophie questioned.
"Because-"
"Annalise, how many times do I have to remind you? This school will guarantee you a place at a brilliant university, but you need to do your part. You can't rely on the recommendation alone if you don't put any work in." Sophie scolded.
"Mother, I have no time for Mandarin or Spanish, because of Greek and swimming." Annalise said, rolling her eyes, knowing her mother wouldn't notice. "But I don't like my Greek teacher so-"
"You have a brilliant teacher, Annalise, and I suppose I'd rather you know how to swim like a professional." Sophie smiled. "It's always useful to know survival tactics." Sophie completely changed the subject after that, reciting everything she had to do around Ile Saint-Louis over the Easter break, before school started again and she had to travel to Kenya.
It was four days of being home with her au pair that Annalise finally saw her father. She didn't know where he'd been, but he arrived home smelling and looking terrible.
"Annalise... You... Good?" Jean slurred, and Annalise knew he was overly drunk. Hoping to avoid trouble, Annalise simply nodded, and made her way to her room, where she sat on her bed and began reading Matilda for the millionth time.
She was half way into the book when she heard a loud crashing noise come from downstairs, followed by a yelp. Worried, she picked herself off her bed and headed out of her room. She stopped just outside the door of the dining room, where she was certain the crash had come from, but she began hearing strange noises - moans?
"Oh! Jean!" Annalise's eyes widened. That was Andrea's voice... And Annalise was ten, not stupid, so she knew what was happening behind those closed doors. What she didn't expect, however, was for the front door to open that exact moment.
"Annalise? What are you doing down here? I thought Andrea was taking you to the museum?" Sophie said, as she rushed around to put away her things. "Your father and I have an event tonight-" Sophie stopped talking when she too heard the noises coming from the dining room. Annalise rushed off, back to her room, closing the door behind her. Not a moment later, the loud screams of her parents, and the voice of her au pair, could be heard downstairs. It wouldn't be long until the residents of Ile Saint-Louis heard of this little incident.
...
"Annalise! Please, pay attention to the board!" Annalise snapped her head up - her Greek teacher, whom she endearingly liked to call 'big-foot' due to his overly large shoes, was glaring at her, intently.
"I apologise, sir." said Annalise, as politely as she possibly could. Though, as soon as 'big-foot' had turned his back to continue on with the lesson, Annalise found herself staring out the large window, wondering what her parents were up to.
Annalise had received a letter that past weekend, informing her that her parents were taking a vacation to Spain. Annalise had been furious, to say the least. She'd never been allowed to join her parents when they travelled - much less was she allowed to join her mother during her charity works.
"Annalise! I would like you to read from chapter thirty-seven, please." barked 'big-foot'. Annalise forced herself not to sigh, roll her eyes, or make any gesture that would guarantee her a good lecture. She stood, at her table, with every other student staring at her, and opened her book to chapter thirty-seven. She read, almost perfectly - having to pause every now and then to make sure her pronunciation was correct. After fifteen minutes of Annalise reading the best she could, the school bell rang, indicating the end of yet another day.
"Anna!" Annalise stopped before she could head up the stairs to the dormitories. Michael, a boy originally from Hastings, England, had called her. "Would you like party?" Annalise stared at Michael. He was new - having joined only at the start of the new term, and although his skills in English and German were immaculate, his French was not. "Christ, you speak English, don't you?"
"A little..." Annalise nodded. "But I find my German skills to be a little better. I never really pay attention in English or Greek lessons." Annalise added, in a reasonably good German.
"That teacher is something else." Michael replied, also in German. "I'm having a party to celebrate my birthday. It's on Saturday, in the main hall. Will you come?"
"Yes, I'm pretty sure I've got nothing else planned." Annalise said, in a teasing tone. Michael grinned, handed her an invitation, and skidded off to find more people.
In all her eight years of boarding school, no night had been worse than that night. Annalise was in her room, quietly getting on with her Greek homework, so she could prove to 'big-foot' that she could still hear him even though her focus was either on the outside view or the top of her desk. There was a sudden, urgent knock on her door, and Madame Baptiste herself waltzed right in. Annalise wouldn't have worried had it been any other worker, but she knew all too well that when Madame Baptiste came to see you, it was due to something serious.
"Annalise, you must come to my office, immediately."
The journey to Madame Baptiste's office seemed to take much longer than it normally would. Annalise had noticed a slight tension in the air - almost as though she was about to be expelled for something terrible - Annalise panicked at the thought. Her mother would kill her. "Madame? Am I in trouble?" Annalise asked, innocently.
"No, of course not, Annalise." Madame Baptiste waved her hand nervously.
"Then why am I-"
"They will speak to you inside, Annalise!" Madame Baptiste replied, anxiously.
Annalise soon understood what Madame Baptiste meant. Inside her office were two police officers in uniform, and one tall man, with dark hair and eyes, and he wore a suit. Madame Baptiste made Annalise sit her usual chair, which Annalise found very strange.
"Annalise Madeline Chloé Laurent?" The man in the suit asked Madame Baptiste, and the headmistress nodded. "Hello, Annalise, I'm Detective Rieu, but you can call me Pierre, if you prefer?" Annalise stared at him, silently. "Unfortunately I come bearing bad news, Annalise. Are you aware that your mother and father went to Spain?" Annalise nodded.
"Are they alright?" Annalise asked, suddenly realising what this could be about. Were her parents hurt?
"No... I'm afraid there's been a terrible incident." The detective said. "Annalise... There is no easy way for me to tell you this-"
"Are they gone, Detective Rieu?" Annalise asked, with tears already forming in her eyes.
"Annalise, I'm afraid your mother is, yes..." The Detective said, avoiding the now wet eyes of Annalise. "I'm terribly sorry to have to inform you of such matter at such an hour, but I am required to fulfil my duty... Annalise, do you have any other family?"
"My father, he-"
"Annalise, I'm afraid your father is now in jail." Annalise's eyes widened. Her father, no matter how bad he sometimes got after a night out with friends, would never dream of harming her mother. He wasn't that type of person. Annalise knew he had certain bad habits, but he would never become such a monster. "Do you have any other family?"
"No." Annalise replied, dully. Neither of her parents had siblings, and Annalise never had the chance to meet any of her grandparents. She was alone. "Do I have to leave? School?"
"That will be decided after Sophie Laurent's lawyers get back to me with the details of her will." The detective said.
"My mother had a will?" Annalise asked, incredulously. "She was only thirty-five. Why would she need-" Annalise fell silent, immediately realising that her young mother did, in fact, need a will at a young age, for she was no longer around. Annalise could very well be alone, at the age of twelve, with no money and nowhere to go.
"I guarantee you, Annalise, that you will be taken care of. The French authorities will ensure that you have a place to stay-"
"In foster care, you mean? With all the orphans and children who had to be taken away from their families." Annalise said, bitterly.
"I'm sure we can arrange something for Annalise to continue her studies with us." Madame Baptiste said, and for the first time in her eight years of boarding school, Annalise felt extremely grateful to Madame Baptiste - so grateful that she couldn't find the words to express herself. She just cried.
"Perhaps you should get some rest for now, Annalise. We'll talk again in the morning." Detective Rieu said.
Annalise didn't sleep that night. Or the next. Or the next... She was alone...
...
When Jean returned to Paris, after almost three years away, the first place he went was to meet his friends at Mantes-La-Jolie. He spotted his old pal, Enrique, who would always stop by for a beer after working a day at the bank, sitting by park gates, wrapped in an old, rugged blanket.
"Laurent? Is that you?" Enrique called out, his voice rough. "Spain finally let you out?"
"About time too." Jean replied, bitterly. "What are you doing out here?"
"Lauren kicked me out a few months back. Lost my job... A lot can happen in two years, Jean." Enrique said. Jean nodded and began making his way toward the bar. "I wouldn't do that if I were you..."
"And why not?" Jean questioned, taking a few steps back to Enrique.
"Ever since they heard about Sophie, they swore to kick your ass if you ever showed your face." Enrique said.
"I didn't kill Sophie." Jean said.
"I'm not saying you did."
"Enrique! Got some food for-" Samuel, the bar owner, stopped when he saw Jean standing by Enrique. "Jean Laurent finally decided to show his face then?"
"Sam-"
"Save your breath, Laurent. I suggest you leave before others see you." Samuel said. Jean narrowed his eyes at Samuel. He was not about to be kicked out of his favourite place due to a crime he didn't commit.
"Just go, Jean." Enrique said, bowing his head.
"I didn't-" Samuel pulled Jean by the collar of his polo shirt before Jean could continue. Enrique's head shot up immediately, and Jean had hoped his old friend would defend him somehow, but Enrique remained silent, simply staring at them.
"I don't want to see you around here ever again, Laurent. Do you understand?" Samuel threatened. Jean pushed him away, flattening his now creased shirt.
"If that's what you want..." Jean said, raising his hands in defeat.
It wasn't long before Jean realised he had no money, no place to live, and no job to get him back on his feet. Finding employment in Paris was already something, but finding employment in Paris after spending time locked up for murder, was impossible. Jean was leaving yet another food market, after being rejected of a job yet again, when he saw someone that could possibly save his life.
"Frédéric!" Jean called out, desperately. Surely enough, Frédéric Belcourt, the man responsible for his dead wife's will, was leaving the food market.
"My Lord, Jean Laurent..." Frédéric said, rather nervously. "I'm sorry, Jean, but I'm late for a very important meeting-"
"Frédéric, please, I need some help. I'm willing to pay." Jean said, and Frédéric stopped to listen. Jean knew Frédéric was the type of man that would do anything if the pay roll was worth it.
"How exactly do you plan to pay, Jean? You have no money." Frédéric said.
"I will once I have my wife's money." Jean said.
"I'm afraid that's impossible, Jean. Sophie's money was left solely for Annalise." Frédéric said.
"Annalise is a fourteen year old child, with no family and no one to turn to. Once she knows I'm back, I will be responsible for Sophie's money." Jean said. "And I can guarantee you will receive thirty percent of it."
"Fifty." Frédéric said.
"Thirty-five." Jean challenged.
"I'm afraid it's fifty or nothing, Jean." Frédéric said.
"Fine, fine, alright!" Jean said, desperately, as Frédéric threatened to walk away. "Fifty percent of Sophie's money is yours if you can get my name on that will."
"I can get your name on that will with the consent of your daughter." Frédéric said. "No matter if she's only fourteen."
"I will take care of my daughter, Frédéric. You handle the will." Jean said.
...
"Annalise, I'm afraid next term you'll have to stop a few of your extra activities." Madame Baptiste said, before Annalise had the chance to sit down. Madame Baptiste looked up from the computer in front of her for a brief moment, when she heard the sound of heels against her floor. Realising Annalise wasn't wearing ridiculously high heels, Madame Baptiste let it slide. After all, it was the last day of term before the winter break, and Annalise would have to return to France, to a foster home, so Madame Baptiste didn't feel right having to criticise her shoes.
"May I ask why?" Annalise questioned.
"The term fees have been transferred, but there are insufficient funds for extracurricular activities." Annalise stared at Madame Baptiste in silence. She had no money left? That wasn't right... She had enough money to last her a life time and more, so why would she have insufficient funds now? "At least this means you can stop your ballet lessons, like I know you've been wanting to do for some time."
"I don't want to stop ballet, Madame. I changed my mind about it. I like it." Annalise said, stubbornly.
"I'm afraid there's nothing I can do, Annalise." Madame Baptiste sighed. "Perhaps it's wise you stop by your bank when you return to Paris and talk to someone about your current situation."
Annalise took Madame Baptiste's advice, and the first thing she did, after leaving her things at her foster home, was head straight to the bank. Unfortunately for her, it was true - she had no money in her account.
"It was transferred out by your father, last week." A bank worker informed her. "Was that not meant to happen?"
"Definitely not." Annalise mumbled. She didn't even know her father had access to her account.
...
Annalise growled, frustrated, when she was unable to access her account at the bank. Irritated, she waltzed into the building, hoping someone could help her with her account issues.
"It seems your account has been temporarily frozen. You must've received a notification." A bank worker informed her, and Annalise simply frowned.
Annalise tried her best not to stomp her small feet as she exited the bank. Unfortunately for her, there was nothing they could do - and with the new year being a few days away, Annalise knew no one was in the mood of doing any proper work. After getting back to her foster home, Annalise began the search for a lawyer. She wasn't going to allow her criminal father to get away with the money her mother had left for her. She had to finish school in Switzerland. She had to get into either Cambridge or Oxford. She had to make her mother proud.
"There's someone that helped me out once, but he lives a bit far away." Amelie, the lady who ran the foster home, informed her, as she handed Annalise a small card. "It would be a long walk."
"I'm sure I can handle walking." Annalise said, and she rushed out of the room and headed to the phone. In less than ten minutes, Annalise had booked an appointment with the lawyer on the third. The woman was nice enough to see Annalise immediately after returning from her winter break in Thailand, and Annalise felt extremely grateful. Annalise began wondering what to wear to go see a lawyer. She figured she'd have to be dressed decently - and she wanted to show the woman that she was a young teenager who meant business. Heels, Annalise thought. Heels would be the option - and her mother would be proud of her for it.
"Take this." Amelie said, startling Annalise from her thoughts, handing Annalise ten Euros. "It's not enough, but at least you can buy yourself a snack for the walk."
"Thank you, Amelie." Annalise said - and for the first time in two years, she spared Amelie a smile.
...
Annalise finally understood why her mother had never allowed her to spend New Year's in central Paris that night. Annalise had decided to get out of the house, after a rather violent argument broke out between two of the older boys. She couldn't wait for the new term to start, so she could be back in Switzerland, learning and sleeping in a decent room - one that came equipped with a bed and hot running water. New Year's in central Paris was no place for a fourteen year old girl to be - especially not alone. The amount of drunk people out astonished Annalise, so much so that she soon decided not to wait for the fireworks to happen. She silently wondered why she had decided to wear her heeled boots. They weren't ridiculously high, but they also weren't the most comfortable, and with the fear of her having to make a quick getaway in mind, she mentally cursed herself for not wearing normal, flat winter boots instead. Annalise was about to cross the street, when someone roughly grabbed her arm.
"Annalise, we need to talk." Jean said, obviously intoxicated like many of the other Parisian people.
"I have nothing to say to you, Jean Laurent. You return to France and you don't inform me, and worst of all, you take away all of my money-"
"That money doesn't belong to you. It belongs to your mother." Jean said, frustrated.
"And she's dead because of you!" Annalise accused. "She left that money for me, not you, so you had no right to take it away from me!"
"I have no money, Annalise! No one will hire me because of my time-"
"That's not my problem." Annalise said, coldly. "Now let me go, or I'll scream."
"We can share the money, Annalise. Sophie had enough to be shared." Jean pleaded.
"I'll settle that after speaking to a lawyer." Annalise said, finally pulling free from Jean's grip and crossing the street as fast as her legs could carry her. She just wanted to get away from him. She couldn't look at the man responsible for her mother being dead.
...
Annalise's feet ached as she crossed Mantes-La-Jolie with her heart rate erratic. She wasn't sure if her father would be around that area or not, but she didn't want to stick around long enough to find out. The lawyer she'd be meeting lived a while outside Mantes-La-Jolie, but unfortunately for Annalise, there was no easier route to take - and with little to no money for transportation, Annalise had to walk around at early hours of the morning, just to get there in time for eight. Annalise was sure she saw a man lying by park gates, covered in an old, rugged blanket, who wasn't breathing. She didn't wait to figure out whether or not he was alive, but she knew he didn't look it, and it terrified her.
"Get out of here before I kill you myself!" Annalise heard, and she felt herself begin to walk even faster. There were many crashing and banging noises that followed, and Annalise had to try her best not to cry.
"Annalise!" Annalise nearly screamed when she felt the familiar, firm grip on her arm.
"Let me go." Annalise hissed.
"Come, Annalise, come with me and we'll talk things out. Frédéric will solve the money situation. Quick and easy, Annalise, I promise." Jean said, his words slurring, and his balance betraying him.
"Leave me alone!" Annalise said, a little louder, hoping someone would get him off her. "I've already told you I'm going to solve this myself. Leave me alone and let me go!"
"Annalise you don't know what you're doing." Jean growled. "Don't be a silly girl and come with me!"
"NO!" Annalise screamed now, and wriggled her arm, violently enough for Jean to release his grip on her. Annalise went to run, but Jean managed to grab her first. She fell to her knees, but Jean fell also. Annalise took this as a chance to leave. Panicking, Annalise picked herself up quickly, gathered her belongings - she had all her things with her, because it wasn't wise to leave it at her foster home - and went to run. Jean grabbed her ankle, nearly knocking her to the ground.
"Annalise, you're going to regret this if you keep this up!" Jean said, violently, but Annalise continued to struggle. Suddenly, her sharp and rather worn out heel connected violently with Jean's nose, making him scream out in pain, as blood dribbled out of his nose and onto the pavement. Annalise surely thought that would've caught someone's attention by now, but there seemed to be no one around still. Annalise finally managed to get away from Jean, and she tried to run as fast as she could, despite her shaky legs threatening to give in. "I TOLD YOU TO STOP!"
It happened too fast for Annalise to comprehend. One moment she was running, and Jean, her father, was shouting at her, pleading for her to see his reasoning, and the next there was a loud noise, and an excruciating pain erupted from her abdomen, and she saw blood. A lot of blood. That's when she understood what had happened. That's when her legs finally gave in and she fell to the ground. Was this it? Was this how it was all going to end? Was this how her mother died? Had she been shot too? Did she leave this world in pain just like Annalise was about to?
"Shit. Shit. No... No..." Jean began. Annalise saw Jean gather her things together. Her vision was blurring though, and she wasn't sure what exactly was happening. Was he going to help her, even though he was the one who shot her? She saw Jean getting further and further away with her things, and eventually he turned a corner and disappeared from view. This was it. He was going to leave her here to die and was going to obtain all of her mother's money. All this... Because of money...
"No..." Annalise heard the soft voice, but she wasn't sure where it was coming from. "No... No... I'm too late. It's okay, sweetie, it's okay... I know someone who will help you..." Annalise saw a pair of terrified, bright, golden eyes, before the darkness welcomed her.
- fin -
... for now :)