Prologue: Taken

Footsteps slapped against the ground, echoing in the cold night air. Karina could hear them closing in behind her, and she tried to pick up her pace, but she had been running so long. She looked around wildly for a place to hide where he might not find her, but there was nothing in sight, nothing but trees with branches too high off the ground and park benches. Why couldn't she find the way out? Where were all the people that usually flocked to the grassy space to watch the stars? She had tried to get out, she had tried to find her way back, but she had only been here once or twice before and couldn't remember the way.

She should have never let that man get near her. He had seemed nice enough, innocently starting a conversation with her about the park. He had said he always liked it in the spring time. She had explained that she had just moved here and didn't really know what he meant and he had gotten a sort of odd smile on his face. She should have known then. She should have seen the lust and the malice that had come to his eyes, should have heard the syrupy tone that had come to his voice.

By now she could hear his breathing behind her, so close he was. It was labored, as hers was, but he was still gaining on her, still coming closer. She didn't dare look behind her, didn't even glance back for fear of slowing her progress.

A tree root caught her foot, flinging her to the ground and making her cry out at the impact. She turned over, trying to get up, tripping over her own feet in her panic. He had come to a stop, and now he was towering over her, smiling slightly.

"So, you like it on your back, do you?" His voice was no longer syrupy, and Karina could see her fate reflected in his cold, hard eyes.

"NO!" She screamed. "No! Somebody help me! No! NO!"

And suddenly there was no more screaming. The blinding beam of white light was there for no more than a second, but that was all it took. In a moment the sky was once again dark and all that remained in the clearing was a man with malice in his eyes, staring up at the night sky.