Prologue

Emily left the school grounds, ready to just collapse on her bed the second she got home.

It was late afternoon, with the sun already beginning to set.

Emily shivered slightly as the wind changed; sending a cool chill over her.

Her curly, light brown hair blew with the breeze. Her eyes were Hazel. She wore a pair of jeans and a chequered, button up shirt. On her feet, she wore a pair of sneakers.

Adjusting her bag on her shoulder, she made her way down the street.

As she walked, she couldn't help but feel as if someone was watching her. She looked behind her, to find nothing out of the unusual. Turning back around, she continued on her way.

She went into central park. It was a shortcut on her way home which she was grateful for and loved.

Emily hummed lightly as she got further and further in.

White snow started to fall and Emily looked up, a smile on her face. She held out her hands and let the snow land gently on her palms.

Footsteps sounded from behind her and Emily turned.

A man stopped a few feet from her; his hands in his pockets. He wore a hood over his head and baggy pants.

Emily gave a smile.

"Do you need anything?" she asked.

The man said nothing. Emily frowned.

"Excuse me? Are you okay?"

The man pulled out a hand and Emily's face paled. He held a gun.

The man aimed it at her chest.

"Give me your wallet," he growled out.

Emily quickly pulled her bag off her shoulder and dug around in it for her wallet.

"Here," she said, pulling it out and handing it to him.

The man snatched it and opened it up. He pulled out only a few notes and clenched his teeth.

"Where is the rest of it?" he snarled.

"I don't have any more," Emily replied, fear emitting through her voice.

The man lunged forward and grabbed her upper arm. He pushed her to the ground, sat on her middle and pressed the gun to her temple.

"Where is the rest?" he asked again.

"I swear. It's all I have."

Tears started to fall down Emily's face. Her body shook, as she tried to not anger him anymore.

She could only see the lower part of his face. His mouth twisted up into a sickening grin.

"I'll have to find some other use for you."

Emily's heart raced. He moved his hand down and started to lift her shirt.

In reflex, Emily punched out; striking the man in the jaw. He fell to the ground and Emily took her chance.

She got to her feet and started to run. The man was up after a few seconds and hot on her heels.

When she heard him shouting after her, adrenaline coursed through her body. She ran faster and was starting to take turns here and there, trying to escape.

When she thought she had lost him, she stopped.

Her breath came out in short ragged bursts. Looking around, she found she didn't know where she was.

Emily pulled her phone from her pocket and was about to dial her mum's number, when she was pulled into an alleyway.

Emily's mouth was covered before she could scream.

She was slammed against the wall of a building and a gunshot rang out.

Pain flared in her chest. Emily found it hard to breath. Blood soaked her shirt and trailed down the length of her body.

As she gasped, trying to suck in air; her attacker chuckled.

"You should've just taken it. Now you will die and your family will mourn."

He moved his hands up to her throat and tightened his grip.

Emily tried her best to fight back. With her lack of oxygen and blood loss, her efforts were in vein.

She was quickly losing the fight.

Darkness crept around her vision and she fell.

There was nothing around her. Just emptiness. Emily felt weightless.

She looked around and stopped. A bright light was right there, a little bit away. Emily felt a tug towards it. She took one step towards it, then another and another.

She had almost reached it, when a voice called out to her from behind her.

"Stay with me."

Emily frowned. She didn't know why the voice sounded so familiar. As she turned back, a pale blue circular orb floated in the air.

As she stared at it, a loud beeping noise started up. It sounded every few seconds.

Emily felt as if she needed to go back. She changed her course towards the blue orb.

She reached out and touched the orb.

It exploded and Emily was engulfed in the light.

"Too late," a voice echoed inside her head.

The calming blue became a violet purple and Emily was sent spinning out of control.

She fell from the sky and was hurtling down to the ground with a scream. She fell towards the pavement of an alleyway.

She shut her eyes and braced for impact.