A/N: This idea came to me in a dream. It's not normally something I do often; but I felt like I needed to write it down, because it was so unique. I hope you all enjoy it.

Chapter 1:

When the Storm Comes

The smell of stale cigarettes and sweat waved until my nose. I turned my head to see a couple playing a game pool across the room. Lilac locks of hair fell over my shoulder upon turning back towards the direction of the bar. Halestorm's version of 'Hunger Strike' was playing just loud enough for all the patrons to hear while still able to hold a conversation with someone.

The bartender turned her attention to my approach to the counter. She had a smile on her aging face; but was still beautiful nonetheless. Her dirty blonde hair had streaks of gray throughout and her chocolate brown eyes locked with my green ones. "What can I getcha'?" She asked, wiping the counter with a blue rag.

"Bottle of Peach Twisted Tea, if you have it."

"I believe so. Let me check."

I sat down on the black stool, placing my phone on the counter. There was nothing but a blank screen reflecting back at me. A couple seconds later, the bartender returned with the bottle I had requested and sat it down in front of me. "Should I open a tab for you?"

"No, this will probably be my only drink tonight. I'm just passing through."

"Where are ya heading to?"

"No idea. I just need to get away."

"A runaway eh? Consider that drink on the house then."

It had been a long time since I had been called anything but what I truly was. Thinking back on the reasons I left everything behind, I realized that I still needed to continue on this path and not look back. No matter what, people wouldn't understand what exactly I was running from. The woman in front of me seemed nice enough; but at the end of the day, she had no idea what I had been through.

"No need to be generous. I have money to pay."

"I won't argue if you want to pay, hunnie."

Everyone turned their heads at the sound of the door opening again. A man walked in wearing light colored jeans that were form fitting with a pair of tan colored cowboy boots. His shirt was hidden under the tan suede jacket he wore. Blonde hair came to his shoulders in curls and his eyes were as blue as the ocean. "Adam, what brings you here tonight?" The bartender asked sweetly.

"Came to see my favorite lady." He answered, leaning against the counter.

"You flatter me. The usual?"

"You know me so well."

The older woman handed the man named Adam a bottle of beer. I couldn't see what kind it was, because I was trying to keep my glances out of notice. He turned to look at the loner at the end of the bar, which was me. "Is this seat taken?" He asked, obviously knowing that it wasn't currently occupied.

"No." I answered shortly, keeping my head facing the drink in front of me.

"What's your name?"

"Alayna...Alayna Riveria."

He extended his hand out to me. I eyed him questioning for a brief second before accepting the handshake. "My name is Adam Page." He introduced. There was a smile upon his face that only seemed to bring heat to my cheeks. I mentally cursed my unconscious behavior as I retracted my hand from his grasp.

"I've never seen you around here before?"

"I'm just passing through, trying to put enough distance between me and my family…"

"That's a shame. Aaron's Creek really is a nice town."

Was he trying to flirt with me? Things of that nature were kind of lost on me, considering I was never really allowed to have a conversation with the opposite sex unless it was an employee of my parents. I had always been shelted in that stupid mansion they called home. It also made me question the logic behind their way of thinking.

Adam looked like a nice enough guy; but there was no way I could stick around this town. My family would find me eventually, so I had to keep moving. It hurt to know that I could not settle in one place for long.

Despite how rundown this place looked, it was very clean and had a friendly environment. It was more than enough for me and I instantly felt guilty for passing judgment early on. "I assume there is a reason that you're on the run from them." He stated, still trying to hold a conversation with me.

"There are plenty of reasons and I'm going to leave it at that."

Tipping my head back, I finished the bottle of liquid in my hand. The bartender took the empty container away and I paid her for the beverage. Standing up, I tucked my phone into my back pocket. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Alayna. Maybe someday we will meet again."

All I could do was nod. There was something about him that intrigued me. There was a part of me that wanted to stick around and get to know him better; but the other part knew that if l didn't keep running, my parents would find me and drag me back to the hell they called life. That wasn't an option.

Walking passed him made my stomach coil into a heavy knot. Curling my bottom lip under my top one, I finally made it outside only to stand under pouring rain from the skies. It felt like this storm was a warning of some sort directed at me and considering who my family was,I wouldn't doubt it.

I cautiously walked towards the alley where I had parked my car. A cold shiver ran up my spine and I immediately stopped walking. Narrowing my eyes, I could see two figures cloaked in dark clothing approach my location. Of course, this wasn't the first time something like this has happened to me since I left the manor.

"I'm not going back." I shouted, standing my ground.

"Your parents say otherwise." The one said, taking one step closer to me.

"I won't be used by them! I won't be used by anyone!"

Just the thought of them got my blood boiling. I hated the thought of them experimenting on me just to fuel their own agenda. Clenching my hands into tight fists at my side, I shifted my feet so I could see them both better.

"What's all the comotion out here?" Adam's voice interrupted.

My chest instantly clenched, knowing that he was in deep trouble now. The two men inched their way closer to me when I was distracted by Adam's appearance. "Go back inside now!" I pleaded.

It was almost like he didn't understand the danger he was presently in, because he closed the distance between us and stood beside me. He narrowed his eyes to try and get a better view of the two men blocking my way. "They giving you trouble?" He asked innocently.

I didn't have a chance to answer. The one on the left attacked first. I shoved Adam out of the way to block the strike. His palm struck my forearm and I could see the webbing between his fingers and the sharp claws where his fingernails would be. He curled those claws deep into my flesh, making me yelp in pain.

"What the hell is that?" Adam asked, getting back to his feet. The fear in his voice was evident and totally justified. These creatures were once human like him and my father decided he wanted to play god and create a new hybrid species that would follow his every command. He called them NS001, 'New Species 1'.

I kicked hard in the abdomen and sent the creature back a couple feet. Reaching into my back pocket, I pulled out my keys to my car. I tossed them at Adam. Thankfully, I didn't have to address instruction to him further. He raced out around us to find the car that belonged to the keys he currently held.

Both creatures lunged at me. Swiping my leg low, I dropped one back and then connected with a right to the jaw of the second. It didn't take long before Adam was behind the wheel. He opened the passenger door and I jumped inside. Pushing the button on the ceiling to open the sunroof, I stood up and squeezed my upper body through the hole. "Are you insane?" He shouted, while continuing to drive forward.

The creatures were made with speed and were closing in on us. I outstretched my arms, leaning my head back to allow the rain to pound on my face. The power of my genetics was coursing through my veins. "Cover your ears, Adam." I stated. Opening my mouth, I expelled a high pitched wail. Waves of the scream toppled everything in its path including those creatures that wanted to drag me back to my parents.

I squeezed back down through the hole and closed the roof. Adam moved his hands from his ears and immediately put on the brakes of my car. He turned to look at me. I was soaked to the bone from the rain, bleeding from my forearm and my eyes burned from the power I had just unleashed to protect him.

"What the fuck was that back there?" He shouted at me, not that I blamed him.

"Those were genetically engineered creatures of my father's creation. They were sent to bring me back to my family. You were never meant to see that or become a part of it. You should have gone back inside when I told you to."

"You know how insane that sounds, right?"

"I do; but unfortunately, it's the truth. I wish it wasn't and I wish that I was just a normal girl that no one wanted to use. I'm anything but normal."

Adam's facial expression softened and let out a sigh before turning his face back ahead of him. Blood was dripping from my arm onto the leather of my seat. "We need to get that taken care of. All things considered, a hospital is probably not the best idea. Is there a place I can take you to?" He asked, lifting his foot off the brake and continued forward.

"No...I wasn't lying when I said I needed to put some major distance between my family and me. I've been on the run for 3 months now. They know I'm here so I can't stay any longer."

He didn't speak another word for the remainder of the trip. I had no idea where he was taking me to and yet, I wasn't worried about that. For some reason, he made me feel at ease. Leaning my head against the cool glass of the window, my eyes cautiously made contact with Adam's figure behind the wheel. "I'm sorry that you were dragged into this." I apologize.

"I'll feel better when you aren't bleeding all over the place."

"This is nothing compared to the things I've already been through."

"You're joking right?"

"I wish I was…"

I could hear him curse under his breath; but kept his head forward, not wanting to look in my direction. There were probably so many things going through his head at that moment and I only had myself to blame for that. Dragging a human into my crusade had been the last thing I wanted to do and now...he had seen part of my world, my father would take no exceptions. His life was now in danger and it was my fault.

He pulled onto a dark dirt road. There was nothing but trees as far as I could see. The middle of nowhere was probably the best place for us. Another ten minutes of driving on this endless road, a small cabin came into view. It was beautiful and the full moon reflected across the water of a small lake behind the cabin.

"You should be safe here for a while. Not many people know that this place exists." He said, putting the car into park and turning the key to turn the car off.

He didn't give me a chance to answer. He was already out of the car and moving towards the front porch of the cabin. I quickly exited the car and jogged to catch up to him. The wood creaked as I stepped up on the first stair. Finishing the rest of the steps slowly, I finally made it to where he was standing unlocking the door.

The sound of the door unlocking, made me turn my head in the opposite direction. I studied my surroundings, making sure we really were safe for the time being. "Alayna...come on, let's get that cleaned up." Adam urged.

Turning away from the forest trees, I returned to look back at him, who was standing just inside the cabin. I tried to force a smile for his sake; but I was pretty sure it was sadly pathetic at best. I didn't understand how things had turned so very wrong and now I had to worry about someone else besides myself. Fate had a terrible way of showing humor, because this was anything but funny.