Chapter 1: The Arrival

A Few Weeks Earlier...

"Mia? Wake up now or you'll be late for your first day."

I stared out the window, buried in my thoughts. Somehow my thoughts found its way back to today, junior year of high school. It was nearly the end of the semester, at an actual school. Home school was so much better.

Things were different now, my mother was gone, I was stuck with Alex Hunter and I had no choice but to attend public school. My mother had no say anymore; she was taken away from me like all the good things in my life. Life was such a bitch sometimes.

Laura must've seen the agitation on my face as she walked into the room. She gave me a quick smile that didn't seem to meet her eyes. She let out a sigh as she glanced around my room noticing the piles of boxes on the floor. Since I started school later than most kids I was only a few months until I was 18. Few months till I could walk away from his life and his family.

Before Laura left, she muttered something that sounded like an apology. I didn't have it in me to question her. I was tired of fighting, whether it was the demons of the night or Alex Hunter himself. I stared at the blue walls with the drawings of scattered angels all around. My mother used to draw angels in my own bedroom, each one with a different facial expression on their faces.

I stare at my blue pajamas, they brought back beautiful memories of my mother, my best and only friend. Those girls night in, cliché chick flicks we watched. My mother had given me those pajamas for my birthday. I fought the tears that began to build up. I went into the shower and let the water rinse away all my thoughts. The hot water burned away those unsettling thoughts. It was nice to be empty of thoughts because I haven't had a clear mind since that night.

I put on my uniform and pulled my long silky hazel hair up in a ponytail. I threw my backpack over my shoulder and rushed down the stairs, I headed straight for the door trying to avoid Alex Hunter. But before I could get my hands on the expensive looking doorknob, his warm voice froze me in place.

"Eunomia." He walked towards me forcing a smile on his tan skin filled with few freckles. My mother would always call me by my full name. But from his mouth, it pours out like venom.

I tried to open the door, but he made my attempt a failure. Before I could even react, I realized my Mr. Alex Hunter's long buff arms wrapped around me. I'd forgotten what his hugs were like. There were many things I'd forgotten about him, like how tall he was or how he mirrored the same silky hair I had.

"Have a good day sweetheart." He smiled, hope written all over him. Ever since my mother died and Laura's quick arrival, I could barely look directly into his eyes, they resembled almost exactly the same as mine. But the hazels in his eyes are darker than mine, they stood out awkwardly from the other sharp features on his pale face. I've hardly spoken to him since the funeral. It hurts to know that Alex Hunter, the one person, who's supposed to understand, and would grieve with you, is the one who was just another snake in the yard.

Alex Hunter had gotten married a week after my mother's death. When he arrived and found out the news all he said to me was five painful words.

"It was meant to happen." His icy cold voice still replayed through my mind.

I began to push away slowly from his grasp. The pain was too much for me to endure. The moment he let go, I saw pain spread through his face. His expression was an open book, filled with regret and utter disappointment.

He has NO RIGHT to be disappointed! My thoughts screamed as it made my head burst in pain. My tears began to put up a fight as I ran out the door. Each tear dripped, heated with nothing but hate and rage.

But why did I feel guilt?

I started the engine on my black motorcycle. After Alex Hunter had gotten married to his new wife Laura, he bought me my dream motorcycle. It was the only good thing that came out of his existence.

I stop at the red light glancing at the side to notice the big welcome sign to O'Malley High. The light turns green and I ride off passing the building. I ride for what feels like hours only to end up in the woods. Shit.

I step off my bike trying to find some signal on my phone. As I wander around the woods I notice a small cabin of wood. I figured there would be better range there, I slowly made my way down there. The scenery was breathtaking along with the lake right next to the cabin. It was like the cabins I read about in books, ruffled leaves scattered, tall trees surrounding the small cabin, and the stakes of wood piled up in the corner.

Crank. I quickly hide behind the piled woods as I hear the steps grow closer. There are two figures both lean and were blessings to look at. I feel heat spread through my cheeks with all the thoughts jumping around in my head.

"He brought her to town." The guy holding the woods threw the woods forcefully on the ground. His hands began forming fists by his sides.

"What the fuck, is he trying to get her killed? This is the worst time he could bring her here." He spat out.

"You're telling me, dude.