Chapter 1

As human beings, we are inherently bound to experience a myriad of emotions that shape and color our lives. Try as we might, we cannot simply discard or ignore them. Memories of past triumphs and hardships alike are etched indelibly into our consciousness, defining who we are and how we approach the world around us. Life has a way of sweeping us up in its currents, carrying us from one phase to another, and leaving its indelible mark on us. And yet, despite the inevitability of this cycle, we continue to persevere, to grow and evolve, to experience the highs and the lows that come with being human.

"I don't want you to go. Please don't go. I'm scared." I looked into her eyes and held her closer to my chest, gently kissing her on her forehead. I promised I would be back soon.

"Don't cry, Sissie is going for important work stuff." She stopped crying and held my face with her little hands as she sobbed. For a moment, I was reluctant to leave for my work and stay with her, but I knew I had responsibilities. "I shall patiently await your return," she made dramatic use of a high tone out of a sudden and that made me giggle. "Where did you learn that?" I asked bewildered by her change in tone.

"Books teach me new things," she shrugged.

"Good girl." I kissed her cheeks and went out of the ward.

***

Looking out of the window of my red Audi A3 Cabriolet, I took a deep breath and watched the world pass by. My life has been a roller coaster ride, and I, too, have changed along with it. I've been through so much that I wish to erase from my memory, but the lessons learned must remain. As I gazed at my tired, brown eyes in the rearview mirror, I noticed dark circles beneath them. "What have you done to yourself, Aderyn Brookes?" I whispered to myself. The past is gone, and I'm no longer the same naive twenty-year-old girl. Two years have passed, and I have transformed beyond recognition. Even the people who knew me before would struggle to recognize me now. My head began to itch, and I realized that my waist-length brown hair was trapped under me. Annoyed, I used my free hand to move my hair to the side and make myself comfortable as I drove past the houses. It's time for a haircut, I thought, as I continued my journey.

My Audi, Jeena, and I are on the road again, headed toward my next destination. Traveling has become my passion over the past year, and I relish the experience of exploring new places and cultures. Breathing in the fresh air and immersing myself in the unfamiliar has become a way of life for me. As I hit the gas pedal and feel the engine roar to life, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement for the journey ahead.

After driving for almost three hours, I finally spotted a diner. I parked Jeena in a parking space and put on my black aviators. Taking my backpack along with me as I look over the place and walked right in, feeling hungry. As soon as I open the door of the diner, I mentally drool having the aroma of food.

As a food lover, I can attest that there is nothing more satisfying than indulging in delicious cuisine. For me, the mere mention of food is like music to my ears, and my mouth starts watering instantly. I have a voracious appetite, and the thought of abstaining from food even for a few minutes makes me restless.

But today was different. I had been eagerly waiting for three long hours and twenty minutes to finally savor the dish I had been craving for days. The anticipation had been agonizing, and my stomach had been growling loudly, reminding me of its emptiness. Finally, the moment had arrived, and I could hardly contain my excitement. The aroma of the food wafting toward me made me salivate, and my taste buds danced in anticipation.

Indeed, food is not just a basic necessity for me, but a heavenly pleasure that I can never resist.

The diner seems full of people, and the waitress runs here and there to take orders and serve. I choose a corner and sit down, and after some minutes, a boy comes and asks for my order. After giving him my order, he stops writing on his notepad and gives me a weird look but doesn't speak and leaves.

After fifteen minutes, my order is placed before me. The most interesting part is everyone, I mean every single homo sapien present in the diner, is looking at me as if I have grown two to three horns on my head.

As the focus turns to me, I feel uncomfortable. I never liked being the center of attention, and the stares were making me squirm in my seat. I can't take it anymore and finally snap, "What, never seen a girl eating?" It was not my proudest moment, but I couldn't think of anything else to say. I can feel everyone looking away as they realize their mistake, and I breathe a sigh of relief.

I wasn't lying when I said I was going to order everything. Without wasting any more minutes, I dig into my food.

I couldn't help but notice the stares that followed me as I finished my meal. It seemed like everyone around me was either amused or in disbelief. But I didn't care. I had finished everything on my plate, just like I always did. These people seriously thought that I was going to waste my food. I shook my head in annoyance as I picked up my plate and walked away from the table. I could feel the weight of their gazes on my back as I left, but I didn't look back. I didn't like being the center of attention, and I couldn't help the snappy retort that had slipped out of my mouth earlier. "Annoying bunch of...?" I muttered under my breath, still annoyed at the unnecessary attention.

After I paid the bill, I walked towards the door, lost in my own thoughts. Suddenly, the door was yanked wide open, and there he stood, the man who could easily pass as the world's most handsome man.

I stood there frozen as if I was held captive by his gaze. His deep forest-green eyes seemed to be trying to peer into the depths of my soul, but unable to do so. I couldn't help but feel drawn to him, and I found myself getting lost in his eyes.

Wait! What the hell is wrong with me?

The two guys next to him were bulky and they looked confused as they stared between us. The guys beside him were still staring, but I couldn't take my eyes off him. As his gaze met mine, his deep forest-green eyes seemed to search my soul. But then something strange happened, the color of his eyes began to shift as if an invisible storm was brewing within him. The forest green began to darken, a hint of black creeping in around the edges. It was almost as if the intensity of his gaze was causing his eyes to change. And then, as quickly as it had come, the shift was gone, and his eyes returned to their previous color. But something had changed in him. I could sense it. A flicker of hatred or anger had passed through him, and I didn't know what had caused it.

I took a deep breath and tried to shake off the intense gaze of the man with the forest-green eyes. As I walked past him and the two other guys, I could feel their eyes following me. It made me feel uneasy and I couldn't help but wonder what their deal was.

Once I got to my car, I fished around in my purse for my keys, trying to ignore the fact that they were still staring at me. Just as I found my keys and turned to unlock my car door.

As I drove down the road, I couldn't shake off the feeling of his intense gaze on me. My mind was preoccupied with thoughts of him, and I couldn't figure out why. Was it his striking good looks or the sudden change in his eyes that had me so captivated? I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off about him.

I tried to focus on the road ahead, but my mind kept wandering back to the man with the forest-green eyes. How did his eyes change color like that? Was it even possible? Maybe it was just a trick of the light, or my mind playing tricks on me.

I tried to shake off these thoughts and focus on the task at hand. But my heart wouldn't stop racing, and my mind was consumed with thoughts of him. As I drove down the road, I couldn't help but wonder if I would ever see him again.

It had been fifteen minutes since I left that diner and I'm still thinking about that dude with the forest-green eyes.

"Why, why, why?" a frustrated growl escaped my mouth. It wasn't like me.

This never happened to me ever, so why now?

Why am I thinking about a random guy whom I don't even know?

My eyes averted to the rearview mirror and I saw a black SUV behind me. The same SUV was parked next to my car in that diner. I had no idea when all of a sudden I felt as if the SUV was following me, because I gave it some space to overtake me but it wouldn't budge. It kept on trailing behind me.

My heart rate quickened as I tried to make sense of the situation. Why would someone be following me? I took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. Maybe it's just a coincidence, I thought. But deep down, I knew that it was unlikely.

I decided to take a few more turns, just to confirm my suspicion. And as I turned onto a deserted road, the car behind me turned as well. That was enough confirmation for me. I knew I had to act fast.

I stepped on the accelerator and sped up, hoping to lose the car behind me. But they were quick to match my speed. I took a few more turns, but they were still behind me.

As I approached a driveway about a mile away from where I was driving, I couldn't help but feel relieved to finally be away from the car that had been following me. However, my relief was short-lived as I noticed a car coming out of the woods, sideways in the driveway ahead of me. It was the same car that had been following me.

"Damn it, should have known!" I muttered to myself, realizing that they had taken a shortcut to catch up with me.

I grip the steering wheel tightly, trying to keep my nerves in check. Who were these people and what did they want from me? My mind races with questions as the car behind me continue to follow.

I glance at my GPS, trying to find an alternate route, but there's no other option. I have to keep driving on this driveway.

As I approach the car that's blocking the way, I can see the driver's window slowly rolling down, revealing a man with a smug expression on his face.

"Going somewhere, miss?" he asks, his voice laced with amusement.

"What the hell man, You want to die, fine. But I don't plan on dying soon," I shouted at the guy and all of a sudden he gave me a toothy grin.

I recognized the guy as one of the three dudes back in the diner.

All of a sudden something touched my back and before I knew it, my mind was spinning as I tried to process what was happening. Who were these guys? Why were they following me? My thoughts were cut short as I realized someone tranquilized me and the tranquilizer took hold of me and everything went black. The back door of my car was open and someone sneaked up on me.

"Forgive me, Luna," were the last words I could make out before losing consciousness completely.