CARDENMy door swings open bright and early, Oliver comes strutting in. “Today’s the day.” He waits out my silence as long as he can tolerate it. “Greggory will be there, no doubt terrifying the girl if he gets close enough. So get dressed, we have a girl to find.”It took several weeks for us to figure out where this Mysteria manor was located. It was surveillance from a city bus that caught a glimpse of a few girls that seemed out of place. Young and alone. Old lady baskets and hand me down clothes. None of them looked like her, but Oliver got his hands on previous videos and sure enough, a glimpse of her was caught. A girl that looks very similar to the photos we have of her.That was months ago. And we’ll stalk that bus stop until she shows her face again. If only the angle of the camera gave us a hint at what direction they came from we wouldn’t have to chase after her.It doesn’t take long to get ready. Unlike Oliver, I dress to blend in. She’s hid from demons and us for years.
ASHTONChore day. The day that my ability to look past all the dirt and grime that’s built up to a point of having to face it. My pile of muddy, now extremely stiff clothes from my midnight stroll through the woods is still crumpled up on the floor. My sheets are smudged with mud. The surfaces and ledges within the small room have a thick layer of dust coating them. And I’m in desperate need of a shower.It takes several minutes to get my body to work. There’s times I wish this place was a legit asylum. I wouldn’t be responsible for my own laundry or being trusted to be alone in a bathroom with a razorblade…well, I’ve just recently gained that trust back.I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The bruise is deep purple and matches the size of the demon’s fist. My modest wardrobe keeps it hidden from view, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel it everytime I move my arm.If I think chores stop at my door, I’m greatly mistaken. Winston stalks me within the house. I hear her pass by my
ASHTONThe following days blend into each other. No single thing distinguishes one day from the next. They run together into one long, boring day, sleepless night. Not a single person brings up Phoebe killing Seraphina or me inadvertently killing strangers.But that all changes when I’m jolted awake by Winston’s loud, harsh voice demanding something from someone, which is pretty typical behavior for her and I can’t help but to be thankful that she’s not screaming at me. I leap off my bed and make a dash for the door, surprisingly finding it unlocked. The hall is lined with girls all peering over the railing enjoying the show. A murmur of their gossiping fills the hall. Addison is further down, she chews on her bottom lip, Gina beside her.“What’s going on?” I whisper to her as I linger behind the two. “Did another girl die? Did Phoebe do it?”Gina gives a quiet ‘no’ as Addison’s wide eyes go back to staring through the balcony railing trying to get a glimpse of what's happening downs
ASHTONI march up the stairs. Several other girls whisper as I pass them, but I ignore their school girl gossip. Do they realize I’m putting my life in danger, yet again, for them? Ungrateful bitches. Gina on the other hand looks ashamed while Addison follows me to my room hellbent on finding out what’s happening, but I slam the door in her face with mutters of ‘I have to change’ on my lips.In a rush, I shimmy out of my pajamas and slip on the nicest dress I own. I came here with a small duffle bag and I’m leaving with the same bag. Not a single item more but several less.I open the door to have a rush of cold air blow past me, Addison waiting. Apparently, Seraphina told her to give me space. In my head, I thank the dead girl.“What’s happening?” She notices my change of clothes, my packed bag. “Where are you going? How long will you be gone?”I shrug my shoulders with no answer to her question. “No idea, but it’ll be fine.” I stand in front of her, silent for a few seconds letting
ASHTONAn apartment complex. That’s where The Order is holding up. The second we come to an abrupt stop at the brick building’s front doors, Oliver exits the car and is quickly joined by three others that file out from inside. I hop out before Greggory has to order me to. Two of the three Order members that greeted us as we arrived lead the way followed by Oliver, I’m then signaled to proceed, Greggory and the final soldier follow behind me.So many uniformed soldiers. How many do they need to escort one girl? Am I that menacing to them? I know I shouldn’t boost my ego with these theatrics, but it helps calm my nerves.The car door slamming shut causes me to flinch. I’m not sure if anyone noticed, but I shake the humiliation off and put on a stoney expression.Another soldier opens the complex’s door playing the role of bellhop. It might be harder to sneak out of here than I thought. However well security is, I’m not impressed. The apartment complex isn’t gorgeous or grand. It’s ave
CARDENIt’s been three days since finding her and Zayne’s been unavailable. Business to attend to. Privileged and much more important than anything Order related. But is it more important than the nightmare girl?When he’s finally ready to speak he calls for Oliver and I. My mission is his mission and I’m fine sharing the responsibility of the nightmare girl with him. He’s more laid back and playful in stressful times. The opposite to my hard strung, strictness. Rules are meant to be followed. To Oliver, rules are meant to be broken.“She didn’t seem that harmful. If anything, she seemed terrified.” Oliver nudges me with his elbow as we make our way to Zayne’s office, “and your charm didn’t work as well as we thought.” His cocky smile breaks into laughter.I roll my eyes in frustration. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Maybe charming the monster isn’t the way to go. Maybe a more aggressive approach, a way she has to be familiar with, is the way to go. All I know is that once Zayne gives the okay the
ASHTONThe sun slowly starts to set and I instantly get restless. The doctor’s words rattle around my brain. Another ‘thing’ that I can’t see. What? Of course, everyone here is cryptic and not forthcoming with information. But they’re not the only ones.Winston is hiding something too and I’m not sure I’ll ever find out what. The pain of possibly never going back to Mysteria eats at me from the inside out. Addison, my only one true friend in life, is now so far out of reach. She’s in a house with a murderer and whatever the hell Winston is and I’m locked in a complex full of...who even knows what.Against better judgment, I explore. It seems that I’m going to be spending a lot of time here in my little mini house, so I should get acquainted with it. I find a bathroom, simple but has everything one needs for being locked in their room, and a bedroom with a large plush looking bed and a dresser.Then there’s the fact that there’s only one tiny window in the entire suite, in the bedroom,
The door slowly creaks open to reveal a lone man sitting at a table, an empty chair across for him. I’m positive that’s meant for me.“What is this about?” My lips have a hard time forming the words that race through my head. An interrogation? Another show?By the twitch in Carden’s feet, he knows that I’m more than willing to wait them out or attack. You put a cat in a corner and the claws are bound to come out. We stare off against each other, but all I achieve is giving myself a panic attack from all the crazy ideas on what the hell these idiots are going to do to me. Are they going to haze me like I’m in some stupid fraternity? Are my chances of surviving significantly reduced if I don’t cooperate?“Sit.” Zayne requests.“No.” I snap back. I’m not sure if I can speak to him like I talk to Winston, but I do. I square off against him, daring him to do something.“First lesson on being an Order soldier. Listen to commands. Now sit.” His voice is stern and unlike Winston he seems like