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Chapter 1: Beginning

I was called out in the dark

By a choir of beautiful cheats

And as the kids took back the parks

You and I were left with the streets

*******************

|Nate|

I felt the sweat trickle down my face as I threw in punch after punch, I didn't care. The punching-bag swung back and forth wildly as a result of my assaults but I didn't stop. I could feel the sting on my swathed knuckles as they collided with the hard leather of the bag but that just made me punch harder. I didn't care about the bruises that were probably going to surface on my skin by tomorrow.

"Nate man, listen up." I heard my friend Marcus walk in.

I just grunted in response not bothering to stop my exhausting drill.

"I think that unfortunate punching-bag has had quite enough." Marcus put in dryly.

I finally ceased my work out and fixated Marcus with an irritated glare. Marcus didn't seem to mind though. Marcus was the only person who wasn't afraid of me. Instead of quaking under my glare like everyone else Marcus chose to ignore it, which is why he was my only friend.

"You remember my cousin Liam right?" Marcus asked breezily.

"Yeah, so?"

Marcus wasn't effected by my clipped response either.

"So, a friend of his is throwing a party tonight. It's going to be pretty sick, the whole town's probably going to be there. He asked us to come."

"No." I replied coldly as I started undoing my hand wraps.

"I'm not taking no for an answer. When was the last time you went out and partied, had a good time? In fact when was the last time you even smiled?" Marcus demanded.

My face twisted into a scowl. Marcus was the only friend I had but most of the time I just wished he'd leave me alone. I knew Marcus meant well but that didn't make him any less exasperating.

"I don't party and I'll smile when I have a reason to." I replied in the same clipped tone.

"You're going to the party, Nate."

"I'm not and there's no way in hell you're making me."

********************

My jaw was set as I concentrated on the road, my knuckles turning white as I clutched the steering wheel tightly. 

Marcus and I were currently seated in my pickup truck, heading for that party Marcus had been talking about.

"Wouldn't it have been easier if you just agreed to go in the first place?" Marcus asked with a chuckle.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Sometimes I seriously question you being my friend." I seethed.

"Aw, Nate come on. Don't be like that."

"You threatened to kick me out of the apartment!" I accused.

"It was I joke! I was trying to get you to go out and have fun." Marcus put in lightly.

Marcus's explanation managed to piss me off even more, then again, everything managed to piss me off. I reverted my attention back on the road.

"Stop here, it's a few blocks away from the party but it's safer, in case the cops decide to burst in. We can make a run for it and get out without the cops noticing us or seeing the number plate." Marcus explained somewhat sheepishly.

I just gave him a pointed look. The last thing I needed right now was a run in with the authorities. We parked the truck in a deserted alleyway, the moon seemed to be the only source of light there. 

In the eerie quietness of the alley I could hear the sound of blaring music from a distance as we made our way towards the house.

The shuffling sound of feet nearby made us stop in our tracks. I looked around the deserted street, there seemed to be no sign of a living being besides the two of us.

There it was again. It was definitely the sound of someone walking, it came from close by.

My whole body tensed up. 

Were we being followed?

"Whoever you are, show yourself." I demanded, my hands clenched into fists.

Suddenly a figure stumbled forward towards us from the shadows. I got ready to attack, taking up a fighting stance. 

Just as I was about to strike I heard Marcus cry out,

"Nate, don't! It's just a girl!"

My hand stopped in midair, I had to squint in the dim light to see properly. Marcus was right it was a girl.

"Shit." I cursed under my breath as I realized that I'd almost struck her.

"Something's wrong with her." Marcus cut in.

He was right, it wasn't hard to realize that something was definitely wrong with her. Her breathing was ragged and she seemed to be having trouble standing up.

"Help me." The girl whimpered as she started to sway. Marcus caught her before she hit the ground.

"What's wrong with her?" I questioned uneasily.

I took in the girl's attire, from her elaborate dress and jewelry it was clear that she was dressed for the party.

"She's probably drunk." Marcus responded.

"I think someone spiked her drink, alcohol doesn't do this." I observed, "What do you suppose we do now?"

"Let's just leave her here and go to the party. She's not our business anyway." Marcus answered.

I gave him a glare.

"I was kidding! Let's take her to the party and leave her there, someone's bound to recognize her."

"Leaving an unconscious girl at a party filled with hormonal drunk college boys, does that really sound like a good plan to you?" I snapped.

"If you can think of anything else then I'm all ears! It's not like we know where she lives." Marcus snapped back.

"Celeste Apartment Complex, I live at the Celeste Apartment Complex." I heard the girl mumble suddenly.

I gave Marcus a pointed look.

Marcus sighed, "I suppose that solves our problem. Being a gentleman tends to suck sometimes, I guess the party's going to have to wait."

"No, you go to the party. I'll take her." I affirmed.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, just help me put her in the truck."

"You're not going to come back to the party after you drop her off, are you?" Marcus asked with a sigh.

"Just put her in the truck."

*******************

"Celeste Apartment Complex." I read the gold plated sign aloud and I let out a low whistle.

The complex was lavishly constructed, the huge black Iron gates seemed to open automatically as the truck approached.

"Can I help you Sir?" A uniformed guard stepped forward and asked politely.

"Yes, I'm here to drop off.." I trailed off as I realized that I didn't know her name. The girl mumbled something incoherently, she was still unconscious.

"Er- a friend." I finished awkwardly.

The guard seemed to recognize the girl because he permitted me to proceed inside but not before giving me a suspicious look. I parked my truck in the massive parking lot, before stepping out and unlocking the door to the passenger seat. I cursed under my breath as the girl almost toppled to the ground when I did so.

I picked the girl up in my arms and made my way towards the extravagant building. I couldn't help but be enthralled by my surroundings. The place was beautiful, everything about it screamed of money: the marble fountains, the perfectly trimmed bushes.

I made my way inside to the reception. I sighed in relief as I noticed a woman sitting behind the counter.

"Excuse me ma'am. I happened to come across this girl, she's unconscious. I believe she lives here."

The woman studied me for a brief moment before her eyes wandered to the girl's limp form in my arms.

"Oh, yes. That's Allison Wyatt." She answered, her voice sounded suspicious.

I felt immensely relieved, "Thank God she lives here. Can you make sure she gets to her apartment safely? I need to get going."

"She's not my business, honey." The woman cut in.

"Excuse me?"

"My shifts over, I'm leaving."

I scoffed, "I thought you said she lives here."

"I did but that doesn't make her my problem. You brought her here so you're responsible."

"I don't even know her." I gritted through clenched teeth.

This woman was getting on my nerves.

"Here" She snapped impatiently as she held out a key. "Her's is number 187."

"You expect me to carry her all the way to her apartment?" I demanded angrily.

"Yes. It's on the eighteenth floor, use the elevator."

I wanted to strangle her so badly but instead I just snatched the key she was holding out with my free hand as I held Allison up with the other.

I couldn't keep the scowl off my face as the elevators doors opened and I got off the eighteenth floor. Finally I reached the door labelled 187. 

I tried to unlock the door but it was proving to be difficult; probably due to the fact that I was holding an unconscious girl in my arms. I cursed loudly as the key refused to go in.

The sound of someone clearing their throat behind me caught my attention. 

My eyes met with a pair of big brown ones.

"You need any help?" The girl asked cautiously. 

She eyed the unconscious girl in my arms with suspicion.

"I got it." I responded gruffly.

I had always hated accepting help from others. It made me feel incompetent.

"Okay." She sounded amused. "You know, it would probably be a lot easier if you weren't holding the key upside down."

I grumbled when I realized that she was right. Quickly correcting my mistake I unlocked the door and stepped in. The apartment was lavishly furnished like the rest of the complex, it didn't come as a surprise to me.

I quickly placed Allison down on the huge L-shaped sofa and adjusted the cushions around her so she was comfortable. Leaving the key on the kitchen counter I finally  walked out of the apartment, shutting the door behind me quietly.

To my surprise the girl was still standing there, she eyed me curiously. 

I took in her toned frame, her auburn hair was tied up into a ponytail. My attention was drawn back to her brown doe like eyes. Her arms were crossed in front of her chest, I assumed it was something she did to appear intimidating. She had an air of confidence about her.

For a moment I allowed my eyes to lingered on her attractive form.

"Care to explain how that happened?" She asked me brazenly.

For some reason I found it rather annoying. Her voice sounded accusatory.

"Nothing much to explain. I found her unconscious so I brought her home." I responded with a scowl.

It wasn't like I owed her any explanation.

She gauged my expression, trying to figure out if I was lying but my face stayed impassive, betraying no emotion. Finally she gave up and let out a sigh.

"If that is the case then that was really considerate of you." She said softly.

I scratched my neck awkwardly, I'd never been particularly good with compliments.

"Nice place you got here." I finally said, trying to change the subject.

"Thanks."

Not bothering to say anything else I started to make my way towards the elevator, it was getting late and I needed to leave. The elevator doors opened and I stepped inside. To my surprise the girl stepped in after me, I hadn't even noticed her following behind.

She was stalking me now?

"I'm going to the library. I've got a lot of studying to do." She told me when she saw the questioning look on my face.

I nodded, satisfied with her explanation. She pressed the button for Ground floor and the elevator started moving.

"Is it always this deserted?" I asked after a while, breaking the silence.

I found it strange that the whole complex seemed to be empty, I hadn't seen any people walking around or heard any noise altogether, the place seemed to be uninhabited.

"The complex is mostly occupied by college students, all of them have gone to attend some party."

"How come you're not at the party?"

"I'm not much of a party person." She admitted.

I smiled at that. That made two of us.

"You go to college here?" I asked, curiosity getting the best of me.

"Tomorrow's my first day actually. I just moved here."

The elevator doors drew open and we both stepped out into the lobby. We continued to walk in silence towards the parking lot. I found my self  looking back in her direction once I'd reached my truck

"I could drop you off at the library, if you want?" I found myself asking before I could stop myself.

I was surprised I'd actually asked her that. I  was mad at myself for making such a ridiculous offer.

What had I been thinking?

The library was in the opposite direction from my apartment.    

She looked taken aback by my offer.

"No thanks. I have my own car." She answered quickly, motioning towards the sleek red Lamborghini parked a few feet away.

"Good." I replied, my voice cold.

I got into my truck and started the ignition.

To my surprise I'd  actually felt a pang of disappointment when she declined my offer.

I didn't look back as I drove off.

****************

I groaned in annoyance when I heard someone banging the front door.

What time was it?

I grabbed my phone and squinted at the screen, it read '6 AM'. I groaned again.

"Marcus will you please go get the damn door!" I yelled.

There was no response, the banging seemed to get louder.

Begrudgingly, I got out of bed. I was ready to kill the bastard who had made me wake up this early. I clenched my jaw in annoyance as I saw Marcus passed out in the hall. I was surprised he had managed to make it home from the party last night.

I yanked to door open, ready to give whoever it was a piece of my mind, but who I saw standing outside  made me stop short.

In front of me stood two police officers.

"Nathaniel Cohen?" One of them asked.

"That's me." I responded coldly, all traces of sleep gone.

"You're coming with us." The policeman ordered.

"What for?" I demanded evenly.

"You're under arrest for the murder of Allison Wyatt."