Amari POV: It's been a year and I haven't heard from my dad well it's not like I wanted him to call or anything. After we got kicked out of my childhood home we went to live with my Aunt and Uncle well until the incident. Flashback "Hey Amari" Uncle Will says coming into the guest bedroom I'm sleeping in "Hi," I awkwardly smile. It's not like him to come in here "Where's Bella " he quizzes looking around and closing the bedroom door "She uhm went to go visit her nonna," I say raising my eyebrow. I'm feeling uneasy right now but I'm telling myself it's fine. He starts coming towards me and I slowly start backing away pressing my back against the headboard "So how old are you now" he quizzes sitting on the edge of the bed right by my feet "I'm 16 " I hesitantly say bringing my knees closer to me "Oh wow your growing, you know in other countries kids your age are allowed to give consent" he chuckles as if he's trying to convince himself. Shivers go down my spine and I clutch hard
Amari POV:"Say you believe me " I grab my mom's hands"I mean sweetie I-" she frowns trying to come up with an excuse"You don't believe me " I let go of her hands and stood up feeling like she backhanded me "Honey I love you and if you say his real then I believe you," she says softly"Can you leave my room" I walk up to my door holding it open for her"Oh okay" She sounds hurt but I don't care.She leaves my room and I close the door behind her. Biting my nails I start pacing. I can't wait to turn 18, I can't take this anymore. I want people to meet Shadow. I'm tired of being the crazy psycho chickI am not crazy .....rightGoing towards my drawers I take out my pills. Putting two in my mouth I go to my bathroom and pour a glass of water. Chugging down the pills I look at myself in the mirror"This isn't you" I sigh turning around. Looking at the time it's 2:45 pm, I need to get back to school to attend detention. Putting on a hoodie I exit my room. Reaching the front door my mom
Shadow POV:I menacingly walk into the dimly lit room. The only sounds that can be heard are my footsteps and the muffled screams from a local schoolboy"Welcome to my home Matt" my voice comes out deep and menacing "Where the hell am I...do you know who I am" he yells pulling at his restraints "Oh, I know very well who you are. Your mother sold you for two lines of coke at the age of 4. Your father raped you at 7 and stopped when you were 12 cause they finally caught him. You got adopted by the Mayor at the age of 13 and now you are a macho man at Lombardi High am I right" I grab a chair and sit underneath the light right in front of him. His face falls into pure horror when he sees me and I grin"Oh what ...cat's got your tongue""W- what d-do y-you want" he stutters out in fear"Nothing really I just need you to leave Amari alo-" "Done" he yells cutting me off. I grab his shoulder firmly and I bring my mouth close to his ear"Never ever cut me off or I swear it will be the last
Amari POV: 5 months laterIt's been 5 months since getting a new car which my mom wasn't too happy about but later fell in love with and the new designer clothes. Not to mention the fancy lunches I've been getting - I have even been deemed Miss Popular at school. Camilo and the cheerleaders are really not having it but the jock boys keep surrounding me like my very own private Swat team so they don't go near meRight now I'm getting ready for a party some new rich boy is throwing"Amari do you have an outfit for tonight" my mom yells from down the passage"Mom it's just a party it's no big deal really " I yell back."It's your first high school party of course it's a big deal... Are you sure you don't need my help" She barges into my room leaning onto my doorframe"I'm sure Mom besides you are like ancient so what do you know about fashion" I chuckle throwing some clothes onto the bed for me to try out"Missy before I had you and married your stupid father I was 2 years in my fashion
Shadow POV: I got a call from Daniel that Amari went to that party after I specifically told her not to. Speeding to this boy Jonathan's house I grip onto the steering wheel my knuckles turning white from the amount of pressure I'm putting. Stepping on the accelerator I'm pretty sure I'm going over the speed limit but it's nothing money can't fixPulling up to the address I practically jumped out of the car not caring where I parked. Teenage girls start eyeing me but I am only here for one girl. Going toward the backyard I see the fucker leading Amari up the staircase"Are you like the police?" some big kid says and I completely lose my patience pulling out my gun I aim it at him"Whoaa uhm dude chill like I don't want no trouble" he starts backing away in fear. I guess I look out of place"Shit, your literally so hot" looking down at the girl who said that. I come face to face with a blond who happens to be Amari's friend Bella. And she's quite drunk"Nice to meet you, I'm Shadow"
Amari POV:"Leave your message after the beep" I sigh holding the phone closer to my ear. I dig my sock-covered feet into my plush carpet trying to ground myself "Hey Shadow it's me again I know it's the 200th time I've called you in the past two weeks but please pick up I - I can't lose you ...not again" I whisper sounding as desperate as I feel. Hanging up the phone I bite back a sob as I lay back downShadow hasn't been answering my calls since rescuing me from Jonathan’s. I can feel a piece of my heart chip away every time I get sent to his voicemail. I honestly don't understand why his ignoring meI just want to hear his voiceTo see him ... is that too much to ask. I feel like screaming and then crying all over again "Amari come out it's time for dinner" my mom spoke from behind my bedroom door"I'm not hungry," I say and she sighs“Amari you need to eat something I’m worried about you” she tries reasoning with me “I’m not hungry” I mumble grabbing a pillow to cry on “I know
Daniel POV: Walking into the facility with a bouquet of flowers I head straight toward the receptionist"Hi I'm here to visit Amari Carmichael," I say looking at the old lady with chapped lips"She's not taking any visitors at the moment," she says not paying any attention to me. Instead she's focused on whatever she’s knitting"Can you please tell her it's Daniel ...Daniel Peters" I say and the lady raises her head slightly. Rolling her eyes she picks up the phone in front of her and starts dialing a numberI could easily go down the halls and find Amari myself since I practically came here every day when she was admitted at 9. I know this place like the back of my hand but I’ll be professional since I’m here as a visitor, not an owner "Uhm we have a.... "She pauses clearly forgetting my name"Daniel Peters" I answer her with a smile "Daniel Peters here to see a patient..." she looks down at her books "- patient 007""Okay," she says into the phone before she places it back down"
Amari POV:Waking up under duvet covers I try to adjust my eyes to the dimly lit room. Moving around I rub my neck trying to ease out the uncomfortable sting"My men injected you with Propofol. The sting should be gone in an hour or two" a deep voice says in the darkJumping up startled my mind takes me back to when I was 8 I was sitting in this exact position talking to him"Your here" I whisper out and he chuckles sending tingles down my back"You're actually in Berlin now" he shifts in the dark. I can't see him but I can see the outline of him"What do you mean" I chuckle awkwardly maybe his joking. How long was I out for to be in a completely different country?Looking around this unfamiliar room I know I'm supposed to be scared but I'm not cause I know he'll protect me like the first time he protected me from the bad guys jumping into my window all those years ago "You're becoming impulsive, sweetheart," he says. Actually listening to him speak I pick up a Russian accent in his