ved like he knew every nook and cranny of the land, protecting and guiding me with a grip that never shakes. My legs ached, but I didn't stop. The rush of fear and hope couldn't all

re deep in me,

. I was leavin

heavy fear that sat on my chest for days started to fade, re

it ha

a bright light cut through the trees ahead o

t. He pulled me behind a wide tree trunk and

r, slow and steady. A vehicle. It crept along th

y alrea

that eas

st, sweeping over where we'd just run from.

a voice shouted

g inside

ore Renzo pushed me farther behind t

ff!" he shouted. There was something in his voice I

couldn

k. I couldn't see their faces, just their shadows st

ked. His voice didn't have an

irm, fists clenched. There was a fury in him I did

d, reaching toward his waist. I caught a flash of

bout to say something, but

ew minutes

andering tradesman. Not with moves like that. He hit hard, ducked fast, landed punch

flashlight into his head. Renzo let out a raw cry and dropped to his k

y hiding spot, but I barely made a

struggling against the man

assy, unfocused. "Ariana don't " he tried to say

e car," one of

m lifted me like I weighed nothing and shoved me into the back sea

aybe calling my name. I couldn't hear. The glass was too thick. The car

nd disappear. I wasn't crying just from fear. It was the confusion too. And the pain. Something about the

to shift. That soft, pale light before sunrise had begun to show. It used

car. My legs almost gave

stone. Greta was beside him, her mout

one of the men said. No ange

" she hissed, then slapped me hard. My head sn

ything away?!" she screamed.

y ear, my cheek. I could taste blood. I swayed, trying not to fa

stop her. Didn't flinch. Just s

ounding more annoyed than protec

thing hard. Her eyes spa

Nevio said, flat

't even l

again. I was too tire

re stepped out from t

carried himself like he expected the world to listen when he s

k. Focused. Empty. The kind of e

nything. Just g

e SUV. The inside looked rich. Quiet. Like another wor

me with a soft clic

ing on the porch. Still not looking at me. And

r pull

ome, even Renzo it all stayed

daughter. Or a girl. I was payment. Pro

ver came next

speak. The one they

Maur

d now I am being caught, will this be my end? And Renzo who appeared to be my knight in whatever armor he came

, it is only a monster who would demand humans as a payment,

hopeless. If there is any word that would describe how I was feeling it would

is a story or a movie you would need a pa

was only tired but because I had g