EIRA POV:
Is he crazy? How can he just leave like this? He's so imperious… so rude! Then why—why am I still thinking about him? Ugh! I hope Andy is safe.
I need to sleep. Tomorrow's college.
ADRAIN POV:
How dare he take her? I promised to protect her… and I failed.
If Dawson lays even a finger on her, I'll rip him apart. I still remember the last time I saved her from him.
FLASHBACK:
We were in Washington then. I was running through the forest when I heard a girl's desperate screams—pleading, begging for help.
I followed the sound and came upon a castle. My jaw tightened. I couldn't storm in alone—it belonged to the king of another clan. So I gathered Elisa, Mike, Drek, and others.
Elisa caught my expression immediately. "What happened? Is everything alright?"
"We need to save her. She's in danger."
"Who are you talking about?" Mike's voice was stern.
"I heard a girl screaming inside the other clan's castle. We have to get her out."
"We can't do that. You know the rules."
"He'll kill her, Mike!" My rage was boiling, but I forced myself to stay controlled.
"No more arguments. We're not going." He turned and left.
I slammed the door hard enough to rattle the walls. Fine. If no one would help me—I'd go alone.
I crept toward the castle, hiding behind a tree, waiting for the right moment. Suddenly, footsteps crunched behind me. I spun around.
I smirked. "I thought you weren't coming."
Mike rolled his eyes. "Don't get used to it. Here's the plan—and after this, we're leaving for good."
He explained quickly. The strike was set.
Mike, Drek, Elisa, George, Justin, Harry, and I went through the main gates while others slipped in from behind. Steel clashed instantly—the fight exploded.
"Elisa!" I shouted over the battle.
She parried a blow and yelled back, "Adrain! Go! Find her!"
I bolted deeper inside the castle, tearing through corridor after corridor. But she wasn't there. I smashed my fist on the kitchen table—splintering it into shards.
I turned to leave when—there. A whisper. A faint, trembling sound.
I froze. It was coming from beneath my feet.
I tore the carpet away and revealed a trapdoor. Without hesitation, I ripped it open and descended.
The stench hit me first—rot, rats, mold. The dim room was suffocating. In the corner, on a filthy bed, a girl curled in on herself. Her dress hung in tatters, her face hidden in her lap. Blood and vomit stained the floor.
I knelt carefully beside her. "Hey… it's alright."
She flinched. "P-please… don't hurt me." Her voice was broken, trembling.
"Don't worry. I'm here to save you." I placed my hand gently on her back, pulling her into my arms.
She clung to me instantly, sobbing so hard my shirt soaked through with tears. I lifted her slowly, cradling her against me, and carried her out.
Drek ran toward me. "The king escaped—some of his men too!"
"Doesn't matter. We're leaving now!"
She gripped my shirt in panic, her cries piercing. "He'll come for me! He won't stop until he gets me!"
I stopped, looked into her terrified eyes, and swore with every ounce of my soul.
"He will never touch you again. If he tries, I'll kill him myself. I promise."
Her sobs softened. She pressed her hand weakly against my chest, as if holding on to my words.
I gave her to Elisa to tend her wounds while we regrouped. Later, I went to her room.
"Are you alright?"
She only nodded, her eyes glassy.
Gently, I asked, "Do you want to tell me what happened?"
Her lips trembled, but she forced the words out.
"My name is Andy. I came here for college… I'm an orphan. Every day, on my way from the hostel, I felt someone watching me. I ignored it. Then one day, I saw him—Dawson. He said he loved me, but I rejected him. I already loved someone else. Dustin…"
Her voice cracked, sobs shaking her. I squeezed her hand, steadying her.
"One night… I found Dustin lying in the road. Covered in blood. Dead. I screamed for help—then I felt arms around me. It was him. Dawson."
Her voice dropped to a haunted whisper."'Baby,' he said, 'I told you I love you. But you didn't listen. See what you made me do. Now it's time to go home.' Then… everything went dark."
She swallowed hard. Tears ran freely now."When I woke, I was here. He turned me into a vampire. Forced me to marry him. He beat me… raped me… over and over."
Her voice broke completely. She crumbled into tears.
I held her tightly, fury burning through my veins like wildfire. But I forced it down. She needed comfort, not more fear. From then on, we never left her side. Elisa and Mike became like parents to her. I watched her fight every day to heal from what he did.
FLASHBACK ENDS…
And now, six years later… she's back in his hands.
Andy. I swore to protect you. I swore I'd kill him. And I will. I'll make him pay in blood.
Drek burst into the room, breathless."We found him."
I rose to my feet, every muscle taut, my voice a snarl."I'm coming for you, Andy…"