Piercing Chill
Chapter 1

I was stupid and reckless. I even passed as pretentious when it came toacting tough. As crazy as it may sound, nineo’clock at night, I was walking home from work. Alone. You would expect aseventeen-year-old to have a car by now or at least have a parent picking themup from work. However, due to my pretentious demeanour, I had convinced my motheronce again that I wasn’t a kid anymore and I could walk and make it homesafely. After all, the small diner I worked at was only a ten-minute walk fromhome.

Cold air of winter whistled into my ears, causing me to shield them withmy wool scarf. Like any other work night, I was walking in a deserted street witha dark forest on my left. Despite the darkness that seemed to seep from theforest, I had never been afraid of walking beside it day or night. I glanced atthe houses on my right. Only a few lights were illuminated. Probably students tryingto finish their homework before tomorrow. I picked up my pace remembering thatI had planned on doing some reading myself before going to bed.

The wind’sviolent blow swayed me from side to side. I clutched my jacket strongly aroundmy body to prevent the cold chills slapping my neck from proceeding further down my back.

Suddenly, the feeling of being watched fused into me like the anti-virusliquid shot that I received once every year. However, there was no piercing ofthe skin. As a strong and pretentious girl I was, I decided to shake thefeeling away. I knew every nook of this road and nothing had ever happened tome or anyone. Why did I had to start worrying now? I chuckled softly at mydevious thoughts.

By far, Amoris was the best place to be. It was incredibly safe.The last crime to be ever recorded was five years ago and it was a theft for asmall pair of earrings from the local jewellery store.

I suddenly heard a woosh soundcoming from my left. I whirled around to get a better glance of what could havepossibly made the sound. There was nothing but the tall dark trees that stoodsteadily despite their astonishing height. I scoffed again. Was my brain tryingto play tricks on me? Trying to rid of my thoughts about the safe Amoris. Ichuckled again and ignored what had just happened.

I felt a different wind pass by me. It opposed the normal cold wind direction.I immediately whirled my head following the altered wind. My hair danced wildlyin front of my face. I quickly brushed it away with my cold fingers. There wasnothing there again. I sharpened my ears for a more definite sound but it wasquiet, except the whistling wind coming from the forest. Panic that I didn’trealise I possessed started settling in my body. My thoughts started going wildwith vivid images of what could possibly have made that sound. A predator? Athug? A stalker? Even worse, a rapist?

No, not a rapist. Whatever that was out there was unbelievably fast andseemed unhuman. This time without a chuckle escaping my lips, I resumedwalking. Unease slowly seeped into my veins as my heart pumped blood all overmy body. Wrapping my arms around my body, I picked up my pace. Whatever was outthere, I could put some distance between us if I walked faster.

Another shuffle sounded from my left. I broke into a run.

I didn’t get very far before two arms lifted me off the ground. Panicplunged to the pit of my stomach. In a matter of seconds, I was pinned on whatfelt like uneven ground. I stifled a scream but my mouth was immediatelycovered by a cold hand. I didn’t want to open my eyes. I didn’t want mycomprehension about Amoris as the safest town in the whole country beingremoved from my system. Most scarily, I didn’t want to see which of the optionsI had listed was standing in front of me. I waited to be barked orders at, butnothing came. Only thick breaths that sounded from my pursuer. He must haveworked himself out to corner me in this position.

I slowly opened my eyes curiously. My breath suddenly got caught in mythroat. What stood before me wasn’t exactly what I expected at all. If I wasn’tin this situation with this creature but maybe in a mall or something morepleasant, I’m sure I would have checked twice if my make-up and clothes wereperfect before approaching him. He had crimson red eyes, unimaginably pale skinand dark lips that teased to be kissed. I shook my head. I wasn’t in a situationto be admiring someone right now. I had to take in my pursuer’s details, justin case I had to report an assault. I closed my eyes a brief moment to composemyself before swallowing the hard lump that I didn’t realise had formed in mythroat. I hesitantly opened my eyes and traced the man’s face.

He was about a head taller than me. He had dark hair, or was it? Probablythe darkness around us wasn’t doing any justice to my vision. I traced histhick eyebrows, dark eyelashes and finally his scrutinising red eyes. For one,two, three seconds, we held each other’s gaze. He looked at me, searching forsomething. For a moment I was afraid he was going to discover every littledetail about me with his gaze. Hence I broke the connection.

“Don’t scream.” His voice deep and demanding sounded, making me snap mygaze back to his face.

He removed his hand from my mouth. As if I was going to listen to him. Iwilled myself to scream but I couldn’t move my lips and my vocal cords seemedto be glued to my throat. Panic increased in volume. I tried to move away fromthe man’s grip but it seemed like I was glued to the ground. I willed myself tobreath, but it seemed my body wasn’t responding to my brain’s commands. Theman’s hands bit into my shoulders, so hard that my eyes began to sting fromunexpected tears. I watched the man as he moved his head towards me. I quicklyturned away, my eyes shut tightly that I saw white spots flooding my vision. Ifelt the man sniff loudly against my neck. He breathed out a sigh beforeremoving himself away from me. I could feel his gaze grazing my skin. I didn’tdare to look. I didn’t want to see his hungry eyes roaming all over my body. Hewas a rapist!

“It is you.” The man spoke,barely a whisper that I doubted my ears heard correctly. “I’ve finally foundyou.”

I blinked my eyes at the statement. What did he mean? I glanced at him, onlyarm’s length away. He chuckled before facing me again. His eyes were no longerblood-red but a mesmerising blue colour. How did he do that? Did he remove hiscontacts while I was cowering against this barky tree? Was he going to devourme now and leave me here lying helplessly? I saw his ill-tempered and hungryexpression slowly change to a sad expression.

“Why is she so beautiful?” The man spoke quietly, I think to himselfmore than to me. He sighed before turning away from me with his hands coveringhis face.

I wiped a small tear that had randomly escaped my eye. My feet suddenlyfelt loose underneath me. I lifted my right leg and attempted to take a stepaway from him. He suddenly whirled around to face me, making me lock my feetback onto the ground.

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you.” The man apologised sincerely,making me question his sudden change of mood. Was he mistaken or something?

Looking at him now. He didn’t look that much older than me. Maybe a yearolder?

“In spite of that, I cannot let you go,” He casually continued, a darkshadow clouding his eyes.

What? I think my panic had reached maximum by now and anytime soon I wasgoing to burst into uncontrollable tears. I searched my surroundings for a wayto escape but there was no direction that looked promising.

“Please let me go.” I begged, my voice finally freed.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.” The man spoke again, stern this time.

So, I had no choice but to attempt to run. The man glanced away from me,stuck in thought. I picked up my purse from the ground, without making anysudden movements to attract his attention and bolted. Of course he wasn’t goingto let me go. I felt two arms pulling me off the ground again. I screamed butmy mouth was quickly covered by the man’s hand again. Dogs barked in thebackground.

Giving up, tears flooded my cheeks. My pretentious attitude gone. Theman abruptly released my waist. I glanced up at him blurry eyed. He wasretreating away from me with his arm lifted in a defensive position. The ironyin this situation made me angry. He retreated from me as if I was the monsterhe was trying to free himself from. He swore repeatedly and loudly before turningaway from me. I slid to the ground, disempowered. There was no way I was goingto be freed from him now.

“Stupid me. She’s supposed to trust me, not despise me.” He swore again,his hands running through his hair angrily.

Who did he keep on referring to? Me? What purpose did I have in hislife? He suddenly whirled his body to face me. I lowered my gaze afraid of whatwas going to happen to me. I saw his black boots close the distance between us.He knelt in front of me before lifting his arm towards my face. I eyed his armthen his face. He was watching me carefully. His sorrowful expression stilldistorting his beautiful face. I cowered, moulding my body to be as small aspossible. Whatever intentions he had in mind were going to be fulfilled now andthere was no going back. I sent a quick prayer to my parents. Parents I wasprobably never going to see again.

His arm that had been hanging in the air for what felt like eternity droppedto his side. He sighed glancing at the ground before facing me again.

“I’m really sorry. Forgive me please?” His voice came out raspy and Icould feel guilt spilling out along with his words.

I dared to glance into his eyes. I found myself under the scrutiny oftwo pools of vibrant ultramarine. The blue in them was exceptional andstriking. No human had eyes like that. I had gazed into a lot of blue eyes inmy lifetime but none were as beautiful as his. I was captivated by his starethat I lost my current predicament.

I was brought back to my senses by his deep, and raspy voice, “I’msorry”

I blinked a couple of times before focusing on my frozen fingers restingon my lap and dared to speak. “What do you want from me?”

I cringed at how weak and defeated my voice sounded. He sighed beforerunning his fingers through his hair. He didn’t respond for ten whole seconds.He seemed to be in fight with himself. Just as he was about to open his mouth,my phone vibrated in my purse. His gaze fell to my purse then back to me. Istared back until he nodded.

“But don’t tell whoever that is where you are and what just happened.”The man warned before nodding again. I swallowed and nodded while getting myphone from my purse.

Mum’s face flushed across the screen. With shaking hands, I clicked theanswer button.

“Honey,where are you?” My mum’s voice cried from the phone’s earpiece. I winced at theworry that radiated from her words. “Do you want me to come and get you?”

“No mum. I’m fine.” I repliedsuppressing a sniffle. I could feel the man’s intense gaze on my face. I knew Icouldn’t disobey him.

“Why are you sniffling?” Shebarked into the phone. “Are you sure you are alright? You know what, I’m comingto pick you up.”

“No mum, it’s fine.” Istopped her before she hung up. “I’m only a block away.”

“Fine.” She sighed. “I’llbe waiting for you.”

“Yes mum.” I finishedbefore cutting the call.

I hesitantly glanced at theman. A small smile was on his lips, “Well done.”

I didn’t reply. Stillunsure of his motives. I just sat there waiting for his orders.

“You can go now. I won’thold you hostage anymore. Just don’t say a word to anyone about this or else, Iwill do more than what just happened today.” Surprised by his words I searchedhis eyes for sincerity.

However, he quickly stoodup before I could investigate them and left my presence. I looked around me suddenlyfeeling alone. Not one figure was in sight. How did he disappear from my sightthat quick? He definitely wasn’t human. I picked myself from the ground, mylegs trembling under me. Not wanting to call more attention upon myself, I ran.

I ran as fast as my coldfeet could take me.