NATALIE

I groaned as Gina, my best friend, dragged me behind her through the huge crowd of people in an unfamiliar house.

I stopped, tired of pushing my way through the rowdy, drunk teenagers.

I snatched my hand from hers and covered up my ears from the blasting music.

"Gina!" I shouted over the music. "This was a bad idea! Let's go! If my mom knew where I was right now, she'd--"

I was cut off by Gina rolling her eyes and walking away, expecting me to follow, but I didn't.

Instead, I angrily shoved past a wasted couple, groping each other to get to the sliding glass back doors. I slid them open and stepped outside into the warm, summer night.

Pulling a hand through my long, light-brown hair, I sighed in relief as I filled my lungs with fresh air.

Only a few people huddled up in a corner were outside.

I was so angry at Gina. She said it was going to be a small get-together her boyfriend, Reggie, was throwing.

But I should've known what it really was!

How could I be so foolish?!

She should've told me the truth. I mean, I understand that she didn't because she knew I'd disapprove, but what did she expect?!

My father was a preacher before he died and now that he's gone, my mother had taken over our church.

Did she really any difference from me?

I was raised to make good decisions and that is my number one priority.

Not drugs.

Not alcohol.

And definitely not boys and sex.

I'm a goody-two-shoes and proud of it.

I coughed as a mix of pot and cigarette smoke reached my nose.

I rolled my eyes and began slowly walking around the house toward my car--

Oh no.

Not my car.

Shoot.

I had completely forgotten that we drove Gina's.

I shrugged and decided to walk back to my house.

It wasn't that far. I'd done it before. Just not in the dark...

I took a deep breath and started to walk in the direction of my neighborhood.

There was really only one part of town that I was worried about walking alone, but I knew the way somewhat well and knew I could easily cut through the alley and skip most the area.

I slowed down a bit and took out my phone, remembering the safety tips our school announced every year, ready if necessary to pretend to be on the phone.

I looked both ways of the deserted street before crossing quickly down the block.

"Look, I'm not here to talk."

I began to hear voices coming from the alleyway.

"I know. Don't worry. I can handle him. He's as good as dead." A man started only to be cut off by the same voice from earlier.

"Shut the fuck up. I hear something." He said, suspiciously.

I heard something click and my voice hitched as I stood as still and silent as possible.

"Who's there?!" He demanded.

I clenched my eyes tightly only to hear him sigh.

"Alright, go ahead." He ushered the man to speak.

I let out a shaky breath, relieved that I hadn't been discovered.

I'd just wait here until they left then I'd cut through.

I went to lean against the wall and my shoe scuffed slightly acrossed the pavement, causing me to gasp.

Anxiety rushed through me as I heard the men's voices seize.

I thought for sure I'd been discovered as I squeezed my eyes shut, but then I heard this.

"Must be the wind." He said casually. "But look, Alex, we'll have to continue this little meeting later. Don't disappoint me." He warned as they said their goodbyes.

I waited a few minutes until I was absolutely sure they were gone before sighing loudly and walking cautiously into the alley.

Seeing no one there, I picked up my pace relieved.

My phone buzzed and I stopped a moment.

It was Gina asking where I was.

As I began typing a reply, I felt cold metal pressed firmly to the temple of my head.

I gasped loudly as my body froze.

I heard a dark chuckle behind me.

"Well, well, well." A deep, husky voice with a slight British accent said. "What do we have here? An eavesdropper, are we?" He smirked.

I began to turn slowly in a panic, but he roughly shoved me back around before I could see his face, followed by the same click I'd heard earlier.

The click of him cocking his gun.

"P-Please." I started as tears formed in my eyes. "I-I didn't hear anything! I wasn't eavesdropping!" I pleaded, only to hear him chuckle and press his gun harder to my head and grab the collar of the back of my shirt.

He shoved me against the cold stone building, my face to the wall as he pressed his heavy body firmly against my back.

"Look, bitch." He sneered as I cringed at his language. "I know exactly what you heard. And what you heard was too much. I couldn't possibly just let you go." He acknowledged as my eyes widened. "I'll have to kill you." He shrugged.

I began to really panic as I thrashed wildly and unsuccessfully under his grasp.

"HELP! SOMEBODY HELP ME!" I began to yell.

In an instant, I felt a hard blow to my head before everything went black.

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