Hidden in the Shadows

Chapter 1: Don't ever look back

Alex's POV:
I took a sharp turn down a dark alleyway. The air was murky and muddy, and the streetlights barely illuminated my path, but I couldn't completely focus on my surroundings at the speed I was going. My old battered black high top converse stomp into a giant puddle and I curse under my breath. Shit. Now they'll have a trail to follow when I hit dry ground.

The yells and shouts are still echoing off the ancient stone and crumbling brick walls. They are close behind me.

I pick up speed and block everything out, like what I usually do when my fathers friends chase me. When the chain link fence comes into view I jump and land half way up. When I make it to the top I take the chance and look behind me, wrong decision. Charles is at the bottom of the fence preparing to climb. I suck in a shaky breath but keep going. Right when I'm about to swing my last leg over the fence it gets caught in one of the metal thorns. As if these jeans weren't ripped enough.

I know I'm done for but that doesn't stop me from shaking my leg and trying to escape the metal clutches. But it's useless cause I feel a strong yank on my foot and my body flies back over the other side. Fuck, not again.

"Thought you could run again sweetheart?" The alcohol laced breath overwhelms my nose, and I cringe in disgust. Charles gives me a cheshire smile making me throw up a little in my mouth.

"Why does Charlie always get the piece of ass?" Alaric whines.

"Because he actually works out so he can keep up with this little piece of shit." Mark remarks.

"Shut the fuck up you two. We made a deal. Looks like I get daddies girl tonight." He yanks my arm and starts to drag me. But I make no move to fight or to walk. This is how it always goes. Except sometimes Charles likes to share, but luckily I'll only get taken advantaged by one man tonight.

I could never stand up to my childhood monsters. Unlike other kids, where their monsters were fake and supposedly under their bed, mine were real. And they were always in my bed.
I'm seventeen years old, I only have one more year till I can escape this. I can handle it. I have survived this for eight years already. I can do this. I hope.

Tomorrow is my first day of senior year and I can promise you that it'll be the same as last year. I don't give a shit and no one will give a fuck about me and no one will step in my way. Everyone has already tried to be my friend. No one has succeeded.

I feel a cold slimy thing go down my neck. Shit he's not even going to wait for a room. Right here in the dirt and mud. I guess that's what I deserve. I feel a sharp pain in my side. I turn to look at Charles to see his hand raised above his head again ready to strike. I do my best not to flinch. But when the blow hits the side of my head I can't help but hiss.

"We are going to have some fun!" Charles exclaims. The other two are slowly making a circle around us. They always like to watch. "Grab her arms and hold her up" he commands Alaric and Mark. They oblige and hold me up. I keep my head down and slightly close my eyes.

I feel his hands grip the waist of my jeans and pull down. Then he takes the pocket knife out of his jacket and starts to cut my flimsy T-shirt off. It falls into the thick mud, and like me, it is ruined for ever. All I have left to hold onto is my bra and underwear.

Charles takes a step back to see his progress and licks his lower lip. I feel tears start to form and I close my eyes. Right when I feel his fingers rest at the front of my underwear I hear something.

My head snaps to the entrance of the alleyway to see a guy around my age standing there with shock written all over his face. I quickly turn away hoping he'll just keep on walking. Instead I hear him start to walk towards us. Alaric and mark drop me and turn to one of the gate doors to go into to someone's backyard. Charles looks down at me and before I can register it his fist and foot hit me twice and then all I hear is running footsteps.

"Oh my god, are you okay?!" The man from the alleyway entrance yells. I hear him start to walk toward me but I quickly grasp my jeans and ripped shirt and take off into a different backyard. My body burns in the places where he hit me, but I can't let this guy get to me.

"Wait! I need to get you some help!" The man yells. But I'm already to far away. I can't have anyone knowing about this. If dad gets a visit from the police I'm going to be dead. I can't let anyone help me. I can handle it on my own.

I find a nice corner in a backyard behind a shed. I put my jeans back on and tie my shirt in the places that were cut. I lay my head against the shed and fall into a deep sleep filled with dreams about the boy who tried to save the lost cause, and the monsters under the bed.

Nate's POV:
I searched all night for that girl. She couldn't have gone that far. Ever since I saw her I've felt so sick to my stomach. Seeing her battered and broken body laying there really messed me up. But I could never catch her sent with the rotten smells all around.

In the end I walked back to my car and headed back home. I never got a good look at her. All I could remember was the golden blonde hair that gently flowed in the wind. When I saw those men around her I couldn't breath. They talked about how they did that before and how that one guy always got her. My insides clench. I try to shake it off and pay attention to the road. I drive up to my gates and see Paul standing in the control room for the security.

"Hey Nate, you were gone all night this time I see. How was the party?" Paul is like my best friend, even if he isn't in a high rank in the pack. He has black hair and brown eyes. He's almost as tall as me but we all know that I'll always be taller.

"It was good man" I answer curtly. I'd rather not describe the horror scene I saw late last night.

"Alright well I'll just let you through." The big metal gates open and I drive onto the perfectly arranged path that travels through the small forest that leads to my home.

When I walk inside Laura, my maid runs down the stairs. "Alpha Blakely you are going to be late for school!" Shit I completely forgot that my new school starts a week earlier than my last one. I decided to leave my preppy snob school and go to public school. Too many fake people, I mean, I already get that from my parents. Do I really need to be around people bragging about their cars or their trips to exotic places all day? The answer is no.

"Sorry Laura I forgot." I sprint out the door with my bag half way open and swinging off my shoulder, never looking back.