broken thieves

sixteen

Aurora

I sigh as I struggle to find something to wear today. I have a lot more clothes stored away in my closet than I used to, but I'm still never sure which outfits to wear on which days.

I eventually settle on a random, black dress tucked into the corner of the closet. It's a little short, but it's a nice day out today so I don't exactly mind.

I continue the rest of my usual morning routine; brush my hair and teeth, secure the bracelet that Dad gave me for my birthday around my wrist, before heading downstairs to find something to eat. I notice that there's a few slices of bread left in the packet, so drop them into the toaster and take out a plate from the cupboard.

Once I've finished eating my breakfast, I plan to head over to Maeve's house, hoping to watch Alyx paint for a bit. But as soon as I step out of the house, something catches my eye.

A bright light shines out from the trees of the woodland. At first I think it's a torch, until I realise it's the reflection off the sun blinking off of some shiny object.

I try not to think much of it, but it's right in the corner of my eye and it bugs me as I walk past.

I know I shouldn't go to investigate, but for some reason I'm pulled towards it, as if the woodland is the centre of the Earth and I'm being pulled in by gravity. I keep walking through the field until I've reached the trees and peer through.

Suddenly, the light goes out.

I take another few steps forward, searching around. "Hello?" I say, expecting one of the other thieves to answer. But no one does. There's no one here.

I'm about to turn back around and get back to where I feel safe, but then there's something else that my eyes are drawn to. I step even closer, trying to work out what it is, but all I can see is a mound on the floor, faintly smelling of smoke and ash. I really don't know what it is.

Then I'm shoved harshly to the floor.

I end up sprawling in the undergrowth, struggling to get up to my feet as my body suddenly feels a hundred pounds heavier. I stand to my feet and turn around, ignoring the searing pain in my knees and hands, but there's no one there.

What the fuck?

I spin around again, desperately searching for whoever might be out here. The mound on the floor is right beside me now, but I still don't know what it is. But now it's starting to stink, like a rotting animal corpse laying in the heat of the sun.

Then I'm hit around the head, my skull exploding with pain. I struggle to stay on my feet as I sway, clutching at my head and willing my ears to stop ringing. My vision blurs as I search frantically, so much that I can't see who it is who suddenly stands right in front of me.

Pulling my hands away from my head, I see that I'm stained with blood. Then I look up at the face.

Victoria.

Not again.

Please, not again.

There's a murderous gleam in her eyes as she glares down at me. She's just as majestic as last time, just as beautiful with her perfect figure and flawless skin, but looks can be deceiving. And hers definitely are.

She lunges at me before I can even think of running. We both collapse to the floor, and I'm in too much pain to get up. Her hands find my throat. They tighten.

I can't breathe.

She keeps adding pressure. I claw at her hands with my nails, but they somehow get tighter. My throat is being crushed, my lungs are on fire.