Prophesied

Five

He clasped chains around Acacia's wrists and she pulled them away. "What the heck?" Charlie shrugged and didn't say a word. Ever since the building came into view it was like someone flicked a mute button, he hadn't said a word. Not one sound. He pocketed the metal key and smirked in her direction. Seemed like that was about to change.

"Boss wants to see you now," he said. He placed a hand on the small of Acacia's back and urged her forward. They went through a door and descended into darkness. "Mind the stairs," Charlie whistled but he said it too late and Acacia's foot fell into nothing.

"Ah!" she screamed and collapsed onto the floor to take the pressure off her foot. She held it tight while her face started to turn an unhealthy blue. Acacia's ankle made a loud crack that echoed through the stairwell. Charlie stood behind her and nudged her back with a toe.

"C'mon, the boss wants to see you now."

"I think I broke my ankle!" wheezed Acacia. Tears slunk down her cheeks and dropped onto the floor. Charlie held out his hand but just as Acacia went to grab it he yanked at her hair.

He got right in front of Acacia's tear-streaked face. He observed her for a second before his face contorted into something evil. "The boss wants to see you right now!" he hissed before he got behind her again and shoved her back with a booted foot. She yelled out in pain and terror as she tumbled down the concrete and damp staircase and rolled through an open door. Acacia moaned and curled into a position of prey; curled up in a ball, holding her head with her hands. Donovan turned around in his leather chair and faced Acacia. When he saw the state she was in he rushed up and kneeled at her side.

"Hello. You must be the famous Acacia Blue everyone has me chasing," he said. His smile told Acacia he was trustworthy and kind but the vacant look in his eyes gave away the truth. He was a guarded man with a frozen heart and many untold truths that he will not even admit to himself.

"Hello," wheezed Acacia. "I think I'm going to pass out now."

She fell limp and her head lolled to the floor. Her eyes rolled back and Donovan scooped her in his arms. He held her tenderly to his body and called for the man who watched from the shadows. "Charlie!"

Charlie came forward. His smirk painted on his face. "Yes boss?" He placed his hands on his waist cockily.

"Did you do this?" Donovan muttered. When Charlie did not reply he threw his head up and roared, "DID YOU CAUSE HER PAIN?" He was the head of the pride and this lion took Charlie's submission as an act of betrayal. "I wanted her alive, Charlie. Yet she comes to me an empty shell of her former self. Why?"

Charlie's left foot twitched nervously on the carpet. His eyes scanned the room like he was trained yet this was his trainer and there was no escape. He muttered something underneath his breath before he straightened his back as opened his mouth; "she was being annoying so I shut her up."

His answer was honest. Brutally honest and Donovan didn't appreciate it at all. He stroked Acacia's hair affectionately. Piece by piece a sliver of ice chipped away from his heart just from seeing this girl. The Chosen One. Donovan wondered what was happening to him, he had never felt love for anyone since his sister but then she betrayed his trust and love for her blew away like pollen in the wind. But when he looked down at Acacia's pained, beautiful face he could feel his heart jump and his skin burned whenever it touched her's. He glared at Charlie, "you're fired. You disobeyed my trust and you hurt the one who could save us all. You're just as bad as my sister," he spat. Charlie flinched and turned to leave.

As he started to descend the staircase he placed his beady eyes on Acacia. "I will find her again and be the one to orchestrate the prophecy. You will regret this."

Donovan ignored Charlie's feeble threat and instead turned back to the stunning girl in his arms. "Everything's going to be okay. I promise," he whispered in her ear. To his surprise, Acacia mumbled something unintelligible and breathed out slowly. Happiness sparkled in his eyes and he knew, he knew that everything was going to be okay.

Hey everybody! So I'm thinking Donovan is falling for a girl he found on his office floor! What do you think? Competition for 'ship' names now open.

Thanks,
Alessandra xxx