The Story of Justice

Chapter One; First Impressions.

He was there again.

Staring at her across the other side of an opening in the forest. She recognised the place, it was somewhere she'd always ran to when she needed to breathe. Breathe in air that wasn't congested with nicotine, or weed smoke, or the stench of alcohol. Truly breathe in fresh air (well as fresh as city air could get) and clear her head.

She knew the place and she knew him. She'd been dreaming of him for a while now. Him, with his olive skin and his piercing green eyes. She found them so unusual. One day they'd be as green as the leaves on the big oak tree that she was so fond of sitting under. Another day, they'd take on the discoloured green of the elm tree leaves in the autumn. Today, she could've sworn that they had a warm hint of hazel in them. The hazel was her favourite.

Like other days, she called out to him. Asked him who he was, what he wanted, why he stared at her. But he never replied to her, or even acknowledged that he'd heard her, he'd just continue looking.

"You know, in the real world, I think you're what they would call a stalker." She yelled over to him. "Why do you come here all the time?"

As expected, he gave no response and she sighed.

"Fine! Don't answer me, but can you stop showing up here? You're starting to creep me out a little." She said hopping down off the rock she'd been sat on. "Even if you are incredibly handsome."

Like usual, she walked away from him until she was out of the enclosed area and back onto the forest path. She hadn't counted on him following her, let alone speaking.

"Wait." His voice boomed through the trees and it was almost like she couldn't help but turn around to face him.

She swallowed, trying to control her shaky voice. "Y-Yes?"

"I'm coming."

She blinked at him. "W-what? What do you-"

But she didn't get to finish her sentence.

The scene around her was darkening. Trees were blurring, the clouds blackened consuming the rest of the blue sky, and he was slowly disappearing the way he always did when she was about to wake up.

"Goddamnit! Really? Right now??"

Her eyes opened and she cursed. This was the first development she'd had in about of a month. Do you know what a relief it was not to have the same recurring dream?

She lay there for god knows how long, trying to decipher what this little advancement had meant. It was only when she had racked her brain to the point of frustration that she decided to get up.

5.45 am

Nobody else in the house would be awake. Her mother would probably be sleeping off a hangover with her latest man friend. This one had stuck around long enough for Justice to actually know his name.

Stephan.

Just saying it gave her chills. He made her extremely uncomfortable. He was a thug and every bit proud of it. She wasn't exactly sure what it was that he did, but she knew damn well it was something illegal. She'd tried to tell her mother just that only to be told that he was "looking after them". That was the end of that subject.

She didn't need anyone to look after her. On top of school, she worked two jobs to make sure she never had to ask anyone for anything. It wasn't like she was surrounded by people who would jump at the chance to help her anyway, nor did she like the idea of asking for help. She was very private.

Yawning, she slid off her bed and padded across the room to her calendar.

"Not long now. Not long and I'll be free." She sighed crossing off the day. "Free and out of this hell hole."