Oakhill Cottage

Twenty-Three

Stella

I look out the window as the rain pours outside. My hair and clothes are still wet.

As we pull up to a stoplight, I reach for the heat setting and turn it. The heated air warms my feet in seconds.

The light turns green, allowing us to start moving forward when suddenly, another vehicle collides into us from the right. The vehicle T-bones us with such power and speed, causing the limousine to crush into itself.

The sound of compressing metal follows with the loud bang caused from the two vehicles colliding. Glass shatters all around us at the same time.

I was lurched to my right as the vehicle struck us, hitting my head against the door. Something sharp poked into my side right then.

After the crash abruptly stops, the limousine remains still against the crushed hood of the other vehicle.

Feeling woozy, I turn my head against the seat with a grunt, squinting from the daylight as my ears ring. I see Brady unconscious in the driver's seat. Blood leaks down his shoulder from his neck.

"Brady." My hoarse voice whispers.

Suddenly, my door opens to a large, silhoutte man wearing all black. He wears a face mask with his hoodie up so that I can only see green eyes. He has a small tattoo by the corner of his eye. It might have been a cross, but I couldn't tell because I could barely keep my eyes open.

Just when I thought I was being rescued, I realized I couldn't have been more wrong when he quickly threw me to the ground. I let out a loud groan when I drop to my side, causing pain to shoot up every angle of my body.

My side burns even more now, along with my pounding head. My fingertips meet my temple. I spot blood on my hand when I pull them away.

I glance up at the mysterious man just as my eyes roll back. Then, it was black.

. . .

Theo

I sit down in the office with Liam as we discuss how the new Doll Mates are settling in.

"Stacy is pretty comfortable with the house already. She seems to be adjusting to the rules easily too." Liam explains. "Oh and Paige said she found a journal under her bed. Must have another Doll's." He hands me a brown, leather journal.

My eyes widen at it. "That's Stella's." I retrieve it from him slowly and place it in the drawer.

The door opens to Jake bursting through.

I frown at his sudden entrance before he holds a picture on his phone in front of me.

The picture reveals Stella, hunched over and tied to a chair. She has a bandana gagging her mouth and blood leaks on the side of her head. "What the fuck?" I growl under my breath.

"Blue Pistols." He answers my curious expression. "They want you to give up the house in exchange for her in twenty-four hours."

I rise from my seat with a groan.

They've been after us for years. They've been targetting the house everyday for the last decade. At times, they were really close, but never got close enough. This time, they're too close for comfort.

"How did they find her?" I frown at him.

How did they even know about her? For them to know who she is, let alone, her impact on this house, they'd have to know her personally or . .

I frown at the sudden thought and push past Jake. I rush down the hallway in search of Dylan.

Where is that fucker?