Shattered Trust

Lost In The Night

THIS MIGHT END UP BEING A RUSH CHAPTER SORRY♡

ZOE POV.

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The day had drained me in ways I couldn't quite articulate. My mental health was hanging by a thread, frayed and fragile. After making myself comfortable, I reached out to my aunt and uncle, needing them to know I was okay, even when I wasn’t. Sleep finally claimed me, but the dreams that followed were anything but peaceful.

I found myself at a party, surrounded by friends from school. Laughter echoed around me, but the weight of my worries lingered. Grace and I had indulged a bit too much, and soon, I realized she was gone. Panic surged through me as I called out, "GRACE!"

A voice interrupted my frantic search—a church boy, seemingly out of place in this chaotic scene. “Hey, you need any help?” he asked, his tone lacking the empathy I needed in that moment.

“I’m looking for my best friend, Grace. Brown-ish hair, green and blue eyes, we were matching outfits. She wore a pink…” I faltered, my sobs choking me. Yet, the boy's expression remained blank, almost rude despite his harmless demeanor.

Together, we searched the remnants of the party, but Grace was nowhere to be found. Eventually, he offered to drive me home. “I didn’t know you knew where I lived,” I replied, my voice shaky.

“It’s okay; literally everyone knows where everyone lives. Don’t be scared,” he said, flashing a grin that sent shivers down my spine. I instinctively distanced myself, sensing something off about him.

When we reached the car, I was taken aback by his friends—rougher, louder, and far from who I expected. I tried to stay alert, but exhaustion overtook me, and I drifted into sleep.

That was a mistake.

I jolted awake to the sound of the car idling at a gas station. The boys had piled out, leaving just me and the church boy behind. I could feel his eyes on me, assessing. As he moved to unlock the door, so did I, my heart racing.

When he pushed the button, I bolted, only to be yanked back by one of his friends. His grip was tight, fingers digging into my hair. I felt the panic wash over me, but the numbness of my earlier tears dulled the pain. I fought against him, hair ripping from my scalp, but adrenaline surged through me. I tore away, sprinting toward the woods beside the highway.

They were close behind, and I scrambled into the underbrush, praying they wouldn’t see me. My breath hitched as beams of light swept through the foliage, but in a stroke of luck, they moved on. I waited, heart pounding, for what felt like an eternity before emerging.

Grace’s house was nearby, and I needed someone—anyone—to hold me. I approached her window, hesitant to wake her family. A few tentative knocks were met with silence, then the soft shushing of voices, and the lights dimming. The rejection stung, leaving me feeling more lost than ever.

Defeated, I made my way to my uncle and aunt’s house. As I stepped inside, the familiar stench of alcohol hit me, making my head throb. In the dim light, I heard my uncle mumbling to himself, and a swell of fear gripped 

---- SORRY Y'ALL THIS IS KIND RUSHED----