These Starcrossed Lives of Ours

Prologue

Prologue

Christine

"Do it Christie," Annabelle said, a smile forming on her beautiful face. "If you want to be in, you have to prove it."

My grip tightened on the knife in my hand. The girl below me on her knees was begging, tears pouring down her face. "Please," she whimpered, her hands folded together in a prayer. "Please don't do this. We went to school together, Christie! You know me! I promise I won't do it again."

"We don't take traitors here," Annabelle snarled, and she smacked the girl across the face. The girl let out a yell and went flying to the floor, her shoulders shaking in terrible sobs. "You tried to run away. This is the price you have to pay for trying to leave us."

"Christie," the girl said again. I looked at the knife, my brown eyes dancing on the reflection of the blade. I couldn't do this. I wouldn't. I had to tell Annabelle no. My whole body started shaking, in fear or in revulsion I didn't know. I had just turned sixteen. Was this my birthday present? An innocent woman's blood on my hands?

"Christine," Annabelle said, and her melodic voice crawled over me, causing a shiver to run up my spine and my heart to do back flips at the same time. She put her manicured hands on my shoulders and kissed my cheek lightly, letting her lips linger for just a moment. "You know I love you. You'd do anything for someone you loved, wouldn't you?"

"She's trying to trick you. Don't listen," the girl wept. Her dirty hair fell in front of her eyes, and the rags she was wearing barely draped over her famished frame. She'd been down in this basement for over a year, with no light and little food on Annabelle's orders. It had taken this long for Annabelle to decide what to do with her. And when she'd finally decided, she'd chosen me.

"You're as good as dead already," Annabelle hissed. "And Christie," she said, and I instantly snapped to attention. "Don't forget that if you don't do the job, I'll make sure to kill you next."

Annabelle pulled her own knife out of her pocket and pointed its tip into my back, digging in ever so slightly so that I began to bleed. I glanced back at the crying girl, who was shaking her head frantically at me. I'd be more merciful than Annabelle...I'd make it quick.

"I'm so sorry, Faith," I said, and tears formed in my own eyes. "I have no choice." I sprung forward, and as I drove the knife into Faith's stomach her screams rippled throughout the house so everyone above could hear. I winced as I felt her blood splatter across my face as I stabbed her again, the knife tearing across her middle. She fell to the floor, holding the place where I had cut open her insides. Annabelle watched the scene with a twisted smile.

When the screaming finally stopped I rose to my feet, suppressing the urge to vomit. I had just killed someone, all because Annabelle had asked me to. What was wrong with me?

"Well done, Christine," Annabelle said, and from out of her pocket she pulled a five-pointed star necklace, looping it around my neck and fastening it lightly. "You're one of us now."