The Shifters

It was a plain, grey, uneventful day in the heart of London. And, within the heart of London, on that plain, grey, uneventful day, there lived a girl. That girl's name was Florence Carter. She too found that day plain and grey and uneventful. In fact, she was doing revision on a dull, gloomy Sunday! However, that plain, grey, uneventful day was about to change. And change, it did. For, within the heart of London, on a dull, gloomy Sunday, Florence Carter's door was kicked in by strange men in white suits, grey leather shoes and black sunglasses...

Bang.

Bang.

BANG!

There were three loud thuds at the door. And then, silence. Complete and utter silence.  A Silence that made my heart stop. A Silence that made my breathing stop. A Silence that scared me.

Then, there was a scream. A scream that froze time. A scream that froze every atom, every molecule in my body. A scream that panicked me.

And, it was within that moment, that very moment, that I knew something was wrong. And it made my blood curdle.

I snapped out of my frozen state of mind and leaped into action as my brain kicked into gear.

I threw down my pen and paper and charged out of the room, my door banging against the wall and my feet scrambling across the landing.

I leaped down the stairs three at a time, just in time to hear my mother's words of warning.

"Run, Florence!" my mother screamed. The scream was one of sheer horror and panic- a scream that froze your blood and shattered glass. I was unsure about whether to listen to her stern words. I didn't know where to run. I didn't know why I had to run. I didn't know who I was running from.

What was the banging noise?

Why was my mother screaming at me?

Who were those men in white suits that are charging towards me right now?

Acting on impulse and impulse alone, I followed her orders, pumping my legs through the hall, to the kitchen and into the dining room.

My mothers screams were still audible from the lounge.

I fumbled around for the keys to the back door, scanning around frantically. 

"C'mon," I muttered. "C'mon, c'mon," I repeated, as my eyes searched and panic began to break through. I could here footsteps closing in behind me. Never, in my life, had I felt relief in the way that I did, when I found the keys which, were poking out being the back of a toaster.

I thrust the key into the lock of the door and twisted it hurriedly as the army of heavy-footed men's footsteps advanced ever further. I flung open the door and shot out like a rocket, desperate to escape whatever men were chasing me.

"Go Florence, go," my mother sobbed from inside the house. You could now barely hear her whimpers. However, I've always had very acute hearing...

I didn't know what the men in white suits were chasing me for. I didn't know what they wanted. I just had to run and so, run I did.

My heart thudded like a drum in my chest as my breathing became difficult. However, I wasn't tired as such. Whether it was the adrenaline that was rushing through my veins or another unknown reason, I felt as if I could carry on for miles. In fact, I was rather enjoying the chase. The feeling of somebody hot on your pursuit, the feeling of running and leaping.

It was all rather excitable.

I found myself smiling with pleasure as my feet hit the damp grass beneath me and I leaped onto the brick garden wall like a cat. I accelerated further when I heard the men's footsteps join the wall with mine. These men were fast. Very, very fast. Considering I came first in every single athletic event (even against the steroid induced boys) these guys were like cheetahs!

I pumped my legs towards the fence as I hopped over it and for a quick, brief moment, I felt as if I were flying, as if I were as free as a bird. I still felt that feeling of adrenaline as I landed on the other side of the tall, wooden fence. That feeling, that feeling of freedom and of adrenaline, was cut short, however.

Because, now, I was met with a dozen men. All in white suits. All with grey, leather shoes. All with black sunglasses.

The men that were chasing me joined me on the other side of the fence too. The men formed a circle around me. There was nowhere to run. There was nowhere to hide. I could only stand there helpless, defeated, weak... One of the men in suits approached me. He had a cloth in his hand. I tried to push him back but he was far too strong. His muscles were thick and powerful, his eyes were cold and steely.

"What do you want?" I asked. My voice wobbled unsteadily as I felt tears begin to threaten to escape from my eyes. 

"You," stated the man who was now only inches away from me. I could see the cold, sly glint in his alligator- green eyes. I hear every single breath he took. I could see the sly smirk that replaced his previously blank expression.

He then forced the cloth onto my face and I had no choice but to inhale it.

It smelt like chemicals.

Whatever was on the cloth took an immediate effect; everything around me became hazy and began swaying. A sickening sensation grew in the pit of my stomach. A dull, gnawing headache appeared.

"I love you, Flo," a soft, distant voice whimpered. She sounded very familiar. Although, in my drugged state, I couldn't work out the person behind the strangely comforting words.

"I love you, my little tiger,"

Then, I blacked out.

A/N: Hey, if you are reading this, thank you so much for clicking on my story! I am only 13 so I apologise for any gramatical errors. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter and if you enjoyed it so much that you would like to vote or comment, be my guest!

Once again, thank you for reading- it really does mean a lot!