A Life For A Life

Prologue

My sister had been missing for three days. She had been living with me since our parents died... And had only been out to go to the store! I was sitting in my room under the comforter when I heard the ring of my doorbell. I walked down the stairs and to the door, a gust of chilling wind blew at me as soon as I swung it open, facing a letter written in such a deep hue of scarlet that it resembled blood. The writing was precise and sharp. The red substance was written with that of a pen, so it definitely couldn't be blood... or could it. I shivered with horror and picked up the eerie letter, practically bolting back to my room after swiftly closing the door. I opened up the letter and read:

My Dear Violet~,

I have your sister. Don't be scared my dear, she is still alive... But not for long. If you ever want your sister to see the light of day again, you will meet us at the warehouse by the bay. Be there by midnight.
~Your Worst Nightmare

Tears welled up in my eyes as I read. Who would do this to such an innocent girl...? She saw the good in everyone, even if it wasn't deserved, and it angered me that someone so evil-hearted would do this to her. I felt a pain in my chest as I let out a sob that shook my body. I had to get her back.

After what seemed like hours of crying, I picked myself off the ground and wiped my eyes. I had to do this for her, she had a whole life ahead of her and if I couldn't save her I wouldn't be able to look myself in the eye again. I glanced over at the clock on my phone, 11:30 P.M. I needed to get ready to leave.

I walked down the boardwalk with a soft shiver from the 40 degree wind cutting through my thin jacket like a knife. I soon made my way to the warehouse, about two minutes early, but there he was. He had my little sister clenched in his tight grip. She began to squirm whenever she saw me, causing him to quietly yet sharply chastise her. She nodded and stood obediently, not wanting to be hurt, flinching at every movement he made.

"So, you've come to claim your sister I see." he says with a smirk, his brooding english accent making the situation even worse as I felt his dark eyes land on me, "It's not going to be as easy as you think darling. Now, Annabella, go to your sister and stand beside her."

My sister practically runs the seven feet between the man, who couldn't be older than I, and where I've been standing. She practically tackled me in a hug as if I was air and she were drowning. She let out a quiet sob as I hugged her to comfort her. I looked at the man and quietly, but tensely, asked "What do you want... my money, a place to hide...? What is it?"

"A life for a life my dear." He says nonchalantly. My breath hitched as I finally realized, he was going to kill me. I had probably turned as pale as a ghost. I heard him chuckle and ask, "cat got your tongue?"

"I'm sorry Annabella... I'm sorry that it has to be like this. Go home and tell Pumpkin I love him for me... Okay?" I ask shakily and she sniffles, nodding then sprinting off. Pumpkin, my cat, had been a gift that my parents had got me when I moved out, about two years ago. My parents had been begged and begged for years by my sister and I for a cat. I looked over to him and see a feigned look of sorrow, of regret. My eyesight was blurry as I felt hot tears slide down my face.

He began to walk towards me as I wasn't paying attention. He pulled me into his warm arms, startling me. To the blind eye, it seemed like what could've been a hug shared between two lovers... But in reality, it was my end. I watched as he unsheathed his shiny dagger but felt no fear. I felt his dagger press against my throat and my vision blurred. I watched as my blood poured out onto the pristine white snow. I felt everything yet nothing all at once as I leaned against him to keep from toppling over. The earth around me began to fade as I gripped onto whatever life I had left. Suddenly, everything was black.