Marked

Chapter One

{Marked}

Chapter One

   I pull my front door open quickly. "Be home before ten Lilac" My mom calls as I step onto the porch.

"Okay!" I yell back before shutting the door. I begin walking down the street, towards the forest at the bottom of our cul-de-sac. I reach the edge, but before I can venture down the small, well beaten path I hear running behind me.

"Lil!" I hear a familiar voice, faintly behind me.

I turn, and see Lucas running down the road. "Hey Luke" I smile at him.

"What's up?" He asks.

"Escaping for a while. You coming?" I say, gesturing to the path.

"Hell yeah I'm coming. My sisters just came home. Both of them brought their annoying ass boyfriends" He says, rolling his eyes.

I laugh, and start down the path. "Still don't like them huh?" I say.

"No. They don't treat them right. They only like their bodies I'm telling you" He sighs.

Luke has two older sisters. They're twins. They're nineteen, and "hot" as some would put it.

Luke hates their boyfriends, he's convinced that they don't like them. He thinks they're only with them for bragging rights.

I stumble on an overgrown root that has come up on the path. Luke grabs my arm and puts his other hand on my shoulder.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, thanks" I say, before we keep going.

   When we finally reach the end of the path, I sigh. The small, not very well known path, opens into an open area. It has a rather large waterfall that feeds the largest river in my city. Although its only a creek right now, it turns into the river down the path. I grab Luke's arm and we walk up the large stones to the waterfall. I push aside the vines that grow here, uncovering our cave.

Luke and I discovered this cave when we were ten. We meet up here when his parents fight, or when my dad comes home.

I sit down, with my back against the cold cave wall. "Luke have you heard of a soul mate?"

"Yeah, my mom was my dads soul mate. Why?"

"I have one" Luke studies me, no judgment in his eyes. "My mom just told me about this soul mate thing. It's incredibly stupid" I say, shaking my head.

"Well, what if he's really nice? You could end up loving him Lilac. You don't know unless you try it"

"Yeah, or he could end up like my father, an abusive drunk" I say, looking down at the rock that I'm kicking between my feet. 

"Lilac, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"

"I know. Its okay Luke, I'm just on edge because he comes home tonight."

"You can spend the night if you want." Luke offers.

"That would be great, thank you" I tell him. I slump back against the wall, and sigh.

"You don't look as enthusiastic as you sound" Luke smiles.

"I'm aware, I should probably go grab all my stuff from my house before my dad comes home." I tell Luke.

"I'll come with you" he offers.

"No, he could be there. If I'm not at your house in twenty minutes, I'm not coming" I stand to my feet. Luke stands up beside me. He pulls me into a hug, and I sigh.

"I really hope he isn't there. I don't want him to hurt you Lilac" He says.

"I'll be fine Luke. I always am" I smile, trying to reassure my best friend. He shakes his head.

"You shouldn't have to deal with this, it's not fair. No one deserves this. I wish you'd let me tell someone about what he does." I step out of Luke's hug.

"I'll see you in a bit" I smile, before starting down the path.

When I near my house, my stomach jumps into my throat. I see my father's truck parked outside my house. I clench my jaw, and slowly walk up the driveway. I reach my front door and I pull it open slowly. I can already hear my mom yelling at him. They're in their bedroom. Maybe I can make it to Luke's house. I hurry into my bedroom. I throw a bunch of clothes, my phone and it's charger into a bag. I zip it and walk down the stairs to the front door.

"Where are you going?" I hear my father's voice behind me, as soon as I put my hand on the door knob.

"Out" I say with no emotion.

"Don't speak to me like that" He says with a stern tone.

"Ok" I say passively.

"I'll ask you again. Where are you going?"

"I already fucking told you. Out" I spit, turning to him. He walks towards me, and grabs my shirt.

"Stop fucking speaking like that" He says, slamming me back into the door. I don't say anything, I clench my teeth. "You are so disrespectful. You're a fucking disgrace" He yells at me.

"Don't touch me" I say, venom laced in my tone.

"Aw what, did you get all tough after I left for three weeks? Guess what bitch, you don't run the show" He says, pushing me to the side, causing me to fall on the ground. I hit the side of my head when I fall. My father laughs, and walks away. I scramble to my feet, and I grab my bag. I hurry out the front door, slamming it as I go. I rush down my driveway, and out onto my street. I slam into something firm.

"Watch it" A deep voice says. I look up and see a tall blonde guy. I take a moment to notice his muscular form, and shaped jaw.

"You watch it, I was only trying to walk out of my driveway" I snap.

"And you got in my way" he fires back.

"What are you doing out here anyway?" I ask, taking note of the black pickup truck full of boxes.

"I could ask the same of you" He says back.

"I'm walking to my friends house, right there," I point to Luke's house. "Now you answer me."

"I'm moving in, what does it look like?" He says, as though I'm stupid.

"This late?"

"You ask too many fucking questions. Goodbye." He says stepping around me. I watch him walk up to his house. Great. New neighbours.