Arranged

Chapter Thirty

08/18/2017

This time Kristin wasn't trapped in a cell.

In fact, she was on a stage, standing alone in front of all of Nightfall.

Everyone stared at her as she nervously stood, waiting for something to happen, but she didn't know what.

Suddenly a booming voice announced her name as their Luna and they all began cheering while music started playing.

Her legs walked her to the edge of the stage as she reached down to shake everyone's hands that were held out to her. Smiling faces clouded her view, their hand shakes urgent and jerky.

Although they were smiling, Kristin noticed it looked forced, like they were all just faking their smiles.

She furrowed her brow as she looked around at everyone staring at her, and they all began whispering her name.

"Kristin, Kristin, Kristin."

Their voices grew louder with every word and she tried to back away, wanting to run away from them.

Suddenly she felt a hand tightened on hers, not letting her leave.

It was so hard it was becoming painful and she tried looking at who was grabbing her hand so tightly.

She gasped, blood draining her face as she locked eyes with Rickard.

His mouth twisted into an evil smile, his eyes glistening back at her.

"Hello, Kristin."

His cold voice sent shivers down her spine and she tried to scream.

She wasn't sure where Ryder was, or her parents, but she cried for help.

Her screams only came out like whispers, her voice turning silent.

She widened her eyes as she realized she was now completely mute.

Rickard yanked on her hand, pulling her off the stage.

She started falling and falling, waiting to reach the ground.

She didn't know why the stage was now hundreds of feet in the air, but this meant she was falling to her death.

Everyone else disappeared as she awaited to hit the earth, the fall taking an excruciatingly long time.

Instead of hitting the ground, she was engulfed in blackness as she opened her eyes again, waiting for them to adjust to the darkness around her.

She saw a flash of light gleam from the metal bars in front of her, and she quickly backed away from them, until her back hit a wall.

She reached both of her arms out, feeling walls on either side of her. They were closing in, forcing her to scramble forward, towards the opening of the cell again.

When she reached the bars, she immediately recognized Ryder standing outside of them.

"Ryder!" she tried to speak, yet her voice was still gone.