[Disclaimer: This is the second book in the series, so if you have not yet read the first, I strongly advise you to do so.]
It's been six years since the birth of Aria and Ezra's daughter. Although a teen pregnancy wasn't what they originally planne...
The park is nearly pitch black, although I don't know what I expected. The bright red slide and shiny swings seem ominous in the dark, so different from how they are in the day. It's just the same park as it always is, the one you've been playing at since you could walk I think, trying to reassure myself. But I quickly realize that it's not, because waiting somewhere here is my stalker.
My whole body trembles, and even though I know it's not from cold, I try to zip my sweater up even further. Of course, the zipper doesn't budge, because this is probably the fifth time in the past few minutes that I've done this.
I hear footsteps by the climbing structure, and quickly turn to face that way. And even though I shouldn't be surprised, when I see a hooded figure standing standing there, I completely freeze up. They walk closer to me, until they're standing only a few feet in front of me. I would take a step back, but my whole body feels like a statue; the mask on the hooded-figures face is horrifyingly familiar.
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Suddenly, memories come rushing back to me, ones of fear and danger. All this time I thought they were nightmares from an overactive imagination as a little kid, but now, I know it was all real. All of it; the random man picking me up from school, the long plane ride, being tied to the top of a statue. I thought that I'd always had a huge fear of heights, that I was born with it, but I was wrong. It was only after I was kidnapped and tied way up high that I developed the fear. And one thing relates those horrible memories to now; the mask. I remember it from the hotels at night time, the man had it on one night and was filming a video of himself.
"Hello, Piper." The masked person says, causing me to jump. It's a mans voice, although it almost sounds fake, like when someone talks into a fan.
"It was so nice of you to come," He continues "I was afraid you wouldn't. You're such a brave girl." Don't call me that I want to scream. It's not like I had much of a choice, he would hurt Stella if I didn't come.
"Aren't you going to say hello to me?" V asks. I just stare at him, at his mask, my words caught in my throat.
"H-hello," I choke out, staggering backwards.
"Don't be scared, I won't hurt you." He says. Even though I'm more than glad to hear those words, I can't help but wonder why exactly he wanted me to come.
V walks closer to me, and I continue to back away, my heart pounding loudly in my chest.
"I'm sorry that I've made you scared of me," He says, coming closer "I just needed to know that you were taking me seriously."
Before I really have time to process what he said, my foot catches on the wooden perimeter around the park, and I fall backwards onto the grass. I can't stifle my scream as V stands overtop of me, the scary mask looking down. I try to stand up, but my legs collapse again immediately.
"Go away!" I yell, scrambling backwards on the ground, tears pouring down my cheeks.
"I said I wouldn't hurt you." V replies, holding his black leather-gloved hand out to me.
"But you'll hurt my sister," I whimper "You're not actually nice."
V stays silent, staring at me from behind the creepy mask. I stay on the ground, feeling as if I couldn't move if I tried.
"I'm doing what I have to do." He finally answers.
"You don't have to hurt my little sister!" I cry "She's only eight!"
"I'm not hurting her, and I won't unless you make it necessary for me to." V replies in a low voice "And if you keep listening to everything I tell you, then I won't have reason to."
I just sob even harder, somehow almost forgetting my surroundings. Even though this whole V situation seemed very real before, it's on a whole different level now that I'm right next to him.
"I want to go home." I say in a shaky voice, still sitting on the ground. I immediately fear V's response, my mind flashing to all the horrible things he could do. He could kidnap me right now and no one would have any idea on where I could've possibly gone. My family still thinks I'm asleep in bed.
"Okay." V replies "Go home then."
For a moment I just stare in disbelief, looking at the mask and half expecting that it somehow casted a body-freezing curse on me. But as my arms and legs still move, I slowly stand up, backing away from V. Then, without giving it another thought, I start running from the park. I don't know if I've ever ran so fast in my entire life; not in gym class, not playing tag, and not even when Macyn and I race. It feels as if my legs aren't even part of my body, and if I tried to stop suddenly I wouldn't even be able to. I don't check if V is behind me until I get to my front door, and luckily, the street is completely empty.
I try and slow my breathing as I go inside, making sure I'm as quiet as possible. After locking the door behind me, I go upstairs to my bedroom, taking off the hoodie and gloves and shoving them under my bed. Then, after putting my pajamas on, I walk down the hallway to my parents' room and climb into their bed, laying down right in between them.
