Protected by the Beast ✔

Prologue

Riley's POV

My shout-out goes to Bulgaria and Cairo

Word count: 1423

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My ginger hair stood on end.

Tremor raced down my spine at an alarming rate and a lump grew in my throat as I watched it unfold right before my eyes, like a movie.

Each movement left a searing pain penetrating deep into my heart.

My legs refused to function even as my mind screamed at me to do something. To move.

To get away. To run.

My breath escaped my nostrils and parted lips in uneven pants as my eyes zoned in on the scene playing right before my eyes.

I shouldn't have gone out. No, we shouldn't have. But it felt perfect, the day and also the moment. Nothing could've prepared us for this moment, facing death right in the face and I can't even say 'death, not today.'

Today was the fourteenth of February, popularly known to most people worldwide as the valentine's day.

It was the day lovers usually expressed their feelings towards each other and dedicate time to be with one another, making sacrifices and exchanging gifts. It was the one day lovers were expected to create time out of their busy schedules just to tell that person how much they meant to them.

My boyfriend of over two years had brought me out tonight to celebrate Val.

His name is Dan Fishers. He has the softest ark brown spiky hair I've ever felt and also the lightest brown eyes I've ever stared into.

Even on my saddest days, his bright smile had the secret weapon of bringing a smile to my face because he simply had the most adorable smile ever.

And this moment was even more perfect because we'd just completed our final exams.

I was supposed to be enjoying this night and also making it a memorable one because I'd planned to finally give my quarterback boyfriend my virginity and confess to him that I was in love with him. He always told me he loved me but I wanted it to feel right when I would say it, and this was the right time.

It couldn't have felt more right.

In two months time, I would clock eighteen and he was one of the only people that had added a bit of spice to my depressing, boring life. He was all I really had, asides from my adopted family We were supposed to be giggling, having fun and creating lovely memories.

But now, standing under the tree at the park where I'd been waiting for him, I couldn't move.

Three men in black suits were standing beside a black shiny car and there was something strange, something dangerous about them. They were armed. Then there was a man in silver suit who stood just a few feet from these men in black and the man in silver suit was speaking to another man who had his hands clasped together like he was begging for his life.

The man in suit had a stony expression, with sleek black short hair put into a bun.

And there was a silver gun in his right hand. He was flipping it in clockwise and anticlockwise motion, slowly and in a relaxed stance. Like he'd done it a thousand times before.

The man he was talking to was elderly, judging from the mixture of the black and shiny grey hair on his head. He kept stuttering while begging.

Then the elderly man went on his knees, with his hands still clasped together.

I took a step back, then another till I was huddled behind the tree as I peeked, eyes wide, legs trembling. I should call the cops but I couldn't even find the courage to bring out my phone.