Rare Breed

Chapter 1

"Selene Everest," his memorizing gaze locked onto mine, his voice soft, but laced with authority and power, "put the cookie down and nobody gets hurt." Theo stood on the other side of the counter, looking like he was ready to pounce at any minute.

"What, you mean this cookie?" Selene said innocently slowly bringing the cookie to her mouth, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Before she knew it, Theo launched himself over the counter. Selene turned to escape, but before she knew it, Theo was scooping her up into his strong arms. Theo snatched the cookie out of Selene's hand and ate it in one bite.

"I told you little one, the last cookie was mine, you already had three of them. Now finish your juice, you can come listen in on the meeting."

Selene could not understand Theo's obsession with constantly making her drink her juice. She stared down into her green plastic cup, trying to figure out what was so special about the dark red liquid. Brushing off the thought, she swallowed the remaining contents of her cup and wrapped her arms around Theo's neck as he carried her off to the conference room where Theo held all of his important meetings.

Selene woke up to the rain drenching her ragged clothes. The shackles attached at her wrists, holding her upright, prevented her from being able to move and seek shelter. That memory had been ten years ago. How much my life has changed since then when I was a carefree happy six-year-old. Theo, my childhood savior, must believe I am long gone. How I held hope for so many years that he would come to my rescue, just as my tormentors claimed he would.

Theo had taken me in while I was a child, my mom never told him who my father was, but she trusted Theo with my life when hers was coming to an end. The last thing my mother ever said to me was to trust Theo as he was made for me and that he will always protect me.

My mother was right, Theo always protected me, whether it be from nightmares or bullies, he was always there for me. He kissed every cut and bruise I got and always went with me to explore the greatness of the woods on the property. Whenever I was in Theo's arms, I always felt like I was in the safest place in the world, surrounded by love and warmth.

I was just about to turn 13 when my entire life changed. Theo was away on an urgent business trip and I was left in the care of my bodyguards. Theo had once told me that his line of work is very dangerous and there are a lot of people out there who will do anything to hurt him. He made me promise to never leave without either himself or a bodyguard with me. However, on this dreadful day, I had decided I would be fine to go play in the yard by myself. I was almost 13, I didn't need any babysitters. Plus I was still on the property, so it's not like I left to go anywhere. I would be fine.

Unaware of the hunters in the woods, watching me run around the yard, I put my headphones in and went about dancing through the yard. The only sign I had before the hunters pounced on me was a warning in my head that there was danger near. But I was too late, next thing I knew I arms grabbed me and a rag was placed over my nose and mouth. I tried to scream and kick, anything to get free, but then I felt a prick in my neck and the world started to turn blurry.

And that is how I ended up here. Unlike normal 16-year-olds, who have a fancy party and get their first car, I got to spend the last 3 years of my life tortured and strung up every night in hopes of luring Theo into the hunters' trap.

The hunters believe that I am the key to getting Theo. They believe that he will give up his life to save mine and then the hunters will finally have the power they crave as the hunters know they cannot defeat Theo in a fair fight. Each night after I am dragged out of the underground cellar where I am kept, the hunters shackle my wrists together over my head and pull the chain uptight, forcing me to my feet, my toes barely brushing the ground. Then they take a knife and make a shallow cut into my body, a new place every time, just deep enough to where I bleed, but never deep enough to cause serious harm. The hunters tell me that my blood will attract Theo. A part of me wishes that they are right and that Theo will show up one of these nights and save me from this nightmare. I long ago lost hope that this was just some terrible nightmare that I would wake up from and find Theo's arms around me.