Running from Monsters (The Broken Trilogy Book 2)

Chapter One

New Year's Eve. A night that people believe is symbolic because someone hundreds of years ago decided it was the last day of the year. A night where people get all of their bad habits out of their system before promising to do better in the new year. Usually, though, those promises don't stick.

Mia always hated New Year's Eve. But this one, in particular, she was looking forward to. Tonight was the night she needed to sneak out and meet her mysterious note writer. She had no idea who it was, or what they were going to "explain" to her. The not knowing was killing her.

But something in the back of her mind was nudging at her. Telling her that this mystery person was someone she knew and shared a close bond with. She couldn't decipher more than that though.

"Why aren't you enjoying the party?" Andie appeared next to Mia with a party-sized bag of Cheetos and shoving handfuls in her mouth. Her hands were stained neon orange.

"I'm not really in a party mood," Mia admitted. With everyone on lockdown, they decided to actually have a party this year for New Years'. All of the hunters were really into it considering their lives are a real borefest, but Mia was just waiting for the right time to sneak out.

"C'mon. One dance?" She held out her hand to lead Mia to the dance floor, which was really just the combat training mat.

"Not with you orange-hands." Mia knew she wasn't going to let it go, so she walked onto the mat and approached the only other friend she had in this place.

"Hey? Wanna dance so Andie will get off my back?" she asked and pointed over at Andie who was shoving another mouthful of Cheetos in her face.

Ethan laughed. "Sure." He waved over at Andie and smiled. She shot them a neon thumbs up that glowed in the party lighting.

Ethan and Mia danced for a few songs and kept the talking to a minimum. She had started to tolerate Ethan during her time in recovery after getting beat up at the trailer park massacre, but she still wasn't sure she would call him a friend yet.

The only good part of this party though was that Vince wasn't down there. He and the rest of his brothers were serving as security around the compound per the request of their annoyingly uptight father. So, at least she didn't have to deal with him ignoring her all night.

Mia still wasn't exactly sure what had happened between them. It's not like they were dating or anything, but she felt a spark with him. And then he just shut down and started avoiding her. She didn't care to press the matter though. Why chase after someone who has no interest in you?

After a few songs had passed, Mia moved off the dancefloor and checked her watch. She needed to make her move now if she was going to escape. Feeling in her jeans pocket, she checked to make sure the crystals was still there. It was.

Step two. She made her way over to the guy who was trying to be the DJ but was really just watching the sound system and shuffling through a playlist.

"I have a request for the next song."

"Cool, what is it?"

She told him and then walked back onto the edge of the dance floor near the exit door as she waited for it to start. She knew that the song she was going to pick needed to distract everyone enough to where they wouldn't notice her slip out the door. And from what she knew about these guys, they loved stuff that made them feel like they were normal people. So, she picked the perfect song that she knew that wouldn't pass up.

The beginning of the Cha-Cha slide came on and all of the hunters started to lose it and ran for the dance mat to join in. Once they turned away from her, she bolted out the door, grabbed the invisibility crystal and channeled its power.