||book 1 of the akotw trilogy|| Hate, abuse, and suffering. That is the reality for 17 year old Channing Darly. She endures the abuse delivered by her stepfather, while also trying to protect her oblivious mother. In order to deal with the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, she often finds herself turning to the blade, and taking her frustrations out on her own delicate flesh. When Channing gets the chance to meet the boys of One Direction at a local signing, she's eager and nervous to share her letters that's she's written to Niall over the past year. They develop a bond that no one seems able to explain; Channing leaves Niall with a stack of her letters, and Niall leaves Channing with the promise that he'll read them, as well as his leather bracelet to remind her that someone is thinking about her. Someone cares. Little does Channing know, that once she let's Niall into her mind and soul through her letters, he'll stop at nothing to mend her broken past. Even when she resists his advances, he lovingly kicks the walls down she's built around her heart; one kiss, one touch, and three little words at a time. They may not have known each other for long... but all they know for sure is that everything has changed... and it started with a kiss on the wrist. ||WARNING|| This story will contain sexual content, as well as many forms of abuse, including: drugs, verbal/physical/sexual abuse, and self harm. It is rated R and not intended for individuals who are underage or lack the maturity to understand such mature concepts. Also, later on, you will find some chapters have been marked as private by Wattpad because of inappropriate content-- please be sure to follow me so that you don't have any problems viewing these chapters. Feel free to watch the trailer in the media section if you need a more visual explanation as to what this story contains. <3 Mandy © 2012

Was it her beauty that reeled me in? The mysterious, deep, color her eyes contained? Or her addictive smile, smell, or even her personality? It was none of these things. The reason she's too afraid and too sad to even talk is what made her even more mysterious and captivating to me. Not talking for six years as a side affect from a tragic accident is what I learned had caused it; her sister and mothers death traumatized her. And my goal is to help her break free, to help her gain the courage to live her life to the fullest. To speak to me.

Millions of Directioners—Niall girls think they know everything about their idol, Niall Horan. Little do they know, he doesn't handle hate like any usual celebrity. He feels lonely, he feels depressed, he feels the need to hurt himself, he feels the need to shoot him down whenever he tries to look good. It doesn't occur to him that many people go through what he goes through. It doesn't occur to him that he just might have found the one that could help him, the one that feels the same way. • National U.S. Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 •