Prologue
Dear diary,This is it. Tonight is the night everything changes. While the Coven is busy celebrating *her* birthday, I make my stand. Nobody will see me, nobody will hear me. I’ve known for a long time I’ve wanted to escape this place, but I was hesitant. But knowing now what I do, there will be no more hesitation, only action. My life is at risk and I will not just lay down and accept it, I am stronger than that. No more will I submit to their whims, no more will I take the blame for *her*.
My best, and only, friend Elsie should be in position now, so it’s only a matter of time until I am free from this place. Speaking of time, it is almost midnight, and I need to get in position.Good bye for now.
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With that I shut my diary, stuffing it into my backpack with the rest of my meager belongings. With a deep breath I take one last look around my bedroom, if it can even be called one. It’s cramped and dark, with a a thin dirty mattress pushed up against a wall under a window, the only source of light I ever get. The bedding consists of a single, threadbare blanket. That’s it. Not even the luxury of a pillow.My eyes roam the cramped space and landed on the only other piece of furniture I own, and old broken mirror I managed to save from the trash a few years back. My mother was unimpressed, but let me keep it, because what harm could it do?I take one last look at myself, my brown eyes squinting from behind the big thick glasses I wear. Dyed black hair frames my pale face, although most of it is hidden under the worn out hoodie I wear. Threadbare, faded jeans and a pair of holey sneakers that barely fit do very little to protect from the cold chill of early spring.I am tall, about 6ft, and visibly malnourished, making what little clothing I own look far too big for me. I am thankful for that, though, as baggy clothing helps me hide the bruises on my arms and legs. Yep, bruises, my parents are not nice people, but that will soon be in the past.
I get pulled back from those dark thoughts by the sound of a light rain on the roof of the house, the light patter signalling that it’s almost time. I take one last deep breath before I creep down the stairs to the back door. I know I don’t need to worry about making noise as I’m the only one here, but old habits die hard. Slipping out the back door, making sure it’s closed behind me, I turn and sprint towards the border of our territory, knowing that the moment I cross over my life will be forever changed.As the rain starts getting heavier I push myself harder, until the dim glow of the borderline comes into view, with a red light glowing in the distance, right where Elsie told me she would be waiting. I slow, then come to a stop right as I reach the edge, knowing that if I try to cross too soon the coven will be alerted and come after us full force.That’s right, coven. We’re witches. Elemental witches, to be specific.A loud clap of thunder sounds overhead a few moments later, the signal for me to cross, it’s now or never!Pausing for only a fraction of a second, I launch myself over the border, sprinting towards the small, red car in the distance. I mentally thank the goddess for all the running they make us do in school, unknowingly preparing me for this exact situation.
“Drive!” I whisper yell to Elsie as I throw myself into the front passenger seat, slamming the door shut as another peal of thunder rings out around us. “With pleasure!” She replies as she slams her foot down on the accelerator.We shoot off into the night, eager to put as much distance as possible between us and our past, and get to safety to enjoy our newfound freedom.
