Chapter One
Annabelle’s POV
Monsters are real, but they don’t hide under your bed. Nor do they hide in your closet, or in the darkest part of your room. They don’t have sharp teeth, inhuman eyes, or are supernatural beings. All of them are human.
They can seem so sweet and charming, be handsome and look angelic. Or have wild eyes and a twisted smile on their face. They can be loved by many for the fake act they show people, lying to get what they want. Or be hated by many and be a loner. But under all that they are honesty like a soul sucking demon. When their true colors come out, nothing you do can ever save you.
These monsters can be your flesh and blood, your best friend, the person down the street, even your own partner who swore to love you.
When you close your eyes, you can see them ever so clearly, as if their still in front of you. Haunting your dreams, and taking over your mind till the day you die.
They’ll leave deep and painful wounds that never truly heal, but these kind of wounds no can see. Because they are the wounds on your soul, slowly ripping you apart from the inside. You can’t just run or hide from them, nor can you run from the damage they’ve inflicted on you. You can try to, believe me. But it won’t work, it will never work. They’ll catch you in their web of horrors, and drain you of your soul. You can cry and scream if you want as well, but it won’t do anything to save you. No one will come to save you, this isn’t a fairy tail movie. Or a book your mama reads to you as you drift off to sleep. Your knight and shining armor will not ride into the night and save you from these monsters. If you think that will happen, well you’ll find out what the world truly is like.
So, tell me, have you ever met a monster? Did you get away in time, did you get ever so lucky to escape their grasp? Or did they destroy you like they have me?
My brown eyes used to be so beautiful. They were full of life, so bright, and pure. Now if you look into them, their dead and lifeless. If you look closer, you’ll see the darkness I’m trying so hard to hide. My innocence was taken away in such a ruthless way, at such a young age.
As for my childhood? That was destroyed by THEM, and shattered into such small pieces that if I tried to fix it... I’d cut myself apart, bleed out in my soul. Such a tortured childhood that even the devil himself couldn’t create.
Growing up, I had a normal childhood from what everyone else could see. But behind closed doors, I didn’t at all. I learned from a young age that monsters are actually humans. I also grew up with a cult, they tried to brain wash me into thinking the devil is one true god. But do to being on a autistic spectrum, I never thought nor believed in it. I didn’t believe in life after death. I’ve seen animal and even human sacrifices, but saying something to anyone will get you killed. So I was made to keep my mouth shut. It was like living with people who never seemed human to me.
They wait for the right time to strike, like a cheetah waiting for its pray as it hides in a bush. Waiting to pounce, torture or just kill. Some play with their victims like a cat does with a mouse, very sick people.
But my mom and dad loved me dearly, my sister adored me, and my uncles wouldn’t ever let anyone hurt me. After finding out of autism my family became more protective, but being in a family of a cult is never sun shine and rainbows. Most are monsters, and cold blood killers.
You know of Ted Bundy? The BTK killer? Boston strangler? These monsters look like normal people, yet they had such a dark sadistic side. They hunted down their pray, doing as they pleased before killing them. Dumping their body’s once done as if their victims were nothing but trash, or old and used toys to throw away.
I looked out my window of my rundown apartment, at the river as ducks swam up and down. I was feeling envious of how free and safe they feel, just lazily floating down.
It’s early November in upstate New York, my small town of Fort Edward. There’s very little snow on the ground, do to it being almost winter yet it’s still late fall. The outside was cold but not freezing. Trees lost all leafs, looking so bare and naked with some snow covering them.
I took a sip of coffee, sitting on the window seal as my mind started to wonder to a dark, painful place of my past. But before my mind wondered off too far my mate hugged me, startling me out of my thoughts. I knew I was now safe, yet my mind is still stuck in the darkness of what they’ve done me.
But let’s all start from the beginning, from where I was shattered only to be put back together by my mate. Yes, I am a human, but he’s a alpha werewolf of the highest ranking pack in the world.
The thing I’ll probably remember the most is the coldness of the concrete floor, and the coldness of the chains keeping me from going anyway. I’ve been kept in a five by five “cell”. As if I’m a prisoner needing to be kept behind bars. But this isn’t a jail, nor a prison. It’s the human trafficking organization, part of the black market.
It’s dark in here because it’s underground. There’s hundreds of cells filled with women, little girls and boys, it’s built to look like a real jail.
Adults stay in single cells, children stay in cells of two.
They have what they call “selling goods” every Friday night. They sell us to people as if we are animals, never to see freedom again. If you’re lucky you won’t get sold, because once you do... it’s worse. We are sex slaves, doesn’t matter how old we are, what race or color. Usually you won’t live more than five years after you’re sold, they don’t take care of you properly. And if you get sick? Forget it, they’ll beat you for it. As if it’s your fault you caught the common cold, or the flu. But sometimes, you’ll just get used and killed.
I wouldn’t recommend trying to run ether, they’ll just hunt and shoot you down. But to some, that’s the only way to be free. In death. So some run just so they won’t get sold, loving the idea of a dark peaceful death.
I didn’t know it at the time, but they made a grave mistake kidnapping me. Someone was coming for me, he has no remorse killing people like them. But this isn’t my first time being abused like this, or used. It became so natural to me that I learned to block out what’s happening, I also became mute being here for five years. Not a single word.
You get fed three times a week, given very little water. Why? So they can keep you weak. And even if you’re pregnant, doesn’t matter. Your baby will be sold as soon as it’s old enough to walk. You hardly get clothes ether, nor can you bathe. If something like your period comes, forget it. They don’t care at all, you won’t get special treatment or even a pad. This place is hell, it’s where I’ve called home for five years.
My cell opened, I instantly looked down knowing it’s not okay to look them in the eye. “This one is quiet, and listens very well” he said to someone behind him. It was too dark to see who was in with me, but knowing how their voice sounds I could tell it’s the “seller”. He was trying to get rid of me, but hasn’t had luck at all since the day I became mute. That’s their own fault, if they didn’t break me so bad. I’d be talking, still. “From what I know, she’s a mute. What is her name?” said a angelic but stern voice that I’ve never heard before.
This voice made me want to look at whoever it was, as if it was someone so important. Such a gentle yet dominant voice calmed my tortured soul, slowing my heart rate. Feeling of being safe with this man around was confusing. I felt the hair on my arms stand up, and the smell of vanilla spice sugar came out of nowhere. Maybe I just fell asleep, and it’s just a dream. I’ll wake up to face the real nightmare I live in. The man laughed, then said “Annabelle, her name is Annabelle Blackwood, she’s 22 years old, I have all her papers and information in my office” I heard my cell door close and lock, as they walked off. I let out a breath of relief, I didn’t get touched, drugged or dragged into a “room”. That’s where they use us till they are satisfied, then throw us in our cells. They drug us so we can’t fight back, date rape drug. The kind they put in your drink at bars, or going to a party. I looked into the dark, hoping they’d stay away for now.
How they can see in the dark is beyond me, it’s completely pitch black. No lights, nor any windows that are able to provide natural lighting where I was kept. I was actually scared of the dark, till I learned no monsters lerk in the darkness. Monsters are what keep me locked up and chained down, humans.
“How long has she been here? Has anyone touched her?” He asked the “seller” in a possessive and almost protective tone. I can notice his voice is different, not like he sounds really differently. Everyone’s voice is different, no two people have the same voice. They can sound similar but never the same. But this persons tone sounded like someone who rather protect then kill. I know that type of tone do to my overprotective uncles. Though I wanted to let down my guard, and finally trust someone. My mind and body has been so beaten and tortured that, I didn’t think I ever could be allow do that. To me it felt like handing a killer a gun and trusting them not to shoot you, trusting I thought would kill me. Wouldn’t even trust myself.
Stabbing pain in my pelvis took me out of my thoughts, knocking the air out of me. The pain made me gasp in the intensity of it. I gritted my teeth and curled up, hoping these pains will just go away soon. I’ve been getting these pains off and on, each time they are worse. I wasn’t do for my period, but I knew it was coming in a week or more. As the pain got worse I let out a small whimper, first noise I’ve made in five years. I don’t even cry anymore, I don’t beg nor make a sound. “You’re okay, I’ll get you somewhere soon. For now just hold on, I apologize” said a voice in my head, startling me a bit. It was his voice, the one the seller was talking to. Am I losing my mind? Why is his voice in my head? If he’s here, he’s here for a living and breathing toy, anyway. I shouldn’t feel anything but fear towards this man. Yet I felt a powerful pull towards him, as if he’s someone very important to me. Maybe a soul mate, or a close family member. I was so overprotected that I never had a boyfriend, nor was I allowed to get close to males my age.
I was a virgin till I came here, my innocence was taken away in such a savage and painful way. Remembering it I felt sick, shivering at the memory of them touching me. As I looked into the darkness beyond my cell, I hoped if the devil was real.. he’d torture them as they have me.
I heard faint screams of pain, startling me. Making me hope my wish just came true as if it has supernatural powers. It wasn’t any of the girls, it was screams of pain from the guys. So I just covered my ears as I curled up again, trying to ignore my pain in my stomach getting worse. Sound of the cell door being broken down, made me jump a bit. Fear over came me, making me shake and hyperventilate. “You’re okay, little one, I’m going to get you out of here” said a sweet but overprotective voice. But I wouldn’t move, I didn’t believe this person. After five years of abuse and torture, why would I trust a stranger? As I felt the cold and heavy chains fall off me I started shaking, thinking I’d be used again. “Get the car to the front door, now” he told someone in a stern voice, picking me up. I knew I was too weak to fight back, I knew if I tried I’d get badly hurt.
You keep your head down, don’t look in their eyes, you don’t say a word nor do you ever try to fight back. You don’t beg, cry or scream. Only makes it worse, way worse. Some also see this as a go ahead, it’s sick. But this is what you do to not make it worse. “Once I get her in the back set head straight to the hospital” he ordered someone as he carried me out of the building. I winced as the sight of the sun, not seeing it for over five years. I closed my eyes tightly, till a hand gently was placed over my eyes. Is he trying to win my trust? For what, to try and break me once he gets it? I’m already broken, shattered beyond fixing. Like broken glass of a vase that fell on the floor. Trust isn’t something anyone will get from me. “She’s not in good shape, alpha” said another male voice. “I know, now help me get her into a car and get to a hospital, now” he said in almost worried demanding voice, looking down at me. I couldn’t see with his hands over my eyes, but I could feel eyes on me. Then I felt something like a shirt be put over my eyes as I was placed in a car, fear started to take over me. Fear of I’ve been sold, what comes next. I could feel my heartbeat getting faster, my body to start shaking. I wanted to run, run far away from this living hell. “Contact agents to get the other girls out, but head to a hospital now, she’s in horrible condition and needs medical care immediately” the one they call ‘alpha’ said, in a demanding voice.
They rushed me into a black Chevy Cruze, it looked like a newer model. The inside looked customized, the leather sets were black with red stripes in the middle of each set. There was a sun roof, but it was night outside. Two guys got in the front of the car as the ‘alpha’ got in the back with me, putting my head in his lap as I lay down across the back of the car. I was too scared to move, holding back tears from complete fear. Is this the end? Am I going to die at the hands of this mysterious man?
“What’s her name, sir?” Asked the old lady at the front desk in the emergency room. She looked to be in her 60s, with white straight hair mixed with gray that fell to her shoulders. she was in a plan dark gray sweater dress. Natural makeup covering her wrinkles, with pink lip stick. Her heart shaped face seemed pretty for being old. What stood out what her very light blue eyes mixed with gold. Her voice was soft and sweet, the kind that could calm the most nervous person. “Annabelle Blackwood” he told her looking at me cradled in his arms. Suddenly her eyes were wide as she looked at me, as if seeing a ghost back from the dead. “Right this way, sir” she said nervously as she got up very fast. I started getting little nervous thinking i was in some kind of trouble, but the look she gave me was concern not fear. It didn’t really calm me, though. In my mind I wasn’t safe, deep down I knew something bad was coming, I just didn’t know when it was coming.
