Chapter 1
Not for the first time, Danna wished for death. Death seemed much easier than living, and Danna was more than ready to leave her “happy life” behind. Even if she belonged in Hell. Hell would be better than the life she was trapped in already. At least in Hell, she deserved to be there. After what she saw at the bar today, Danna was more than convinced she was crazy, and in need of a break. With everything punching her down and kicking her, she just didn’t see any point in continuing. Not for the first time, Danna picked up a knife. A knife previously kept in the chopping block, previously used to cut meat and bread, Danna pressed the blade against her wrists. With one last look at her small dirty home, Danna pulled the knife across her scarred wrists, and fell to the floor, the pain like honey in her broken mind, her red hair soaking in all the blood.
PREVIOUSLY THAT DAY
Irene found herself at the bar for the 3rd time that week, draped on a man’s lap, laughing and licking the alcohol off his face. The music was loud and made her head pound, and she already knew she would have a headache the next day, and not from the drinks. The lights did not help, and they made it hard for her to focus on anything at once. There were so many bodies all squished together and jumping, and that’s the excuse Irene made for herself when she finally saw what was happening. Screams mixed with the music, and Irene couldn’t differentiate the screams of fun and joy, from the screams of pain and terror. What better place to stage a murder than a club? After a few tries and a lot of grabbing, Irene managed to untangle herself for the man she was on. He didn’t seem happy, but soon after noticed the screams and change in the air as well. While walking closer to the noise, Irene bumped into a girl in a short dress with a low neckline which exposed the bruises and scars along her arms and legs.
“Sorry, excuse me.” Irene began to move out of her way and was surprised when the girl reached out and grabbed her wrist.
“Don’t go over there. You can leave now, and you’ll be fine. Just forget you heard this, ok?” The girl looked so sure of herself, that Irene began to nod and turn around. But the training from the police academy kept her in place a little longer.
“Why, what’s over there? Why is no one doing anything?” Irene looked over the girl’s shoulder just as a large man stepped out of the way, leaving an open space that Irene could see through, into the chaos. Irene gasped and shouted, stepping back and turning away. The girl looked disappointed, but Irene hardly noticed. Through the gap, Irene had seen a tall woman, cloaked in black and silver, a long thin knife in her hand. Irene had watched a second too long and had seen the woman drive the knife into a boy’s chest, turn it, and pull it out, a beating heart skewed to the top, dripping with blood and mucus. The child had uttered a single cry, then fell silent, but stood upright as he had begun, his head falling to his chest.
“Now you’ve seen it. I told you to leave. I’m sorry.” Tightening her grip, the girl pulled Irene into the circle formed by the men and women in similar black and silver outfits. Offering up no retreat, she was quickly in the center.
“Phoebe, who is this?” The woman’s voice was smooth and silent, Irene unconsciously leaned forward to hear.
“Just someone who saw what you did. You said anyone who saw would be killed. No witnesses.” The woman nodded and glided forward, grabbing Irene’s face in her claw-like fingers.
“Please, please,” Irene begged, her knees giving out. “I won’t say anything, please let me go. I didn’t see anything.” Without saying a word, the woman raised her hand and flexed her fingers. Irene’s eyes widened as a black hole opened above them, and a dark figure fell out onto the floor.
“You said you would leave me alone.” The voice that came out of the dark featureless face was low and scratchy as if it hadn’t been used in years.
“Vessel. She looks nice, doesn’t she? And she begged to live.” The woman shrugged. “I thought it was a nice thought.”
“Hmm. Everyone begs, everyone is killed.” The figure seemed to straighten then and cocked his head to the side. “I see.” He leaned closer to Irene’s face after a sharp glance at the girl at her side. “Let her go, Phoebe.” Without a change in expression or body language, the girl released her arm and stepped back into the circle, bumping shoulders with a tall boy. Cold fingers curled around Irene’s throat and she struggled to breathe. The figure smiled, showing teeth, white and even. Irene gasped in pain and shock when he pulled her face against his. “Lucky lucky lucky. My dear girl, death will reject you here on out, but heaven will find no use for you.” He released her and stepped back, raising his arms above his head. Irene turned her head to the side trying to find anyone that could help her. Her gaze fell onto a middle-aged woman, hiding and out of place. Her face was covered in sweat, causing her flaming hair to stick to her neck. Irene recognized her from the training camps and shook her head as lightly as she could. Hanna, no, Danna, seemed to understand and turned, silently darting out of the open doors.
“Look here, girl. There is no help in any world that will stop these events.” The woman in charge pulled her lips tightly together and held Irene’s gaze until the man walked closer.
“Please please please please please.” Irene begged and cried, falling on her already weak knees, clasping her hands in front of her. “Please, I have a family, I’m married, my sisters, I have a brother please, please. I have things to live for, I have things to do, I’m young please.” The figure cloaked in black sneered at her, and pulled her to her feet, forcing her to stand on her own.
“You choose this. You should have been content with death. No, I’m glad it was you, Irene.” He flattened his hands against both Irene’s lower back and stomach. His hands seemed to glow and burn but dim and freeze. Irene almost cried out in pain, but before she could make a sound, the man had pressed his mouth firmly against hers, holding them together tightly for a few seconds before releasing her. “Good luck.”
