Chapter 1- Uninvited Guests
“The Beatles said, ‘All you need is love,’ and then they broke up.”
The cozy, orange glow of the desk lamp touches the ivory pages of the small book resting on Fae’s lap. Her feet dangle over the edge of her bed as her eyes record every word in the final paragraph again:
’What do we mean when we say ‘love’? Love of another person, love of a higher being, or perhaps even love of an object. Love is everywhere. Is it just naturally addictive?’
“Isn’t that a bit of a dramatic question?” Fae tilts her head. Her thumb slides off the page and it flaps over:
’When people think of addiction, they think of this internal war between one’s desires and willpower. But addiction isn’t always the minefield we need to cross, but often are the roots in which life is contained. We almost all have addictions that cause harm to others. Chocolate is often picked by slaves, that’s why it’s so cheap. Our addiction to cheap gas has killed hundreds of thousands of people around the globe. A fixation on oil for the love of money. And few nations seek twelve step programs for their dependence on oil.’
“Yikes, that’s a depressing perspective. But, I’m not sure you can be addicted to ‘love’.” Fae discusses with herself. “It just-”
BAM!!!
The brown book slips from Fae's hands and tumbles to the ground.
“W-what’s going on?!” Her heart pounds in her throat and the blanket balls in her fists. That was the bang of the front door. Her eyes gape from the sudden racket of feet advancing down the hall, approaching her room door. She slaps a hand over her mouth with a measly whine.
The footsteps diminish, fading into the distance. Fae crawls out of bed and slips into a pair of slippers to make way to the door.
She furrows her eyebrows. Her fear shifts into deep thought. Whatever that’s happening, and if they live through this, she’s going to rip that girl a new one.
Alison...What the hell did you do now?! Fae’s pupils contract as she stares down at her quivering palms pressed to the floor. It doesn’t matter now. She just needs to get out of here. Fast.
Slowly rising to discourage the creaky floorboards, Fae’s racing thoughts fixate on what her sibling could’ve possibly done now. She pissed someone off... No, she had a fight with someone... Fae shakes her head.
Ha, it’s not rocket science... She did it again, didn’t she? She stole something from someone!
A strong scream suddenly blares through the halls. Fae registers it as her sister’s, Alison. She shoves open her door, dashing to the source of shrieks. The wooden floors dully thump beneath her plush slippers.
Fae screeches to a halt, reaching her sibling’s room and her body cripples with terror, gawking at the scene enacting in front of her.
Two men in black, subdue Alison to her bed as she sobs, struggling beneath their hold. One of the men grip her throat, whilst the other restrains her arms behind her back. Her shirt is twisted and torn, exposing the deep red bra that rivals the shade of her face. Her legs knot in the covers as she frivolously kicks to free herself. “Get off me!” She bellows.
Fae silently eyeballs, paralyzed.
Saliva dribbles through Alison’s gritted teeth as she drags her face across the bed sheets, her large, bloodshot eyes catching glimpse of the silhouette at the door frame, “F-Fae, help!”
Fae’s mind thaws. Her legs bolt in the room and she throws herself across the bed. Shock resonates through her body as she collides into the torso of one of the men. He grunts from the force and they both crash to the ground.
Fae stands up and trudges around her sibling’s bed, staggering and wobbling on her feet. Disarray scatters her brain and her vision doubles. Her eyes gloss over Alison again, whose face is contorted in panic, repeatedly yelling illegible words at her. The entire room spins. Fae’s teeth clench and her head jerks down; a deafening ring penetrates her head, she squeezes her eyes shut, clasping her hands over her ears.
“Fae, watch out!” Alison cries.
An arm slings around Fae’s waist, knocking the air straight from her diaphragm. Her head flings backwards with a cold leather glove clamped over her mouth. She flounders about, her screams muffled. The throb of her head worsens and her legs flop.
Fae’s eyes flutter backwards as her head falls back. The familiar leather texture wipes displaced strands of hair from her sweaty face. She peers up at her captor through waning vision. A platinum haired man’s grey eyes gleam down at her with the most haunting grin she’s ever witnessed.
“What a brave girl.” Fae hears the man’s amused voice, before fainting in his arms.
