Free BlackMoon Beginnings by Kaitlyn Hoyt

swirls
decorating the window panes. Muted green shutters are located on
each side of all windows. Victorian style ornaments separate the
two floor levels and run along the base of the roof. A large
wraparound porch covers the exterior of the first level. It fits
perfectly with its surroundings. I instantly love it. Something
about it looks familiar though.
    “Beautiful, isn’t it?” I just nod, unable to
speak. “It’s been in my family for generations. Each family has
added onto it. It wasn’t this big when it was originally built.” He
continues to tell me the family story of the home, but I only
half-listen. The closer we get to town, the harder I have to
concentrate to keep the thoughts locked away. More and more voices
are swarming into me, overflowing my mind with thoughts that aren’t
mine.
    When we pull up the driveway, I pause and
collect myself. There doesn’t seem to be many people around, so it
isn’t too difficult. “Colton, do you have my bag from yesterday? My
key is inside.”
    “What? Oh, yeah.” He reaches into the
backseat and grabs my bag from the floor. As he moves towards me, I
can smell the cologne he is wearing. It reminds me of the outdoors
and I want to move closer to him to fully surround myself with
it.
    Wait. Where did that come from?
    “Here.”
    I blush at my own thoughts; as if he is the
one who can read minds. I reach into the front pocket of my bag,
take out my key, and open the car door. Stepping out of the car,
another wave of vertigo crashes into me. I grip the door to keep
from falling over. “Something’s not right.”
    When the dizzy feeling passes, I nod to
Colton, telling him that I am okay to go in. He walks in front of
me and holds his hand out, “Stay behind me.” I hand him the key. He
casually opens the door and walks inside, signaling me to wait. He
surveys the area before waving me in. I walk past him into the
living room and go up to my room. Grabbing a duffle bag from under
my bed, I go to my closet and dump in random articles of clothing,
hoping that I gather everything I need. My skin keeps crawling.
Something doesn’t feel right and I want to get out of here as soon
as possible.
    I run down the stairs, taking them two at a
time. At the bottom of the stairs, I pause. Hearing grunts in the
living room, I slowly turn the corner to see what is happening.
Colton is fighting a man wielding a large sword in the middle of
the living room. Despite not having a weapon, Colton appears to
have the advantage. He is bigger and visibly stronger. He swings
out and kicks the man in the shins, causing him to lose his footing
and fall backwards. Then he punches him in the face with so much
force that he catapults into the wall. After hitting his head, he
slumps to the ground unconscious.
    I am so enraptured and frightened by what I
am witnessing that I don’t hear the footsteps behind me. A large
hand wraps around my waist, pulling me against someone’s chest. A
dagger is pressed against my neck. I have got to become more
aware to my surroundings. I struggle to get free, but that only
causes the dagger to slice into me. I let out a small cry as I feel
the warm blood sliding down my neck and pooling into the edge of my
shirt.
    “Put the weapon down or I kill the girl.”
    Colton turns towards me, his face a mask of
shock and anger. He slowly reaches towards the ground and places
the sword a few feet to the left of him. Standing up with his hands
in the air, he looks the man straight in the eyes, “What do you
want?”
    “Why, I want her. She’s the prophecy girl.” I
know he won’t kill me. He needs me, but that doesn’t make the
situation any less frightening. The man bends down and smells my
hair, sighing in satisfaction. It’s repulsive. His thoughts hit me
like a ton of bricks. My knees buckle under me as I read his mind.
His grip is the only thing holding me up. His plans for me make me
want to puke and I immediately start struggling again, not caring
about