Hunting Aria

One

A loud crack of thunder filled the silence of the house, the third one in the past thirty minutes, but Aria was not scared of the sound. As startling as the thunder was, she loved thunderstorms. It was a moment where everyone in her house was calm and docile. Any other day, the house would be chaos of her mother with her plans and her father playing with her two younger brothers. 

One of her brothers, Cody was an outstanding kid. He was the quarter back at the school Aria had graduated from five years ago and on track to be the top three of his class. The other, Jack, was in his sophomore year at the same school and he didn't have to worry about being the top three because he was number one. 

Aria climbed from her queen-sized bed and made her way over to her room’s patio door. The house that her family lived in was perfect. Four bedrooms and three baths, her room has a balcony that overlooked the lake behind the house. Quite often, Aria left the doors open to invite the breeze, but the impromptu storm would let her do that today. From her window, Aria could see trees whipping wildly in the wind, she was sure tomorrow they would have to pick up some branches. 

Verifying it was locked, Aria made her way downstairs where her entire family had congregated for movie night, a family tradition whenever the storm was this bad and everyone was home. Aria has kept to herself the entire day and this was her first time coming down for social interaction. 

Aria's mother, Jenna, turned when she heard her daughters’ soft footsteps, "Look who decided to join us!" Her mother's smile was always the brightest in the room, she kept her chocolate colored hair short year-round, for as long as Aria could remember. 

Aria rolled her eyes jokingly, "I can always just go back upstairs." 

"Nonsense," her father said, "Come here, I saved you a spot." 

Aria didn't hesitate to walk over to the large brown love seat that her father was reclined on. Once perfectly snuggled, Aria rested in her favorite spot, her dad's arms. 

There was nothing abnormal about her life, her parents met in college, her dad was in law school while her mother was one semester away from graduation. Her mom went on to become a wedding planner while her dad made his way to become a lawyer. Two years later aria had appeared, then followed her brothers. Her parents were perfectly in love for all she could remember. Her brothers got along well, and family was everyone's priority. 

Aria herself has just graduated from Virginia Tech the past May and was now remaining home until her medical school program started within the next two months. She was also taking a break from her boyfriend, Colt. 

Aria and Colt began dating while she was a sophomore in college. They started off as work friends during her work study and eventually their feelings for one another turned into love which then led to a relationship. Yet, three years later, aria had lost hope in her relationship. Colt began to get secretive and his temper would shorten. A month ago, she rushed back home to stay with her parents, and she had remained ever since. 

Her next plans were very unsure. She didn't know if she wanted to move out again on her own or remain here during her studies and she spent a good majority of her time trying to decide. 

"You have your thinking wrinkle, what's wrong?" Aria’s dad asked quietly. Her dad had always been her rock, Aria could admit anything to him, and he would only respond with love and care. Most of her time as a child was spent following her father around, he was even kind enough to bring her to work with him. Once he became a judge, he had more freedom and decided that if aria wanted to join him, he would let her. 

She would visit his office every single day of the week up until her graduation. Once she left for college, she would call him every night to speak on the phone with him, a call that would last hours. 

"Nothing, I'm just content." Aria sighed, leaning further into her dad's lap before the sleep she had been avoiding had finally caught up to her. 

Sometime later, Aria's eyes opened, and she noticed that she was no longer in her dad's lap, or even in the living room. Just as if she were a child, her father carried her to her room to let her continue her sleep undisturbed. She lay in the center of her already made bed with nothing but a blanket from the living room covering her. 

Reaching over to her nightstand, Aria grabbed her phone. After pressing the button numerous times, Aria realized that her phone had been left off the charger, causing it to die. She placed it on the charger and grabbed her blanket to wrap it around herself before leaving her room again, determined to figure out the time. 

Past her door, the entire upper floor looks down into the living room, the hardwood floors were icy to the touch as she quietly creeped through the house. Aria could vividly hear the rain continuing outside, which was odd due to the fact that the windows and doors to the house were closed. 

Aria peeked over the balcony, looking down into the living room for a sign of her family. On the couch she could see her mother and father, laying there together. Perhaps they left a door open on accident. Just as the thought popped into her head, Aria saw a tall figure that came from the kitchen beneath her. The figure was dressed in black head to toe. 

Aria gasped, "Dad, wake up!" Her yell was so loud that it startled the figure who immediately pulled out a gun. Her father started awaking and instantly went to protect his now startled wife behind him. 

"Who are you?" Aria's father exclaimed before the gunman pistol whipped him in the face, causing him to fall from the couch to the floor. 

"Aria, run!" Her mother exclaimed, just as the man looked up to discover her there. 

"If you move, I'll kill your parents." The man declared. Aria stood frozen; she wasn't going anywhere without her family. She didn't have a choice, a man came from behind her, Aria turned quickly and noticed that man was holding Cody at gunpoint with jack leading the way, "Downstairs, now." 

Aria obeyed and her brothers followed. Once they were all in the living room, the man from upstairs tied their wrists tight with zip ties. The entire family sat on the floor of the living room in a circle tied as the men circled them. 

"Judge Forbes, you made a very, very, big mistake." The man holding the gun declared, he pulled off his ski mask to look him in the eye. 

"Kids don't look. If you don't look, he can let you go." Their father said, but it was far too late. All three of the kids had already gotten a look of the man. His brown curly hair and beard made him look unkept and crazy. Aria couldn't stop her sobbing in fear as the man leaned down, standing directly in front of her brother. 

"What's your name, boy?" Cody was shaking, the man was only inches from his face. 

"C-Cody." He stumbled the words out as if he were tripping. 

"Leave him alone, what do you want? I'll do anything." Their father pleads, "Please, I'll do anything." This was the first time Aria ever heard fear in her father’s voice, which caused her to cry harder. They were going to die. 

"You know judge, it's so nice of you to move way out here. You know the nearest house is two miles down the road?" The man asked, kneeling in front of the judge. "Tell Red and Givens that they can come in. No outside threats will be bothering us tonight." 

The man who kept on his mask nodded his head before exiting the room, towards the front door. 

"Judge, you took my family away from me. You took my wife, my kids, my brothers, cousins, even my f*****g in-laws." The man ranted, "You put them all in jail." 

Aria's fathers face contorted with confusion, "What? I don't even know who you are!" 

"No need to yell, judge. There will be time for that later. No, you put them in jail. Every one of my family members who have entered that place has been killed. You, a judge knows better than to place a rival group in a dominated prison." The man says, "But you did it anyway."

"I have no control over where they are placed, you have to believe me." Her father pleads. 

"Even if I did, it's too late. I'm taking away from you, what you took from me." The man stood up straight as the other three entered the house. 

"Red, the wife is yours." he said. 

"I don't want the old bitch." The aforementioned Red responds, much like a toddler. "I want her." 

His finger pointed at Aria who was still continuing to sob uncontrollably. 

"Please, God. Please!" Her father shouts, "Leave my family alone!"

The man punched her father again, this time causing his nose to bleed. Aria's mother began to wail as Red grabbed her and took her upstairs. Aria began to panic; they were going to kill her mother. She looked over to her two younger brothers, they had scooted closer to each other for protection, but aria knew that that wouldn't be enough. 

"You two, grab any valuables you can find. I'll baby sit these three." The men made their way upstairs, leaving just the one with them. He wandered off into the kitchen and aria took this chance to communicate with her father. 

"Dad," her voice broke, "Dad what do we do?" 

Her father moaned, barely conscious. 

"Dad, please..." Aria begged, "Please wake up." Her brothers’ sobs broke through her plight. She had to protect them. She just had to. Aria began to think of a plan as she heard the man in the kitchen rummaging through what sounded like their alcohol cabinet.

"Boys," Aria whispered, "The moment that I am out of this room and you're alone, run, and don't stop running until you're safe, okay?" 

"What about you? I don't want to leave you." Cody whispers in between tears.

"I'll be right behind you."

Aria looked around at things that would help her escape, but she couldn't find any. The fear in her brothers’ eyes gave her the last ounce of strength she had when the man returned, drink in hand. 

"Use me." Aria said, her voice barely able to raise above a whisper. 

"Aria, no." her father’s voice moaned. He was having trouble staying conscious, but he was fighting it with all his might. 

"What?" The man asked. 

Aria's heart pounding in her chest so hard, she was afraid that the man would hear it. "You can use me. Use me and leave my brothers alone. I'll... I'll do anything. Just let my brothers go." 

The man smirked as if he had won the lottery, his eyes followed every curve on aria's body. "I could have you regardless." 

"I was hoping you would be a man of your word." Aria said softly. 

The man looked at Aria, contemplating. The sounds of her mother’s screams were quiet, they had ceased completely. The man threw aria a knife, "Tie your brothers’ feet." The man demanded, pointing his gun at Aria. 

Aria broke her zip ties with the knife and took the ones thrown at her to her brothers, leaving them enough room to be able to escape. 

"Stand up, hands above your head." He orders and Aria followed suit. 

The man turned to her father and brothers, "If you try anything, I will kill your sister. Slowly." 

The man shoved Aria upstairs where her nerves began to kick in. She had to figure out a way to fight this. She passed her parents room where to door remained open, she gasped at what she saw. Her mother, laid in the center of their bed, her clothes cut down the middle, yet her body not moving. 

"Keep walking or you're next." Aria wanted to let out a dry laugh, she was next either way. Once in her bedroom the man closed the door behind himself.

"Take off your clothes. All of them." He demanded, his gun never not pointing towards her. Aria eyed her phone which was still charging on her nightstand, before taking off her pajama pants slowly, her handles trembled. The man took a seat in her chair positioned in the corner of her room. 

He looked at her thighs greedily, "Keep going."

Before Aria could obey, the sound of the front door slamming open interrupted, followed by her father’s voice screaming at her brothers to run. The man stood up in shock, rushing downstairs to catch them. Aria reacted as quickly as possible, grabbing her phone before rushing outside to her balcony. The rain was still pouring hard which undoubtably turned the forest behind their house into a mud puddle. 

She could hear the men coming to chase after her, giving her no time to doubt herself. Aria swung her legs over the balcony and leaped off, causing her to fall painfully to the ground. 

"I'm going to get you b***h!" The man yelled as Aria stumbled to stand on her hurt leg. 

"Aria!" Jack called out as they tried to catch up with her towards the woods. Aria turned quickly to call her brothers quicker to her. They ran towards the tree line as gunfire rang out behind them. Cody passed through the tree line, but Jack was a moment too late, one of the bullets hitting him in his leg causing him to fall down. 

"Jack!" Aria called out, rushing back to her brother. Cody helped his sister get Jack up on his feet as he yowled in pain. The bullet lodged in his leg slowed the group down incredibly. 

"Leave me, we won't make it." Jack said. 

"Are you insane?" Aria said, "We aren't leaving you." 

"You'll die." Jack winced in pain has they moved down a slope.

"Shut Up, Jack." Cody said. Before they could get further a man appeared in front of them wearing all black, his face uncovered. He pointed a gun directly at them, Aria stood in front of her brothers. 

"No!" Aria begged. The man’s eyes focused before he began pulling the trigger.