VINDICTIVE

Episode 1

The leaves crunched beneath my feet as we ran. Our hands locked together as if life depended on it. I glanced back at them.

The squeal of tires shrieked their vehicles to a halt. “Julie Marie Millbank. You get back here!” My mother's cries only intensified my grip. “Liam..?”

Narrowly, we dodged people as we flew recklessly through the park. Their shouting faded behind us, but still, we couldn't stop.

“Just keep running, they can’t follow us through here.” Unable to respond, I nodded. “Just hold on tight.”

Everyone around us was looking, watching us run as if hunted criminals. My cheeks flushed, burning with embarrassment. This is going to be everywhere by tomorrow. I can only hold on to the glimmer of hope that no one recognizes us.

But of course, that's too much to ask. An officer blocked our path, hand raised. “Hold it right there!” Great, now we really look like criminals. Leaving the open area of the park, Liam darted down one of the many weaving paths through the trees. Practically dragging me along. My lungs burned in the biting air as I struggled to keep up. Mind reeling at this egregious level of overreaction.

What should be a happy announcement has us on the run, as if for our lives. And in the public eye, no less.

Me, the heiress to “Millbank Enterprises” being hunted down by the police and trapped in the park. Holding hands with my would-be ‘mortal enemy’. The paparazzi are going to just have a field day with this one, I’m sure. We've been so good at hiding this from the public these past few months, I'm now struggling to remember why we told them.

With my mind elsewhere, I bumped into Liam who stopped suddenly. Knocking from me what breath I had left. Before us stood the same officer, now joined by two others, blocking our way. ” Leave us alone!” Liam barked.

The trees themselves seemed to tower over us. Their leaves, a bloody rouge, swirled around the concrete. I huddled into his back. Reveling in the warmth as his arm covered me. “Liam.” I whimpered again. “I-I don't think we're gonna-.”

From behind, my mother's cry raked up my spine. “Julie Marie! You stop right there!” Her pitch, I'm sure, would have dogs barking.

Then another unwanted voice joined hers. “You release that creature's hand, this instant!”

“Oh, for god's sake” Liam grunted, backing away From the approaching officers. Everyone, cornering us on the narrow path. We’re trapped.

His mother, Helen Vonrough pushed through the crowd with no regard for others, even her own husband. Those blazing eyes alone had me dizzy. Liam turned to face her head-on as I held my death grip on his shirt.

“We haven't done anything wrong!” He shouted.

“Now you can't be serious darling.” Helen scoffed. “Who do you think you are? How can you stand there with that… thing and expect anything else? Especially when you dare announce such an abomination in my home, of all places. You're lucky we haven't gone farther than this, you know.”

My father stepped forward, pushing aside my delirious mother. “You got that right, at least. I will not have this young lady. I simply will not have it!” The fury in his voice frightened me, but I steeled myself to remain.

Liam's arm pulled me closer, protecting.

“You are not marrying that boy. And I think you know that. If this is some sort of rebellious stunt, you're pulling you've made your point and I've had enough. Now let's go home.” Beckoning me to come. He waved his arm, as if to a pet.

His eyes darkened dangerously when I refused to move, pushed further behind by Liam's arm. “She's. Not. Going. Anywhere.” He growled. “Excuse me!?” Rushing forward, my father's temple looked about to burst. “Now you listen to me you little s**t- “

“-Hey!” Helen interrupted, mouth straight as a blade. “You don’t speak to my son like that.“

She spat, pointing her perfectly manicured nail at me. “In fact If your little witch wasn't such a w***e, we wouldn't have this problem would we?”

“Mom-!” Liam roared, making me jump. “If you don't shut your mouth...”

Even from behind, I can tell the look in his eye was much more deadly than any of theirs. “You’ll what? “ Her eyes narrowed, challenging.

He then turned around, ignoring her further, and faced the police. “What are you here for exactly?”

The men straightened to attention. Their leader showing his badge, he motioned to our parents. “We were called on the allegations of a possible kidnapping.”

“k********g?!” I laughed nervously. In response, Liam pulled me to his hip before taking my left hand in his. Showing to them my latest treasure. “We‘re engaged.” Hearing it out loud still made me smile. “We're engaged. They just insist on dumping their issues on us. They can throw a fit like the children all they want but it won't change the fact that we're getting married. ”

“The hell you are!!” My father shouted before rushing over like a rabid animal. Punching Liam in the jaw without a second thought, throwing him to the ground. ”Liam!” Rushing to his side I helped him sit up. He licked the blood from his bottom lip, before pushing me away. Charging headfirst into his stomach, he brought my father down with a thud. Grunting and growling like dogs as they wrestled. Throwing aimless punches.

Moments later the officers were on top of them both, grunting with effort as they dragged them apart. Revealing their faces, now bloody and bruised. I rushed to his side once more, tenderly checking his injuries. “Are you ok?” To my surprise, he managed a cocky smile. “You kidding? That old man can‘t punch for shit.”

The two officers struggled to hold my father back. “Why, you little!”

“Oh just try it!” Liam grunted, only forcing the officer to drag him further away.

“Stop, it's enough.” Seeing me cry is what finally made him stop. Standing straight, he took a calming breath. “She's right son. You try anything more and we'll have to take you with us too.” Nodding in understanding, Liam apologized.

Even now released, Helen approached. The fires of hell following behind. “Why of all the useless, backwards idiocy! Go help those men take the real delinquent away. He assaulted my son! Where is your head?!”

Then, to my dismay, her attention turned to me.