*BEFORE THE SHADOWS FELL*
It was Dunhaven's royal University graduation,Shelly Sinclair and Hailey Keene were over the moon their laughter could be heard from a mile.The clicks of cameras filled the air accompanied by clinks of glasses and cheerful conversations.
After hours of celebration Shelly and Hailey trambled into their respective cars, after bidding each other goodbye just wanting to crash into bed and forget the wild day.As soon as Shelly got home she went straight to her room too tired to check on her parents, Shelly dragged herself into the bathroom too exhausted to bother with a shower she collapsed straight into her jacuzzi, clothes and all and passed put cold water slowly seeping into her shoes.
Minutes later she was jolted awake by gunshots, sweat broke out cold on her skin and with each bang a chill ran down her spine she scrambled up and lunged for the bathroom door, fingers trembling as she struggled to lock it.Tears streamed down her face, vision blurring and panic gripped her throat.She sobbed praying the noise wouldn't draw closer and in that moment she heard the maid's suppressed screams accompanied by gunshots, Shelly held her breath not daring to breathe as she heard footsteps getting closer, she huddled down, burying her face in between her knees to provide a sense of security as she heard the door to her room creak open she paled in fear and soon the footsteps became even louder causing Shelly's vision to blur in an instant but she still didn't make a sound minutes later the door creaked again assuring shelly that someone exited the room but she didn't dare breathe a sigh of relief knowing this wasn't over. She waited until the footsteps were completely gone before daring to step out of the bathroom. Panicking she walked to the window, peeking outside to check if the person had left.After confirming the threat was gone, Shelly quietly opened her room door and she saw the maid's body lying cold and unresponsive at her door step.She ripped into panic, walking straight to her parents room.Found them lying in a pool of blood no scream escaped her she turned to grab her phone from the sitting room but suddenly perceived smoke understanding the situation in an instant she dashed back to her room.Gown tangling around her legs she wrestled free as flame licked at the doorway behind , she kicked off the fabric and with a prayer launched herself out the window. Collapsed unto hard soil. A thumb twisted in her ankle pain shot up her legs.
She hauled herself to Hailey's house not daring to look back knowing the code she quickly unlocked the gate and rushed in.
