CHASE THE BUTTERFLIES

Prologue

“Hold up, I have to tie my laces.”

“Again? Do you need reminding? Over, under, around, and through. Meet Mr. Bunny Rabbit, pull and through.”

Bryan arches a sculptured, dark brow while I mute my chuckles behind my hand.

“Turn around, would you? I can’t do this with you looking at me.”

Folding my arms across my chest, I tap my foot against the pavement. “Can’t do what? Tie your laces? What are you, five?” I can’t keep the humor from my tone as I peer down at him crouched on the floor.

“Tori, please, just this one time, can you do what you’re told?”

I’ve never been able to say no to Bryan. “Fine, have it your way, but you really should learn how to do double knots.”

“Ha-ha, very funny. You’re lucky it’s your birthday.”

I can’t keep the smile from my cheeks. “Exactly, and right now, you’re wasting precious birthday time. Twenty-seven will soon be twenty-eight at the rate you’re going.”

Twenty-seven.

It’s hard to believe that this time yesterday, I was twenty-six. I don’t feel any different, and I know I look the same. The only thing that’s changed is that my love for Bryan has grown. It’s been ten years since he asked me to prom, and it’s been ten years since I met my happily ever after.

“What are…?” But the words catch in my throat when I see Bryan on one knee, extending a red velvet box my way.

To cement the gravity of what I’m seeing, the box hinges whine open as he reveals an enormous diamond ring snuggled amongst white silk.

“Th-That’s a ring,” I stupidly state, my eyes as big as saucers.

“I know.”

I point at the box, my finger trembling. “Why are you holding it?”

“Because I want you to marry me.” There isn’t a pause or slight hesitation to his affirmation.

“Now?” I really need to stop talking, but I’m afraid once I do, I’ll start crying.

“Maybe not right this second, but hopefully soon.” He smirks. The sight has my stomach somersaulting.

I want to say so many things, but there are simply no words to express how happy I am. The ring is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen—its sparkle rivaling the bright moonlight above us.

“So…want to marry me?” His laid-back attitude is so typical of Bryan while I’m on the verge of hyperventilating.

“I-I…” A simple yes seems so ordinary.

“Victoria?” Small furrows crinkle across Bryan’s brow when I stand, speechless, my mouth gaped open. “Will you marry me?” Every girl wishes to hear those words—they’re the words that slap me into gear.

This explains him having to tie his laces seven times throughout the night. He chickened out all those times prior, but now, this is real. This is really happening. “Yes, I will marry you. A million yeses!” I cry, tears rolling down my cheeks.

“You’ll marry me?” he asks, and I’m surprised he’d think my answer would be anything but yes.

I nod, a loud sob escaping me.

“Oh, Tori!” He springs up and throws his arms around me, twirling me high in the air. I can’t contain my laughter and tears.

When my feet finally touch the ground, he reaches for my finger and slips the ring onto it. It’s a perfect fit.

“I love you so much. You’ve just made me the happiest man alive.” We kiss and hug and laugh for how long, I’m not sure. But everything is perfect; it’s how things are supposed to be.

As we walk to our car, I can’t stop admiring the ring on my finger. I wiggle my left hand out in front of me. It’s so surreal. The brutal wind hastily picks up speed, howling behind us as I lean into Bryan’s side, stealing his warmth. When our black Jeep comes into view, I breathe out a sigh of relief. It’s eerie being out here alone as the usually busy street is now completely deserted.

“Are you going to call your mom?” Bryan asks, wrapping his arm tightly around me, cocooning me in his signature fragrance.

“First thing tomorrow morning.” I yawn, wondering how late it is. “But I’m going to call Matilda as soon as we get to the car.” My sister would have my neck if she found out after Mom.

Bryan kisses the top of my head, a gesture which wraps me in a protective sound bubble. That safety is shattered however when I hear a bottle skate along the pavement. I turn to look over my shoulder, my eyes straining in the dark, but I can’t see anyone behind us. I inhale deeply, relieved. But that relief is short-lived when I bump straight into a pungent-smelling mass. I yelp, my hands automatically raised in surrender as I apologize profusely for not looking where I’m going.

“Nice ring,” sneers a stranger, his yellowed, long teeth akin to that of a sewer rat.

Bryan instantly pulls me to the left, dragging me away. I don’t know why, but I suddenly tremble, sensing something bad, something life-changing on the horizon.

“Keep walking,” Bryan whispers into my ear, our rushed footsteps highlighting our need to get away. Our Jeep is mere feet away when an excruciating pain tears through my skull and down my neck as my head jars backward with a sharp tug. I immediately pull my head forward, but my long hair is snagged on something. Or someone.

The next few seconds blur by, not knowing what’s happening until Bryan is screaming, frantically trying to unsnag me. I yank and pull, my fingers tugging at my roots, hysterically attempting to pry myself free. I don’t have time to scream because before a sound leaves my trembling lips, I feel something sharp press against the small of my back. My body instantly relaxes, and a strangled cry leaves my lungs as an arm presses over my windpipe.

This can’t be happening.

“Give me the keys.” The stench of rot surrounds me. I sniff back my tears. My gaze lands on Bryan, who has his hands raised, his eyes pleading with my assailant to let me go.

“Here…now let her go.” He lowers his arm and extends it forward, unfurling his fist to reveal the set of keys.

But that won’t do. “Not so fast.” His breath is warm…too warm, like rancid milk. “Toss them over.”

Bryan does as he demands, no questions asked. I can see the terror in his eyes as he nods that it’ll be okay. But it won’t. Nothing ever will.

“Now pick them up,” he hisses in my ear, his lips too close to the shell. I whimper, my heart hammering so fast within my chest I’m afraid it’ll spill out onto the asphalt.

Just as I bend forward, he cackles a cruel, maniacal laugh. He tightens his hold around my neck, pressing so firmly into my throat I struggle to breathe. My hands fly up, clawing at him to release me.

“Let her go!” Bryan roars, charging forward, fists clenched by his side. He stops dead in his tracks when the cool metal shifts from my back and is placed at my temple.

“Bryan…” I plead, I want to shout out, beg him to help me, but my cries would be in vain. There’s no one out here but us. No one can hear me scream. “Run,” I sob, hot tears scoring my flesh as they betray my fears. I fight helplessly, as his hold is so strong.

“No, I won’t leave you!” He doesn’t hide his horror that I’m sacrificing myself for him. But why should we both suffer? The hard probing into my lower back is an indication the keys are suddenly not what this vile creature is after.

“Yes, why don’t you run home.” He laps the side of my face in one long, slow lick. Bryan gnashes his teeth, advancing forward with a growl.

I thrash about madly, attempting to break free, but struggling only makes him force his forearm deep against my windpipe. I gag, slowly being robbed of breath. The metal against my skin feels slick and hot, the warmth from my skin heating the barrel. My body goes lax, as I know I can’t fight him off.

“That’s it, princess. This will hurt a lot less if you don’t fight me.” I surrender, but I intend on fighting like a pit bull when he lets down his guard.

Bryan’s eyes are filled with tears, matching the ones pooling in mine. “I love you,” I whisper, gasping for breath when my attacker wraps his large hand around my throat and begins dragging me backward. I have no choice but to go with him.

I scratch at his fingers, afraid I’ll pass out if he doesn’t loosen his hold, but it only encourages him to press harder.

“Tori, no!” Bryan’s cries are my final undoing, and I relax my body, on the cusp of surrendering for good. I can’t stomach his pain. His pain hurts more than my own. My eyes are locked on his as I’m hauled away, and the best night of my life quickly becomes the worst, and quite possibly, my last.

“You follow us, and I swear to god, I will kill you both.” All I can do is submit for Bryan’s safety. The gun waves out in front of me, making no secret it will kill both of us if we revolt.

As we round the corner and I’m dragged down a dirty, dark alleyway and brutally shoved up against a wall, face first, I think about Bryan and me, and all the hours, minutes, seconds spent together. There are countless moments in time, but now, they aren’t enough. It’ll never be enough.

The hem of my dress is yanked up, my underwear gets ripped from my body, exposing my bare behind. As my hand gets crushed against the brick wall, my ring catches the moonlight, drawing attention to the fact that one day I could have been Mrs. Bryan Moore. But I know now that may never be.

“Scream all you want. I like it when they scream.” Someone is about to take my decency, and I don’t even know his name. He shoves a hand between us, groping, fondling.

“Just don’t hurt Bryan.” It’s my final plea.

“You’re in no position to make demands.” He tugs at the ring on my finger, making it clear he wants to take everything from me.

His deplorable action sparks the pit bull in me, and a surge of anger courses through my veins. I refuse to be a victim. I act on pure instinct and strike my head backward, connecting with something that makes a noise akin to an orange being run over by a truck.

Bedlam suddenly breaks loose as I screech, turning around and charging for the bastard, who is clutching his bleeding nose in his cupped palms. “You f*****g b***h!”

My screams resonate off the walls as I rush forward, ready to inflict whatever pain and retribution I can. However, heavy footsteps pounding against the concrete make me lift my eyes, relieved, but also scared to see two figures running toward me. Bryan trails behind a shadowed form. He must have called for help.

I dodge my offender, running like the wind toward my cloaked protector, who seems more intent on saving me than my own fiancé, who is lagging behind. Bryan looks scared, hesitant even. The fact he isn’t running full speed hurts. But I can focus on that later.

“Run!” I shriek, not wanting my champion to get hurt. Why do I feel an unexpected connection to him?

I’m yards away, but his pace never falters. He’s so intent on saving me, I could cry in relief. This is it. It’s really over. I’m going to be okay. I’m feet away but am vacantly filled with terror when my masked protector bellows, “Watch out!” before I hear a click and two deafening gunshots, and then…everything fades to black.