From Ruin To Reign-The Luna Comeback

ISABELLA'S POV The rain fell hard that night, hitting the roof like a thousand tiny fists. I was in my room, sitting on the floor, drawing with the small pencil my father had given me. The smell of wet earth came in through the open window. I remember thinking it was a peaceful night. Then the screams began. They cut through the rain. They were sharp, high, and full of fear. My pencil fell from my hand. My heart jumped so fast it hurt. I ran to the door, opened it, and peered down the hallway. My sister, Amara was running toward me. Her nightdress was torn at the shoulder. Her hair stuck to her face from sweat and rain. She was barefoot. Her eyes were wide, wild. “Isabella. ” she shouted. “Hide. Please run. Don’t come out” Before I could move, rough hands grabbed her from behind. A man dragged her backward, kicking and screaming. I froze. My legs felt like stone. “Amara.” I screamed, but my voice cracked. There were more men in the house now. I could hear them downstairs. Furniture breaking. My mother’s voice, begging. My father shouting. Then… a gunshot rang out. I knew the sound well because my father had taught Amara and I how to shoot and fight in order to protect ourselves. The man holding Amaralaughed. It was cold and wrong. He pulled her down the stairs. She screamed my name one last time. I should have run. I should have hidden. But my feet moved toward the stairs. When I reached the bottom, what I saw broke my heart into a thousand pieces. My father was on the floor, blood pooling under him. His eyes were open, but he wasn’t moving. My mother was on her knees, her face twisted with terror, as another man pointed a gun at her head. She saw me. Her lips moved. “Run, Isa.” I didn’t. The man pulled the trigger. My mother fell forward, her hair covering her face. The sound rang through my head. I wanted to scream, but my throat closed. I felt hands hold me and I struggled, trying to find my voice but a hand clamped at my mouth, silencing my scream. I couldn’t breathe. Amara was still fighting the man holding her. She kicked him, scratched his face. He cursed and slapped her. Hard. Then, he tore her nightdress, displaying her naked body for all the men to see. I saw two men hold my sister down as he raped her, her screams muffled by the cloth stuck hi her mouth. I broke down completely as they took turns molesting her. When they were done, she lay weak on the floor. One of the men pulled out a knife. I thought he would stab her once. But he didn’t stop at one. He stabbed her again. And again. And again. I counted. One. Two. Three. My eyes blurred at ten. By twenty, she wasn’t moving anymore. The man dropped her like a broken doll. Her blood spread across the floor, mixing with the rainwater that had come in through the broken door. I was whimpering when the leader turned his face to me. “Bring that one here, Caleb.” He said, talking to the man who held me. Immediately, my survival instincts kicked in. I bit his hand and kicked hi hard in the groin. Then, I turned and ran. My bare feet slapped against the cold, wet floor. My lungs burned. I ran past the kitchen, through the back door into the garage. I could feel them gaining on me as I lifted the cover of the hidden tunnel my father had built that led into the woods surrounding our house. When I got in, I navigated through the tunnel and then once I got through the tunnels end, I dashed into the storm. The rain was so heavy I could hardly see. I slipped in the mud, fell, got back up. I dove into the woods behind our house, branches scratching my skin. I didn’t care. I kept running until my legs gave out. I fell to my knees, sobbing, the image of my family’s bodies burned into my mind. I didn't notice the car coming towards me and when I finally did, I wished it would hit me so I could die with my parents. But, unfortunately the car stopped. The driver climbed out of the car and moved towards me. I didn't move. I couldn't at that point. I just wanted to die. Then, I felt arms wrap around me. “It’s me, Elara,” a voice said. It was deep, gentle. “It’s Elias. ” Elias was Amara's fiancé. He had always been kind to me, treating me like his little sister. He was soaked because of the rain, his shirt sticking to his skin. “They’re dead,” I choked out. “Mama… Papa… Amara…” “I know,” he said, holding me tighter. “I was on my way to warn them. I'm sorry I couldn’t get to them in time. His eyes held tears, his voice breaking through every syllable. I pulled back, looking at him. His face was full of sorrow. “It was him,” he said. “Damian Carter. He ordered it. He’s the one who destroyed your family.” I swallowed hard, my heart twisting. “Why? Papa worked for him. He was loyal to him.” “He had asked your father for Amara's hand in marriage but your father refused. He's a sick twisted fellow, Isa. I was on my way to warn you…” Elias's voice broke. “I’m so sorry, Isa. We'll make him pay. I promise you that.” I believed him. I believed every word. Then, I vowed that day. I would end Damien Carter's life with my bare hands. Even if it's the last thing I do. He helped me up and led me to his car. Then, we drove off into the night. I felt numb with pain, my heart breaking into pieces as the memory of my family's lifeless bodies etched it's way into my brain. Damien Carter would die. From that day on, Isabella Roberts died. Stephanie Harris was born.