Prologue
POV
nonda.
If someone would have told me years ago that this would be my future. I would have laughed in their faces. I smile as I look down on the two bundles in my hands. The blankets feel soft like clouds. They feel lighter than a feather and just as fragile. We had decided on their names long ago. Knowing in my soul that they were a perfect fit. I look down at them staring and beaming with joy. Tears falling with no attempt to fight them. Atlas to the left and Juno to the right. Atlas with hair the color of mahogany and Juno the color of onyx. Skin the shade of caramel. Absolutely perfect in every way. The usual parental line but it doesn’t mean we don’t believe it with every fiber of our being.
“Nonda” Atticus says, desperation bleeding from the emotion swelling in his eyes. Bringing me back from my attention on the twins. I wish I could just stare at them and forget what’s happening around me. Walls shaking and wood splintering as they're trying to break through the door. “We have to go now!” “We will never make it out if we don’t go right now!” Atticus says gently grabbing my shoulders and starring at me with his deep green eyes. I can just make out the gold flecks with the dim lighting and all the chaos surrounding us. “You have to say goodbye now! I promise you on everything I have it won’t be forever.” He finishes with tears streaming down his face. I hug the twins trying to burn their smell and every tuft of hair to my memory. At this point I can feel myself violently shaking breaking down at the thought of leaving them. Being born mere hours ago. I plant a kiss on each of their foreheads. I hand them over to my sister and her husband. We give each other a sorrowful look and just like that they're gone. I feel like my heart has shattered into a million pieces that are currently meeting me on the ground. Black spots swim into my vision as pain sears into my head. My brain on fire as everything turns black.
Atticus.
Everything seems to move in slow motion. A horror movie that I can’t escape. My soul, My light and my love slipping away just out of my grasp. As soon as the twins disappear the door burst open. splintering and flying in all different directions. Behind it stands someone I never expected. Betrayal and wrath wraps around my heart as my best friend raises an arm to reveal the cold shiny metal. The gun fires and I can smell the sulfur and feel the heat of it as it shatters through the love of my life. She falls like she had been hit by a mac truck. I rush over to her holding her limp bleeding and broken body. I can feel her life slipping through my fingers. Blood pooling on the ground beneath my knees. I lower myself down to her ear and lightly whisper “ The twins got out. They're safe please hold on I will get us out of here. Just stay with me right here” sobbing as I place her hand on my heart.
The traitor clears his throat. “Jonas how could you do this to us! I trusted you! You were there when they were born. Sworn your allegiance.” I say with a guttural scream. “She is your sister and you shot her!” Bafflement and pure hatred wrapping around each word. Cold eyes turn to me and just as easily fires the gun. Just before everything goes black I hear him utter these words. “ Everything isn’t as it seems. It will all make sense soon. Just stay with me. I will come back for both of you.” he says nearly over a whisper. The world slipped from my vision the only thing running though my mind. I have to get to her. I have to get to my wife. Nonda! I tried to scream but nothing came out. All I could hear was footsteps receding and soft gurgling sound.
