Blood Debt

Author’s note: Hey guys, for anyone who has read my story so far, I’m working on the story but went back to my previous chapters and i thought I could do better. Thank you for your patience on the continuation of the story while I re-write, and enjoy the extended chapters **************************** I sat at my desk during my lit class, staring out the window. The fall leaves were just turning their autumn color, it only being the beginning of October. This was my last class of the day, which meant I would be out and walking home in under 50 minutes. The walk itself would be pleasant now with the summer heat gone, but I wasn’t looking forward to my destination. I used to look forward going home after school, but since mom passed in a car accident last year, I dreaded the 20-minute walk at the end of my school day. My teacher droned on about some theme or something going on in Frankenstein, but I barely listened. Ever since mom’s accident, the world was more dull, and I was finding it hard to find a reason to care. I’m sure people would say I was depressed, but I didn’t care to get help even if I was. Tammy Connors was a single mom who took on three jobs to support us so I could have a good life. We weren’t by any means rich, but she had paid outrageous rent on a one bedroom in a township in Washington that had great public schools. She kept food on the table for us, and she she showed me what unconditional love was. My DNA donor (or father as others might call him) dipped the minute he heard my mom was pregnant and only left me his vibrant red hair. I never needed him though, because my mom was more than enough for me. I was a minor when mom passed, so I was moved across the country to Connecticut to live with my only known living family left. Daniel Connor was my mom’s half brother. I didn’t meet him much growing up because he lived so far away, but it was clear he had a gambling addiction. He looked like mom, sharing her blond hair and light blue eyes, but where hers held love for me, his held distain. Every night, he had me cook dinner every night (if cooking included heating up frozen meals), and then would grab a beer and sit to watch whatever game he bet on for the night. I would usually eat quickly, head up to my room, finish my homework and silently sit until I fell asleep. I missed rainy Washington nights in with my mom, baking or snuggling watching a TLC show. My mom would laugh and smile and dream with me. Now I was left bittersweet memories and an empty hole in my heart that I couldn’t fill. The bell rang, which jolted me out of my depressing thoughts. I stuffed my notes into my backpack and headed towards my locker. I wanted to pick up the textbooks I would need for homework tonight. I may have not paid attention in class nor was I shooting for great grades, but my mom wanted me to graduate. So I would for her. I moved around the hordes of students rushing to find their lockers and friends after school. No one stopped me though. I moved in the beginning of the school year, but I hadn’t managed to make more than an acquaintance in class. I was more of an introvert to begin with. But I also experienced years of bullied by girls for being poor in a rich town, and by boys for being fat (who didn’t know that a size 8 wasn’t fat). I tried to keep to myself as much as I could after the 8th grade. My mom always told me all I needed were few great friends to surround myself with, and I could live a happy fulfilled life. She also told me I had time to find those people, and that she would be here to support me until then. Well I guess I back to zero in my circle with no prospects in sight. I didn’t blame the other students though. I would have also found it hard connecting with the new orphan in school. It did make maneuvering around in this mad house easier though. As the 3000 students of the school tried to catch up to friends after class, I got to get to my locker and out without interruption. While I spun the metal dial to open the door, a large presence walked up beside me. Oh right, the other reason I was such a forgettable new student. Pierce Aldelean. Pierce was new to school this year as well but significantly more interesting in a positive way. If the rumor mill at this school was to be trusted, then he and his family just moved into one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in town. He lived with his siblings and father, who was some tech god but was sick of Silicone Valley. Other than that though, he was a mystery. A Tall, dark and handsome mystery. His skin was almost too pale which made his dark features pop. He had thick dark curls that wrapped around his ears and covered his forehead. Dark blue eyes that were framed by dark lashes and thick eye brows that looked perfect without him needing to try. Add in his slightly imperfect Roman nose and full lips and he was every girls’ fantasy. I looked up to find him leaning against his locker, arms crossed over his large chest. He had to be at least 6’2, and was built like a rugby player. His burgundy sweater hugged his biceps so I could make out some of his definition even under it. I nodded politely when we made eye contact and I went back to putting booking in my backpack. “Be careful walking home today Ana” a deep voice quietly said to me. I whipped my head around just to see Pierce’s back walking into the chaos of students. That was weird. I tried to not to think too hard about the growing nerves In my stomach. Instead, I turned into the end of day chaos myself and Left out the nearest door. It was a warm enough day, especially dressed in my sweater and boots. The population on the road thinned as I made my way to the back roads I usually walked to get home. Daniel lived off of the main road in the center of town, so I walked in that direction and pulled out my phone and headphones. I scrolled through my music to pick a song when something felt off. I shook it off as lasting nerves from Pierce’s message. But the persistent feeling of being watched weighed on my back. Instead of looking at the historical houses that filled the street, I kept my eyes down and picked up my pace. My surroundings turned more run down three streets over and then I turned down Daniel’s street. I hussled over to the shitty apartment above a bodega at the end of the road, desperate to have a locked door between me and this feeling. I shouldn’t have been surprised when a hand wrapped around my face. But I froze for a second, not processing what had happened; A needle pricked my arm. That shocked me back to life and I began thrashing against my captor. I could tell he was a man by the way his body felt against my back and from the size of his hand. It actually held my jaw shut so I couldn’t scream, and his other arm locked against my waist. I looked around to see if anyone could help me, but I stared at empty porches. The edges of my vision started blurring and my body felt heavy. My captor must have felt the fight in me leave because he removed his hand from my mouth and picked me up before my legs gave out. I tried to open my mouth, but I could barely keep my eyes open. The last thing I saw was car pull up onto the street before it went all black.