1 Prologue

Emily

Rumours have it that on your sixteenth birthday, the first words that your soul mate says that draws you to them will appear on your arm. Today is my sixteenth birthday, and for one thing, I don't want mine to be like my dad. I checked my arm again as I'm running in the darkened fall forest, a full moon guiding my way. I tripped here and there and added bruises to my already bleeding body.

I'll give you a ride home.

I don't know anyone, nor do I have any friends; it doesn't make sense. I ran through the woods holding my arms close to my body to keep myself warm. No shoes, no socks, ripped jeans, and a thin long sleeved shirt ripped to shreds by me running into trees and falling on jagged rocks and roots isn't ideal for a run in the woods at night.

I turned to look behind me after running for a while, when I trip over my feet and fall down a hill, under a wooden fence, and onto a field. I heard barking quickly approaching me; I backed away until I bumped into the fence. A shepherd dog was barking at me and I started to tremble. I'm too weak and tired to fight, so if I die today, the pigs can eat me or someone could use me for fertilizer.

"Storm! Come here, girl!" a man's voice shouted.

I looked up and squinted my eyes, still holding my arms around me and trembling. I saw a lantern light running my way, and a man running here holding it. The dog backed away and was replaced by the man.

A farmer?

I think so. I looked at him as he kneeled down and put the lantern down on the soft grass, and he reached out to me. I recoiled, thinking he was going to hit me. He moved his hand back and then spoke in a gentle whisper.

"Are you okay?"

I stayed silent.

"What's your name?"

Still I didn't respond.

"Can you understand me?"

"Em… I, I mean Emily. Emily Youngblood."

He looked shocked at my response, then he smiled.

"Hello Emily. I'm Hunter. What are you doing here at a time like this?"

"I'm sorry. I should probably leave before I cause more trouble. I'm really sorry. You can hit me, or do whatever you want to punish me. I'm really, really, really sorry. I didn't see where I was going and-" I huddled in on myself even more again, but he cut me off.

"Punish you? What would I do that?"

"Because I did something wrong."

"You didn't do anything wrong. So you don't need to apologize. And I'm not going to punish you."

"You- you're not?"

"No, but it is cold, so do you live around here?"

I nodded my head.

"I'll give you a ride home. Let's go."

Those words, those are the ones. Wait home, no.

"No!" I shouted. "No, please. Sorry, I shouted."

"Why not?"

"I can just sleep here, but please don't take me home."

He looked at me, his eyes filled with sadness and deep concern. He sighed. "You're not sleeping out here in this weather with that on. Come on, it's cold. You can stay the night."

"But I don't want to burden you. It's fine, it's not the first, I'll just-" I trailed off and collapsed from exhaustion. I felt warmth embrace me, and I leaned into it.