PROLOGUE

Someone was following her. She could feel it.

She was certain it wasn't the wind, she could feel a presence around her. She walked faster. She took a quick glance at her surroundings. She saw no one.

She was a few blocks from her apartment, she could see her apartment now. She picked up her pace. The wind had picked up its speed, it was becoming intense, so she pulled the hood of her hoodie over her head as she silently hoped it wouldn't rain. She got to her apartment and was about to put the key into the lock when she caught some movement at the corner of her eye.

As she turned to see who it was, a gravely voice said, "you thought you could get away from me, didn't you peach?".

She straightened up. Her pupils widened in fear. Her blood ran cold. She recognized that voice.

It was the same voice she had been running away from for the past two years.

As she wanted to let out a scream, he held his hand firmly over her mouth. She struggled and writhed against him, but he was stronger than her.

"Why are you being so stubborn my peach? We could be very happy together my love", tears were trickling down her face now. He was dragging her into the elevator and taking her away.

"Shh shh, now, now Lucia, don't you want to be good for me? Like the sweet little girl you are", he said as he smelled her hair and kissed her temple.

She was struggling for breath now. She managed to bite his hand, he grunted and pushed her against the door of the elevator. She was on the floor, and he advanced menacingly towards her.

She looked up at him, he looked disheveled and drunk, his clothes were dirty and he reeked of cheap alcohol.

He looked at his hand, he was bleeding from where she bit him, "you stupid bitch", he said and hit her across the face. She cried out and she started pleading, "leave me alone Micheal, please", her voice sounded so small and scared.

"I'm not going anywhere baby", he said and his voice suddenly softened, "don't you see, the world around us my peach, they want to take you away from me", he said with a maniacal look in his eye as he gestured towards no one in particular. "I can't let that happen", then, as he stooped down and reached to touch her, she pushed him away and screamed, "get the fuck off me you bastard!".

He began to laugh. He put his hand into his coat pocket and brought out a revolver. Fear gripped her, "what are you doing?".

His laughter subsided, "you see peach, if I can't have you", then he aimed the gun at her, "sadly, no one can".

Two shots rang out.