1. TRANSFER

"Get my pack of cigarettes!" my mother screamed a few rooms from mine.

"Yes, mom." I whispered obediently.

She took another swig of her bottle of alcohol, only to find it was empty.

I flinched, wondering what she might do. Images of her smashing the glass bottle over my head caused a shiver to run down my spine.

My hand reached for the door, the other securing my backpack over my shoulder while I sighed heavily. I was about to step out of the door until she spoke once again.

"I know how much you forget," she muttered under her breath.

My body became paralyzed at my mother's words.

I ran cold, suddenly frozen like I was injected with ice.

I was silent.

"Goodbye," I whispered, my voice rough and harsh.

I shut the door behind me slowly, clenching my jaw as I held back the flow of tears behind my pale, grey eyes.

─────────────────

"Hey, Dark!" a masculine voice called out.

"Look at her skirt, boys!"

"Yeah, Izzy! Come over here! We'll show you a good time!"

A few of the boys hooted, and my brother stood silently beside them, glaring harshly. They shut their mouths quickly, cheeks flushing red with embarrassment and frustration. I sent him a small smile, eyes connecting for a second before he pulled them from mine. His face curled in a grin as he looked over at the boys, now buzzing with happiness. I saw that clutched in his hand was a vape filled with a light green liquid.

Marijuana.

I walked sluggishly inside the school, cringing inwardly when I spot a MISSING PERSON poster hung beside the glass door entrance.

People have been disappearing slowly. It ranges from young teens to grown adults. There's no trace or sign of anyone. Not even themselves. They just... vanished.

Chicago had too many pressing cases. Gangs, thefts, drugs, murders... A few missing kids were nothing of their concern.

The city announced a curfew once we hit over eighty people. We aren't allowed to go outside once it's dark, and we are warned to keep ourselves safe by planning possible attacks.

The only reason it's concerning to the police is that many frantic parents have called the department. They don't want to deal with them anymore. Enforcing a curfew was the best possible solution.

My thoughts are interrupted when someone came up from behind me, bumping into my shoulder.

I skidded to a halt, planting myself to the polished marble floor.

"Can't scream for your daddy now, can you?" a male voice snickered.

Pain ran up my arm as I teeth grit in frustration, eyes burning with tears.

"Fuck you, Noah." I snarled, voice hard and rough with emotion.

He turned to face me, eyes locked on mine.

Noah Davis was rich enough to buy the entire school, including a few mansions. His father was swimming in money, and his mother seemed to buy it on him entirely. He wore a black hoodie and washed-out blue jeans, with a pair of new, clean white sneakers.

"All you need to do is ask, Dark. Not that I need to," he replied slyly, a smug annoyance written across his sharp features.

My nostrils flared in anger, and I forced myself to place one foot in front of the other, turning away from him.

I felt his glare from behind my back, and I cringed, my brave façade falling.

Don't worry about them, Isabella. I heard my father's voice whisper in my head soothingly.

Don't worry about them...

I swallowed thickly, trying to remove the lump of emotion that was in my throat.

Stumbling up the metal stairs to my next class, I sat in my normal seat near the window. I spotted a sleek, black crow that hopped on the electric wire.

It peered at me, dark beady eyes glistening with intelligence. Remaining still, it cocked its head to the side curiously, as if asking a question.

The door opened suddenly, and I turned my attention to my professor, who slammed the door shut angrily, sitting in his seat while drinking from his coffee cup that we all knew held whiskey. Some of the students would dare to take a sip out of it when his back was turned.

I glanced back at the wire, only to find that the crow had flown away. My lips turned down in a frown, and I rested my chin in the palm of my hand, elbow resting on the single light plastic desk.

"Hello, students." he greeted without any hint of friendliness. His face was flushed red, the vein on his forehead pulsing with the rush of blood.

"We have a new transfer today." he informed the class, who only looked bored.

Transfers were common. We had a few classmates that came from different states. Even different countries. But nobody was friends here. Everybody had a secret that they would never tell.

And I knew all of them.

A tall, masculine voice made my body hum with pleasure as it echoed throughout the room.

"Hello, Isabella."