Chapter 1

•Elosie•

It was difficult to avoid the hungry and perverted men and women, but I eventually learned to defend myself if necessary.

The pepper spray I bought with the money I had left over was the only weapon I had, though. The streets weren't much of a concern to me, but home was, so I eventually got the knack of walking back home.

After my older sister Kylie and her husband Jackson moved into the simple but dilapidated trailer that my mother had left for me and only me, I anticipated a terrible time as a result of them. Not literally, but my sister was a blind bitch who constantly turned a blind eye to her husband's harassment behavior.

She occasionally doesn't feel comfortable with the way he touches her, but she laughs it off as if she doesn't mind. I have always told her that I love her and that I care about her, but she would just grin and walk away.

I was doing it all, especially the protecting, it was all for my mother because I knew she wanted the best for us. She wanted me to bring my sister and work on our relationship. I was a 23-year-old woman who looked after and shielded my ailing and fearful older sister, who lived in her husband's shadow.

Jackson may have hurt her and me, but I restrained him from going too far. My time spent watching action movies in the past came in handy; even though I may have looked ridiculous while performing defense moves on Jackson's inebriated butt, I eventually managed to get him off and used the pepper spray—just a little so as not to waste all of it.

Now, after I arrived at the trailer, I envisaged either not finding them both inside or finding them dozing off. But instead, I could hear Jackson chatting about something while Kylie this time remained silent and listened, till it finally stopped.

". . . She's our chance, she could also get to have her share of the money. What's the worst that could happen? Tell me?"

"She won't consent," I listened as Kylie sighed while shrinking myself smaller than I already am while I was leaning against the wall of the cool trailer.

"She lacks the ability to halt the approaching Digitron Company army. Kylie, you've already signed the document."

"I was inebriated! You forced me to do it!" Kylie yelled.

"Well, when she comes back, you'll thank me—"

"What's happening?" Although I was trained to sound confident and strong, my voice has always come out as soft and weak.

Jackson sighed and then grinned. His long brown hair, which was once attractive to the eye, now resembled a bird's nest due to how frequently he ran his fingers through it and likely yanked on it out of rage. He had a square face with stubble, wide dark green eyes, and a long, slightly crooked nose.

He would have been attractive if he hadn't been such an absolute jerk, so I'm not sure what Kylie saw in him.

Go ahead, give your sister an explanation before they arrive. Jackson tilted his head in my direction and folded his arms across his chest.

" Look, Elosie. This is not—"

" Oh come on!" Jackson hissed making Kylie flinch.

" Stop it! If you want to say something, you tell it to me." Even though I was frightened and despised Jackson, I had to glare at him to make him realize how obstinate I was.

"Alright, then. I'll get straight to the point," When Jackson approached me, I stood my position and didn't act afraid.

"The Digitron corporation, if you are aware of them, had distributed a slip form in quest of a few interested volunteers who would get the chance to see their recent discovery."

"And?" I fixed my gaze on his dimming eyes while clenching my fists and jaw.

"And you are a participant in this! Congrats! That is all I know about it, but you will get the opportunity to view and experience their new invention."

"Who told you that I would accept the offer, exactly?" It was difficult to glare up at him because acting this harsh could result in my sister and I dying.

"You're not required to. They are coming here to get you, princess," he mumbled as he withdrew away from me, a nasty grin on his face.

"In your dreams, jerk!" Instead of getting angry like always, he chuckled while Kylie rubbed her hands nervously.

"I didn't intend to sign the form." Her tone was small and timid.

"No, you didn't mean to, since you wouldn't have done such a thing without my consent if you weren't with this guy." I sarcastically spoke, glaring her way.

"Shut the fuck up! I'm here to look out for you all and this is how you thank me? Do you have any fucking idea how much money we'll get out of this?"

" I don't care!" I yelled.

" Well I fucking do!" he growled down at me.

"Stop that," Kylie tried to stop him by grabbing his arm, but he pushed her away, causing her to stumble and collapse.

"You idiot! Don't touch her!" I yelled at him, but he grabbed hold of my thick platinum colored hair and pulled me in.

"Are you aware of what you're rejecting? You don't know anything, bitch! Although it was difficult to resist such beauty, I'm pleased I refrained from touching you just yet."

" Jackson!" Kylie gasped as she gapped at him.

" Don't look surprised, babe. You know how much I wanted to fuck your little sister all this time—" before he could finished, I mustered up the courage with beating heart and kicked him in the groin.

" Kylie, let's leave!" I screamed for her to get up, but her eyes were only on her husband. She looked at me through his screams and cusses and shook her head. " Don't do this! Not this time, Kylie."

Kylie stared at me and stooped to her husband, saying, "Leave, Elosie." My sister is ill, so I wasn't shocked by her response that this idiot made her sick to the core. " This is all your fault!"

I shook my head and hurried to my section of the trailer, grabbed out my emergency pack from underneath my old bed, and hurried out, but not before pausing and turning to face Kylie.

" My mother would be so disappointed of you." her eyes widen in shock at my words, I left because I didn't want to see the rest of her cruel reaction.

Jackson tried to get my sister to stop me from going, but for the first time, she ignored him.

I was racing around the streets, covering my face and hair with the worn-out black hoodie I typically wear to work. The area was filled with homeless people sitting; it was a terrible scene, and I knew I would soon experience this kind of environment.

I detested Jackson's suggestion that I take part in those ill firms because of this. They made us sick, poor, and prone to death as a result; they made our lives worse than what the governments once did.

I won't participate in their inquiry because we were merely their test subjects.

Now all I had to do was use the money I had left to look for an inexpensive place to stay in. I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I failed to notice that I was brushing away my dropped tears and proceeding down the deserted roadway.

Though while walking, I didn't notice the white expensive looking truck that suddenly stopped by me. I clenched my arms around myself and quickly walked; ready to turn the corner when the side door opened and two large hands grabbed hold of me and yanked me inside the warm yet dark cigarette smelled truck.

My screams were muffled, but everything stopped when a stinging sensation shook my body when it formed on the right side of my shoulder where my small, feather shaped birthmark was.

I felt as though I were sinking into the depths of the ocean; I grew heavier and queasy till I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, encountering absolute darkness behind my eyelids right away.