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I felt warmer than I normally would. It was as if I was cocooned in the finest of silks that were trying desperately to lull me back to sleep. My eyes and body refused to awaken in the fear I'd leave the warmth I was in. Beginning to wake from the warmth surrounding me, birds singing and light voices entered the darkness. listening to the sound of the birds, I found myself thinking about yesterday. I could remember standing in line and getting my crescent moon mark, before leaving into the forest with the other girls. I could see myself walking through the darkness before two silver eyes appeared in my vision. I remembered the eyes belonging to a beast, yet I wasn't afraid of him, for this beast was no threat to me. Gabriel...Slowly opening my eyes to the brightness of my room, I took in deep breaths to soothe my beating heart. I know I had fallen in the forest last night, yet here I lay, safely tucked into my blankets at home. "What?" I whispered, confused. Frowning, I quickly rem
"Sharlee!" Rushing toward her family, I felt hope bloom in my chest. I could see them crowding around something, and I could only hope it was my dear friend. Perhaps she had collapsed from the long night once she left the fringe of the forest, or maybe Sharlee was just so happy to be home she couldn't stand. Pushing my way through the small crowd that had begun to gather, I could now hear the cheers.They were congratulating her family, but why? Women were hugging her mother, as men clapped her father on the back. Coming to a halt beside her mother, I noticed she was holding the small white silk jacket she had given Sharlee before the beginning of the ceremony. As I gazed at the white silk item in her mother's arms, I felt my stomach drop. She had been chosen by the beasts in the forest. My close friend, who I'd never been apart from, was now gone.Gently placing a hand on her mother's shoulder to grab her attention, she moved her head in my direction with a broad smile. Her red tear-
Running towards the hut I could hear my father screaming, as loud crashes and banging sounded from behind the closed door. Coming to a stop by the door, I found my hand hovering over the wooden handle. It shook with each cry that fell from my father's lips. Taking a shaky breath, I clasped my hand around the wood, only to be pulled away. Turning to the person who now held my own in a vice-like grip, Gabriel stood before me with a blank look on his face."Come." He said before tugging me away. Giving my hand a reassuring squeeze, he pulled me away from the sound of my father's screams and the sound of banging.The sounds felt as if they were following me the further away I got from the hut. I hadn't seen my father in three days, not since he went to a neighbouring village to sell a few of his weapons. I hadn't known of his return until I overheard a few people talking about him. They said father had rushed in with his horse, Scraps, before jumping off and running towards the house. The
Running through the woods, I welcomed the adrenaline that coursed through my veins. Gritting my teeth, I fought the tears that kept falling from my eyes. My mother had left us. She had left my father and me. I knew something was wrong with her the past couple of days. Whenever I tried to play with her, she would look at me with disgust.Ever since she had returned from selling her gowns at a nearby village, she had acted weird. She had not unpacked her gear or taken me to the village like she usually did. She was cold. No longer was the loving feeling I once got from her received with open arms.Pushing my legs faster, I fought to find her. An elderly man told me she went into the woods after fighting with my father. Sobbing, I screamed out for her but was greeted with silence.Coming to a stop in a small clearing, I gazed up at the night sky. Rain pelted down from the dark clouds, soaking my white nightdress. Crying into my hands, I started to shake."Mummy!" Sniffing, I turned aroun
I stared wide-eyed as Gabriel advanced towards me. He looked angry, no he looked beyond angry, and with every step Gabriel took, I couldn't help but feel he was going to turn into a beast. I wasn't sure why I had yelled at him, and at this moment I honestly couldn't care. I had to remember why I was even in the Choosing, to begin with. I had to find Sharlee and if I had to use Gabriel, then so be it. He and I hadn't seen each other for a long time, and considering I didn't know anything about this whole Chosen thing, I wasn't about to let myself fall for him again. Long gone were the days we were kids and I would fantasise about being his. Right now, we were adults, and I knew what I wanted from my life. I needed to help my father and if marrying Matthew was the only way, I would swallow my pride for my father. Right now though, I needed to keep with my plan of finding Sharlee. I had seen Sharlee's family mourn the loss of their daughter for months, and I wouldn't let my father go
Since the night the young girl was found, all women and children were to be home before dark and to not travel alone. This meant Matthew stuck to me like a bad smell. Although I promised my father I would go on with this marriage to appease him, I still found myself longing to run into Gabriel's arms. I hadn't been able to see him for five days now, and those five days felt like hell.My body would always heat-up of a night time and with the new moon approaching it felt like it was getting worse. Five days, that's all it took for my body to crave his presence and five days we were in peace. At least that's what we all thought.When I woke that morning, I found my father seated beside my bed. He looked like he was deep in thought, and the longer I gazed at him the more I noticed he seemed tired. "Father?"The sound of my voice caught him off guard, causing him to jump slightly but he masked his surprise with a bright smile. "Good morning, Annabelle. Did you sleep well?"Nodding, I just
So many voices could be heard inside my head, but every time I tried to decipher what they were saying, they faded. It was as if something in me didn't want me to know what was being said. Frowning as the voices faded from my mind, I felt someone gently place a kiss on my forehead. Groaning at the sudden feeling, I slowly opened my eyes.Everything around me was bright, and as I continued to blink away the sleep that had taken me, I noticed a blurred face in my vision. Continuing to blink, the person's face cleared. As I stared at the person in front of me, I felt my stomach churn.Smiling down at me with relieved eyes was Matthew. I had hoped to see the one person I had seen last night before I welcomed the darkness. Frowning, I gazed around the room. "Where am I?" This wasn't an area I knew.With a long sigh, Matthew handed me a glass of water. "You're in my room."Chocking on the water I had about to swallow, I stared at him with wide frantic eyes. Why was I here? Why could Father
"Anna!" Turning around at the sound of my name, I spotted my father running towards me. Pulling me into his arms, I felt his body shaking slightly, as I wrapped my arms around his waist."Father, you're shaking," I whispered.Nodding, I felt his head move into the crook of my neck. "I couldn't find you... I thought..." Father was unable to finish his sentence as his shoulders began to shake uncontrollably. "Where were you, Anna?"Pulling back, I turned to where Gabriel was once standing, only to see he was nowhere to be seen. He had vanished without saying goodbye. Frowning I turned back to look at Father, placing a smile on my face, I whispered. "I was with... Gabriel."As soon as the words left my lips, my father frowned down at me. With a shake of his head, he looked towards Matthew. "I can't have you here anymore, Anna. I'm sending you and Matthew to the nearest town."I stared at my father for a few seconds as I tried to register the words coming out of his mouth. Surely I had he