CHAPTER 16

CHARLENE'S POV

A tall, dark haired girl smiled at me. She sat down beside me on a bench near the edge of a small lake. "Are you feeling better now?" she asked softly.

I nodded slowly, looking down at my lap. "What's wrong?"

She reached over and brushed away some stray hairs that framed my face. Her fingertips caressed my cheek, leaving goosebumps in their wake.

"Who are you? Why are you here?"

Her eyes flashed with anger. Suddenly her hand shot out, grabbing my wrist so forcefully that my entire arm was lifted off the ground. She twisted my arm painfully before slamming me hard against the stone bench behind us.

"How dare you question our presence?"

"Let go of me!" I cried out in pain as my elbow hit the bench seat. With a growl, she pushed me again, causing me to stumble. I grabbed onto the bench tightly.

She snarled angrily, leaning forward until she almost touched my face. "Do you think you're above us just because you were–"

Tears streamed down my face and blurred my visio