"Code red, Code red. This is NOT a drill."It takes me a second to remember that code red is a drill for a lockdown.The principal's voice seems shaky. Alec and I look at each other, and he grabs my hand. He opens the door to the janitor's closet with a tight grip on my arm. They said out of sight. Not grab Temperance's hand and take her somewhere."Where are we going? We were already out of sight in there!" I protest. I roll my eyes as he decides to ignore me.We get to our classroom, and he frantically beats on the door. "Let us in!" Yes, be loud Alec, that totally won't attract a killer.The teacher opens the door and pulls us in. Everyone is huddled on the side of the room where the window on the door is perfectly angled away from them.The teacher frantically turns out the lights and locks the door with shaking hands. Alec and I make our way toward the class. We sit close to the wall with a few students in front of us. I imagine a person coming in and frantically shooting us w

Temperance The police sirens are wailing as we pull the car to the side of the road. "Fuck fuck fuck fuck." Alec grits his teeth, hitting his fists on the wheel in frustration. I tense at his anger, staying silent. I wait for the car to roll to a stop behind us but instead he speeds past us. The car shakes with its speed. It wasn't after us in the first place. As if today's chaos wasn't enough, I stand in front of my door, contemplating if I should go in or not. I check my phone. It's only 3:40. It's around the time I usually get home. I should've just gone with Alec since they had offered. Next time I won't turn down their offer. I carefully open the gate to hell. I slip through the door and into my smoke-filled house. I try to hold back the coughs that rise in my throat as I drop my backpack by the door. You're invisible. Don't draw attention. I look up and see my father and a strange-looking woman sitting in the kitchen smoking cigarettes. The woman has black hair and pi

Temperance The booming sound of thunder crashes loudly, causing my mind to force me awake. Annoyed, I turn over, bending my arm to go back under my pillow. I open my eyes, feeling a strange pain come from myInner arm. I straighten my arm out, thinning my lips at the drip that is placed back into my arms. My ears twitch at the sound of the monitor they've plugged back in. I lazily bring myself to a sitting position with a delicate sigh escaping my chapped lips. I gaze outside and watch the dark clouds pour over us. They stretch into the distance as if it's never-ending. Rain slides down my window, the droplets racing against each other for which one can go faster. Lightning strikes and the crackling sound of thunder follows. I can hear a few patients scream, but other than that, it's a silent morning in the hospital. I've always liked the rain. When my mom was alive she would put me in a red raincoat and we'd go outside. She would watch as I splash around in the puddles, my legs

Temperance My eyes are slow to open, and pain jolts through my body as I grow more familiar with my surroundings. My mind spins in circles, trying to reveal the lost pieces of memories. "Up the morphine intake." An unfamiliar voice states. I fully open my eyes, realizing I'm in Alec's house again. I glance down at the bandage wrapped around my torso and the memories come flooding back. Erin had shot me, trying to kill me. But if she wanted to kill me... why didn't she shoot me in the head? As seconds pass I feel the pain in my body subsid. Morphine is a wonderful antidote for pain. "I'm glad you're up!" Alec speaks in a calm voice, sitting on the edge of the bed. I try my best to sit up, my arms too shaky to lift me. He wraps his arm around my back, helping me to a sitting position. He's barely touching me, taking his hands away as I'm positioned comfortably. It seems like he's afraid I might break. "How long have I been here..?" I ask in a raspy voice. My throat stings with

Alec I park in the driveway and jump out of the car. I don't know what's gotten into me. I only go back to the mansion for emergencies. Temperance needing me shouldn't be an emergency. If only I could help it when it comes to her. I wouldn't be running away from my duties to tend to her. This girl, she just sets a fire off in me. When I'm around her I get nervous and my heart beats faster. I have this deep urge to protect her. If my father heard about me abandoning my duties tonight, he would be furious. I would no doubt be screamed at for hours. He isn't abusive or purposely mean to me, he just has a reputation to hold. Growing up me and my siblings were under extremely strict rules. We couldn't do anything to disgrace our family name. Ace and I had to be the best of the best to inherit the gang. My father never had any intentions of Arella maintaining his work so she didn't get the harsh rules. Once Vanessa came into Ace's life he decided he didn't want to be the next leader. T