Page 1 of Fatality

PROLOGUE

Youth - Daughter

The sting of the slap blooms across my cheek, the mark probably already spreading into a dull red against my skin.

I don't understand, I only broke a glass, it happens, everyone can break a glass, why slap me for that?

Why?

“You know how much that glass costs?” My father snarls. “Of course not. You don't care because we're the ones paying.”

I blink, tears well up in my eyes, I try not to cry, so I clench my fists until my nails bite into my palms.

I'm trying, but I'm failing.

“Riven...” Kyle's voice is soft, threaded with quiet empathy.

Before the first tear can fall, I whirl around and run, I burst out of the penthouse and throw myself into the building's stairwell, the tears finally spilling down my face.

I just want to get away—far away from this place.

It's not a home, it never was.

The only place I've ever felt safe is with my older brother, Kyle.

He's gentle, always defending me, always giving me the love my parents never did.

And I'm not running away from him.

I'm running away from them.

Footsteps thunder down the stairwell behind me, someone is running after me.

The sound of ragged breathing echoes through the concrete cage.

I rush out of the building.

The cold night air and the rain slams into my face, cooling the sting of the slap.

It does nothing for the ache in my chest.

I keep running without really looking where I'm going, tears blurring my vision, the world dissolves into streaks of light and shadow.

I don't care.

The neon lights smear together as I race past them.

Usually, I'd stop to stare at the strange clothes people wear, laughing with Kyle about how some of them look like walking advertisements.

“Riven please!” Kyle screams. “Stop running!" his footsteps closing the distance between us.

His voice feels distant somehow, like I’m underwater.

I don’t understand what I did for them to hate me that much.

I wipe at my face, but it's pointless. Rain and tears keep replacing each other.

I don't know where I'm going.