{This is the revised Prologue from my oringnal Romantic Fiction story. But i changed the plot around so it doesn't fit anymore. Enjoy!}
Prologue-
I leaned forward and hugged Haydn, watching as a tear fell from his eyes. He pulled away, turning his head so he didn't have to face me. My hand reached forward and touched his face, gently making him face me, “What is wrong?” My voice was shaky, I knew what was happening.
“You don't get it, do you?” He said, filling his voice with false courage.
I shook my head, “No.” It felt terrible to lie to him, but I didn't want to say out loud what I was thinking.
Tears fell faster from his eyes as he choked up the words, “I'm breaking up with you.” I stopped breathing. Tears were falling from my eyes like a waterfall. How could I have ever thought this was going to last?
“Syd?”
I looked at him, my heart shattering. “Why?” I managed, my breath coming in short gasps. He paused, not wanting to answer. “ Why?” I repeated.
“I can't handle you being depressed all the time. I hurts me to see you like that.” Haydn looked down, avoiding my eyes.
I wanted to slap him so badly. I wanted to tell him how stupid of a reason that was. I wanted to, but I couldn't move. I collapsed onto the ground, barely catching myself with my hands. He leaned down and tried to help me up. I looked at him and said softly, “Get away from me.”
Slowly he stepped back, almost tripping over his feet. He turned to leave, but at the door he stopped, “I'm sorry.”
I closed my eyes as he walked out of the door and muttered, “Don't leave me.” No answer. I stood up awkwardly, and almost fell toward the window. Out of the open blinds, I could see him running away from my house, tears soaking his face. “I love you...” I silently mouthed and closed the window. My shoulders crumpled as I gave in. Shaking, I stumbled over to my bed and sat on the edge. Rubbing my eyes, I muttered “This isn't happening.” But he was gone. Haydn was never coming back. I fell backwards and sobbed.
…
The mower sped away from Asher. He lept forward, missing the mower by inches. The machine rolled over the sidewalk and tipped onto the road. Asher pulled it back onto the yard. His eyes flicked across the street, where four guys were walking over to his house. He straightened his back and looked at the tallest man, “Hello?”
The man's face was hard and he was clutching something in his left pocket. With his right hand he held out a picture, “ Do you know where this girl is?” His voice was rough and ragged. Asher shook his head and turned his back. Bad idea. The man came up behind him and slashed him with a knife. Asher fell to his knees, a searing pain shooting up his arm. He yelled in pain but the man put a hand across his mouth, “Where is Sydney Rogers?”
Asher shook his head, “I don't know! She probally went into town.” The man released Asher and stood up.
“Most likely her favorite flower shop. 236 Water Green Road. Now!” They walked away, leaving Asher on the ground. Slowly Asher pulled himself off the ground. He had to warn Sydney. He stumbled inside and grabbed a bandage wrap. Quickly and painfully, he wrapped it around the cut. Catching his breath, he walked outside. Franny's Flower Shop was two streets away. And the bad guys already had a head start.
…
Robert paced across the small clearing. Ryley had the computer up and running again. They watched Sydney sprint across the screen, through several camera's spans. They had the entire city bugged, waiting for the perfect opputuntity to attack. But while the computer was down, they had lost her. “Ah, there she is. Tell the men that she's on the corner of Water Green Road and Harper's Alley.” Ryley nodded and started to radio the men.
Chapter 1-
I wove my way through the crowded sidewalk, forcing myself toward the street. I had two guys on my tail, following my every move. One of the thugs grabbed my arm, yanking me backwards. I screamed, and people starting paying attention as I fought back. But no body stepped forward to help me out. I swung at the taller one's head, but all that did was bruise my knuckles, “What the heck do you want from me?!” I screamed, pulling back. I glanced at the crowd and saw Haydn, standing there like an idiot. I shot him a glance that said, Hey coward! Get your butt out here and help me! The good thing was he understood, the bad thing: he didn't do anything.
Just then, Thug #2 grabbed both of my arms and threw me to the ground. I yelped and hit the ground, hard. My vision was beginning to blur as someone burst out of the crowd, trying to tear down the wall that Thug #1 and Thug #2 were creating around me. I recognized it as Asher. Finally, someone has the decency to help me. The only problem was: Skinny Guy + Huge Thugs = Bad Idea.
I saw Asher run into one of the men and I started to worry as he fell straight to the ground. I groaned. One of the men looked at me, his eyes glinting like onyx in the sun. I felt a foot connect with my head and everything went black.
…
I blinked my eyes open, my head throbbing relentlessly. Light flooded in from the stain glass window as a shower's water fizzled off. Where am I? I thought, looking around the unfamiliar room. I have to admit, it was beautiful. Everything in different shades of black and white, except the pillows and the curtains which were a violent shade of scarlet. I looked down on the pure white sofa, almost mistaking it for a blanket of snow. Where my head was a little splotch of dark pink that contrasted with the blankness. I raised my hand to my forehead feeling dried blood. “Crap.” I muttered.
I heard a door shut, and then foot steps. I stiffened until another door shut. Slowly I stood up and waded into the hallway. I stared at the art on the walls, the bright contrasting colors almost shocking. I heard movement in the room at the end of the hall. Holding my breath, I put my hand of the doorknob. Quickly, before I could think about it, I opened it. There stood a shirtless Asher. My jaw dropped to the floor.
“I see Sleeping Beauty's finally awake.” He said casually. Oh-My-God. He slipped a tight sleeveless shirt over his perfectly sculpted torso. I was almost mesmerized. Not enough to keep my mouth shut though.
“Well, duh?” I snapped as he snickered. I stared at him, jaw gaping. “What happened?” I said when I noticed a long slash running down his arm.
He shrugged it off and turned his back to me. “Why were those guys chasing you?”
I blinked, trying to remember. “They were trying to capture me or something. Maybe worse.” My voice trailed off. Asher whipped around to face me, his emerald eyes blinking faster than I thought possible, “ What happened?”
I shook my head, “I escaped, barely. I was running and I thought I lost them. I went to the closest pay phone and I was dialing 911 when they turned the corner. Then the chase began.” I looked at my bare feet and noticed that my tee-shirt was barely hanging on by my shoulders. And I wasn't wearing an undershirt. Asher noticed too. His eyes widened and he whipped around, yanking a dark brown shirt from his closet. I smiled graciously as I caught the shirt and slid it over my head. It was only a few sizes big, amazingly. I smiled, “Thanks.”
I stumbled into the kitchen, catching my self on the counter top. I balanced myself and turned to the sink. Slowly I twisted the faucet thrusting my hands under the cold water. I picked a small shard of glass out of my wrist, washing away the blood. Asher's footsteps pounded softly in the background of the rushing water. He walked into the kitchen, eyes watching my every move. I stepped back from the sink, turning the facet off. I stopped, staring at him, towel in hand. “What?” I said, watching his head tilt.
He blinked his eyes, snapping back to earth. “Nothing, nothing.” He murmured. I shrugged and tossed the towel at him. The white mass landed squarely on his head. Asher looked up, the towel falling down.
“Bummer.” I whispered, turning my back. I was walking away when the towel rebounded. I pulled the towel off my shoulder and glanced back at Asher. He was looking around innocently. I smiled and turned my body to him. He stepped toward me, taking my hands into his.
“Sydney?” His voice was shaky. I tensed as he pulled me close. He looked into my eyes as I slinked away and said, “ You know I will never hurt you.” I nodded, cautiously stepping back into his arms. He held me, wrapping his arms around me. I stood there, linking my hands around the small of his back. He leaned back, staring into my face, “Are you okay?”
Tears flooded to my eyes, “Asher, I'm just not ready...”
“Ready for what?”
“You. I'm not ready to do this to my heart again.”
His eyes were full of questions, “ Do what?”
“Fall for you.”
“You have fallen for me before?”
I nodded shamefully, “Second grade.”
He smiled, “That explains a lot.”
I smiled sadly, “I'm not ready for another Haydn heartbreak.”
His face flooded with understanding, “I'm not Haydn, Syd, I would, could never do that to you.”
I shrugged slightly, “How do I know that?”
Asher leaned forward and kissed me. I started to pull back, but I couldn't. I stood there in a moment of perfect bliss. It seemed like that moment could have lasted forever, but soon he pulled back, putting a hand around my neck. “Because it's me your talking to.”
I closed my eyes for a moment, smiling lightly. He reached for my hand, and I let him take it. We walked back into the living room, sinking into the white velvet couch. He put his arm around me as I leaned on his shoulder. I drifted to sleep, watching the moon rise high into the night sky.
Lush green trees rose above my head like columns, each green leaf spilling a small collection of rain onto the ground. My wet hair clung to my skin as I weaved through the trees. With every step my feet sank into the dark soil. A voice yelled my name again. Was it my imagination? I felt Haydn's voice penetrate my mind, “He's gone.” I screamed Asher's name as something grabbed me from behind. I struggled, trying to escape the grasp. A dark whisper came with the wind, “It's over now.” Whatever was holding me let go and I felt like I was falling deep into a bottomless pit. Tears rolled off my face, into the air around me. It felt like I was fading, disappearing into the blackness. A silent scream escaped my lips. I closed my eyes and-
“Sydney! Sydney wake up!” Asher shook my shoulder. My eyes fluttered open, almost blinding me. Sun peeked in through the shut blinds. Asher was still next to me, a worried look in his eyes, “What was it Syd?” I leaned forward and hugged him, tears silently rolling down my face. He stroked my hair, murmuring, “It's okay...”
My head snapped up, tears stopping, listening as someone rapped on the door. Asher's eyes watched as three shadows moved across the blinds. Someone yelled in German. Another man yelled this time in english, “ We know you are hiding her! Open up and no harm will come to you!”
My eyes widened as I wondered what I did this time. Asher looked at me, taking my hand he pulled us onto the ground as someone broke the glass mail slot in the door. “Okay, what now?”
…
A hand reached through the mail slot, trying to unlatch the door. I breathed slowly, not wanting them to hear us. Slowly Asher and I crawled into the kitchen and leaned against the wall. Asher put his ear to the wall, listening to the men swear and give up on unlatching the door. We were slient as we listened to the men agrue.
“We could always blow down the door.” A man with a husky voice said, his thick German accent showing.
“ And alert the neighbors?”
“We evactuated the rest of the street. Told them about the fire we started about a block away.”
“We started a fire?”
“Yeah. Now how do we get inside? What about the back door?”
“Why didn't I think of that?”
“I don't know.”
“Shut up!”
“Ok.” The German man grunted.
“Damon! Get up here!”
Another set of loud footsteps hurried up to the front door.
“Yes, sir?”
“Guard the front door. Kill anyone who comes out of it, other than the girl.”
“Yes, sir.”
We listened more of a muffled converation, but couldn't make out the words. Someone rattled the door in front of us. I crinched into Asher as he stroke my hair again. The glass broke. “Here she is!” The German man yelled peeking through the shards of broken glass.
Asher grabbed my hand and pulled me up. He pulled me down the hall into his bedroom. He slammed the door and locked it. “I assume you have no clue whats going on?” I shook my head, glancing around. Before I could say anything he interrupted, “This room used to a shelter. A hide-out and an escape route.” He went over to his closet as I heard footsteps slamming down the hall. He pulled back his clothes and a large posterboard to expose a small steel door about three foot off the ground. My jaw dropped. “Come 'on, Hurry!” He said, pushing me through the door.
He climbed in after me, carefully replacing the posterboard before entering. I looked up, “A tunnel?” He held a finger to his lips. I heard faintly wood crunching. Asher's door. Muffled voices were yelling and swearing. Asher grabbed my hand, leading me forward, deeper into the tunnel.
We walked for what seemed like forever, until we came to the end of the tunnel. A skinny flimsy ladder lead up to a pothole above.
“Ladies First,” Asher said.
“Oh, Thanks.” I muttered, slowly climbing up the ladder. The steps felt like they were going to break under my wieght but the held until I reached the top. I pushed up on the pothole, catching a whif of fresh air. I slid it off of the opening and scuttled through. I immediately looked down the hole at Asher climbing up the ladder. He reached the top within seconds, pulling himself up next to me.
“Where are we?” I said, looking around. Asher smiled at the poor looking shack in front of us.
“Meet my family's safehouse. My dad's been here ever since Robert General put a hit on him.”
“I thought your dad had died.”
“Nope. That's what we wanted everybody to think. And to me, he kinda did. He never visits and my mom only lets me see him once or twice a year. It is dangerous in the tunnels. Never know who's lurking down there.” I nodded, trying to understand. Asher walked up to the door and knocked. Nobody answered. Asher said something in a different language. His voice didn't sound right without an accent but it worked. The door swung open to expose a tall man standing there, gun in hand.
“Asher.”
“Father.”
“Who's the girl?” Man he was straight to the point.
“Sydney Rogers.”
“Kellan's daughter?”
I nodded and Asher's father opened the door. A stepped in the dark hallway and froze. It was really dark. Asher turned around and extended his hand to me. I took it, trusting him. We walked down the hallway until we reached a large room, with a candle being the only light. A old man sat in the chair next to the light, his arms crossed. “Is that?” His voice was rough.
Asher's father nodded. The man stood up and walked over to me. “ You look just like your mother. Just with your father's eyes. Just the eyes.” The man's voice faded away, like a great sadness had overwhelmed him.
“Sir, are you okay?”
“Oh, honey. Its not you who should be asking.”
“What do you mean?”
The man turned to Asher's father, “William? Does she not know?”
“They just got here. I assumed she already knew.”
I interrupted, “ Knew what?”
The old man looked at me, grief in his eyes, “Your parents are dead.”
