Twenty years ago.

I ran, my bruised feet leaving bloody prints on the ground. Darting between the trees that loom over me in the limited moonlight , my teeth pierce into my lower lip as the ravaging branches, hungry to devour me, tore into my velvet soft skin. Wine red blood trickles down my arms and legs the same way it did that night between my inner thighs.

That night ...

My eyelids clash together. A miserable attempt to erase the memories. The near miss of running right into another damned tree forces me to open my eyes. My left arm burns from grazing the tree, but I must scuttle on.

Run ... run ... run ... RUN! RUN!

I repeat the words in my head, commanding, demanding my body to push on. I can feel the tears and pearly sweat cross paths on my ruddy cheeks. My breathing becomes more laboured, and the ache in every tissue in me magnifies.

That's when I hear it. Steps, it's a canter, meaning it's animals. They surround, leading me to come to a standstill. Their growls echo through the woods, the very same woods that surround where my demons were formed. They're wild dogs, and the mere realisation of this drowns every cell in me with pure horror.

My pupils largen in terror wide enough to reflect the impending feeling of certain death that was growing in me every minute, taking control of me. Fear claws at all of me, my heart, my stomach to my very bowels. I bend over clumping my belly as I try to control the pain and my breathing.

Choosing to war with fate, I tear through the woods once more. The silhouettes of the wild dogs appearing and disappearing around me. There are three matching each one directly involved that night.

The pain is a constant reminder that I can't think of revenge just yet. I must survive first. The whistle warns me barely a second before the bullet, which seemingly split through the dancing shadows, embedded itself in my calf.

My screams ... I hear them as though they are someone else's. They tear through the night, causing the sleeping creatures to temporarily shift in their sleep and the nocturnal creatures to be alert as they were now alarmed. The silhouettes of the wild dogs now dash, directed towards me, but none attacks. They must have been ordered not to attack me on the spot. It can only mean one thing, they want more fun before I die. The only way I can survive this cursed night is if someone saves me from this hunt.

~♤~

Adira Jordan, an upcoming advocate and influencer at the young age of twenty-six has been reported as missing. As one who is admired by all and loved by many, this falls as a shock on the nation. No struggle was observed at her home, as stated by the police and neighbours claim to have heard nor seen nothing. This is the third woman to have gone missing with a matching six month period between. Is this the beginning of a trend set by a serial killer. This theory that has begun to form in citizens' minds is resulting in discomfort and insecurity that stirs among them. Keep safe everyone, and may Adira be soon found.

" To Reynard, we'll known as Rey among his peers ... Amasa and Amunet. Kaimi and Zera as well. "

That's how the letter I found started. On my eighteenth birthday, I, Amunet, had found my mother missing and next to all the sweetly wrapped gifts is a damned letter from her.

" Five children, that I've raised and treasured, whom I now have to leave, I want you to know ... understand something. You were born with a purpose in literal sense, your births were planned, and Kaimi's plus Zera's adoption was structured. Your very existence this day has nothing to do with fate. Twenty years ago, a gruesome ordeal occurred, and at my mental death did the idea of you form. Now, a mother's love is deep and true. However, there is much more to be fulfilled and achieved.

Five names have been written on the paper attached to this letter. These five were involved in the ordeal, three directly and two indirectly. I distinctly remember one chuckling and whispering into my ear,

' Isn't your situation gravely? '

Well ... gravely it was, except at the end of it, we'll all be six fit deep in this cursed world. Your purpose is to bring these people down in the cruelest way possible, and to do this, you must all use your ɗarƙsıɗes.

PS. It's useless to look for those gone far away.

Love: mum. "

I flinch at the use of dark sides. How did she know? I'm I not the only one, and if so, what have the others been hiding? A myriad of questions that causes me to scratch the skin across my wrist in frustration. This is bad for me.

I hold my bated breath as I turn the letter to look at the paper with the listed names.

" Alex Jordan ... coach of Blaze basketball team, the most upcoming and promising team. "

" Richard Woods ... CEO of Mirrored company and a major sponsor of Blaze basketball team. "

" Chris Rixel ... founder and owner of Zzz Tech Organisation. "

" Dave Reeds ... businessman with the second-largest luxury hotels chain in the world. "

" Zelda Kart ... wold famous model and influencer. "

I say all their names softly to afraid to pronounce it loudly. Click! Photo taken and sent to the rest. I wonder how they'll react.

I pace up and down the kitchen, tracing my steps around the island table where the life altering letter had lain.

Kaimi is the first to come. He is simply dressed in a white shirt and light blue sweatpants. His cloudy grey eyes, which appear and disappear behind his hair, are piercing in the morning light. His struggling to keep his short, shaggy, furry hair out of his eyes. His strong build outlines itself under his shirt and his face is blush pink from sleep.

" Happy eighteenth! " He practically growls as he swings the open the fridge. " Eighteen things on me today. "

Rey is behind him, all perfect in the morning as usual. His hair is extremely short, if anything the shortest among the boys. It's still curly though.

" Happy Birthday Amunet and many more years stuck with me! " His laughter rings all around us. It makes me think of the dew falling from the leaves and blades of grass, sparkling in the sunlight. His in a jovial mood ... so far no-one has seen the photos of the letter. How much will their moods change once they do ?

Kaimi's and Rey's voices blur into mummers. My heart palpates in anticipation due to the word 'dark side' resonating in my mind, giving my head a dull ache.

I turn round to grab a cup from the cabinet and what I see forces me to freeze my movement. My reflection is plastered onto the tinted glass of the cabinet. She's staring at me, her long curls, black like cursed raven feathers, flowing over her shoulders. Her eyes? Her eyes are like ice ... not blue like the false beliefs but clear with spikes of white going in all directions ... with grey clouds raging in them. They stare right through me, making me feel insignificant. Maybe I am? Maybe not? I don't know! Her raspberry red lips are pressed together as though sewn by an invisible thread.

Two silhouettes creepily dance around me. I can feel their hatred wrapping its chilling fingers around me causing my inner being to violently shiver. I could never forget them.

" Amunet! Amunet! Aamuneeettt! " A voice loudly shouts, the sound rips my eardrums to shreds, but it drags me back into reality.

They're all there. Rey, Amasa, Kaimi, and Zera. Zera walks up and embraces me sweetly. I find comfort in it.

" You alright? " Her gentle voice tickles my ear as she whispers into my ears. " Came running as soon as I read the letter mother left. "

My body tenses in her arms and she senses this. Giving me a quick squeeze, she releases me as she takes a step back. Tears balance on her bottom eyelids. One thing about Zera is she easily carries people's pain.

" Hey, why the tears? Trust you me people in the desert would die for that water going to waste. In other words, don't ... cry. " Kaimi smirks at Zera as he flicks her tears away. Her mouth breaks into a smile. A reminder we got each other's back. Hopefully, it will be no matter what.

" I know for a matter of fact I can't deny that mother was right when she said we have dark sides but I wish not to say so how about if we leave it hidden until discovered and if you do, keep it to yourself? " There is silence at my suggestions but the unified nodding of heads tells me that they all agree. Mine haunts me mentally, physically, to my very soul thus I will never utter it aloud.

" Let's just celebrate Amunet's birthday as it's special. " Rey brings us back into order. The mood lighter, we danced, ate and sang although it was a bit off-key, however, all in all it was a good time.

Evening rolls in and we decide to go for a walk. I walk with Zera as the boys walk behind in a protective arch. Our laughter echoes into the distance. The estate is quiet and that's why we find it strange when an entourage of five cars snake the estate roads towards us.

The third car purrs to stop right next to us and a tall man steps out. He's dressed in luxury. It almost seems as though clothes are good enough a name for them but more so royal garments.

" Good evening. My name is Dave Reeds and it's a pleasure to meet you guys more than you may ever realise. "

His hand is stretched out towards Zera. His name is familiar and soon it clicks why.