Chapter 1 - prologue
**Four years ago **
"Let go off me, you asshat" Wren exclaimed as she wiggled her arm, trying to get it off the hold of the six-foot dark-haired man who hovered over her. His hold on her arm only got tighter, as though he was doing it on purpose. Despite all of Wren's struggling, she still wasn't able to release her arm.
"Be still, you bitch!" the tall man spat, being more abrupt in his movement. Wren flinches, crying out loud in pain.
"You're hurting me please," Wren said in a pleading tone this time, but her plea went to deaf ears as the tall man led her through a dark hallway. Wren had no idea where she was being taken.
Not this time, no.
Unlike the first time when she was being led through a dark hallway, still, by this same man, she had an idea where she was going. Because she had requested to meet him.
Hunter Tequeido.
His name alone sent shivers down her spine. Hunter was Craigsburg's drug lord. Not for the fact that he sells drugs no. This town was already small enough as it is, to have its youths be taken out by a deadly substance. Hunter was a drug lord in the sense that, he was the owner of the most famous spot in Craigsburg.
A spot that Wren knew too well about when growing up because her dad visited that spot often. In fact, it had turned into a second home for him.
A spot she never thought she would set foot in.
But as the saying goes. Never say never.
Because after her father bailed on them when she was sixteen years old, Wren took it upon herself to look after her sick mom. But then again, Craigsburg was a little town, with very few activities, and therefore, very few well paid job offers.
There were job offers, but most of them had closed down because of no profit turnover. This is sad because the inhabitants would rather spend all their money in Hunter's bar. Drinking away their health.
'Teq's pub'. That was a terrible place.
A place that has caused her troubles.
And right now, Wren couldn't help but wonder what Hunter wanted with her. Because she knew she was going to meet him. After all, the first time she asked to meet him, this tall man here was the one who led her to him. But this time, she hadn't asked to meet him. In fact, she talked with him two weeks ago, and vowed never to cross paths with him.
The walk through the dark hallway seemed endless, until this man shoved her forward, causing Wren to stumble on her feet.
"You bloody bastard!" Wren yelled at the man with spite in her voice.
"What did you say? Bitch!" he asks, coming towards her with a force that sent shivers down her spine.
"Calm down now, Reik. You don't want to lay your hands on a lady now" Hunter's voice filled the room, sending shivers down Wren's spine.
She'd known she was coming to see him, but she hadn't prepared herself to hear his voice yet. His voice had always sounded creepy to Wren.
It was calm, soothing even. For those who don't know him. But for Wren, his calm voice was sounded like terror to her, because of all the things she'd seen him do.
"That will be all, Reik" Hunter adds, urging the man, whose name Wren had come to learn was Reik.
Reik didn't back down from the eye contest that he had going on with Wren, neither would Wren.
You see, this was her area of expertise. She could do this all day.
Sometimes, Wren would wish Craigsburg would host an eye staring contest as they do in big cities and other localities so she could win the grand prize.
Because she would win the grand prize.
Finally, Reik backed down and scoffed before turning his back.
"Yeah! leave, you wussy" Wren spat out, making Reik's blood boil with anger. He faced her again, giving her a death glare.
"Enough Reik" Hunter yelled in the silence, making Wren gasp.
Reik rolled his eyes and exited the room. Only then did Wren get off the floor and notice the room she was in. It was the same room as the first time she'd asked to meet him, only this time, they'd led her through another hallway. The room was cold, with creepy pieces of furniture hanging on the wall, and with the dim lighting in the room, Wren was petrified.
"Hello Wren, we meet again," Hunter says in a calm town, sending shivers down Wren's spine.
Wren took a deep breath, refusing to show her fear. She poised herself and spoke up.
"What do you want Hunter? I made it clear the last time we saw, that I don't want anything to do with you" Wren says, proud of herself for not letting her fear take over her speech.
Hunter seemed offended at first, making Wren furrow her brows. Then he burst into a fit of laughter, and other light mumbles could be heard in the room, making Wren understand they weren't alone.
"Oh, Wren my dear! Are you that naive?" Hunter questions, amusement laced in his voice.
Wren frown. She hated when people take her to be naive. She was everything but naive.
"What do you want Hunter? I made the last deposit of your money last week, and I told you two weeks ago, before the last payment, that was the last time you'll see me. So why am I here? Why was I abruptly taken from my house to come to see you?" Wren asks, mentally applauding herself for her boldness. She folded her arms, adding more sass.
"Don't take that tone with me" Hunter warns, her voice stern.
"Or what?" Wren fired back daringly.
Wren hated being told what to do. She'd gladly defy anyone who tells her what to do.
Hunter stared at her.
Wren stared back.
Another eye contest began.
Then hunter burst into another fit of laughter, making Wren's face flush with anger.
"See, this is why I can't let you go. You're fierce and I like fierce" Hunter says with amusement in his voice.
Wren frowned. What did he mean by that? She'd finished the debt she owed him. For two years, she'd worked her butt off, and took up three jobs so she could be free. And when three jobs didn't do it, she'd taken up a job at the bar. Now that she's finally cleared off her debt to him, he didn't seem to want to let her go.
"I don't owe you a dime, Hunter. So I'm leaving" Wren turned her back.
"Go, but be here tomorrow at six p.m," he called out, stopping Wren dead in her tracks. She turned slowly, with a smug look on her face.
"Or else what" she defied with a smirk on her face. The amusement from Hunter's face disappears, making Wren swallow a gulp.
"Or you lose your life," Hunter says in a calm tone, his expression stoic, making blood dry from Wren's body.
It was then that Wren knew, she'd royally fucked up.