Clockwork

Prologue

I run along the shore, losing my shoes in the sand, the rain pours down and my wet, bloodstained dress clings to my body as I clutch the watch to my chest. " You can't run forever, Juliette, just give it up." He shouts from behind me and I can tell that he'll soon catch up to me, but I can't let them have it. My path is blocked by a maze of jagged rocks, but just past them is the lighthouse and if I can just get there I'll be safe. I put the watch between my teeth and start to climb, tearing my dress and cutting myself on the sharp edges. My foot slips on the wet rocks and I fall, leaving a long cut down my thigh, and worsening the wounds the hellhounds gave me, but I keep going, and that's when I see it, a light in the lighthouse window. He came, I'm not alone, I push forward until I feel a hand grip my ankle, he was closer than I thought. I try to kick him off but his grip is too strong, he should have just given it to us, Juliette, because then I wouldn't have to kill you." He snarls.

"I would never give it to you, Jared" I spit back, knowing that if I didn't do something now, I was dead. I was light-headed from hitting my head and losing so much blood, I could feel myself slowly losing consciousness. "You don't really have a choice now sweetheart" he whispered, "you're too weak to do anything to stop us, you've failed."

"Not yet she hasn't" another voice adds, there is a loud bang and Jarred falls back in pain clutching his shoulder, it takes me a minute to realise he's been shot. I look behind me to see Shane standing on the rocks with a serious expression "The next one goes between your eyes" his voice is dark and serious and Jarred turns and leaves. "We will get it from you, mark my words" he snarls before he disappears into the night.

"Shit, Juliette, are you okay?" Shane says more softly turning his attention to me.

"Jesus, we need to get you some help quickly." He picks me up, taking care not to touch the claw marks on my back all I can think is that he's warm, we are both soaked to the bone and freezing but he's warm, safe. "I didn't think it would be you," I mumble before finally losing consciousness.