The Evil Within

Prologue

It was midnight. Tonight, the moon was hidden behind the clouds. Not a trace of light slipped through the night, except for the lantern hanging on the porch.

A little girl hid in her room as she listened to another fight occur downstairs between her family. Her father and grandfather didn't get along much. Their topic of discussion? Her.

"For Christ's sake! Will both of you just shut the hell up?!" Her aunt chipped into the fight.

"Ace is my daughter. I decide what's best for her. Not you, not her aunt, not her grandmother, not even her mother. So back off." She heard her father snap at them.

"She is our blood too Shane. Its not just you who decides." Her grandfather stated, containing his anger.

"Remind me again who walked away and said they would never come back?" The house fell silent after her father's words. She listened for muffled footsteps or the slamming of a door, even something breaking. But she heard nothing. Shane and her grandfather were sharing a death stare. Not breaking eye contact, not even blinking.

"I didnt come back to kiss and make up and throw a family reunion." Her grandfathers voice held an edge that could cut a stack of papers. His tone, even though muffled through the floor, sent a shiver down her spine. "I came back for my granddaughter."

"You're not taking her." Her father responded immediately.

"Right, because you have everything you need to teach her about what she is and who she will become."

"I'm her father, I'll be damned if you're going to turn her into a monster." Shane's voice was deeper, sharper, and harsher. Her grandfather took a step forward, entering Shane's personal space.

"Did you forget who you're talking to, boy?" He chuckled lightly. Ace almost couldn't hear them, even with her ear pressed against the door. Feeling waves of anger and sadness made her worry what would happen next.

"One day, people will know. One day, people will need her... and you'll be the one holding her back." She heard her grandfather say before his heavy footsteps vibrated through the floorboards. Then, the door slammed.

Running across her room, her bare feet hit the old wood floor with light creeks. Ace opened her windows quickly, catching her grandfather open his pickup door. She opened her mouth to call out to him, but stopped when he turned around to look directly at her. He sighed deeply, and with a heavy heart he lifted his hand, pointing to his eye, made a fist over his heart, and slowly pointed at his granddaughter.

"I love you."

Tears pricked her eyes and she repeated the same motion, then held two fingers up.

"I love you too."

He waved one last time, and stepped into his vehicle. She watched as the old Ford rumbled to life, and cried as she watched him drive away. She felt her heart tear in half before shattering. She leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down to the ground. Hours passed, the stars had come out after a small sprinkle of rain. The fresh smell had entered her room, calming her.

Ace let out a deep, worrisome breath, knowing he wouldn't be back any time soon. She stood, wiping her face with her hands before closing her window and locking it. Then walked back to her bed, jumped under the covers, and tried to make sense of what her grandfather meant. She wasn't sure who she was supposed to become, or what she was going to do someday. She doubted that people would need her in the future.

With the argument still on everyone's mind, she closed her eyes and tried to sleep. But sleep wouldn't come easy this night. For anyone.