The Arrow Sisters

Prologue

          Authors Note: There is music in this chapter! Please use it to add to the experience:)

Walk. Don't Run. Walk. Don't run.

Running means, you're trying to get away. Or trying to get to something or somewhere. Amber was trying to go somewhere—anywhere away from her mother. She was the golden child. Her sisters looked up to her. But how could they now, when she was running—walking away angry?

Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. In and out. In and out, she told herself. Her heart felt like a fist against a door. Boom boom.

The forest was her friend, she told herself. The bird calls would guide her through the trees along the dirt path. She was alone, and somewhat at peace with herself. But nothing was peaceful. The silence between her and her sisters was roaring—an uncomfortable, churning, scraping noise. A fork against a plate. She could feel it in the depths of her soul. She knew leaving was wrong. But she had to get away.

Amber looked to the sun and held the side of her hand against her forehead shielding herself from the bright light. It was noon or a bit after. How many times had she done this? Leave her family? Her sisters? Amber's stomach twisted as sweat pricked her brow. Mouth growing dry, she shook her head. Maybe some water would help.

She made her way to a nearby stream and kneeled to the steam. Her knees pressing into the mossy ground as she cupped the cool liquid in her hand up to her mouth. The stream trickled quietly as she drank. She took this time to slow her breathing some more and gazed at her reflection but was quickly ripped away by the sound of a snapping branch.

Amber jerked up looking for the source of the noise. Her hearing was better than most. Most humans that was.

In silence, Amber stood up slowly not to draw attention to herself. Her hands stretched out for balance as she stood up barefoot. Her ripped blue jean shorts traveled up her legs as she stood. The hair rising on the back of her neck warned her.

Another noise, this time a rustle. Her head twisted and turned back and forth. It could just be a deer, she told herself. She was soon corrected when her green eyes came across a young man. He looked to be in his twenties, her age at least. Dark brown wavy hair shaped his small head. Dark blue eyes like a stormy night stared back at her, and a friendly smile grew on his face.

"Beautiful isn't it?" He spoke first peering at the forest around them. His hands were wrapped around the strapped of his backpack and he took a step closer to the stream. Amber watched him and he pulled something from his pack. Amber took a quick step back.

The man raised his hands, "It's okay, I'm just getting some water. Are you lost?"

Amber didn't say anything.

"Do you speak English?"

She bit her lip but nodded slowly.

"So, you can understand me. Do you need help?" He asked as he filled his silver container with water waiting for her answer. She never talked to humans. Mother forbid it.

But mother wasn't here now...

Amber took steady steps toward him observing his every move. He turned and looked down at her feet.

"You'll get hurt if you don't wear shoes." He pointed, "What's your name?"

"What's yours?" She responded.