• Preface
    I stood there, unable to move away, facing my enemy. Thinking of what his intentions was—about trying to destroy and enslave the world—anger flared through me so much I almost felt nothing else, not even fear. Almost.
    My friends were on either side of me, standing in their fighting stances, and even though we all feared this great evil force, we knew that it was our responsibility to defeat him, to save the world of being enslaved by this lust-filled, evil creature. The first crack of thunder sounded in the distance, but it was the signal of a war beginning, not just a sign of a simple rain storm.
    Tears rolled down my cheeks as my friends and I got ready for what could possibly be the end of our lives, what could possibly be the end of the world. But maybe we’d be successful in the end, and we’d defeat this dark creature. Or maybe we would fail.

    Chapter One
    There was an annoying beeping sound and my eyes fluttered open. The room was bright and I was glad I had slept a dreamless night, happy that I actually slept peaceful for one night without any interruptions.
    “Shilo-Ann you better be awake!” I rolled my eyes as the sound of my brother’s voice came to me. He sounded like a smoker, I didn’t how my dad hasn’t found out yet, but then again he’s always caught up in his own doings.
    “I’m awake, gosh get a cigarette and pleasure yourself!” I yelled at him, kicking my blankets off and getting out of bed. I put on a pair of ripped jeans and put on my black shirt that had shiny red letters across the top that read “Enjoy Coca-Cola” and put on my converse shoes. I slipped on my Fox Company jacket and headed to the bathroom.
    As soon as I opened my door I ran right into Carter, who was leaning against my door frame now, his arms crossed over his muscular chest. He looked at me with amusement and mocking in his eyes and took a step into my room.
    “What was that?” He asked cocking his head to the side. His voice was deep and rough as he glared at me, taking another step forward. This time I didn’t back up so now he was towering over me. I avoided his gaze looking anywhere and everywhere but him.
    “What was what?” I asked quietly resting my gaze on the one picture of my mom.
    “You know exactly what.” He said gruffly. “I’ll give you a break this time, but you better watch yourself, girl.” He said turned to leave.
    “Or what?” I had to open my mouth? I ran past him into the bathroom and locked the door. Carter pounded on the door, and it rattled so loudly I thought he was actually going to break the door.
    “Or I’ll pretend you’re this door and break you!” He threatened and I heard that he had walked down the stairs. I sighed and walked over to the mirror and looked at my reflection. The color was coming back to my face, and I brushed through my chocolate brown hair, smooth as silk, and put into a ponytail, the ends of my hair still reach well past my shoulder blades.
    After brushing my teeth I headed downstairs as quietly as I could. The house seemed unusually quiet, as if I were the only one in the house. I went to the cabinet and took out a granola bar and when I turned back around I noticed a little white card sitting on the table.
    It had my name on it—Shilo-Ann—written in sloppy Carter handwriting. I flipped it over and read it quickly. I grunted with annoyance and threw the note card back on the table and finished off my breakfast with a small glass of milk.
    I walked into the entryway and put my backpack on and grabbed my cell phone and keys off the table. I had two keys on my black lanyard; a house key and my truck key. But it wasn’t my truck anymore, it was now Carter’s because he decided that he suddenly liked ’65 Chevy Trucks and wanted one, and because I was the only girl and younger than Carter, he got to take it away and my dad didn’t even care.
    With a sigh I locked the door behind me and started walking to school. It wasn’t that far of a drive, but it seemed forever to walk. Though it was just walking along side of the road near the edge of the nearby forest, it was still peaceful. The air smelled of pine and oak, soothing her mind of any thoughts.
    “Hey, you need a ride?” I looked over at the Silverado truck that was driving slowly enough to with my pace. At first I didn’t recognize the driver but when I looked close enough I saw that it was Jace, a friend I knew for a long time. I looked at the time and decided it was best to get a ride.
    “Hey Jace, long time no see, huh? How’s it going?” I asked as I got in and closed the door. He was already going thirty five by the time I had my seat belt on. It was awkward in the truck at first. We’ve been to school together since first grade and we dated in sixth through eighth grade, and through all the years I’ve known him he always wanted to be a professional soccer star.
    “It’s going good. I got the soccer scholarship I wanted.” He said, a proud smile forming at the corner of his lips. He was cute, and for a moment she forgot why she broke up with him, and then remembered. She broke up with him because she had found him cheating on her with two other girls and different times. “Doesn’t your older brother have a truck?” He asked suddenly, giving her a quick sideways glance.
    “It was my truck first but he kind of took it. I made him angry this morning and acting like the spoiled brat he is he had a temper tantrum and told me I should find my own way to school and home. And I’m happy that you got your scholarship, that’s great.”
    “No offense, but your brother is something else. Weird and a bit of a jerk.” He shrugged and gave her a ‘thank you’ smile. His smile was dazzling, showing off his perfect off-white teeth. His hair was a golden brown color, his eyes hazel green mixed with brown. He was quite something himself and a jerk too.
    “No offense taken.” I said. If Jace and I had anything in common, it was agreeing Carter was a jerk, and we both hated him, and Jace hated us both. Though Carter only hated Jace because he was jealous and the fact that he had loved his little sister at one point.
    “How’s your brothering doing with his football?” Jace asked.
    “Can’t do any sports anymore. Stupid decided to throw away what potential he had for Jennifer, drugs, sex, and smoking. He’s caught up in that so much he doesn’t even see that Jennifer is just toying with him—and no I can’t tell Jace that; he’d literally break me.” She said remembering this morning with the bathroom door and his threat.
    “Still with Jen? He really should open his eyes some. She is the most obvious person to figure out.” He made a noise somewhere between a cough and a smirk.
    “Yep, good ol’ Jenny,” I said repressing any rude comment. Jennifer was the first person he caught Jace with. She wanted to pound Jennifer’s plastic face in so much she actually had to stay home from school.
    “Oh, ah, sorry.” Jace said and the awkwardness came back again. Luckily we were at the school now and he parked in the parking space near the gym. “Listen, Shilo.” He said as I was about to open the door. “If you ever need help with Carter, just give me a call.” He smiled and I nodded and we both got out.
    “Thanks for the ride,” I said glancing back at him. Truth was, I missed him. He was so nice, sweet, loving, it was hard to believe him when he told me that both Jennifer and McKayla were all over him not the other way around. But the odds that both of them being all over him were slim and none. Plus, after a few days I broke up with him he had told me that he had made the biggest mistake of his life and that he not only wanted but needed me back. I told him it was best this way, that all he had to focus on was his scholarship and nothing else. I regretted it. I still regret it.
    “It was no problem, really. It was nice to talk to again Shilo.” He smiled and we both headed our own ways. I walked across campus over by the cafeteria to meet with my group of friends, but the whole way there I couldn’t keep my mind from Jace. Maybe it would’ve been best if I hadn’t taken the ride from him.
    “Hey guys,” I said absently walking up to my friends. They were all sitting around the table talking. They all looked my way and waved and smiled hellos and made room for me without letting the conversation drop.