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"No matter how fast you run away, it's rare to hide from your destiny...
Because destiny has its way of finding you."
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A tiny figure was running in the darkness of the alleyway. A fourteen year old girl, huffing, incapable of getting enough oxygen for her lungs to function smoothly. Her tiny frame was trembling like a leaf, cheeks were stained, tears dripping like a stream. And her shaky hands held a small shiny object pressed to her chest as if her life depends on it.
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Rachael P. O. V
Let me introduce myself. I'm Rachael Santiago, daughter of Raphael and Vanessa Santiago. My parents were the council members of a secret society of the supernatural like us, Synx, and the owner of Santiago groups of companies.
Supernaturals or gifted or part human, you name it. In short, humans, who carried magic in their bloodline, and can do stuff no mundane blood possibly think of.
Every member of the special families, or as we called clans, had different and unique gifts of their own. We got our gift from birth, we could feel it within us.
However, due to the incapacity of our human bodies to control such extreme powers, we couldn't control it till we cross the age of majority limit, sounds cool. Right? At first, I thought the same… but not anymore.
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The girl running in the dark alley was one but me, myself. I gobbled a few breaths and dropped to my knees. I cuddled my body against the cold stone wall beside the dumpsters, supporting my worn-out self, to hide from my intruder's gazes. Not caring about the water show running by my eyes.
I had nowhere to go, but daddy said to me to run and soon he would come to find me. He gave no answers to any of my questions when he handed me a crystal and said 'run as far as you can'. we all were in the clan mansion's backyard when we were attacked by our rival clan. Because they wanted something from us, but I did not know what exactly.
Footsteps followed my trails, booming in the darkness of the chilled alleyway. They were getting closer. I panicked. I was struggling to come up with what to do now?
Self Defense was one of the compulsions in my clan. Dad taught me well, but how could a small girl like me fight against two well-built men? But I knew I had to do my best, I had no luxury of choices there. I wiped my tears to shake off the blurry view and control my breathing.
One of them stepped near the dumpster. I held the crystal tightly against my chest and leaned back further into the wall. I know I have to do something now.
I looked around to find something to defend myself but found nothing, just some pieces of wood scattered here and there. I picked up one stack and ran my fingertip at its edges. Not sharp enough, but I prayed for it to work. He took another step as he turned towards my side. I ran out from the shadows to plant a kick in his left knee before finding an opening to stab the wooden stake in his shoulder blades with all the power I possessed.
He let out a scream of pain as lost his balance for a moment, dropping to the ground and grunting in pain. I took the opportunity and tackled the other one. With the element of surprise still on my side, I kicked him in his knee with the same strength I used on the first man.
Thank God daddy trained me well otherwise, I didn't stand a chance. I thought as I ran off in a different direction from them. My knees were about to give out however, I managed to reach the road. I stayed hidden in shades, in the hope of finding some help. And then I saw it. Light.
I saw a flashlight in the distance, and soon a car came into view. I knew it was the last chance of my survival, because I had no more strength left to run, and sooner or later, they would find me.
With the last bit of strength left in me, I ran out of the shades towards the car for my dear life. In the middle of the road, I waved my hands in the air vigorously as a universal sign to stop. I knew it was crazy to stand in the middle of the road, and on top of it in front of the running car, but I was desperate. The car slowed down when a piercing sound thundered from behind me…. A gunshot.
I felt something wet, liquid wetting my shirt before unbearable pain sprouted in my chest. In a matter of seconds, my knees made contact with the rough dirt road beneath me. Slowly, my eyes traveled down to follow the wet path. My fingers touched the spot where my heart lay to find it coated with thick red liquid. Blood.
My blood. My eyes widen in realization, and my head spins before I fall to the ground as darkness engulfed me.
However, I could sense the surrounding commotion before I lost my consciousness. Tires screeched, several gunshots boomed, then someone's shouting and screams followed.
Soon I felt two brawny arms picking me up in the air, pressing my cheeks against something hard, and starting moving.
I had lost all my energy. Despite that, one last thought kept running through my mind before darkness took possession of me-
'I want to live.'
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I stepped back into my consciousness. The sound of machines beeping and the dreadful smell of medicines weren't helping either. My body was numb. I couldn't feel anything. No pain. Neither can move a muscle.
The sound of machines and the smell of medicines indicated I was in a hospital room. How did I get there? Who took me to the hospital? And why wouldn't I feel anything? I remember I got shot in the heart, so I should be dead by now. Shouldn't I? Did I die?
The sound of heavy metal broke my trail of thoughts. I shot open my eyes to close them instantly. My body was so weak from blood loss, as I wouldn't even stand a mere contact with light. I felt someone's presence near my bed. I could hear them talking.
"... take her with you.... home."
"You... can't, Mr. King..... you are not... legal guardian."
"What about...family."
"..... her... dead."
I didn't understand what they were talking about, but I heard men's voices.
'Are they talking about me? But why? Where they are taking me. I don't recognize these voices. Who are they? Why are they helping me, a mere stranger, or do they know about me... About my gifts, and want to take advantage of my powers.'
'What if they are the same clan's people from whom I was running, who attacked my home..... home... Mommy, Daddy, and Derek?'
'Where is my family? Daddy said he will find me when everything will be normal? But why is he not here? Why am I still alone? What if I am lost, or worse, kidnapped?'
With these thoughts, I feel my heart madly beat in my chest.
'What if I'm kidnapped and never find my way back home? I want to go home. I want my mommy and daddy. I want to go back to my clan. Where are you, daddy? Please find me quickly.' I prayed to the whoever angel was on duty.
Before I got lost in the darkness once more, I heard a woman's voice say "Yes boss."
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