Jackie slammed her door shut and leaned against the base almost screaming with frustration. She could still smell the putrid stench of Jack Daniel's on her mother's breath. The bedroom windows were thrown wide open exposing raw sunlight and the onyx drapery was pulled to one side. Outside, a sparrow tittered mockingly. "Damnit, Jacqueline Rose Hathaway don'tchu walk away from me!" the voice rang through the trailer. She pounded on the door relentlessly screaming insults, not caring who heard.

Jackie trudged silently across the carpet after locking the door and collapsing on the maroon striped futon. Reaching for the nearest bookshelf she grabbed Wuthering Heights and started to read, anticipating the moment when the noise would subside. For several infuriating minutes the insults and knocking continued until they stopped and she heard her mother's receding footsteps.

She glanced somewhat nervously at the alarm clock on her bedside table and scoffed. Grimacing she stood up and threw the novel onto a pillow, heading towards the closet.

Just great.

6:00 already.

Any moment now her step dad would come striding through the door and find her mom cooking dumplings in the kitchen, with his daily newspaper sitting idly on the counter. He would swoop through the kitchen supervising her, grab the paper, and plop down on the couch browsing the articles. After about ten minutes of inspecting he would call Jackie into the room and criticize her about how she was dressed, who she hung out with, and the music she listened to.

She scoffed silently to herself. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the music I listen to..Posters of the Kinks, Guns & Roses, Three Days Grace, AC/DC, MCR, and other bands littered the tan walls. David Hawthorn was an important real estate salesman who didn't take his job lightly. He enjoys other peoples misery and pain, along with embarrassment. He doesn't like to be toyed with and absolutely detests sarcasm. What a winner huh, ladies? And honestly, I highly doubt he can understand it.

Seether blared from the faded pocket in her jeans and jolted her back to reality. She sighed digging into the black hole and taking out a deep-red Razor phone. It was probably just Victoria so she didn't bother to check.

"Yo.." she yawned into the phone. A low husky voice answered.

"Jacqueline Hawthorn, right?"

Her heart skipped a beat.

Jackie quickly glanced at the caller I.D. It was a cell phone number, and one she didn't recognize.

She swallowed.

"Who wants to know?"

The dark voice chuckled. A deep, threatening laugh that made her shudder as it ripped through her soul.

"No one of importance, Mylady..but I can say this.."he paused for a moment. To further emphasize his point maybe?

"You must not go to that concert tonight." his voice was dark and seductive, chilling her slightly. She tried to picture the man's face.

"What do you mean, what concert? How did you get my number?! Hel-" Click. The line went dead.

She tossed the cell phone onto a velvet pillow laying on the floor. Grumbling she went into the bathroom and started to undress. "Concert.....What concert? And what was with the whole 'Mylady' thing..??" Jackie shook her head trying to make the memory vanish. It was probably just Seth and Kyle. They were always playing tricks and trying to get her into trouble. She paused for a moment thinking. But neither of their voices were THAT incredibly sexy..

She creased her brow in frustration. This is so like me..A mysterious stranger calls me..someone who could be like a serial killer or rapist?! and all I can think about is how dead sexy his voice is..you have undoubtedly reached your peak of insanity Jackie..

She turned on the hot water knob and stepped into the cascading spurts of warmth. Leaning her head against the cool marble she tried to relax, letting her mind wander freely.

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Stepping out of the bathroom she wandered over to her desk, towel in one hand and brush in the other. She yawned again. Gawd ..It must be getting late. The alarm clock glowed iridescently, showing 7:00. She had only been in the shower for an hour but it felt like an eternity.
She flipped open her cell phone seeing that there was one missed call. "It's from Victoria.."she sighed. "I wonder what she wanted.."

Jackie turned abruptly, hearing a crash. That sounded like it came from the living room.. She threw open the door and took off down the hallway running, but she reached the living room everything was normal. David was passed out on the couch, Budweiser still in hand, and her mother was curled up in a chair reading.

Her mother looked up, not at all concerned. "What." she said sternly. "Your father didn't call you and neither did I."

"I thought I heard something break.."Jackie said defensively.

"Well it didn't."

"Well, I was concerned.."

"As you can see" Her mother motioned around the room "nothings wrong, now go back to your room." Jackie trudged back to her room quietly. As soon as she walked in the door her phone started to ring again. It was Victoria.

Before she could even get a 'Hello' in she heard her friend's bubbly voice over the line. "Jackie!! OMG where have you been? I've been trying to reach you all day!" She started to answer but was once again interrupted. "NOPE. You know what, never mind that because have I got some news for you! What do you think about going to see DivineSins with us tonight at the Arena? I won't take NO for an answer!"

Jackie didn't hesitate. "Of course..I'd love to go!" She could almost feel Victoria smiling through the phone. "That's awesome!!!.. but what about your parents?" She definitely wasn't going to let this complete stranger manipulate her life, even for a moment. "I doubt they'll even notice I'm missing..besides they probably wouldn't care. In fact, I'm pretty sure David would take off straight away to Malibu, or someplace where they could live out their dreams together."

"Well, then it's settled! We'll be around to pick you up in..give or take..thirty minutes! Au revoir!" Click.

A cool breeze drifted in through the window making the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She started to pull the velvet drapery together when she noticed something. A dark figure was settling itself in the tall magnolia tree across from her window. His eyes glowed crimson.