I: PROLOGUE

[i've begged for the darkness to swallow me and let me drown]

In her dreams the ceiling was red, her bed was red, her clothes were red, her hands were red, but from the moment her soft green eyes fluttered open, everything was grey. The only thing that remained red were her hands, because everyone knows that you can't wash away blood, no matter how hard you try. Athene Turner did. She tried so hard to wash away the blood that stained her hands, but she couldn't. And every night she was reminded of her crimes, of the reason she was stuck in this godforsaken prison. Even now, when he couldn't hurt her anymore, she dreamt of him. Of how she fell on her knees beside him, clutching his bloody hands in her shaken ones, with tears staining her pretty face.

Athene wanted to die, because death would be the only true escape. In her eyes, being dead was the only way she could be free. But even death was her not granted. As a gift, a blessing, she was sent to earth. Who knew? That the world could be such a vile place.