Everything is quiet.

Too quiet, I guess.

Jonathan is so focused on the road, since he is driving me home for tonight. We have a little study on Maths, since he is really weak at it and Mr. Denver wants me to be his mentor.

And it's a good thing he did, because Jo is secretly my boyfriend. Only my friends know about this, while the other students just look at us suspiciously, thinking that we both might be a 'something'. We have been a couple for about four months I think, although it's more than just four months.

The night is silent, with the noise of the engine of the car is the only one that fills in the silence.

I finally dare myself to ask the question, the one question that bugs me so much about our relationship. And I cannot even sleep well with it becauses it will still make me wonder in my slumber.

"Jonathan?"

"Yes, Evan?"

"Who is Winston?"

The car suddenly stops, as I blink in shock and confusion. I look at my boyfriend, his hands grip the wheel tightly, as his forehead is sweating like fuck.

"Get out."

"Huh?"

"Get out, Evan!"

"Jo? Was it something I say that made you angry?" I ask, quite confused about his sudden behaviour.

"Just get the fuck out, Evan!" He shouts, as I open the door and jump out of the car. "Don't ever mention about his name again!"

He reaches out to close the door, and just drives off, leaving me behind all alone in the darkness.

Shit.

I know there's something wrong with him; he's been mentioning the name 'Winston' a couple of times, and is quite stressed with this 'Winston' guy.

And I knew this would happen. He cheated on me. I trusted him. I believed on whatever he said to me were real---but they're all just lies.

I look at the car that he's driving that immediately disappears into the darkness. I can only blink in surprise, speechless about what just happened.

I take a deep breath, letting it out slowly as I walk along the pavements towards my house. It isn't far from Jonathan's, but taking a walk from there to my house would be about around an hour.

For some reason, I feel like I am being watched from behind---but maybe that's just a thought. Walking alone is a bad idea around this dark hours, I mean, why would I walk here in the dark at midnight? Who knows what's going to happen to me?

I shake my negative thoughts off, focussing on going home safe and sound. But I don't think it'll be 'safe and sound' anymore.

Ever since my mother died of a horrific accident that costed her life, my father married his girlfriend named Stella---probably the main reason why my dad had been ignoring and hurting my mom for a long time.

I thought Stella would treat me like her own son, but I misjudged her; she reduces me to the role of scullery servant---but more to a slave . . . What I think it is.

Doing the house chores, such as cleaning the dishes, cooking, washing the clothes, sweeping and mopping the house, dusting---just everything. My dad gets himself into drugs and alcohol---or maybe smoking weeds---and it's all because of that fucking bitch.

He's beginning to neglect his only son in the family, as to get closer with his new wife. And they both seem to enjoy to beat the shit out of me, and forcing me to do loads of houseworks.

Although I hate doing house chores, it's just the only thing to do since my mom isn't here with me anymore. I mean, my dad just goes out with Stella just to have fun and partying all night, probably even has sex with her.

No one in my school knows my pain. Everyone just think that I'm just having a bad hair day, but I'm honestly not. I usually fake a smile when I'm around them, giving out a short giggle whenever possible, hiding my true scars and bruises within me.

Even Jonathan doesn't know the truth that is going in my house, and even my closest gang of friends, which consists of Brock, Craig, David, Lui, Marcel, and Tyler don't know about me. My dad and my stepmother forced me to shut up about the household, for if they find out about me talking to anyone about my family issues . . . Only God knows what's going to happen.

As I keep on walking, I heard a faint whisper calling out my name.

"Evan . . . "

The voice is bringing me goosebumps, although I don't believe in ghosts or whatever supernatural creatures out there.

"You're walking home alone?"

The voice sounds like it's teasing me, but also sounds as if it can't stop following me. I walk a bit faster than before, avoiding myself from the whisper that keeps getting louder and louder every second.

"I just want to talk to you . . . Please . . . I'm lonely . . . "

Oh, hell no!

I won't be talking to a random ghost or whatever that voice is.

As I walk, I accidentally trip over a huge branch, and fall forward to the hard cement ground.

"Ow," I mutter in pain.

As I get myself up, I feel a large hand covering my mouth and feel sharp pains along my neck, as if my neck is being held by another hand, but this one, has sharp long black-coloured fingernails that are piercing through my skin.

I know there isn't any lights where I am standing, but I can actually see some of the shiny smooth skin of the person---or whoever it is---that is holding me captive.

Tears begin to rush down my cheeks as I know I won't be home alive. I feel my head spinning as the smell of the person fills in my nostrils, as if he's trying to make me feel nauseated. I feel like throwing up too---thanks to the rotten flesh-like smell.

But before I close my eyes and going into an eternal dark abyss, I finally get to see the eyes of the person, and they are in the most amazing and captivating bright blue eyes I haven't seen in my whole life . . .

× × × × ×

Since most of you demand for a chapter, so here it is. :)

Hope you guys enjoy it! :D

NOTE : I'm trying to make this story into more of a Cinderella-like tale, but some twist, thriller and horror in it.