Chapter One

[P.O.V. Adriana Braxton]

He's looking for me while I stay hidden in the kitchen closet. He wants to beat and hear me scream. I cannot let him find me; I have to stay quiet and hidden.

"Oh, my sweet baby girl. Where are you? You can't hide from me forever. I will find you".

His voice full of cold and hatred, Making my heart race fast and beat so hard I can hear the sound in my ears drumming loudly. Holding back a sob, using my hand to cover it up, begging that he didn't hear me. It got really quiet listening for a few minutes, thinking he left, my heart rate started to calm. Releasing a breath, I didn't know I was holding in. The door of the closet opens with a bang bringing high pitch scream, leaving my mouth.

Waking up with a jolt from that horrible nightmare. Only there not nightmares but memories of what happened. Trying to get my heart rate back to normal.

Inhale

Exhale

Inhale

Exhale

Getting my breathing back to normal, finally getting out of bed to wash the sweat that sticking to my body. 'It's okay, Adriana, breathe. It was nothing but a bad memory he can't harm me anymore'. I kept telling myself.

Letting the hot water run down my body, relaxing it. Washing already forgetting what I just dreamed. Stepping out of the shower, wrapping my fluffy blue towel around myself. Walking out of my small bathroom into my decent size room. Walls painted light blue, Dark brown carpet, and a queen bed in the middle with blue and cream color bedding—two nightstands next to it. The wall's right side was a small closet and dresser next to it and a body mirror. The left wall has my bathroom door.

Looking through my closet for my work clothes. It already 2:00 pm my shift starts in half an hour. It is going to be one crazy Friday night as usual. Putting on a pair of really short jeans and my black tight t-shirt. Along with some black combat boots. Looking at myself in my body mirror, looking at the girl reflecting at me. Long black raven hair that meets the middle of her back. Perfect curvy body. Height of 5,7. Light brown skin and gray eyes with long lashes framing them.

After looking myself over in the mirror and grabbing my purse, I head downstairs. Putting my hair up in a high ponytail. Passing the living room and into the kitchen smelling nothing but bacon that making my mouth water. A woman about my height, with Long curly brown hair, And good body curves, was standing at the stove cooking. Deciding this was a good chance to scare her. Slowly creeping behind her, getting close to her.

"Good morning!!" Couldn't help but scare her. Making her jump while she screamed. I couldn't help but laugh at her, holding onto my side because I was laughing so hard.

"Dammit! Adriana, you scared the hell out of me!" My best friend Scarlet scolding me. Looking at me with her big brown eyes giving me a look like I'm a kid in trouble from their mother.

Calming myself down and apologizing to her, she went back to cooking.

"What you cooking anyway?" Asking her with a big smile on my face.

"BLT's, but after you did that, I don't know if I wanna cook one for you anymore," Scarlet says in a teasing voice.

"I'm sorry, Scar, please forgive me and my childish behavior." Rolling my eyes at her.

"All is forgiven." She smiles at me.

"Wheres, Jake?"

"In his office doing some paperwork for the bar. If you are going there, will you take him his food?"

Taking the plate from Scarlet hand, going to Jake's office. Jacob is Scarlet's husband; they have been married for six years. They met here in both their home town Dark Wood. Their high school sweethearts have been together through thick and thin. They even started their own business here in town. They even named it Jake & Scar Grill And Bar. Knocking on his office door and peeking through. A man with shaggy brown hair, white skin, height 6 ft, and muscle body sitting at a wooden desk. With reading glasses on looks up at me and looks back down.

"Hey, Jake."

"Hey, Adri." That my nickname from Scar and him.

"Here lunch, and can you still give me a ride to the bar for my shift?"

"Yea.. what time do we leave?" Looking at the clock on his office wall, it was now 2:30.

"Well, we should leave now if you want to get the bar opened and ready for tonight." He looked up at the clock.

"Shit! I didn't realize how late it was." Him hurrying out of his seat and office with me right behind him.

"Scarlet! Babe? Adri and I are leaving!!" He yells to let Scar know.

"Alright, see you later tonight!! I love you!!" She yells back to him.

"I love you too!!" Both of us walking out the door towards his old white Chevy truck.

Hopping in the shotgun seat and Jake taking the drivers, we start driving towards town. We live half an hour out of town. It's not like the town is that big, just small with many farming and ranching lands. Also, two Wineries and a Brewery. Surrounding all of Dark Wood is nothing but forest that goes for miles. Until you hit the big city, which is Raven City, it's huge.

That where I'm from is Raven City. Scarlet, Jake, and I met through college there. After finishing, they moved back home, and I moved into an apartment. That was until some personal demons were unleashed, and Scarlet and Jake brought me here to live with them. It has been five years since it all happened.

"I know Scar not going to ask, so I'm going to... Do you have bad dreams again?" Jake asks seriously while looking at the road.

Only Scar and Jake know what happened to me in the city. No one else besides them. Scarlet doesn't like asking because she doesn't want me to remember. But, Jake is not afraid of asking. He wants me to open up, so I don't get swallowed by my demons.

"How did you even know?" Getting a little defensive.

"Your room is across from Scar's and my room. I can hear you. Now answer my question."

"Yes, I have them again." Letting a deep sigh out, and looking out the window watching the forest go by.

"Adriana, you need to talk to me about this, or I'm going to send you back to the therapist."

"Alright, fine, I will tell you jeez.. you're like a nagging older brother." He just chuckled at me.

"In a way, I am the nagging older brother."

"Hey, your only two years older than Scar and I."

"Still older.." I couldn't help but stick my tongue at him, which just made him laugh.

Telling him about my dream, he got all serious. After telling him, he started to make some jokes to cheer me up. Which worked and made us both laugh. Couldn't ask for a better friend than Scar and Jake. Getting into town, it looks like it normally does old buildings and few houses. Pulling up to an old saloon building with the bar name on it. JAKE & SCAR GRILL AND BAR with red and purple lettering.

Getting out of the truck, we open the bar door and walked in. It had an old Western theme but a modern theme as well. It had wooden tables and chairs that had red cushioning. Along with a couple, corner booths with red and purple see threw curtains. Between the booths is a hallway for the restrooms. The bar was made out of wood with wood stools with purple cushioning. Behind the bar are shelves with liquor. Behind the shelves was a huge mirror. On both sides of the shelves were two swinging doors that lead into the kitchen. While waiting for everyone else to arrive, Jake and I got everything ready for tonight.