BIRTH OF ATROCITY

AERIN'S POINT OF VIEW

"No! You're not coming with them. Stay inside this house!"

My face immediately crumpled upon hearing my mother's refusal. I'm asking for her consent to let me join our outing, but she wouldn't allow me.

"But Mom! I would just die out of boredom inside this house! Just let me come with them!" I insisted.

"The answer is still no, Aerin, stop being so pesky. Get your butt inside your room and sleep, your Dad and I need to leave. We'll be gone for a few weeks because we need to attend a business trip abroad. We already deposited money in your bank account. Please stop acting reckless and behave. Bye Sweetie!" she said before dashing outside the mansion.

I grimaced and let out a weary sigh.

Right, what would you expect from your parents, Aerin? It's their business and money after you. Get used to it and stop acting surprised.

I climb up to my room and let my body feel the comfy feeling of my bed. I open my phone to see the time, 3:25 in the midnight, few minutes before the call-time.

A smirk form on my lips. I peak through the window to see if they were already gone. My grin eventually got wider when I noticed that their respective cars were already out on the garage, they left already.

I quickly took a bath and get the things I prepared last night, all the stuff and clothes that I need to bring for our outing.

I'll sneak out. My parents don't even care about me anyway, they pay more attention to their business than their daughter. Might as well just be a recalcitrant and defy their rules to the fullest.

When I have secured everything, I immediately left the room. I was about to leave the house when I can't find my cellphone on my pocket. I look inside my bag but it's still not there.

"Fuck. I probably left it on my bed." I laid the bag on the sofa and quickly climbed into the bedroom.

Few minutes had already passed, but all my efforts to search for my fucking phone were all futile. Damn, where did I put that goddamn thing? I already look everywhere but still no signs of my phone. I sighed in frustration.

"Whatever, I won't need it that much anyway." I surrendered.

I was about to go down when I heard a rustle from behind. I turn around only to see the ajar door. My forehead creased, I remember leaving it wide open. The cold breeze passing through the window brush against my skin. The curtains were dancing eerily along with the wind.

My eyes widened when I caught glimpse of a moving shadow through the white curtains. I instinctively turn around only to felt a cold and sharp object in my neck.

Surprised and horrified, I was petrified in my spot, not being able to move a single finger. Shit, I was too terrified to even ask for help. My heart started beating fast.

"W-Who are you?" I asked in a trembling voice.

"It doesn't matter who I am," she said coldly as she crawled the knife in my face which made me even more nervous. "The question you should ask is, are you ready to face death?" she whispered gravely which gave an intense shiver to my system.

I tried to look at her reflection on the mirror inside my room. My forehead creased after inspecting her physique, she's a girl. But I can't see her face completely, she's wearing a mask.

My eyes began to water, I look at her, my eyes pleading.

"What have I done to you? I don't even know you are!" I gathered all the strengths I could muster to say those words.

She glared at me. I almost whimpered as she pressed the knife on my neck harder.

"L-Let me go, please. Money? Do you need money? I will give you any amount, just please set me free!" I said in a trembling voice as tears continue to flow in my eyes. The edge of her lips rises up and she looks me straight in the eye.

"Your money won't be enough to atone for your sins. Trust me, not even your life can pay for it." Her voice is lace with so much anger, her grip on my hair is getting tighter.

"And what have you done wrong? You'll know soon, for now, take a deep slumber. Wish you see your own demons in your nightmare, Aerin."

That was the last thing I heard before I felt a hard object hit my head hardly, taking away my consciousness. But before I completely fainted, I saw the thing I have been looking for in her hands- my phone.

LAUREN'S POINT OF VIEW

After fixing myself, I instantly storm out of my room while carrying a duffle bag. I scowled seeing my mother blowing a cigarette's smoke on our balcony. She didn't even spare me a glance though I'm certain that she knows I'm here.

"I'll get going now. Bye."

As soon as I left the house, I went to Lorelei's place right away, which is just few blocks from ours. Evan and Ethan will fetch us from there.

Lei's closing their gate when I arrived.

She greeted me a tight hug. "I thought you'll ditch me. I'm about to sell your precious bracelet."

"Shut up," I snapped at her.

We're in that position when we heard a beep not far away from us.

"Hop in, ladies." Evan peaks from the window.

"Good morning, handsome," Lei answered back with a grin that earned a chuckle from the latter.

Their other friends' sleeping faces greeted me as we enter the van. I guess they're still drowsy just like me that's why they are taking a short nap.

"The others are waiting for us in Amber's house," Evan said as soon as we suited ourselves. I look at Loralei, confused.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you that we invited the whole class too. You know, the more, the merrier."

"Even Lucas? You managed to invite him?" I asked.

She shook her head and chuckled. "That guy doesn't even give a damn about us, so we didn't bother inviting him."

"Yeah, that guy prefers to burry himself with books," Evan added.

I simply nod my head and close my eyes before plugging my earphones in.

When we reached Amber's place, I decided to went out of the car. I look above and saw the implausible moon illuminating the dark sky, the stars were strewn in the gloom.

I tightly hug my jacket to pend off the coldness of the night. It's a good thing that I bring a jacket with or I'll be freezing to death right now.

"Lauren, stop daydreaming and come inside the van." I was snapped back to my senses when Lei called me.

It's been almost half an hour since we're here and I'm starting to get irritated.

"Hi guys! Sorry to keep you waiting, I had a hard time finding my sexiest bikini. You know, I need to show off my perfect curves." She giggled.

"You're such a hoe, Amber. Evan said that their place is secluded, we're the only people there," Ashley fired at her.

"Correction, a beautiful hoe."

Her eyebrows raised upon seeing me, but she didn't say a thing. Good, I have no time to deal with her nonsensical sentiments.

"Settle yourselves guys, we're off to go," Evan, who's sitting in the driver's seat, suddenly said.

We used two van to capacitate the students from our class. Ethan will drive the other one.

I immediately went inside the car. To my surprise, Sloane's face welcomed me. He's grinning foolishly.

"All the seats had been occupied, Lauren. You have no choice but to sit beside me."

I quickly search for Lorelei who made a peace sign upon seeing my irate face. I glared at her.

"Stop making it as if it's a bad thing being this close to me. Don't you realize that other girls are fantasizing to at least get near me? Huh, you must be really lucky."

I feigned a disgusted look. "Spare me with your arrogance, shit face. I never wanted to be one of your bitches, leave me alone."

"Tsk. Is being harsh your way of showing your undying love for me? Hmmm, babe?"

I sneered hearing his arrogance. I rolled my eyes and muttered 'jerk' enough for him to hear. He chuckled like a maniac

Why did I do you to be in a situation like this? How unfortunate.

"We're just going to pick Aerin at her house and we're good to go," Evan said while moving the steering wheel.

We were not yet far from Amber's house when her cellphone rang. "Guys, Aerin just texted me, she said she can't come with us. Her parents didn't allow her."

"Sick. Her parents were able to stop her? That's new. I thought she could find a way to ditch them," Sloane said.

"I thought they were not on their house right now? They had a business trip, if I'm not mistaken," Lorelei asked.

"Change of plans, maybe," Pierce answered who's sitting behind her.

I gave a short glance at him and he gave a heartly smile that makes my heart thump like crazy.

"Hi," he greeted.

"H-Hello."

I immediately averted my reddened face and fell death silent.

Evan and Amber are in the front seat. Sloane is sitting in the middle of I and Ashley. Pierce and Lorelei are sitting behind.

I close my eyes and listen to the solemn music through my earphones. I was about to go to my dreamland when someone held my head and rest it through his shoulder. And for some strange reasons, it feels great.

I thought this will be a normal and casual hang-out. Never it did cross my mind that this trip would be the start of the darkest part of our lives.