(...) The night was quiet and dark; only a few pale moons and stars could pierce the blackness. The summer breeze carries the scent of lilacs, dew, and freshly plucked grass, musky and sweet. Annie didn't hear Sebastian for a while now, 'he must be away,’ she thought. Her mouth was dry, and the hot, bitter taste of the dirt echoed in her mouth. Annie's breaths came in sharp, ragged gasps as she crouched behind a rusty dumpster, her heart pounding. Her once elegant dress was now torn and muddied. The once vibrant crimson color faded to a dull, dirty brown. The cold air bit her cheeks, making them a painful pink shade. As she clutched her side, wincing from the throbbing pain where Sebastian had struck her, she couldn't shake the feeling that he had other intentions. (...)