*Elle's PoV*

"Did you know.... month already?"

"....think she went?"

"...drugs, I bet you. ...the quiet ones, you know?..."

Gossip gossip gossip. That seemed to be all the kids in my grade could do since Maggie's disappearance. Nearly every whispered conversation I picked up on had something to do with my lost friend. When she was here at school our classmates barely said a word to her. Now that she was gone they had no problem at all talking about her.

"So, Elle," Naomi Winters mused, sliding into the seat across from mine. "You must know something about where Maggie's gone to. So spill."

I focused harder on the book in my hands, not even glancing up at her. Naomi for some reason loved making the lives of others miserable, and ever since elementary school Maggie and I had been her favorite targets.

"I heard you sold her to the black market so that you could use the money to buy new video games," Naomi shrugged.

I snorted, despite the fact that I was trying to ignore her. I looked up at her with a sarcastic expression, "Yes, because that makes total sense. Are you sure you 'heard' that and didn't just make it up yourself?"

Naomi sniffed, tipping her nose upward. "It seemed like a good theory to me, you're strange enough to do something like that."

I rolled my eyes, "Thank you, now will you kindly shut up before I sell you to the black market?"

Naomi pouted before quickly raising her hand. "Mr. Greyson, Elle told me to shut up!" She shouted.

"Elle," Mr. Greyson warned, though his tone lacked conviction. He seemed to be just as tired of Naomi's antics as I was.

"Sorry, Sir." I responded politely before casting a skeptical glance at Naomi. "How old are you, four? Please." I sighed and went back to the book I'd been attempting all period to read. 

"How can you even be sitting here so calmly?" Naomi asked darkly. "Some friend you are. Your best friend is missing, possibly dead or in sex trafficking or something and you're reading?"

I gritted my teeth, slightly crumbling the pages of my book. "Naomi, I would reeaally suggest that you mind your own business."

"I'm just stating the facts," Naomi shrugged, a mocking smile contorting her features. "It's just, jeeze, all the times she stood up for you and looked out for you all throughout elementary school and junior high, and now that she needs you to return the favor you're what? Reading Divergent. Great friend you are," She leans closer to me and whispers, "Tris dies in the last one anyway." 

I exhale a sharp breath and snap the book closed. How dare she say anything about mine and Maggie's friendship!

"Done reading already?" Naomi giggled, her annoying little fake pout back in place. "Oh, I'm sorry; did I ruin your book?" 

Okay, I'm done. Without giving it a second thought, I forcefully hurled all four-hundred and eighty-seven pages of dystopian gold at her head. It connected with a loud smack and everyone in the classroom fell silent as Naomi wailed in pain, clutching her nose. Although I felt like a terrible person admitting it, I was quite pleased to see the blood seeping out between her fingers. 

"What's wrong with you!?" She gasped, her voice muffled by her hands. 

"Oh, I'm sorry," I mimicked her pout, "did I ruin your face?" 

"Miss Carter!" Mr. Greyson shouted. 

"Already gone," I muttered, knowing he was planning to send me to see Mr. Malcom, the principal. 

I stormed out of the room, down the hall, past the principal's office, and right out the front door. Who was I kidding? Did I honestly think I could even handle school at this point? 

My house wasn't exactly close to the school, but I could still walk there, and so I decided that's what I was going to do. My high school had so little security it was laughable. Once a teacher sent Maggie and I to get something out of their car for them, and the secretaries let us walk out the door without a problem. However when we tried to come back in, they refused to let us because they didn't believe that we were just getting paintbrushes. 

I was walking along for a good ten minutes when a police car pulled up alongside of me. I bristled, keeping my eyes forward. Pass me, please. I hadn't called Marcus once since I found out he was actually from beyond the door. It had been about five days, nearly a week, and he was probably starting to get suspicious.

The police car slowed to my pace, and the passenger side window rolled down. "Elle? Shouldn't you be in school right now?" 

"I, um, got out early." I responded. How did Marcus get a police car and uniform if he wasn't a real officer? And when I first met him, he seemed on friendly enough terms with the other officers to be one of them. Surely they wouldn't accept a stranger so quickly? 

"Want a ride?" Marcus continued. 

"No thanks," I chirped, trying to sound as normal as possible. "I need the fresh air." 

"I haven't heard from you lately, everything okay?" 

"Everything's fine," I smiled. "Have a good day." I sped up a bit, hoping he would get the hint and drive away. Something told me that wasn't going to happen. 

"Oh c'mon, let me give you a ride." Marcus insisted, stepping on the gas a bit to keep the car in perfect time with me. 

"No, really, I'm fine. You can go about your cop business now." Or pretending to be a cop, I guess. 

Marcus sped up suddenly, and I thought for a moment that he was actually going to leave, but in reality he whipped the car in front of me and came to an aprupt halt, stopping me in my tracks. He leaned over and pushed open the passenger side door. "Get in the car, Elle." He ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument. 

My hands were shaking, and I swallowed hard before nodding and sliding onto the leather seat. "No need to be so grumpy," I laughed-- or tried to laugh, at least. I thought maybe if I played dumb he wouldn't know that I knew the truth about him now. I felt as though if he knew I was aware of the truth... something bad would happen to me. 

He didn't talk the rest of the way to my house, and I didn't either. I was to panicked that he would simply pass my house and continue driving. I shouldn't have gotten in that police car. But then again, Marcus han't really given me any other choice. 

We pulled into my driveway and I immediately moved to get out of the car, but when I reached for the handle the lock clicked. 

"Heard anything interesting from Jared lately?" Marcus asked casually, though there was a dark undertone in his voice. 

Oh llamas, he knows. Without a word, I hit the unlock button and bolted from the car. I ran up the steps of my porch and through my front door, locking it firmly behind me. 

"There she is!" A shrill yet familiar female voice shouted. "You, where is our daughter! Tell me what you know right now!" Maggie's mother marched across the room, jabbing a manicured nail at me, her eyes livid. 

In the living room, my mom and dad sat across from Maggie's father, nervously watching Mrs. Darrow descend upon me with her claws extended. 

"A month? She's been gone a month and you didn't even think to call us!?" Maggie's mother shrieked.

I stood dumbstruck, floundering for a response. 

"She may be bothersome, but she is still our child! How dare you keep this from us, what's your problem?" 

"What's my problem?" I placed a hand on my hip, raising my eyebrows. "How about what's your problem? I've known Maggie since we were six years old. I know all about the kind of parents you are, so don't you dare even try to lecture me!" I snapped. 

"Elle!" My mom gasped, no doubt surprised I was talking back like I was. 

Behind me, there was a knock at the door. Marcus. I heaved a sigh, closing my eyes. This was just too much, way too many things were crashing down on my all at once, I couldn't handle it. 

"Elle, I just want to talk a bit, that's all." Marcus spoke from the front porch. Yeah, sure you creep. "Why don't you open the door?" 

"Go away!" I shouted. "I know what you are, so just go back to your world and leave me alone!" 

"Stellie, who's that man out there?" My dad asked. 

"I can't explain it right now it's just--"

"How about you start with explaining where Maggie is!" Mrs. Darrow interrupted. She did look a lot like Maggie. The only differences were that Mrs. Darrow was shorter, stockier, and turned a brighter shade of red when she was angry. 

"Jackie, you want to let me in, right?" Marcus called through the door, his voice honey-coated. "Open the door, please." 

Mrs. Darrow hesitated for a moment, looking slightly dazed. She moved around me toward the door but I caught her arm and stopped her. 

"What are you doing, don't let him in here!" I hissed. 

"Open the door," Marcus repeated. His tone was gentle and friendly... and not at all to be trusted. 

Jackie shook free of my arm and stepped up to the door. I watched in utter terror. She nodded to herself, "I really feel like it's a good idea to open this door." She decided, twisting the lock and tugging the handle. 

Marcus stepped inside casually, a broad smile on his face. 

I moved away from him and toward my parents. This was so not good.

"Mr. and Mrs. Carter, would you be so kind as to hold onto your daughter? It's for her own good." Marcus purred.

What? Like my parents were going to listen to him? I was confused enough by the fact that Maggie's mom unlocked the door so willingly, but not my parents, right?

"Dear, I think we should hold onto Elle," My mother said, firmly taking hold of my arm.

"I agree; good idea." My dad nodded, grabbing my other arm.

"Guys, no, what are you doing?" I tried to pull my arms free but they both held tight, seeming perfectly at ease with the situation.

"It's for your own good, Sweetie." My mom explained.

"No! Let go of me!" I cried, "What's wrong with you?" When neither of them responded, I turned my glare on Marcus, who was slowly approaching me.

"What's all this about?" Mr. Darrow demanded, rising from the couch.

Marcus smiled at him, "sit down, please."

Mr. Darrow nodded without a word and sat back down.

"Funny thing, people's minds." Marcus mused, sitting down on the edge of the couch closest to me. "Always so open for suggestion, always ready to take orders."

"What did you do to them?" I snapped.

"Nothing permanent," Marcus shrugged, "I'm simply... persuasive."

"So is this how you managed to pose as a cop, Marcus?" I scowled, "Is that actually your name or is it a lie too?"

"Close enough, my name is Marcellus, actually. I'm surprised your friend Jared didn't tell you that." Marcus— Marcellus— replied, that haughty smile still in place. "And he's not who he says he is either, by the way. He just can't remember."

His words confused me, but that didn't matter. At the moment all I cared about was what would happen to my parents, and to me. "Put my parents back to normal. Now," I tried to make my tone commanding, but I was too terrified to keep it steady.

"No, for now I need them. And anyway, you should thank me. Do you honestly think your parents would have let you go to California without my help?" Marcus turned around and put his arm around Mr. Darrow's shoulder, "And your friend's parents? They've been here at least twice a week since her kidnapping, always demanding information on their daughter. They may not be the most involved parents, but they're her parents regardless." His smile was seriously grating on my nerves. "Every week they're back, and every week I convince them to forget."

"What?" I gasped. Maggie's parents cared?

"It's really such a shame that Jared had to tell you, I was enjoying our time together. But I guess it works out better this way." Marcus stood from the couch and closed the distance between us, his blue eyes hardening into ice.

I shrank back into my parent's unmoving arms, my heart slamming in my chest like a caged rabbit. "What do you mean?" I question, afraid to hear the answer.

"Dear Elle, I'm going to give you exactly what you wanted," Marcus smiled, running a hand over the lamp on the stand to his right. It was the decorative ceramic type, my mom loved it because it should have been expensive but she got it on sale. I remembered that it was heavy. "You and I will be taking a trip to the Shadow Realm." He lifted the lamp, weighing it in his hand. "If only my persuasion worked on you... this may hurt a bit."

The last thing I remembered was the pain of the lamp base cracking against my temple, before I fell into the dark of unconsciousness.