Welcome, readers.

Hmm, how do I go about this? I suppose we should start out bluntly—

This is most certainly not a trademark Author's note. As much as I am thrilled that you have somehow stumbled upon my story, and though I adore outside interaction- There are more important matters to attend to, plots to unfold, characters to kill, and emotions to be melted and reformed like candle wax.

Confused yet?

Excellent.

Priorities, however, include you knowing what you are getting yourself into by turning the page. This might turn out to be quite the drastic change from any other work that I have painted into your mind previously. I purposely left the summary for this book dangling by a frayed thread. I was mindful in my attempt at causing questions to bubble to the surface and curiosity to consume whatever lies helpless in its path. So really, go ahead and ask me anything fanciful by human nature.

But I won't answer.

No, nothing. I'm not giving way to even the slightest hint of any sorts. What I will give you though, newcomer, is this note. Don't ask how I got my hands on this, but let's just say back when these words were exchanged at a high end apartment complex in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—they were indeed a matter of life and death...

Yours, even.

Now hurry along and read, the note and so on. But only let your mind wander at its own risk, and don't say that I didn't warn you.

Until the first official chapter,
Eliora

"I know that you saw me.

Don't deny it, you did. I freaked you out a little too? I didn't mean to, but you have to listen very carefully now, got it? You can't tell anyone about this. About me.

Burn the note if you have to.

I'm going to be straight forward—I slipped up. I exposed myself. And from past experience, if you can't beat them, join them. I'm taking a leap of faith here...

I want to say that I'm fine, that I'm safe. But the truth to those words was murdered along with my mother months ago.

Meet me on the roof again tonight, same time as last night. I'll explain everything—I'll explain why I'm hiding. Remember that I'm just another teenage girl like you, just one with a messy past and blood stained hands. And am I afraid? No. I'm trusting you. Don't let that turn into another one of my mistakes.

If you so much as tip anyone off regarding any of this, I can guarantee you will never see me again. Therefore, I could no longer promise your safety. They're after their prize, and trust me—
they know how well they have learned to hunt.

Am I scaring you into this? Probably so. But I wouldn't take said matters lightly unless you know how to sleep with one eye open.

Oh, and don't expect any apologies, because those aren't the rules I play by.

-RR"