AN: here's chapter 19. Enjoy, people.

My absolutely amazing friend Kappachi made this for me! Thanks so much :) ^

The cuts healed; her heart didn't.

Arya:

When I opened my eyes, it was dark outside. Next to the bed was a plate of cold green gloop and bread with a glass of water. I gulped the water and bread down greedily, but decided it was a pass on the gloop. I then remembered what Marigold had told me.

For reasons unknown, I decided to do a tuck roll to the desk- mission impossible style. However, I didn't realise the amount of skill it would take to do that. With a loud bang! I crashed against the desk, letting out a string of colourful words.

"Oh shizzballs." I groaned, staggering to my feet. Black spots danced across my vision and I blinked rapidly. Once I was confident the room had stopped spinning, I set to work creating a rope out of the bajillion bedsheets in the cupboard.

Seriously, why the hell do we have so many bedsheets?! Was Celia a serial killer who collects her victims bedsheets?

The scary thing? I wouldn't put it past her.

Quite quickly, I fashioned a rope of about twenty metres. Adrenaline pumped through my veins and my hands shook slightly as I picked the lock of the window. I tied one end to the bedpost, then dropped the bundle of sheets out the window, into the inky darkness below. Then, I pulled myself on to the little window ledge, balancing for a few seconds. A small seed of doubt planted itself in my mind. How could I be sure that Marigold isn't faking? What if this is a trap? What if-?

"Arianna?" Celia sang and knocked on my door. The handle slowly pushed down. "I have your wedding dress here for you! You can try it on, for the wedding day after tomorrow!" On my birthday?!

Fate had made my decision for me.

"MY NAME IS ARYA!" I yelled, grabbing a sheet between my sweaty palms and making my descent. I heard the door jiggle and my name- my real name- being shouted. Alarm bells were echoed through the house and I sped up.

"Greenie?"

I screamed and swatted my hand at the source before my brain registered the nickname.

"Holy shit Greenie!" Lucas yelped, swinging away from me. I apologised sheepishly and noticed that he was also climbing down the rope. I smiled. Did Marigold help him too?

"Come on!" I whispered once we'd both reached the ground, "my sister told me a way to escape."

"Lead the way!"

We sprinted through the blackness, the only source of light being the pale moon. Droplets of dew clung to my legs like a second skin as we sprinted through the fields. Soon, we reached the edge of the property. A lonely road stretched on for miles in either direction, a flickering yellow lamp illuminated the wooden bench beside the iron wrought gate. I picked the silver clasp on the gate and Lucas helped me pull it open.

"What do we do now?" Lucas asked, rubbing his hands together and blowing hot air into them.

"Marigold said we should wait for her here." I answered softly, trying to quash the nerves threatening to engulf me.

"Marigold? Doesn't she... hate you?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but stopped abruptly, catching sight of a red car pulling up next to us. I squinted at the bright headlights. A figure stepped out of the car and I smiled, walking towards them.

"Took you long enough-" I froze, realising it wasn't my siblings. It was the Betrayers.

"Come on." I gritted out, tugging on Lucas's sleeve, unable to tear my eyes away from the vehicle. "We have to run."

He did so without hesitation. Our footsteps echoed in the empty street- bittersweet memories of the past playing through my mind. I could hear the rev of an engine and sped up, fear and adrenaline spurring me on.

Soon, I pulled Lucas in an alleyway- the only place in the neighbourhood that wasn't sickeningly perfect and pristine. We ducked behind a dumpster and held out breath as the car slowed to a stop. The boys exited and looked around.

"Where did she go?" Zac- Isaac asked.

"Why're you asking me? You guys stuffed me in the boot." Caleb snapped back.

"Only 'cause you were being an annoying piece of shit." Despite myself, I smiled when I heard Christopher's voice. Caleb shoved him in annoyance.

Suddenly, everything went quiet. Lucas gripped my arm tightly, looking at me with an expression of part fear, part confusion. For a few moments, we held our breaths. Silence.

"Found you."

I let out a muffled shriek as Nick grabbed my wrists and pulled me to my feet. I became boneless, dragging my heels against the dirt floor. Annoyingly, Nick was too strong and managed to lift me along with insulting ease.

"GET AWAY FROM ME YOU PEA BRAINED LITTLE PIECE OF SH*T!" I screamed. I'm pretty sure I woke up the neighbours. Oh well- the interfering old hags could do with some excitement in their lives'.

"Would ya quit struggling?" Nick growled in annoyance. What does he have to be annoyed about?!

I suddenly lurched forward and bit Nick's hand. He yelped and let go, giving me the opportunity to run. Lucas managed to wrest free from Isaac and Caleb's grasp and, together, we tried to sprint away.

Key word being tried.

I'd barely taken more than two steps when I tripped over my own bloody feet.

All that planning. All that skill... only for this to happen?!

I am now convinced that the Fates have it in for me.

I sprawled on the ground like a starfish. Lucas doubled back to drag me up, but by then it was too late. The boys surrounded us. Christopher tried to help me stand, but I slapped his hand away and shakily got to my feet. Wiping away the trickle of blood at the corner of my mouth, I glared at all of them, their betrayal still fresh in my mind.

"What do you want?" I asked coldly, scanning each of them- trying to find their weaknesses and the best way to take them down.

"We want to help you escape." Isaac replied.

I stared at him, then burst out laughing. "Yeah right! If you wanted to help you wouldn't have just handed me over to Mantennii!"

"It was part of the plan!" Nick insisted. "Mantennii knew that we were helping you- he had to see us betraying you, so that he could trust us again! To do that, we had to 'betray' you. It had to look real, that's why we couldn't tell you- and we didn't know if Mantennii had any more microphones on us."

I nodded. "That is the biggest pile of bullsh*t I have ever heard in my life."

"It's not bull-"

A loud clang! Cut him off. The Betrayer's got distracted so me and Lucas took the opportunity to sprint down the alleyway.

"And where do you think you're going?"

I groaned when I saw Celia, Timothy and Mantennii step out of the shadows, flanked by three burly guards- two women and one man.

I snapped my head up to the starry heavens. "REALLY?! You can't cut me a f*ckin' break?!"

"Language!" Celia warned.

"Oh shut up you conniving little bitch."

Lucas coughed in his fist to hide his laughter.

Celia turned red. "How dare you disrespect your mother!"

I snorted. "Some mother you are! Willing to marry your daughter off to a stranger- even though she is completely against it!"

"That doesn't matter now." Gio Mantennii cut in softly. How could this vile man be Lucas's father? "Thank you, boys for bringing her back to us."

A feeling of hopelessness washed over me. I realised that no matter what I did, or where I go, Celia and Timothy would find me. And even if I don't marry Lucas, it will be someone else. That realisation struck a chord deep inside me and I hung my head low. Tears pricked my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Is this what the rest of my life will look like?

"Actually, Mantennii, we haven't 'brought Arya back to you'." My head shot up and my gaze met Christopher's warm brown eyes.

"What are you blathering on about boy?" Celia growled.

"What I mean is that we have come to rescue Arya." Christopher stated with confidence.

Say what now?

To my surprise, Mantenni smiled. It was a grizzly gesture, one that showed all his teeth and made him look even more terrifying that usual. "Are you sure you want to escape, Arya? Are you sure, while your siblings are in danger?"

My eyes widened and subconsciously slid to Celia- a flash of surprise flitted across her features, but she managed to school it into something more neutral. Behind Mantenni, the male guard- Tall and Ugly- stepped out of the shadows. He was holding Marigold in a tight grip.

"LET ME GO YOU GORGON!" She screeched, thrashing about wildly. "I HOPE YOU STEP ON A LEGO!"

Tall and Ugly's face fell slightly. "Now that's just mean."

"Well, what can I say?" Marigold glared at him. If looks could kill... let's face it, I'd be a serial killer by now.

One of the female guards- Miss Muscles- stood beside them, her face set in a permanent scowl. My heart stopped when I saw an unconscious Jacob in her grasp. I zeroed in on the large gash on his forehead that was slowly oozing blood and pus.

"What's your decision, Arya McKenzie?" Mantennii smirked. "Your life, or your siblings'? And if the boys behind you try and help you escape, well..." He trailed off and tapped a gun strapped to his side.

"Oh God..." Lucas whispered, leaning over to me slightly. "Those are your siblings, right? Look, Greenie, I'm not thrilled about the prospect of marriage. But what Gio is doing is messed up. I'll marry you, if you want to."

"I don't want to." I breathed out, then swallowed, tearing my eyes away from Jacob to meet Lucas's dark orbs. "But what choice do we have?" I steeled my resolve.

"I agree, Mantennii. I'll marry Lucas."

End of chapter 19.

Qotc:

1. Thoughts on the boys?

2. Think Arya and Lucas will get married?

3. What do you think will happen next?

I hope you guys liked it!

Stay safe and thanks for reading :)