Chapter 1

Samantha's POV:

The most memorable day of a girl's life would be her wedding day, I would say. Every girl has her own dream wedding planned in her head and she fantasizes about it right from her childhood. So did I.
I always wanted a small outdoor ceremony near the lake. I wanted the best catering service people from the town to arrange traditional dishes and the best music band to play light music at the background, to make the day even more memorable. I wished for the place to be decorated with marvellous lighting system and fresh yellow lilies. Friends and family members would be dressed wonderfully to make the wedding look colourful and dreamy.
About my bridegroom, He would be young , gentle and strikingly handsome, dressed in a black button up shirt, dark grey suit with a matching colour tie.
And of course, I had a never ending list about my own attire. First about my dress. I wanted to dress myself in a floor length, white A-line Tulle gown with lace bodice which would be tight at the waist and flowy below the waistline. My long dark brown hair would be pulled up into a loose bun and my short ringlets would be flowing down freely with very little make up.
I wished my elder brother, Jonathan would give me away to my bridegroom, who would be looking at me with love and tenderness filled in his eyes, promising a future with unconditional love, trust and sincerity forever.
But do you always get everything that you asked for, the way you want it? And the answer is a big ‘no’ from what I learnt from my experience. 
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It was around five o'clock, when I returned from my college. My parents were seated on the couch, with a very serious look on their face. They had packed their bags and were ready to go to my uncle's home . I greeted my parents, kissed my dad and went up to my room. It was a long day. I took a warm shower and came back to the living hall to bid them farefell. 

"Mom, are you okay?"I asked her worriedly.

"Yes darling, it's just we don't want to leave you alone but it's also an emergency and we have to go."She said looking down.

"Do not worry, mom. I am a big girl now and I can take care of myself." I tried to comfort her.

"We have asked Jon to come here for a few days. He should be here tomorrow evening. Take care till then honey."

"Sure mumma."

I had my final year semester going on after which, I wanted to work as an accountant in a well established firm. My parents had a lot of debt on their shoulders which they had taken for our studies. My brother was already working as a web designer. He was my role model. He was responsible and hardworking right from an young age. He knew about the sacrifices that my parents had made for us and always worked hard to repay them. He was the best big brother one could have ever had. Our family was the most important thing for him in this whole world. He was very protective about us, especially about me and I was very grateful about it. There was one more person who, in addition to us, meant the world to him, his Benita. She was his junior in school and was crazily in love with him. But, my brother, being the most responsible son, did not reciprocate his feelings rights away, even though he liked her the same way. She would bribe me to make me talk to him about her. Initially, I did not like her but later on I understood that her feeling for Jon was true. After much coaxing by me, my brother started dating her. Their's was a true love. He wanted to marry her when he turned twenty five, which he would have, that summer. 
The last time I saw Jon was on a Friday evening, when our parents had gone away to my uncle's house in the neighbouring town. Jon had come home from the city to stay at our family house because my parents did not want me to stay alone. I was told by Jon that Benita was on her way home. I wanted to give them some space since they hardly got any time together because of his work in the city. I quickly came up with excuses to stay at my friends house that night. 
“Jon, I have to go to Andrea's house to get my assignment done.” 
He, being the protective brother did not allow me to go immediately. “Why can't you finish it here, Sammy?”
“That's because we do not have an internet connection here big brother. It won't take much time. I'll come before night.”
He nodded his head slowly and walked towards me. Placing his hand on my head he said, “ Next time remind me to get an internet connection at home. Be safe and call me when you want to come. I'll pick you up. Don't dare walking back all the way alone.” 
I smiled and hugged my brother.
“Bye. Have fun with Benny but not too much fun. I do not want to see a niece or nephew before your wedding.” I winked at him and he blushed scratching his head.
“Don't worry. Bye"
I spent the whole evening at Andrea's home. She was the only child to her parents and would often get bored at her home alone. So I spent most of the time with her, either talking or doing school work. We were best friends and also classmates. We were watching a rom com and eating popcorn.
“So benny has come home?” she asked enthusiastically.
“Yeah. I hope they don't make babies tonight.” We both giggled at that.
“Ah.. I wish I get a lover like your brother soon.” She put her hand on her forehead dramatically. 
I hit her head hard and she growled.
“Ouch, what was that for?”
“You are just twenty. Why do you wish to have a lover so soon?” I questioned her.
“Are you crazy? In cities, girls of our age have lovers even before they turn sixteen.”
We heard a knock on the door and Andrea's mother peeked through the door.
“Samantha, honey it's your mom on the line. She seems in a hurry.”
“Thanks Ms.Peterson.” She handed me the cordless phone and motioned Andrea to go out with her and leave me alone.
“Yes mom. What's it?”
“Sam.. Sammy, my child. Come home.. as soon as possible... there are... there’re lot of cops at home.” She starts sobbing loudly on the other side.
“Mom, what's wrong? I don't understand.” All I heard was my parents’ cries. “I'll be there soon. Stay calm, mom"
I bid my farewell hurriedly. Andrea offered to come with me. Our house was on the next street. We both ran as fast as we could. I was barefooted and I did not care. 
All I could think was, ‘what could be wrong at home? Mom said police. Why were the police at home? Did someone get hurt? Was it Jon? Oh God! Please keep my brother safe.'
When I reached home, I saw a crowd gathered outside the door. Police personal came in and out of my house. I managed to push the crowd aside and entered the house. My mother was crying her heart out, her eyes red and swollen. My dad tried to comfort her, even though he looked as bad as my mom. I ran to my mom.
“mom, what happened? What's all this?” 
My mother shook her head, not finding the words to say something and kept crying. I turned to my dad for answers when I did not get any from my mom.
“Dad, where's Jonathan? Please tell me, dad” I begged him. The silence was killing me.
“Can someone please tell me what's going on here? Where is my brother?” That's when I remembered. ‘Benny'
Suddenly I heard a rough voice from behind.
“You want to know what happened here?” I tuned around to see a man who must be in his late twenties. In any other situation, my friend and I would have ogled at his breath taking sharp facial features, tall and muscular body. But right at that moment, he looked the most scary person on earth. His hair was dishevelled, like he had run his fingers through it a million times, with blood red eyes and murderous look on his face, he looked like a villain of a crime movie. “I will tell you what happened here.” He moved closer to me and cupped my chin with his hard palm. “Your dear brother has raped my little sister. That's what has happened.” Saying those words, he pushed me with so much force that I landed on the nearby couch. My mom came to my rescue and stood in between us.
“Please leave her. I am sorry for what my son has done to your sister.” She kept weeping.
“Mom, what are you even saying? Jon would never do that.” I turned to the man and said with confidence. “Mister. My brother would never do that to anyone. He loves Benny. He would never hurt her. They were planning to get married.” I blurted out.
He stood there with the murderous look still on his face. A middle aged police officer interrupted by calling him.
“Mister Winchester. I need you to file a complaint against Mister Cooper. We will do what needs to be done. He will be on the top of the suspect list. Your sister will be taken to the town hospital for further treatment. We will get her statement once she is awake.”
“No.. my brother can never harm a woman. You are mistaken officer.” I screamed at the top of my lungs. 
“We will see to that, young lady" The cop turned away and walked outside our house. Few men lifted Benny in a stretcher and carried her out of the room.
“Benny.. oh my God. Who did this to you? Wake up Benny. Tell them. Jon would never do something to hurt you.” I cried holding her hands. She was my friend, Jon's soulmate. I had known her from high school. I couldn’t see her like that, lying motionless. 
Suddenly, the man pushed my hand away.
“ Take your filthy hand of her. You are all going to pay for what that bastard son of yours had done to my Benny.” He pointed his long finger at me. “You. You are going to suffer the same fate as her. No one can save you from me.” He spit venom through his words and turned away.
I fell down on the floor sobbing loudly.
‘Jon what have you gotten us into?’