PROLOGUE

I look at the three men in front of me clueless. They seem in pain, but I didn't even touch them. How is this possible? Am I the cause of their struggle?

I have to act quickly. That's my only chance to run away from them. And I do exactly that, I turn my back to them and start running.

“You aren't going anywhere, little girl,” I heard one of the men shouting.

I stopped dead in my tracks and turned back to look at them. The men were slowly getting back to their feet like they weren't in any pain just a few seconds ago.

“Give me the necklace and I promise you that we won't hurt you anymore.”

“You'll get my necklace over my dead body,” I said through greeted teeth.

“Give me the damn necklace,” he shouted this time while he pointed me with his gun.

My breath hitched. They had a gun and I was very tired to keep fighting them. I nodded slowly and I signaled them that I would follow their demand. I brought my hands behind my neck and unclutched the necklace. The pendant's little diamonds shone under the moonlight. A stray tear escaped my eyes and roll down my cheek. I had made a promise never to let go of that necklace. And here was I, miserably failing to protect what was mine.

I extended my hand and gave the necklace to the man in front of me. From what I've figured till then he must be the leader of the gang. He grabbed the necklace and brought it closer to his face so that he could value it's worth. Before he could observe it better, the pendant vanished into thin air, leaving both of us speechless.

“What the fuck?” the man cursed under his breath and gazed me in disbelief.

“Where the hell did it go?” the other man behind him asked.

“I don't know. Now leave me alone, I kept my end of the deal. It's not my problem that the necklace vanished.” I try to act indifferent. I was pretty sure that I would be able to find my pendant, if I made it out alive of this nightmare.

“We are dead if we don't hand the necklace to Him,” the other man whispered terrified.

“If I'm going to die, I'll make sure to take that bitch with me,” said the man in front of me giving me a sinister look.

Before I could even realize what I was doing, my fist made contact with his nose and a terrible cracking sound filled the air. The man stumbled back, and I made a run for it one more time. A loud bang was what I heard before a piercing pain made me fall to my knees. I lowered my gaze and noticed a red patch on my jeans.

“That's your last chance; give me the necklace” I heard the man shout from somewhere behind me.

“I don't have it,” I said, my voice below a whisper.

Another gunshot echoed and this time my abdomen hurt like hell.

“That's for punching me and that's for almost killing my partners,” he said while the bullet this time pierced through my chest.

My back hit the cold pavement while I desperately tried to breathe. The blood running through my wounds formed a little pool underneath me. I was feeling drowsy. With every passing second, it was harder to breathe. I stared at the twinkling stars unable to hold my tears back. I wasn't ready to die. Not yet.

“Why did you kill her?” I heard someone ask in the distance.

“He said that if we couldn't retrieve the necklace, we should kill the witch. This way no one can find it. Now, get up. We must leave before someone calls the police.”

My vision became blurry. My whole body hurt. My eyes finally shut, but instead of darkness, a bright light illuminated a golden path in front of me. I was pretty sure that I should start walking, but my legs were rooted to the ground.

“I'm not ready…” I whispered breathlessly.