PROLOGUE

Hamilton, MA

2 Years Ago

Aaron tried hard to ignore the rain. The road was slick from the torrential downpour, and it forced the wiper blades to wave franticly back and forth along the windshield. The window cracked open so slightly – the AC, of course, would not work – brought the cool breeze of the storm into the dark car. Such a cool breeze that did not dare to help cool Aaron's anger at all.

Mouth set in grim determination, Aaron turned down the dark street. He glanced at the clock and growled, noticing the way 12:29AM spilled onto the dashboard. He turned up the volume on the radio. All he wanted to do was brood. Or rather, he wanted to curse his sister, but since the girl was presently absent, he settled for brooding.

He should have been fast asleep by now. Passed out in his bed and snoring so loudly that the neighbors would complain. He should be dreaming about receiving a promotion and moving up in the world.

Instead he was stuck here driving thirty minutes out of town to pick up his little sister. In the middle of what was warned to be the greatest storm to hit Hamilton, Massachusetts in over seven years, and he was driving right into it.

Bitterly he ground his teeth, wondering if he stood a chance at waking up early tomorrow morning to get started on his latest assignment. Why in the world he had to be the one to put together the files on the Delafacor Case was beyond him. It wasn't as if it required much. Stacy or Brett could handle the job just fine, he was sure.

If she wasn't already dead, Aaron was going to kill his sister.

Rubbing his face tiredly, he turned down one of the side roads and reached for the directions he'd printed up before heading out. It was times like this that he wished he'd just cough up some money and pick up a GPS device. Surely that would be easier than trying to read directions in the dark.

Groaning he pulled to the side of the road and flicked the lights on so the words could be made out.

He ran a frustrated hand through his bulk of black hair, glancing out the back window, hoping to find the name of the street he'd pulled off of. He should have been to this party already.

Leaning back in his seat with a sigh, he recalled telling his mother to keep a better grip on his sister. It didn't matter if she was their baby girl – that was all the more reason to keep her under lock and key. Instead her parents divulged her every wish and the girl had quickly turned into a spoiled brat. She'd always been this way, though. Always – when they were younger – she'd simply laugh and toss her hair and she had whatever she wanted.

So when she had wanted to go to some big party with a guy she'd just met (and happened to be seven years older than her) there was not much of a fight put up by her parents. They sent her off, reminding their fourteen year old daughter not to drink too much. They never even addressed the topic of this stranger who was taking her to the party. Instead the two sat back and watched some television before turning in for the night – leaving Aaron to get the phone call.

He had enough of a mind to just leave her there. He should have, and at this moment he was so lost that he contemplated abandoning his search for the party and just driving back the way he came.

But the rain was pouring so hard now that he'd only end up further lost. He could only hope that once he found Ella she would be able to direct him back home.

Knowing that girl, she wouldn't.

It didn't help that she looked like she was nineteen. The girl was far too developed for her age.

"He left me here," She'd sobbed into the phone. He could only imagine the hysterics that she'd been under before calling him.

She wouldn't call their parents. Somehow she had learned the feeling of shame, and she didn't want their parents to see her the way she was. That much he'd made out from the ramblings. Unfortunately that meant that he was the only one who could come get her.

Cursing loudly, Aaron smacked the papers down on the seat and started the car back up.

That is, he attempted to. The damn thing wouldn't turn over. He gave it several tries before angrily smacking his hands against the steering wheel. Of course he'd forgotten his cell phone, so he couldn't try calling triple A, and he knew nothing about cars himself.

Now he was furious. When he found his sister … it would not be merciful.

Muttering to himself he pushed the door open and slid out onto the pavement. Feet mucking through the flooded ground he started his long trek to the closest home. Hopefully they would have a phone that they would let him use.

Pulling the collar of his coat up and shoving his hands into his pockets he peered over his shoulder. Already he was soaked to the bone, and quivering from the cold. He'd hoped to find a car there, pulling down the side road. Instead there was nothing but the dark.

Aaron pushed his soaked hair out of his face with exasperation. He faced forward once more and picked up his pace. He started to sniffle.

I'll never get any sleep tonight, he thought bitterly. His eyes scanned through the dark hoping to make out a driveway or a house through the trees. It wasn't as if this area of Massachusetts was isolated. So close to Boston – the fact that there were trees, remotely constituting a forest – was enough to have Aaron a little surprised.

He was still frustrated and growing more bitter by the second, but his temper had calmed ever so slightly that now he could recognize the severity of his situation – there was no one around.

Had he stumbled into farming country by mistake? If so, then this party of Ella's was further out than he'd originally thought.

It would figure – the best place to have a party was of course out in the middle of east bumfuck.

Aaron narrowed his eyes, squinting through the rain as he made out a dark shape pass through the road a little ways ahead. Perhaps they had a cell phone he could borrow. Of course, in this storm it was a wonder there would be any reception.

Hope for the much desired gadget had Aaron calling out an 'excuse me!" to the object. Any thoughts of precaution had vanished as desperation for a warm bed had taken over. Already he began to imagine he was back in his room.

The cold of the rain pulled him back to reality and he could see that the figure up ahead had slowed to a halt, waiting for Aaron to catch up. He let out a breath of relief, quickening his pace.

"I'm sorry to bother you," Aaron shouted through the noise of the rain, "But would you happen to have a cell phone? My car broke down a little ways back and I'm supposed to pick up my -." His voice trailed off as he came to stand a few feet before the bulky person burdened beneath a dark trench coat.

The man – as Aaron assumed him to be – had his face hidden beneath an old black sailor's hat. In fact, the whole ensemble brought the image of a seafarer from some movie he'd seen ages ago. He wracked his brain for a moment as to what the film had been, before shaking the hazy image away. He'd ask Scott when he got into work in the morning. The man was a movie buff.

"You shouldn't be out this late. Not in these parts," The deep-voiced man beneath the coat finally warned.

Aaron shifted his posture. "If I didn't have to be I wouldn't, buddy," He grumbled. Taking a few more steps forward, he blinked through the blanket of water. "Do you have a cell phone?"

The figure shook its head, forcing Aaron's hopes to fall and anger to rise.

"Well do you have a home nearby where I could use your phone?"

"Storm like this would have knocked any lines down half an hour to an hour ago," The man murmured.

Aaron leaned closer to hear through the thunder that had rolled about in the sky. "What's that? No lines, you say?" He let out a frustrated breath. "I need to call Triple A. My car broke down and I should be home -."

"You aren't going to get anywhere tonight," the figure replied with a little shrug. "The way the roads are flooding – you'd have to be crazy or stupid to come out here. Willingly, that is."

"My sister -," Aaron started. He shook his head. "Is there anyone else down the road that might -? Do you perhaps have a car? Maybe I could get a ride?"

"I don't open my doors to strangers. You shouldn't, either," The man replied. He lifted his head enough so that Aaron could make out the rows of scars running along the bottom of his mangled face. Aaron stumbled back slightly, a need for survival now swelling in his mind.

"Perhaps I'll go further down the road for help," He stammered, peering over the man's head in hopes of seeing some form of escape. No such luck – at least none that he could see.

The wind whirled through the road, forcing leaves off trees and twirling down onto Aaron and the man. The sky lit up at the bolts of lightning. Once more the world rumbled the tune of thunder, only this time it was so heavy that the ground seemed to quake in its essence.

Aaron forced his legs to steady, though they now threatened to turn to liquid and flood the road along with the rain water.

"Is there anywhere I can go to get my bearings?" He asked. "Just for a moment."

The figure was silent for several long moments. "I may know of a place." He glanced toward the trees with a strange little bow that came out awkward with his bulky movement. Aaron tried not to roll his eyes impatiently.

"Well?" He snapped, huddling further into his soaked coat.

"A little ways behind you there's a path that will take you to an old cabin. Someone in there can … get you all fixed up." Those twisted lips curled around yellowed and crooked teeth. Aaron couldn't tell if the man was trying to offer a smile but his disfigured face made it difficult, or if the man had a truly malevolent smile to offer. Either way a slight shiver tracked over his spine and his toes went numb. The rational part of Aaron's mind ensured him this was due to the freezing rain and the way it had soaked into his shoes. The part of him that he liked to keep quiet told him to get the hell out of there.

Aaron listened to the rational part.

"Where did you say this path was again?"

"About half a mile or so behind you on the left."

"Can't you just show me?" Aaron demanded.

The man laughed in response. "Kid, I stay to my territory. You probably should have, too."

Aaron scoffed in frustration, turning away quickly and sloshing through the water without a word of thanks. After a good fifteen minutes he disappeared out of sight and into the forest.

The man tilted his head up to the sky as his laughter died out. Two amethyst eyes stared into the lightning. "Car broke down, eh? Wonder who could have been responsible for that?"

Then he snickered, stepping away as headlights flashed across the road. Vanishing into the bushes of the forest the bulky man watched with amusement as the car slowed and stalled a foot away.

There were shouts of annoyance that hastily turned to panic as something small but threatening descended upon the vehicle. Shaking his head the man walked away, whistling.

****

Aaron had stumbled off the old path twice already, and had almost done so just now. He should have grabbed a flashlight out of the backseat before heading into the dark. Instead he was now stuck in mud, leaves clinging to him, and thoroughly drenched. He blamed his sister.

"Aaron."

The man froze, startled by the familiar voice that came hauntingly from behind him. Spinning around he lost his balance and fell into the mud.

"Son of a -," He bit back a curse, pushing himself up and attempting to regain his balance.

A giggle.

Aaron fell back into the mud at the sound, but instead of cursing he focused on that voice he was now certain he'd heard.

Glancing up he flicked his muddy hair off of his face and stared gapingly at the small figure hiding in the shadows.

"Ella?" He called with confusion.

The girl stepped forward, face illuminated by a blot of lightning.

Her skin was pale compared to the ever-present glowing tan that Aaron had been accustomed to associating his sister with. Her eyes seemed larger, hungrier, but it was probably just the atmosphere of the storm.

"What the hell are you doing out here?" He demanded angrily.

"Dancing," The girl said lightly. She lifted her arms up to the sky and began to sway wistfully back and forth.

"You're drunk," Aaron guessed, forcing himself to stand up. "You're drunk and my car has stalled. Great. Come on, give me your phone."

"It won't work," Ella sang.

Aaron was a little surprised at the clarity in her speech, but he assumed she was simply buzzed, and not entirely drunk. Or maybe she was on some sort of drug. "I don't have time for this," He snapped, reaching out to grab at his sister.

Gasping the girl danced backwards. "Don't touch me!" She shrieked. "Don't you ever touch me, Aaron."

Then her expression softened and she smiled. "I've got a surprise for you. Will you come and see?"

"I have to get up for work at five, El. Can we just get out of here?"

"Are you afraid, Aaron?" She asked with a pout.

"No, I'm just pissed. Come on, let's get you home before you start throwing up. I'm covered in enough crap as it. I swear, I'm going to -."

"You should be."

Aaron blinked in surprise and suddenly Ella was gone.

"Ella!?" He shouted, slightly panicked. He repeated the frantic cry once more.

"I have a surprise!" Someone shouted.

He spun around again, this time careful not to fall, and caught sight of Ella's short red skirt disappear into the foliage.

Aaron growled, chasing after her.

"We really have to go!" He snapped just as something akin to a scream echoed through the forest. His eyes shot back to the direction he had come from. He was almost certain the sound had come from the road. Something was not right out here. "Ella!?" He screamed, now frantic to retrieve his sister and get back to the safety of his stalled car.

He stopped just as part of the forest emptied into a clearing. Ella was dead in the center twirling with her arms wide and eyes staring euphorically into the night sky. Her damp dark hair swung with her as she moved. "Can you feel it?" She called, glancing over her shoulder back at him.

"We have to go. Something's not right here."

"Everything is fine here," Ella said with content on her face.

Aaron took a step into the clearing and instantly fell to the ground, feeling as if his insides were churning. He was going to be sick.

Ella chuckled, grabbing the edge of her skirt and twirling once more. "Don't be afraid, Aaron!" She called. She stopped and was now watching him careful through pitch black eyes. Aaron glanced up and watched in horror as a sadistic smile spread across his sister's face. "Not here. Wonderful things can happen here, Aaron – such wonderful things." She started forward, those frightening eyes locked solely on him.

Aaron cried out in agony, tearing at his stomach in hopes of halting the pain.

"Don't fight it," A devilishly deep voice spoke from Ella's lips. Aaron glanced up with tortured fear. Ella, or what wore Ella's face, bent in the muddy grass and set Ella's fingers firmly on Aaron's shoulder.

"It'll be fun, Aaron," Ella's voice whispered cruelly into his ear. "In the end it's always fun."

Then her nails gouged into his skin and she watched him buck and squirm, jolts of venom coursing through his veins. After several long moments of excruciating pain Aaron stilled, his body collapsing to the ground.

Ella stood and took a few steps back, face blank, and once more she began to dance around the field.