Edited.
AMBER RAIN:

"Everything I loved suddenly became everything I lost."

The strobe lights danced across my face in a delicate but riveting way. The mix of the bright oranges, raunchy blues, and seductive reds gave me the buzz that alcohol hadn't yet. I moved under the lights professionally to the DJ's selection along with the other tightly compacted, sweaty bodies. I closed my eyes, breathing in my last night of fun before the studies and workload began piling up in my second year at Ivy League University, Harvard.

I know what you're thinking: Why would a girl get wasted and risk blowing her chance at an Ivy league university? The answer: That school drives me absolutely insane. I can't stand being around the buzzkills that only could get themselves off by reading a novel about micro nuclear power. No offense to them, for each's own. I just want to live while I'm young and get the most out of my youth.

I knew I had the brains for a school like Harvard, that lifestyle just wasn't working for me. I wasn't even sure how I made it in without being put on the waiting list or some kind of complication. My SAT/ACT scores were average and I had the bare minimum service hours but there were exceptional students out there who weren't accepted. My dad practically shoved me out the door when I got my acceptance letter without so much as an 'Congrats!' to give.

The first year had been agonizingly dreadful. I would always get my work done and make sure that all my projects and reports were typed up and ready to turn it. Nothing ever happened after the assignments. I would receive the grade, go back to my dorm, and repeat. You would think that someone would throw a party. Just one party would've been nice to attend. Nope. Not even a casual get together. I didn't have many friends; I usually kept to myself.

I had to drive twenty miles out of Cambridge to find the nearest club just to get a tiny pinch of fun and freedom. So far, it was worth it. No one would be here to be able to look down on me or chastise me for the decisions I make. I could drink, I could dance, and I could let the fuck go.

The whole night, so far, it seemed that eyes were trained on me. I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was analyzing every detail of my being. I pushed the feeling back with the belief that everyone felt like that when dancing in a crowded club. All the females were practically on display and in all honestly, we had enough confidence to do this. Let them watch us they please. Just don't touch.

I ignored the lingering feeling and let the music guide my hips exotically. A few times -when some men grabbed my hips to dance- I considered a one night stand to release my stress but always decided against it when I realized the regret and trashy I feelings I would gain after doing it with a creep.

After a few hours of countless drinks and numerous songs I was feeling weightless and carefree. Exactly my goal.

When I realized it was about time to get back to my apartment and try to sleep off the painful headache coming my way, I regretted bringing my car with no designated driver.

I shouldn't have came alone.

I groaned out loud thinking how I had to call an Uber tonight and tomorrow to get home and to retrieve my car. Maybe I should've thought this out further. . .

I made my way off the dance floor, taking a breath of fresh air when the humidity that the crowd gave off went away. I pulled my mid-thigh length dress down as I passed by greedy looking men who shamelessly checked me out. When I glared at their wondering eyes, some just smirked, some turned their heads, and many just covered it up by pulling a beer to their lips.

I wobbled slightly as I made my way towards the exit of the club. The bouncers stared at me coldly as I walked out, their eyes holding annoyance and disgust at my messy appearance.

I plopped down on the curb under a streetlight and checked how long until the Uber got here. The app read six minutes away. I had some cash in my clutch, enough to get me back to my apartment.

A few minutes passed and I checked the app, reading it was now three minutes away. I sighed as a cool breeze blew through my now-frizzy hair and sent goosebumps across my neck. I could hear the music radiating from the club against the quiet and lonesome streets.

No cars drove the road this late and no one was out taking at a jog at this hour. I really just wanted to go vomit up the toxins in  my body and pass out to an episode of 'Friends' as soon as I could.

"Your Uber is not coming." A voice hissed out from behind me.

I froze. Every part of my body went numb. I dropped my phone in my lap and stood up quickly to face the owner of that chilling voice. A man stood behind me, his hands buried in his pockets while he leaned against the side of the club. His top row of teeth biting lightly on snake bite piercings in his plump bottom lip.

His dark hair flowed heavenly above his shaved sides. His eyes dark and staring at me with furrowed eyebrows. He had black earrings in and supported a black trench coat over black slacks and dress shoes. I could see the numerous amount of tattoos he had peeking out under his coat and on his neck. He stood above me by at least six inches. I backed into the street slowly.

"Stay away from me." I demanded quietly, seeming to sober up. I turned and looked for the Uber, silently pleading for any car to pull up.

He smiled grimly as he pushed off the wall and took a few steps closer, stepping into the cruddy street along with me. His boots creating a sickening crunch as he stepped on dried leaves.

"Quit looking around. I told you no Uber will be coming." He mocked as my eyes widened, his head cocking to one side.

I placed my hands in front of me and backed up further away. "You don't know that. I j-just called one. It'll be here any minute." I spoke quietly while trying to subtly dial the numbers '911' into the keypad on the emergency call screen.

"No it won't because I," he looked down at my hands. "Just hacked your phone." He chuckled. I looked down at my hands as well and saw it had a long, bright glitch running across the screen. A glitch that resulted in my phone to power down; leaving me helpless.

I dropped it with shaking hands. "How did. . .why. . .who are you?" I breathed out while my brain churned in an effort to process this.

"Three very excellent questions." He deadpanned. "Don't worry about who I am. Worry about who you are," He flashed me his bright teeth. "Because that should scare you even more."

I raised my eyebrows and my mouth opened slightly. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Just get away from me and we won't have a problem." I reasoned because my back hit a metal fence, preventing me from getting away from the man in front of me.

He chuckled. "No can do, Miss Rain." I felt my heart sink into my chest. He knows who I am? How? He leaned in closer to me. I stood still. "The boss wants to see you."

That was it. I knew it was the cliché part of a horror movie where I ran down along a  dark path, not knowing where I was going. I attempted it anyway.

Before he could reach me I sprinted off to the left and down the dark street. My head was spinning due to the alcohol but I tried to move fast. Blurred lines were zig-zagging across my vision but I quickly blinked them away.

"Quindi stiamo facendo le cose nel modo più duro?" I heard him mumble before I heard hard footsteps take off in my direction.

I was looking for a operating building, any place with lights on but it was so late that everything was closed. I tried to take long breaths to avoid losing too much energy and becoming an easy target.

I kicked off my heels, hoping as I placed on in my hand, and threw one at the man who was gaining on me. It missed any of his limbs by inches. I threw the second one which knocked him I the face. The heel clonking his nose. I laughed in victory, thinking the action was enough to stop him.

He growled, his top lip twitching up, before picking up the pace. Shit.

I rounded a corner, scanning the dim surroundings in search of a place to hide while he quickly caught up. Nothing. Screwed was the right word.

I just continued down the road, my feet starting to sting from the pebbles and cement digging into my flesh.

From around the corner I heard the man's loud voice echo off the lone buildings. "Come on, Amber! I got your shoe." He yelled. His voice holding a patronizing edge. "I don't want to hurt you. That's his job." I heard him spit out.

I jumped into a tight ally way I spotted and leaned against the brick wall quickly. The streetlights above me projected his shadow on the road and it was growing larger as he neared.

"Okay fine," he called out. "I just want to hurt you a little." A grim snicker licked up against my ears.

I sucked in a sharp breath. I was confused on what what happening. Who was this guy? Who's the boss? How does he know who I am? I had so many questions and I would probably get murdered, leaving them unanswered. I had to be smarter than him.

"Please, just back off. You don't have to do anything." I bargained, trying to avoid any quiver to roll out in my voice.

He laughed. Actually laughed. "You're right I don't have to do anything. I volunteered to." He purred as the sound of blade being unsheathed rung throughout the quiet part of town.

His shadow stopped moving, the closest it's been. The footsteps were no longer heard. I tried breathing as quietly as I could. Silence was survival right now.

A bare hand gripped my shoulder roughly and pulled me out and under the light. I screamed out in complete fear. The man brought a silver blade up to my throat, his grin stretching sadistically.

"Gotcha," he singsonged, his jade iris' twinkling in amusement as he gripped my hair roughly and placed the blade against my neck so I couldn't move.

"You're. . .psychotic." I whispered as a tear left my eye and rolled down my cheek, the salt stinging on my chapped lips.

"Not compared to what's coming." His grin getting wider.

I swallowed hard.

"Anyhoo. I'm really not here to harm you, Amber." He said while pulling the knife away. "Trust me, you would've got a knife in your back after you hit me in the face with your heel if I was after you personally." He stated. I swallowed bile that rose up.

"If you think I'm psychotic than you've confirmed my thoughts. You haven't met him." He continued while gagging me with a white cloth. He tied it around my head tightly and I coughed out in discomfort. The aching feeling of being defenseless creeping in.

He turned me around and tied my hands around my back with rope. I felt the tip of the knife press into my spine, as a warning if I attempted to run.

I prayed a car would drive by at any moment.

What the sweet shine of headlights could do right now.

Nothing changed in the dark scenery as he tied the rope so hard I'm sure it was going to blister my wrists if he hadn't broke the skin already.

I thought how idiotic I was over and over in these short minutes. I shouldn't have even come here tonight. To that fucking club.

Wait. . .

The club! People were there. There were so many of them! If I could get there, the bouncers would take notice of what was happening and help me. I mean, most likely they would.

I needed to get away from tattoos, though. I needed a strong enough diversion. Then the thought hit me: What's the most painful thing you can do to a guy?

I knew if this didn't work, I was going to get hurt, despite whatever orders 'the boss' had out for me. I had to try. I pulled my bare back foot up and rammed him straight in the crotch. I heard him cry out in pain and the knife slipped from his hands and bounced across the cement. The noice sounding like freedom. I heard him hit the ground with a hard thud.

I turned around and saw him laying on the pavement clutching his. . .area. His face scrunched up in utter pain. In a moment of rage I ran over and kicked him straight across the face, violently.

His face whipped to the opposite side in a straight motion as my foot cramped up in pain. Holy fucking shit! FUCK! That hurt.

I turned around and took off at full speed back from where I came. I was careful not to trip because my hands wouldn't be able to catch myself and I wouldn't be able to get back up in time.

I rounded the corner from before and got my eyes set on the vibrant club. I almost cried out in relief.

Then I heard him.

I heard a growl from behind me. It was almost like an animals viscous roar. It made me stop dead in my tracks.

I turned my neck slightly and saw the man charging full speed at me, his eyes full of fury and anger. His face beet red. His teeth bared. My stomach lurched at the sight and I tried running as fast as I could towards the club entrance.

I made it so close, so close. Then two strong arms wrapped around my small waist and threw me to the ground like a rag doll. I cried out in pain as my body slammed into the cement; it was muffled due to the gag still stuffed in my mouth.

"Bad, bad, bad move, Rain." He released a shaky sentence in a effort to hold back his rage. " The boss is going to know just how much fun you are."

More tears fell.

With that, he placed a cloth over my mouth and pressed my face into it harshly. The wet material overpowering anything else. I struggled against the chemicals consuming my lungs but lost.

I felt my eyes close slowly as my brain began to lose all consciousness. I could feel myself being lifted off the ground and feel being thrown over a sturdy shoulder.

Then I blacked out. Talk about a cliché horror movie scene.

•          •          •          •          •          •          •

Mwahahahaha! Welcome my lovelies. You have just survived the first chapter of KBAP! *Cheers go up around the room*

So what importance to the story is that man? Who is he? Who do you think Amber is? Why was she kidnapped? So many questions!!

Okay I'll shut up. IF YOU LIKED THIS CHAPTER AND WANT MORE: VOTE AND ADD IT TO YOUR LIBRARY!

Love y'all so much!