ZEA GOLDEN COLLEGE
"You should get going, Alice. I've got something to do," Skylar said to Alice, her one and only friend.
They were both standing in the parking lot of Zea Golden College, the most reputable college in all of New Zealand.
"Are you sure? Or should I wait for you?" Alice asked.
"Go on," Skylar replied, moisturizing her red lips.
"Okay, see you at the mansion then," Alice smiled, tucking her brown hair behind her ear.
"Hmm," Skylar nodded. Alice then got into the purple Porsche Macan EV, which sped off in seconds.
As soon as Alice was gone, Skylar's face turned emotionless. She turned in the opposite direction and began walking slowly behind two boys who were also from the college.
Being mischievous, both boys ran away from their drivers, who had been sent to pick them up, and into an alley, still unaware of Skylar, who followed slowly behind them with an iron rod she had gotten from the school lot.
When they reached the deserted alley, Skylar lowered the rod and began dragging it behind her.
Disturbed by the noise of metal scraping against concrete, both boys turned around, and to their horror, found Skylar standing behind them.
"What do… do you want from us?" the first boy asked fearfully.
"I think one of you said something to me in class today, and the other agreed," Skylar muttered, tilting her head to the side.
"Can't you remember?" She asked, blinking her small brown eyes twice.
"Please, Skylar, we—"
"Of course, I remember," the second boy yelled, cutting the first boy off as Skylar stared at him with no emotion on her face.
"You're a bloody psycho," he yelled.
Instantly, Skylar lifted the metal off the ground and smashed it into his head. He spat out blood and collapsed, unconscious in a pool of his own blood.
The first boy, horrified, began pleading for his life.
"Please spare me, please, Skylar, I'll give you whatever you want, just… Ahh!" He suddenly yelped in pain when Skylar hit his right knee with the rod, causing him to fall onto his butt.
"Unfortunately, I don't need anything," she replied, a small smirk appearing on her lips.
Using the rod, she hit him hard on his left leg, his cries echoing in the silent alley.
∞∞∞∞∞
"Ahh, don't you just love the stench of blood?" Skylar breathed out, wiping off a small stain of blood from her smooth cheek with her thumb.
"They just had to go unconscious, didn't they?" she sighed.
She had beaten the boy until he passed out, for sure breaking half the bones in his body.
"See you both at school then," she mumbled, walking out of the alley.
THE BROWN MANSION
"Sky, you're here!" Alice called out, running over to Skylar, who stood at the doorstep, staring at the new decor of the mansion.
Getting to Skylar, Alice opened her arms to pull her in for a hug but withdrew instantly when Skylar gave her a cold stare.
"Sorry, I forgot how much you hate body contact. I was just so happy," Alice pouted.
"It's okay. Where are they?" Skylar muttered.
"Come with me," Alice muttered, leading the way for Skylar, who followed behind.
Alice led Skylar to the dining room, which was as large as four rooms put together.
Skylar stared at everyone at the table, who had smiles on their faces, but something seemed off to her when she noticed that her brother was present.
"Look who I found!" Alice said, sitting beside Skylar's grandmother, Granny Suzy.
"Oh my, Skylar, I'm so happy for you!" Karina, Skylar's mother, smiled.
"What's Raymond doing here?" Skylar asked, ignoring what her mother had said.
"I had to be here," Raymond shrugged.
"Why?" Skylar asked curiously.
"Because your wedding date has been set. Your betrothed is back," Josh, Skylar's father and the vice president of New Zealand, answered with a big smile, which was mirrored by the others.
"What?" Skylar muttered, clearly shocked.
"Why are you shocked, Skylar? Every teenage girl your age would be glad that—"
"I'm not a normal teenager, don't you get it?" Skylar yelled, cutting Mrs. Karina off.
"I'm not getting married," she said, her voice lower this time.
"You will get married to him, or I'll harm myself, Skylar," Granny Suzy threatened.
"Who cares?" Skylar asked with raised brows. Turning around, she stormed out of the dining room, ignoring the calls of her parents.
"Told you guys, it won't work this way. She doesn't even know Warren," Raymond said, frustrated.
"There's no other way," Mrs. Karina muttered.
"Someone needs to talk some sense into that child," Mr. Josh groaned.
"I'll go talk to her," Alice volunteered, rushing after Skylar.
SKYLAR'S ROOM
"Sky," Alice called, sitting beside Skylar on the bed.
"About the marriage..." Alice trailed off.
"I'm not getting married, Alice," Skylar mumbled loud enough for Alice to hear.
"Granny threatened to harm herself."
"I don't care," Skylar replied.
"Don't say that, because I know you do care," Alice said to Skylar, who ruffled her hair.
"Listen, Sky, you want to get away from your family, so why not do it?" Alice muttered.
"This is a damn marriage, Alice. How sure are you that I won't kill him?" Skylar replied, frustrated.
"How about a contract marriage of six months? You can get away from your family and fulfill their wish. Then, after the six months, if you still don't want to stay, you can get a divorce," Alice suggested.
"How about killing him?" Skylar uttered.
"You won't, Sky. I'm sure of it. You can't."
"But what if I get the urge to do so?"
"You won't, Sky, trust me," Alice smiled.
After a few more pleas, Skylar finally made her decision and wanted to announce it to the whole family. They were all now seated in the newly decorated living room.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown sat together, Granny Suzy sat alone on a single couch, Raymond and Alice shared a double-sitter, which seemed weird to Skylar, who sat on a one-armed chair. It was her favorite, actually.
"Have you come to a conclusion yet, Sky?" Raymond asked.
"Hmm," Skylar hummed in response.
She turned to her Granny, who shot her a glare. After mumbling a silent apology, Skylar turned to her parents, who were eagerly waiting for her reply.
"I accept the marriage, but it has to be under a six-month clause," Skylar said.
"That's a done deal!" Mr. Josh exclaimed, a smile returning to everyone's faces. Skylar was stunned but still continued with her speech anyway.
"I want to know him. Don't leave out any details," she muttered, curious about her so-called betrothed.
"He's Italian," Granny Suzy said.
"He's the world's youngest billionaire, Warren Kurz, the owner of—"
"Oh my God!" Alice cut Raymond off.
"The Warren Kurz? The owner of the multimillion-dollar company worldwide?" Alice questioned.
"Yes, he is Skylar's betrothed," Mrs. Karina confirmed.
"Oh my, Sky is getting married to a billionaire!" Alice yelled, sitting beside Skylar.
"Gosh, my ears, Alice," Skylar complained, turning to Alice, who sat beside her with a smile.
"Who's Warren Kurz?" she asked cluelessly.
"Come on, Sky, you know your favorite car? The most expensive car right now? The Vaduz Punch KV, which costs more than 80 million cores. He fucking owns it, Sky. He's got so much under him," Alice explained.
"Oh, that Kurz."
"Yeah, that Kurz," Alice repeated.
"If he's so bloody rich, why does he want me? Because I don't think anyone in their right mind would want to marry me," Skylar said.
"Of course, he wants you, Skylar. That's because you both were—" Mrs. Karina replied but suddenly stopped as if remembering something.
"Were what?" Skylar asked, raising her brows as she watched the whole family's expression turn pale except for Alice.
"Were betrothed from childhood," Mr. Josh said.
"Yes, betrothed from childhood," Mrs. Karina repeated, a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Hmm, when's the wedding happening? Next month?" Skylar asked.
"Not next month, the day after tomorrow," Granny Suzy replied, causing Skylar's eyes to widen in shock.
"Yay, I'm so happy for you, Sky!" Alice rejoiced, while Skylar shot her a look that screamed, "What the fuck?"
"Isn't it too soon? I just turned 20, besides, I'm not done with college," Skylar questioned.
"No, it's not too soon. You're in your final year. Besides, if it were guys like Lucifer, you'd be overjoyed," Alice muttered.
Lucifer was the messenger of death and Skylar's crush. He was a killer and the second in command of the most feared mafia group in New Zealand. They were feared both near and far.