Page 1 of Sinner's End

Prologue

Ever wonder what it would be like to wake up with no memory of who you are, or what you did the day before? To forget everything and start with a clean slate. No past crimes, no embarrassing moments, or memories of broken hearts. Ruined friendships, family. No … nothing. A blank page waiting to be written.

Only, how do you start a story when there’s no baseline? What are the benchmarks you set yourself against, if you can’t remember your last failures, or how far you fell? If it hurt when you landed. What makes you fear rejection, or how to succeed in business, in relationships?

All the questions that come from one simple line. A wish unthought out for its basic complexity.

To be reborn.

Alone.

Why would a person—any person—want that? What did they do that was so horrific they desired most of all to forget everything they’d ever done?

Everyone.

Maybe I wished that once, and wondered what it would be like. But I guess I’ll never know.

Or maybe I do.

Chapter One

A Change is Coming

Adreana

Have you ever had the feeling of being alone even when you’re surrounded by people? Being utterly and completely alone even when you’re among your closest family and friends? For years I felt that way even when I was in a crowd. But the last year has been different. I haven’t had a moment where I felt alone once.

Because of my watcher.

“Did you hear a word I just said?” Emma, my twin sister, asks, shoving at my shoulder.

“No,” I reply, continuing to scan the park we are walking through.

My American pit bull terrier, Daisy, comes speeding my way with a ridiculous smile plastered across her face. The steel-blue monster tackles me to the ground, slathering me with kisses until I struggle to breathe before she speeds off again.

She loves coming to the park as much as I do. I rescued her from the pound the moment I stepped out of high school and we haven’t been apart since. She is the only thing I love unquestioningly and without forethought. For three years, Daisy has been my only companion, the reason I still have a remaining sliver of sanity. She helped me to not feel so alone in a world full of people.

Daisy and my watcher.

I feel watched and followed every minute of every day. I can’t explain where this feeling is coming from but I know I should have a different reaction to the situation. I shouldn’t feel safe or cherished. What Ishouldbe feeling is fear. I know that, but it doesn’t change a damn thing.

“I want you to come with me to the Halloween party at Harken tonight,” my sister says again, finally drawing my attention.

“Are you nuts? I hate that place,” I reply with a frown. “Everyone is on something, and that fucking man is always lurking.”

I can’t fucking stand Mana. The man is too attractive for his own damn good and he knows it. I’ve only been there a handful of times, but I always manage to run into him. Most of those times are because of something my stupid sister did.

“Please. You can’t let me go alone,” Emma says softly, casting her eyes toward the grass beneath our feet.

I inhale deeply through my nose before exhaling. I know this ploy. She is trying to manipulate me but that doesn’t work anymore. It’s another thing that has changed since I started to be watched. I went from a wallflower, terrified of my own shadow, to someone who has a backbone and speaks her mind.

“Don’t do that.” I nod as I scan the area for Daisy. “Your crocodile tears and fake sadness don’t work on me anymore, Em.”

“What happened to you?” she sneers, clearly irritated, her false tears forgotten. The difference between her actual personality and the fake one she uses is as stark as night and day. “What happened to my sister?”

“You mean, when did I stop following you around like a lost puppy? When did I remember I had a mind of my own?”

“You know that isn’t what I meant.” Emma faces me with a frown, her hands firmly planted on her hips.

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