Warrior King New Worlds (Crystal Kingdom #6) - Milly Taiden Page 0,67

plopped onto her memory-foam mattress and turned on her favorite streaming service. This was the fourth night in a row of binge watching TV and eating subpar meals. Nothing had changed much in her years away.

Just once, she wished something interesting or fun happened in her life. She scrolled through the serial killer movies and laughed. Those were her favorites.

She always found something silly at the worst times that made her laugh instead of being scared. She thought about her upcoming camping trip and sighed, leaning back into her pillows.

Someday she’d live an adventure, but it wouldn’t be while hiking with her friends, and not at Briarleaf Park.

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Dark King

Prologue

Alan is the cutest, Jenny texted as she walked along the sidewalk on her way home after school. A vehicle passed by, spitting out black smoke from its rear. She coughed and waved a hand in front of her face. “Get it fixed, dude.”

No, Colt is, her friend sent back. You’re so lame.

Jenny grunted, typing on her phone. No, you’re the lame-butt, she replied. Honestly, how could Colt, with a buzz haircut, be as hunky?

She heard younger kids hollering at the small playground in the park. She glanced up and noticed the polluting van had stopped further up along the sidewalk. At least it wasn’t poisoning the air anymore.

Attention back on her phone, she typed, Alan will be a freshman next year.

Puh-lease, we’ll be in 8th grade. Big whoop, her phone’s screen displayed.

As she passed the white van, the side-door slid open. She automatically stepped to the side to give room to the person getting out. A body did move, but not in the way she expected.

Instead of stepping onto the sidewalk next to her, a hand shot toward her and wrapped around her upper arm. Her body jerked to the side and she screamed. The phone fell from her hands as her feet dragged over the concrete.

She swung her arms, trying to hit any part of her would-be-abductor. Her shoe made contact with the masked man’s leg and he growled, releasing her arm. She pushed away. Her head snapped forward when her backpack was yanked backward into the van.

Her skull slammed against the floor, sending her world into a tailspin. Cold metal clamped around her wrist. Her stomach roiled and she swallowed back her lunch. The van started and screeched away.

She rolled sideways but stopped when her arm stretched as far as it would go. She pulled her knees under her, then smashed onto her side when the vehicle made a sharp turn. Sliding across the slick floor, she crashed into the wall, bashing her elbow.

Pain shot up her arm, sobering her confused state. The windows were heavily tinted, making it impossible for her to make out the details of her surroundings. There wasn’t much to see. The man’s deep voice hollered out and high-pitched sirens grew louder by the second. She almost cried, thinking gratefully that one of the mothers from the park must’ve called the police immediately.

Her own mother would be so mad at her. She knew she wasn’t supposed to be on her phone unless talking to one of her parents. Now she understood why. Had she been paying attention, she might not have been captured. She’d never make that mistake again.

With a sudden yank, her shoulder pulled out of the socket at the same time a wrenching and tearing of metal filled her ears. The van didn’t move. As she lay on the hard floor, the smell of acrid smoke tickled her nose. Fire. Something was on fire nearby.

Bright light spilled into her eyes, blinding her. Hands rolled her body, and she was released from whatever had her tied down. She was scooped up, supported under her knees and shoulder blades. Her head hung back painfully, and her dislocated arm flopped freely as she and her rescuer bounced with each footstep.

A loud explosion roared around her, but she was distanced from further pain. She was laid onto a soft surface and her head rolled to the side. Between several police cars, her eyes focused on a mangled and twisted white lump engulfed in a blaze.

“You’re going to be okay, honey.”

Jenny looked toward the sweet voice. A woman in a police uniform took her hand and squeezed. Instead of a smile that Jen expected, she was greeted with a frown.

The police officer continued. “You’re lucky. You need to learn to defend yourself.” Jen saw the pain and fear in the officer’s eyes