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  Contents

  Cover

  FRACTURED

  Copyright

  MorebyALN

  Dedication

  Prologue

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  23

  24

  25

  26

  27

  28

  29

  30

  31

  32

  33

  34

  35

  36

  37

  38

  Epilogue

  ConnectwithALN

  NextintheSeries

  TemptedbyEvil

  AbouttheAuthor

  Acknowledgments

  FRACTURED

  By

  AmberLynnNatusch

  FRACTUREDVersion1.0

  Copyright©2013AmberLynnNatuschAllrightsreserved.

  Thisbookoranyportionthereofmaynotbereproducedorusedinanymannerwhatsoever withouttheexpresswrittenpermissionofthepublisherexceptfortheuseofbriefquotationsin abookreview.

  ISBN-13:978-0-9891023-1-5

  Thisbookisaworkoffiction.Names,characters,organizations,businesses,places,eventsand incidentseitheraretheproductoftheauthor'simaginationorareusedfictitiously.Any resemblancetoactualpersons,livingordead,oractualeventsisentirelycoincidental.

  PublishedbyAmberLynnNatuschCoverDesignbyJamieRosen EditingbyJenniferRyan

  www.amberlynnnatusch.com

  MorebyAmberLynnNatusch

  TheCagedSeries

  CAGED

  HAUNTED

  FRAMED

  SCARRED

  FRACTURED

  Novella1

  STRAYED

  Novella2

  BETRAYED

  TheUNBORNSeries

  Comingin2013

  UNBORN

  TheLightandShadowTrilogyByShannonMortonandAmberLynnNatusch TemptedByEvil

  MoreIncludingReleaseDates:amberlynnnatusch.com

  facebook.com/amberlynnnatusch

  Follow@AmberLNatusch

  Tweetyourthoughtsthroughthebook

  Tomyhusband,

  whomendsallthatisbroken,rightsallthatiswrong,andlovesallthatis unlovable.

  Prologue

  Silence...

  Itsurroundedme,permeatingtheairwhileitclungtothetrees.I felthemmedinbyit,claustrophobic.Thesunwasfallingjustbelowthe canopyofautumnleavesfarabovemyhead,creatinganeerieglowof fierycrimsonandgold.IsatconfusedasIstaredupattheceilingof foliage.Thetreeshadn'tstartedtochange,notthatIremembered.

  Aflashofmemoryjarredmetomyfeet:myfear,Scarlet'spassion, Sean'sanger,Matty'sdeath.Iwassuffocatedbyit,relivingthemoment whenScarletshovedmedown,downsodeepinsidemyselfthatI drownedinthedarknessofmysoul,tuckedaway.Nevertobeletout.

  Nevertobefoundagain.Shetoldmethisherself,toldmeIwouldpay.

  Ihadlivedinastateofblacksuspensionfromthatmomenton.No senseoftimeorplaceorexistence,lostinaperpetualtunnelofnight.

  Therewasnoescape.Scarlethadwarnedmeseveraltimesthatshewasn't tobetrifledwith,thatherretributionwouldbeepic.Aliarshewasnot.

  Sowhyhadshesuddenlyletmeout?Whyleavemestrandedinthe woods,naked,lefttotheelements,helpless?Becausesheknewitwould bringbackthepersonalhellI'doncelivedthrough,whenmyparentswere murderedandIChanged,mywerewolfsideemerging.Outofallmy nightmares,itwastheonlyonethatIhadonarecurringbasis.She wantedmetoliveitagain.

  Asifoncue,threedarkenedfiguresslowlywoundtheirway towardsme,weavingthroughthetreessofluidlythattheynearlylulled meintoatrance.Nearly.

  MyfightorflightresponsekickedinwhenIheardthescreamsthat wererippedfrommyparents'throatsthatfatefulnightechothroughmy brain.Itookoffinaflat-outsprintintheoppositedirectionoftheir approach.Myskinstungasthethickunderbrushbitmerepeatedly,but thepainmotivatedme.

  Iheardtherhythmiccadenceoftheirrunninggettinglouderand louderbehindme,butIdidn'tdarelook.Irecognizedthesound.They weren'thuman.Iwas.

  Knowingthatmyattempttoescapewasfutile,Ipanicked,hoping thatScarlet,angrythoughshewas,wouldcometomyaidasshealways hadinthepast.Ifnotforme,thenatleasttosaveherself.Shehada reliablesenseofself-interestandanundyingcommitmenttostaying alive.Iscreamedather,bothinsideandaloud,searchingthroughmy mindforher,desperatelyseekingmyotherhalf.

  Thehitfrombehindmedrovemefacefirstintoafallentree.The painwasimmediateandfierce.Asmyvisionnarrowedanddarkened,I hadaverysoberingrealization.

  Scarletwasgone.

  1

  Istaredblanklyattheintercominfrontofme,afraidtoringit.Ishould havewantedtorunstraightintomyhomeandresumemylife,butI didn't.Instead,IwanderedthestreetsofPortsmouth,NewHampshire aimlessly,soakinginthefinalfewraysofsunlightthatduskwaswilling toaffordmeuntilIfoundmyselfstandingoutsideSean'sbuilding.It seemedIcouldn'tbringmyselftoringthatbuzzereither.

  Istillwasn'tsurehowlongI'dbeengone,andIwasevenlesssure abouthowwarmthereceptionwasgoingtobefromthosewhowerehurt bymyabsence,especiallySean.He'dnearlydiedbecauseofme―orat leastI thoughthehadnearlydied.Thejurywasstilloutonhiswhole invincibilityschtick.Cooperwouldhaveonlybeeninformedaboutwhat hadreallyhappenedifSeanfeltitwasnecessaryinordertofindme,and thatwasabig“if”consideringhemaynothave wantedtofindmeatall.

  ThatleftCoopercompletelyinthedarkastomydisappearance,andI knewhowmadthatwoulddrivehim.

  Deepdown,Ididn'twanttobelievethatSeanwouldhavewithheld thatinformation,butIjustwasn'tcertain.Ialsowasn'tconvincedthat Seandidn'twanttofindme;itwaswhathe'ddotomewhenhedidthat hadmeworried.Mygutsaidhewouldn'tharmme,butmyguthadbeen provenwrongbefore.IhopedIwasn'thavingarelapseofthatbehavior.

  Withasigh,Ifocusedmyattentionbackonthebuzzerbesidethe frontentrancetothebuilding.Inmymind,Irepeatedthephrase justlift yourfingerandpressitoverandoveragain . ButIcouldn't.Iwasn'tready forwhateverdramaticscenethatwassuretofollow.

  Instead,Iwalkedawayasthedarknessofnightbegantosettlein, andcutbackthroughtowntomyplace.AllIwantedtodowasslinkinto myapartmentunannounced,crawlintomybed,andsleepfordays, withouthavingtoexplainmyselftoanyone.NotthatIcould,evenifI hadwantedto.

  Afterachillywalkhomeinthecrispfallair,Iarrivedhomeand reachedmyarmoutforthedoorhandle.Iknewitwouldbelocked,butI justhadtocheck.Muchtomysurpriseandextremedelight,itwasn't lockedatall.Cooperhadapparentlypickedupthesameabsentminded habitthatI'dhadofforgettingtolockthedooronceitclosed.Ormaybe he'djustleftitopeninthehopethatI'dwanderintotheapartmentone day.Eitherway,Iwasgoingtofindout.

  Icreptupthestairsslowly,tryingtodetectwhetherhewashome.I sawnolightsfromthestreet,butthatdidn'ttellmeawholelotsinceonly mybedroomfacedoutontotheroad.Ifmydoorwasclosed,nolight fromtherestofthehousewouldbeseen.
OnceIreachedthelanding,I putmyeartothedoor,lookingdownatthefloor.Stillnolight,and definitelynosound.

  Anxiously,Itriedtheknob,whichtoowasunlocked.Ifrozefora moment,wonderingifsomethingwaswrong.Itwassuchaknee-jerk reflextoassumetheworst,thoughmyhistorywarrantedthatbehavior.

  Withadeep,cleansingbreath,Iquicklytalkedmyselfdownoffofthat ledge,remindingmyselfthatallknownthreatshadbeeneliminated beforeScarlethadrunoff.Feelingmoreateaseaboutanypressing danger,Ipushedthedooropenintoadarkenedlivingroomandmademy wayquietlytothekitchen.

  Thefridgewasfullofleftovers;Cooperhadclearlybeenhome.He alwayscookedasifhewasfeedingtwelve,butheusuallyatetwo-thirds ofithimself.Igrabbedabowlofnoodlescoveredinsauceandstartedto inhaleit,shovingfistfulsatatimeintomymouthwithmybare―and questionablyclean―hands.Itwasn'tuntilIsawthecontentsofthefridge thatI’drealizedhowhungryIactuallywas.

  WhendidIeatlast?Wasshetryingtostarvemetodeath?

  Istoodup,closingthedoorasIsteppedbackoutoftheway.WhenI turnedaround,Islammedintoaverymuscledandextremelytense Cooper.Thecontainerofnoodlescrashedtothefloor.

  Myeyesslowlyworkedtheirwayuptomeethis.Hishandswere balledintofistsathissides.Hischestpumped,risingandfallingat breakneckspeed.Hiseyesglowedadangerousyellow.Hewascloseto Changing,hiswolftryingtotakeover.Mytearswelledandspilledover, butImadenoattempttowipethemaway.Ikeptmygazefixedonhis.

  “Cooper,I—”

  “Threeweeks,”hegrowled,eyesstillblazing.

  “What?”Iblurtedinvoluntarily,totallyconfused.

  “You'vebeengoneforthreeweeksandyoujustwaltzinherelike everythingisnormal?”HeinchedtowardsmeandIbackedawayfromhis anger.

  “Threeweeks!”Iexclaimed.“Howisthatpossible?”

  “Isearchednightanddayforyou,”hecontinued,completely ignoringme.“Ididn'tsleep.Ifoundyourcar,yourphone,yourclothes...”

  “I'msorry,Coop—”

  “Butnotyou,”hesaid,soundingsuddenlymournful.“Neveryou.”

  Ireachedforwardtotouchhim,butdroppedmyhandimmediately.

  Hisragewaspalpable,andIdidn'twanttostokethatfireanyfurther.

  “Ididn'tknow,”Iprotestedsoftly.“I stilldon'tknowwhat happened.”

  “Thatmakestwoofusthen,doesn'tit?”hesnarled.“Seanwasn't veryforthcomingaboutwhathadoccurredthatnightwhenheshowedup here,encrustedindriedblood,anddraggedmebacktohisplace.AllI piecedtogetherwasthatyouweregoneandhewaslivid.I'vebeen lookingforyoueversince.”

  Idroppedmyeyestothefloor.Seanhadn'ttoldhimabouttheattack orScarlet'sinvolvementinit.Itseemedcruel,evenforSean,toleave Coopersofaroutoftheloop.

  IrackedmybrainforanythingIcouldpossiblysaytosmooththings overabitwithCooper.Haditbeenuptome,Ineverwouldhaveleft withoutfillinghimin,butithadn'tbeenmychoice.Scarletdidwhatshe didagainstmywill,leavingmewithamesstocleanup.Ihatedknowing howdistraughtIhadmadeCooperwithmydisappearance.Nothingfelt rightwhenhewasangrywithme.

  Andhewaspissed.

  JustasIopenedmymouthtooffersomeplacatingremark,he snatchedmeintohisarmsandhuggedmeviolently.Arushofemotions emanatedfromhim,reliefbeingtheprimary―angerandlovewereright behind.AshappyasIwastoknowthatmyempathabilitiesfrom childhoodstillremainedintacteventhoughScarletwasmissing,Iwould havepreferredamuchmorepleasantwaytotestthewaters.

  Asquicklyashe'dtakenmein,heletmeloose,turningonhisheels towalkawayandgrabhisphoneoffthekitchenisland.Heroundedthe cornertothehall,dialingashewent.Oncemyheadstoppedspinningand myvisionsorteditselfout,Ifollowedbehind,mute,stillunableto formulateadefenseofanykind.Ididn'tthinkclaimingheadtraumawas goingtohelpmycaseforverylong.

  “She'sback,”hesaidgruffly.“Nope.Abouttenminutesago.”He pausedforamoment.Itriedtohearthewordsthatwerebeingshoutedat Cooper,butIcouldn'tmakethemout.Theownerofthevoice,however,I could.

  “Shesaysshehasnoclue...well,Ithinkit'sveryinterestingtoo,”he said,drumminghisfingersalongthewall,hisbackstilltome.“She's skinandbones,butshedoesn'tlookinjured,ifthat'swhatyoumean.

  She'srighthereifyouwantto—”

  Hepulledthephonefromhisearandhungup.Thelinehadgone deadbeforehe’devenfinishedhissentence.Aknotimmediatelyformed inmystomach,twistingtighterandtighterwitheverypassingsecond.

  “Seandoesn'twanttotalktome,doeshe?”Iaskedsheepishly.

  Cooperturnedtofacemeslowly.

  “No,hedoesn't,”hesaidwithapause.“AndI'mnotentirelysure thatI'mreadytoeither.”

  Heatleasthadthedecencytolookremotelypainedwhilesharing hissentiment,hiseyesreturningtotheirhuman,hazelcolor.Amoment later,thedoortohisroomslammedshut,announcingtheofficialendto myhomecoming.Ihadn'tthoughtthatmuchabouthowI'dbereceived uponmyarrival,butIwouldneverhaveguessedthathostilityandthe coldshoulderwouldbetheoptionsofchoice.

  Embarrassed,Ischleppedmywaytomyroomandquietlyclosed thedoor.Iturnedonthesmalllampjustinside,shyingawayfrom brightnessitemanated;myeyeswerehavingahardtimeadaptingtothe light.Threeweeksofvirtualdarknessseemedtohavereal-lifelasting effects.

  Imademywayovertothebaywindowthatfacedthedowntown streetsofPortsmouthandlookedoutoverthem.Sinceitalsofacedthe apartmentoftheoneIwantedtotalktomost,Iquicklylocatedthegrand windowsonthetopfloorofSean'sbuilding.Itwasonlytwostreetsover frommine,andthoughdimlylit,therewasjustenoughlighttooutlinea figurehovering.Afigurethatimmediatelyturnedandwalkedaway.

  Darknessfellonhisapartmentonlymomentsafter.Hehadrefusedto speaktomeonlymomentsearlier.Iguesshedidn'twanttoseemeeither.

  Mystomachlurchedathisactions,butIcouldn'tanalyzethe situationanyfurther.Iwasthoroughlyexhausted,andallIwantedtodo wasclimbintomybedandsleepuntilthesunwokeme.Strippingoffthe clothesgiventomebymyrescuers,Ithrewtheminthetrash.Iscanned thefloorforsomethingtoweartobed,butfoundnothing.Someonehad tidiedmyroominmyabsence,preparingitformyreturn.Tootiredto riflethroughmydrawers,IthrewbackthecoversonmybedbeforeI ploppedmynaked,wearybodyontoitandwrappedtheduvetuptight aroundme.Ilikedthefeelingitgaveme―warmandsecure.Ihadn'tfelt thatwayforawhile.

  Iplummetedintoadeepsleepinstantly,butregretteditalmostas quickly.Anauditorymontageofscreamsplaguedmydreams.Isaw nothing,butfelteverything.Thehorrorenvelopedme,comingtoa crashingcrescendooffearandpainthatIcouldnotescape.

  WhenIfinallybrokefree,Ishotupoutofbed,onlytobegreeted withmoredarkness.Frightenedbeyondmeasure,Ilaunchedmyselftothe wallswitch,squintingtightlywhenthedelugeoflightassaultedmystill-sensitiveeyes.Mybreathcameshakyandrapidwhilesweatpoureddown myfaceandback.Irantomycloset,pulledoutawhiterobeandthrewit on,fasteningitsnuglyaroundmebeforeheadingoutoftheroom.

  ItiptoeduptoCooper'sdoor,leaningmyearagainstitas soundlesslyasIcould.He'dtoldmeoncethatIhadthegraceofan elephant,andhecouldhearmecomingfrommilesaway.Ididn'twantto wakehim.WhatIdidselfishlywantwasthefeelingofsafetyhecould offerintimesofdistress.Justbeingclosetohimhelped,andthatwas exactlywhatIneeded.

  Thedoorwasshuttightly,soIcarefullyturnedtheknob,creatingas littlesoundaspossible,andpushedslowlyinward.Cooper'sbackwasto me,litonlybythemoonlightpenetratingthegapinthecurtains.Ireally neededtogethimsomethatfitthewindowbetter.Hene
verstirred,soI continuedmywayin,stoppingattheedgeofthebed.Ieasedmywayon asgingerlyasIcould,thankfulthatfoammattressesdidn'ttransfermuch motion.

  Onceontopofthecomforter,Iinelegantlyscootedmyway backwardtowardshimaninchatatime.He'dhavelaughedifhe'dbeen watchingme;I'msureIlookedutterlyridiculous.StoppingjustbeforeI madecontactwithhim,Iballedmyselfupintothefetalpositionandtried togobacktosleep.

  “Didyougetlostonyourwaytothebathroom?”Cooperaskedover hisshoulder.Histonewascold,buthishumorwasback.

  “Sorry,”Isaid,sittingup.“I'llgo.Ijust—”Icutmyexplanationoff atthestart.Hedidn'twanttohearmyexcuses.Infact,he'dbeenpretty clearthathedidn'twanttohearanythingfromme.Notforawhile.

  Imovedtopushoffofthebedwhenhishandcaughtmywrist, turningmetofacehimasherolledtowardsme.Wesharedalong momenteyeingeachotherinthatlonesliveroflightthatshoneacrosshis bed.

  “You'just'what?”heasked,hisvoicenoticeablysofter.

  “Ican'tsleep.Thesoundsinmyhead...,”Isaid,trailingoff.

  “Soundsofwhat,Ruby?Whathappenedwhenyouweregone?”

  Iwantedtoofferhimsomethingconcrete,somethingtohelpendthe agonyhe'dclearlyfeltduringmyabsence,buttherewasnothingtogive.

  WhateverhorrorsScarlethadinflictedontheworldwhileshe’dheldme hostagewereunknown.AllIhadwereoccasionalsoundbitesandaudio snippets,noneofwhichwereencouraging.

  “Idon'tknow,Coop.Honest,”Isaid,tearsagainrollingoffmyface.

  “AllIknowisthattwodaysagoIwassittinginthewoods,naked, freezing,andscaredshitless.Itwaslike—”IchokedonthewordsthatI couldn'tbringmyselftosay.Cooper,seeingmydistress,finishedthem forme.

  “Whenyourparentswerekilled?”hesaidsoftly,wipingthetears frommyface.

  “Yes,”Iwhispered.

  “Andyoudon'tremember anythingbeforethat?”

  “No. ”

  Hisfacescrunchedupinconfusedfrustration.

  “WhathappenedwithSean?Whydidyouleaveinthefirstplace?”