CANDACE

Being summoned before Tyler was akin to a death sentence.I was kept in the smelly, dungeon overnight they used to hold criminals which were slimy and quite frankly, scary.I couldn't sleep because I could hear sounds in the dark, and I wasn't sure what they were so fear of closing my eyes lest they have their way with me kept my eyes glued open until the first signs of sunrise came filtering through the window.Hours ago, hungry, dehydrated, exhausted, and sleep-deprived, Tyler's second in command, Maddox appeared in front of the doorway, swinging a thick chain.“Stand up, you!” He bellowed, shaking me out of the fucked up state I was in. “No funny business else you're spending more nights in there.”I couldn't hide the shudder that racked my body at the thought of spending an extra night in this horrible place, and Maddox cackled loudly at my reaction.“That's what I thought!”I said nothing, keeping mute.Maddox's beefy hands grabbed the top of my arm, his sharp nails piercing the flesh as he pulled me along.“Where are we going?” I had to ask after walking for five minutes with no destination in sight.Maddox only grunted, glancing at me.“I think you know.” He replied minutes later.To Tyler….fuck!I started to scramble around in my thoughts, trying to piece something up that didn't make me look guilty.Well, more guilty than I currently was.We passed a long hallway before we got to the end.Two large double doors swung open for us, and I stepped foot into the largest room I'd ever seen.Maddox pushed me forward with so much force, that I lost my footing and stumbled to the floor.The chains hindered my movement but I managed to right myself.Tyler's back was to me, seeing as he was trying to admire the view of his precious town.Even from here, I could see black smoke rising into the air.Guilt pinched my chest.No one said anything, waiting for Tyler to take his sweet time answering me.Finally, he turned, raising his hand so he could smoke the pipe held loosely between his fingers.“The one thing I love about this town is that everyone knows their place and they stay in it…isn't that right, Maddox?” Tyler thrust his hand into his pants pocket, speaking conversationally, his tone.“Yes, sir,” Maddox replied dutifully.“And because of that, there is peace, there is harmony…the-there's love.” Tyler smiled. “We have created a beautiful thing here.” Suddenly, a smile dropped from his face. “I thought you liked what we created, which is why this act of yours has me confused. Tell me why did you do it?”He placed a hand under my chin, lifting my face to his.My breath came out in shaky pants, my entire body trembling. “I-I di-din't do any-anything.” I stuttered out, hoping they would believe me.“Hmmm…” So fast that I wasn't expecting it, Tyler reared his hand backward smacking me across the face. “Too bad, I don't believe you. Now you have one more chance…”The slap sent me crashing to the floor, blood dripping down the sides of my mouth.It was a struggle to get back to my knees, as my entire body refused to cooperate out of fear.“Why did you do it?” He stared me dead in the eyes.“I swear, I would never hurt anyone!” I spat out. Tyler started to roll up his sleeves and that was when panic set in and I blurted out the truth. “Okay, okay!! The truth is…I met James a couple of hours before the attack happened.” I groaned, thinking back to how foolish I was. “Like an idiot, I told everything. I thought he was just curious about the town and wanted to know more about where I come from, so I gave him all the details…” At the end of my confession, I was already crying thinking that this would be my last moments alive.Maddox and Tyler exchanged a glance, silently communicating.“I think you're telling the truth, which would be your saving grace…seeing as I had half a mind to kill you.” He nods to Maddox who reaches down to pull me up.Scared shitless, I started to cry and babble tears streaking down my face. “Ple…please, n-no…”It turns out that there was a bonfire outside with half of the town gathered.What…“This woman right here,” Tyler grabbed my hand, leading me to the podium. “She's a traitor. She betrayed the rules of the pack and gave our secrets to unknown people. Candace is the reason why some of your friends, brothers, and loved ones are dead! Candace White, you are hereby banished effective immediately.”“You can't be serious, you can't banish me!” I spoke up.Murmurings rippled through the crowd.Tyler pushed me away, and Maddox unlocked my chain giving me my freedom.The moment I stumbled forward, every person in front of me moved back like I had a deadly disease.“Please, you have to help me beg him, I'm innocent.” I panted, my chest feeling weirdly tight.I reached out to touch someone but they ran away. Tears burned the back of my eyelids.No, no, no, no! This can't be happening.“For fuck's sake! I'm innocent, why does no one believe me?!” I cried out, the tears coming down my face in torrents.I lay there on the ground sobbing for minutes, and not once did someone come to check up on me.When I raised my head, everybody was gone as if saying a silent 'good riddance.’My heart then hardened and solidified with hate.The same people I would give my life for couldn't even be bothered to help me?Fuck them!I cleaned my tears and angrily walked towards the border.If they wanted me gone, then I would leave.I didn't need them anyway…