Chapter 1: Violet Johnson

Violet ran and ran, looking back only to find the faceless man chasing her.

He must not catch up with her. She could not afford to be caught.

Her strength was failing, she was becoming exhausted but looking back once more to find the faceless man catching up with her pumped adrenalin into her blood and she ran faster with renewed strength.

She looked back and couldn't find her pursuer and was weak with relief but she made up her mind that she was not going to stop until she got to safety but she reduced her speed because her relief had dispelled the adrenalin and she just wanted to catch her breath and continue to safety. She looked forward only to see her faceless pursuer. It was already too late. She could not turn back the way she came, running back towards the part she was fleeing through, away from this nightmare chasing her was out of the question and she could also not stop herself fast enough as she bumped into his outstretched hands.

His laughter sent goose pimples through her. His arms went round her causing her to feel revulsion. She knew he was going to force himself on her.

He laughed harder in triumph. His laughter was eerie and scary, so scary that she started screaming because of what she felt he would do to her. Her scream woke her and she found that she was in a dark place. She was drenched in sweat and panting.

She was engulfed in fear. She peered into the darkness afraid the man was lurking there but at the back of her mind, she was relieved that it was just a nightmare. She had been having this nightmare repeatedly since it occured and wondered if it would ever stop.

She stood up and put on the bedside lamp and then the switch and everywhere was flooded with light. The brightness made her blink but also made her feel safe.

She went into the bathroom for a quick shower. She could not forget all that had led to her having this nightmare continuously. It was what had made her refuse to trust any man in her life, except for her dad of course and her father's friend who had played a great role in ensuring that the nightmare did not become a reality.

Her mind went back to the event but she pushed the visions and thoughts out of her mind. She refused to think about it or see the pictures that the thought of that occurrence was causing to cloud in her mind.

She had decided to move on and on she would and never look back.

She looked at the clock on her bedside table and it was still two o'clock. She still had about four more hours at least before she could get up and start the assignment of the day. She wondered if she would be able to fall asleep again. She was scared that she would dream of him again. She thought of picking one of her novels to read till it was time to get up but she decided against it.

She thought of happier events and though it took a bit of time, she soon calmed down, her frayed nerves back to normal and she was able to go back to sleep. Luckily, she did not dream again and in the morning, she woke refreshed.

She had so much to do with her life and not to think about those who are not worth it. She could not waste her time on them at all.

Violet Johnson was a twenty two year old girl with pale gold hair and a slim body. She was a very jovial and trusting person. Well, that was before the event had taken her ready smile away from her face and eyes. She had trust issues now, especially where it concerned men.

She had blue eyes that reminded someone of the blue seas and her ready smile lit up the room. Her cheeks had been chubby before she lost her baby fat and grew into a serious minded slim young woman from the chubby carefree girl of fifteen she had been.

She had wanted to be a police officer like her father but her father had felt that it was not a good enough job for a female and had sent her to college to complete her studies. But the fact still remained that the job of catching criminals and getting the law to punish them for their crimes still held a deep fascination for her.

She had often wondered if it was really because she loved her father more than her mother who had abandoned her taking her preferred twin sister with her or because of her experience at the age of fifteen with a friend who betrayed her trust completely and would have ruined her life but for the timely intervention of a friend of her father's. She had been naive and too trusting, thinking no one could be that devious. She had been proven wrong.

She went most times to give her father food at his office during his break hours being a great cook and knowing that her father hated eating out.

She had asked her father about her mother and twin sister often but he had often told her that her mother was free to come back of she wanted but her frivolous lifestyle would not allow her to stay in a remote area such as where they were. She loved the town and he was sure he had brought up his other daughter to be like her.

Valerie Johnson her mother, had grown tired of staying in Barnes village and had wanted to go to the main part of London where all the events took place but Jeremy Johnson was a dedicated police officer and would not reflect his duties even for his discontent wife or ask for a transfer. He felt that the village needed him and he was one of the senior officers. Valerie decided to go by herself probably thinking that Jeremy would be forced to come after her. She threatened to take both twins but after the row that ensued, they came to a compromise and she left with Viola while Jeremy stayed with Violet and the twins were just five years at the time.

Their tears did nothing to change the minds of their parents. They were too stubborn to give in to the other and that was how they got separated.

Violet thought that they would reconcile later but police work and consistent travelling of her father as a secret agent ( he was later recruited as one because of his prowess), Violet had to stay most times with Mr. Stanley Hermione and his wife. She grew to be close to them and she almost forgot about her mother but thought about her twin who was her exact image.