We were on the ground sitting in a row one by one. The metal was cold on our skin and smelled of death.

Clary

I was walking back to the Institute. I remained in the shadows and made sure I wasn't being followed. I was always careful. The day had been exhausting and I knew when I would get back, no one would be there. Jace was out doing who knows what, Izzy was with Raphael, and Alec was with Magnus. Sadly I had been stuck with night patrol... by myself. Everyone else was lucky.

My feet felt heavy while walking and my eyes were starting to close. I had just rounded the corner and I had the Institute in my sight. I slowly made my way there.

"Excuse me?" I heard someone say behind me. I stopped and turned around. My rune was activated so no one could see me, and yet someone was calling my name. "Excuse me?" The voice said again. It sounded like a lady. I watched her step out of the shadows and come towards me. She sounded young. Almost like a child. "Do you need help?" I asked the stranger. My eyes had already adjusted to the dark so I could see her small figure.

"Do you?" She asked sweetly. "You should come back with me Clarissa. They would take care of you like they did me." She replied. Fear raced through my body. "Only my father calls me Clarissa. Who are you and what do you want?" I asked while pulling out my Seraph Blade. But it was to late.

I felt arms wrap around me and a cloth held to my face. "I wanted to do this the easy way Clarissa. But you've left us no choice. We will meet again." She said to me. My already heavy eyelids grew heavier. They closed and I became unconscious.

I woke up with my hands chained to the wall. The memories flooded my mind instantly causing my head to throb. I remembered the cloth around my face and the little girl. I remembered going in and out of consciousness while being tortured. My wrists hurt from hanging from the ceiling. I could feel my ribs were cracked. I could still feel the fists that had connected with my skin. Both my arms felt broken.

My thoughts drifted away from my pain, and I immediately focused on my new family. Surely they would come for me, but that's what terrified me. Jace would do anything to find me and he would drag everyone along with him. The thought of them dying because of me made me sick to my stomach. I leaned over to my side and threw up everything I had left in my stomach.

They couldn't come for me. I wouldn't let them die because of me.