I cleared my throat before I took my seat at the press conference. I looked at the thousands of reporters who had flocked into the room. They looked at me, waiting for me to say something. I opened my mouth and began to read my book “Out of Sight”

I’m Lauren. Funny name, I know, but it’s my name. It has been since the day I was born. If you’re reading this, I’m guessing they finally came to take me, or I’m dead. I’ll just go with the first option. This book will take you through my life, and the people who choose to help me. So take a seat, grab some popcorn and follow my crazy life.

One Tree Hill High school- gosh I hated that school, But I was popular, so that was definitely a plus. Anyway, I was a great student, not as good as Hayley James, but I was a good student. Hayley and I were never really friends, but we did share common interests, like cheerleading. I was the captain of the cheer team, but, unfortunately,my life wasn’t always so cheerful.

My mom was never home, and my dad, well, I wouldn’t know’, he died when I was just three years old. That would explain why the Blackthorngroup was always after me wait, I’m jumping ahead of myself. Let’s return to One Tree Hill HighSchool.

 Let’s start with Nathan Scott, One Tree Hill’s superstar basketball player, who was Hayley’s boyfriend. I am still trying to figure out how they ended up with each other. Some people think it was fate’, I think it was just luck. Nathan was the last person I spoke to at the party, and you know what the best part is, he wasn’t even paying attention. Here I am pouring my heart out to him, asking for his help, and all I get is “Sounds Good”. Then after that he walks away, forgetting that I even existed. I mean, Nathan, you’ve been my friend since ninth grade, but when I needed you the most, you weren’t any help at all. So you’re apart of the reason why I was taken by theBlackthorne Group Nathan, not all of it, but part of it.

Nathan’s brother, Lucas, has been my best friend ever since I could remember. He always had my back, no matter what. That’s what I thought until the big party came along. This party was not only the biggest party of the year, but this was the party when my life was about to take a turn for the worst. This was when I was going to be taken by the Blackthorn society.

I went to the party with my good friend Peyton Sawyer. Peyton is the funniest and nicest girl I know. The party was being held at Brooke Davis’s mansion, who happens to be my mortal enemy since the first day of high school.Nonetheless, a party is a party in Tree Hill, and it has my name written all over it.

I entered the party wearing a red dress, black high heels, and my hair slicked back into a ponytail. I caught a glimpse of Lucas, and tugged Peyton through the large crowd of people who had the strong smell of alcohol on them. As I approached Lucas, I noticed something different about him, my best friend was wearing a shirt with the Blackthorn sign on it.

Before I continue, I would like to tell you whatThe Blackthorn group is. It’s the group that killed my father, and it’s the group that is aiming to kill me. Why? It’s pretty simple. MONEY. My dad was a billionaire, and when my mom had me, he put110 million big bucks into my back account. Hasn’t been touched since the day he took his lastbreath, but in two days when I’m 18, it’s all mine. The Blackthorn group is the top gang in the world.They killed my daddy, and now they are aiming for his innocent daughter.

Lucas casually slid next to me while I was getting food and put a gun to my side. He whispered in my ears words I will alwaysremember, “Scream, and I’ll shoot”.  Lucas dragged me to the truck where two other gang members were waiting. They tied me up and put a big slab of duct tape across my mouth. They blindfolded me, threw me into the truck, anddrove off. I was cold and alone, I felt the tears slowly roll down my face. That’s all I can remember. That’s all I got, and that’s all the police needed in order to prosecute Lucas and the rest of the gang.

Epilogue

The police found me a year later, I was lucky to be alive since I had been physically abused, and nearly starved to death every single day. But,somehow, I managed to survive. I am known as “The Angel of One Tree Hill”. Lucas, well, he was sentenced to 50 to life without parole for kidnapping, abuse and theft. I count my blessings everyday because I could have ended up just like my father. Instead, I ended up with friends who love and support me everyday and my family who has always had my back. The rest of theBlackthorn group was eventually captured and taken to jail. I can now leave the fear of them killing me behind. I can finally gain the much-needed freedom that I have always deserved. My life was pretty bad, but all bad stories come with a happy ending. Mine just has it’s own little twist on it. I’m Lauren. Funny name, I know, but it’s my name. It has been since the day I was born. You have now reached the end of my story. My lesson to you guys who are currently reading this is to be careful who you trust because not everyone is who they say they are.

I closed the book and looked up at the press. All the reporters stared right back at mße, some crying, others smiling and applauding. I smiled and opened my mouth, stuttering, “Any questions?” One reporter raised her hand and looked into my eyes, with the look of compassion on her pale face, “If you could say something to your father now, what would it be?” she blurtedout. I wiped the remainder of my tears away, Itook a deep breath, trying to keep my composure as I leaned towards the microphone, and answered, “I love you daddy”