SERAPHINA'S POV
The sounds around me muffle out, leaving only the beating of my heart, pulsing erratically in my chest, faster than it's ever done.
Then my own breath huffs and puffs with my mouth, desperate for air - air that still doesn't fill my lungs regardless.
My head spins, just like the room around me. Suddenly, the lights are too bright, blinding me. There are too many people around, and I'm being suffocated by every single sensation.
Artemis is engaged.
I need to get out, leave this place. I need to breathe, or I might pass out.
I might die.
My brain panics, my entire body goes into shock mode, and I really think that I'm dying.
Olivia and Jasper are saying something to me, screaming, but I can't hear anything amidst the crowd's noise. I push past them, running out of the wide space and shoving through the crowd.
They are now on their feet, clapping and clamoring to get closer to the Alpha to congratulate him.
Artemis is engaged.
I run against the flow of it, just barely managing to get out past the main door, but even then, I don't stop running. I run faster, harder, until my throat hurts, my chest hurts, my head pulses.
Even then, I run with no direction in mind, unable to see my path with tears blocking my eyes.
Artemis is engaged.
It can't be true; I don't believe it.
We are supposed to be together and happy. That's what we talked about; that was the plan. He said he loves me, and I told him I love him.
He kissed me like he meant it, held me close to his heart like it was mine alone.
It can't be true.
I don't believe it.
My running comes to an end once the heel of my ten-inch shoes snaps, and my ankle twists painfully. I lose my balance, crashing into the dirt with my dress, face flat.
And still, I can't stop the tears bleeding from my eyes and the snot dragging down my nose.
I cry, and then I wail at how pathetic I am right now, how embarrassed I feel, how helpless it is to be a human girl with a broken heel in a dress she doesn't belong in, crying deep in the woods where no one can hear her.
I should have known this would happen; the signs were clear. Yet, all I crave at this moment is him. My heart yearns with deep pain for him to hold me right now.
Yet, he's not here - he left me alone and never came back to me.
I wonder if he knew about the engagement and never said a word.
Is it possible?
A twig snaps a few paces away from where I am, and I pause from my self-pity and wailing, sitting up from the dirt and turning towards the direction.
Suddenly, the fear and realization that I'm alone at the edge of the thick woods settle in my brain, pushing aside my sadness.
I stare at the space for a while until I convince myself that there's nothing there and it was only my imagination, but I hear it again.
Another snap, then the leaves on the floor rustling until a dark silhouette appears from the bushes.
"Who's there?" I say cautiously, going on guard and picking up a rock next to me.
Whoever it is doesn't answer, only slowly stalking towards me with steady steps.
"Who are you?" I ask, louder, showing visible fear and crawling backward.
Now would be the perfect time to reveal themselves, but they don't respond, quickening their pace to get to me.
It quickly registers in my head that they, whoever they are, are not friendly. The glinting of a dagger slowly pulled out from a holster confirms my suspicion.
My eyes widen, and I fall straight into flight mode, turning around and getting to my feet. The pain in my ankle shoots through my body like a lightning bolt, but I push through, my blood now pumping with adrenaline.
"Help!" I scream, struggling to get away, but I'm not making much progress; unable to run, and my predator casually covers the distance with simple long strides and a fast-paced walk.
My leg betrays me again, and I fall on the ground once more, crawling away the second I can.
But it's too late; he's over me, dressed in a black suit with an inner turtleneck vest, an older man in his early thirties, and he wants to kill me.
With a single hand, he turns me onto my back roughly.
"Get off me!" I scream, struggling, pushing away his arm, but his grip is like an unbreakable vice.
He pulls me up by my hair, raising his dagger higher, and I wonder why he doesn't maul me with his wolf's claws or teeth.
"Stay still, this has to look like a suicide," he mutters under his breath like a taunt, answering the question unknowingly, and pressing my mouth shut so I don't scream.
Hot tears spill from my eyes, realizing what this is - just another person trying to kill me for no reason when I've done nothing, a never-ending circle of being targeted just because they can and I'm human.
Now, they want to make it seem like I ended my own life on a night I should have held in my heart as one of the best moments of my life?
I'm sick of it!
I'm tired of being disadvantaged, tired of this feeling of helplessness, tired of needing someone to save me. I want my strength to hurt the people who hurt me.
'Seraphina.' The lady in the white dress in my dreams calls out to me.
I can hear only her voice, pain evident in it, almost as if she knows this same feeling I'm going through more than I do.
She's tasted the bitter flavors of betrayal and regret all too well.
I close my eyes, bracing myself for the sweet embrace of death just as he raises the blade to stab into my neck.
Then I exhale, and a sudden surge of energy fills my blood, coursing through my veins, energizing me with determination and resilience.
His voice chokes out of nowhere, making a mangled sound, and the sight in front of me leaves me speechless.
A cluster of darkness, meshed into the shape of a human being, stands over me, choking my executioner with one hand.
It lifts him off the floor with ease, squeezing his windpipe excruciatingly while he struggles, trying to claw at it, but his hand passes through the darkness like it's not there.
Yet it's able to deal him a serious amount of pain.
On closer inspection, I realize the silhouette closely resembles-me.
It's me... or rather, my shadow, defending me and attacking the man who wanted to hurt me.
But it's an unbelievable sight, and I'm sure I've gone mad now. I should be scared of it, and yet I can't be. A deep part of me somehow knows that it's protecting me and therefore can't harm me.
The man who once held power over me yells in agony, struggling against its hold, begging to be free, but the shadow doesn't let up.
Even now, watching him beg, I can't feel any remorse for him, any remorse for the people who have hurt me countless times.
The feeling of hatred, the desire for revenge, burns hotly in my heart, and I know it's mine and no one else's.
I meet his eyes that plead with me to let him go, and I feel nothing.
I'm numb from everything, and I just want to sleep.
I'm tired.
He struggles until he doesn't anymore, and the shadow grows tired as well.
I feel its intentions to put this to an end just before its hand presses harder on my assailant's neck, and I hear the distinct snap of his bones.
He's dead.