Chapter 1 But to perish

Angela's Point Of View

It only takes but a single second to shatter someone's entire world. One moment, I was so happy, living myself to the fullest, my heart light and my smile always on my face. Then, in the blink of an eye, all that happiness slipped through my fingers, leaving me alone in a darkness so heavy I could hardly breathe. Sadness wrapped itself around me, filling every part of me with endless tears and silent cries I couldn't hold back.

I stood there, staring at the house, my heart breaking as tears streamed down my face. That place had been my world, and in just moments, everything inside me had changed.

"Mom, where did you put the board? I can't find it," I called out as I searched the storage room, hoping for an answer. But the silence stretched on, and an uneasy feeling crept over me.

"Mom!" I called louder, straining to hear any response, but there was only silence. I turned my head, trying to pick up any sound, any clue. Something didn't feel right.

Then, like a whisper across my mind, I heard her voice. "Don't come out of the storage," she warned the words echoing in my head.

"What? Why?" I asked, confused and worried.

"Stay put. I'll be there soon," she said, her voice tight. My chest tightened too as confusion swirled into fear. I took a deep breath, catching a faint scent that made my heart race. The blocking powder we used on hunts to hide our scent was already in the air.

Then, the storage door creaked open, and there she was, my mom, standing there with eyes wide, her breath coming fast and uneven. She looked as if she'd seen something terrible, something haunting.

"What's happening, Mom?" I tried to ask, my voice barely steady, but before I could finish, she raised a finger to her lips, silencing me.

"Not now," she whispered.

"Baby girl, you have to do me a favor, okay? You have to stay here, quiet. Quiet! Without saying any word out, okay?" She said in a rush, constantly looking out the door.

"What's going on? At least just let me in on what's happening, the atmosphere is tense and why is the powder used in the house? Do we have uninvited guests?" I asked non stop.

"My love, this isn't the right time to be inquisitive. Keep your curiosity to yourself or you will end where you don't wish to be," she said to me.

"What's wrong with wanting to know what's wrong?" I asked her, trying to hide my anger.

"I'm sorry but I can't let you know anything," she said in a rush. She looked back again and turned to look at me with urgency.

"Use this on yourself to hide your scent, I have to go back before they start looking for me. I don't want them to discover you," she said looking outside as she pushed the little tube into my hands and rushed out, securing the door.

Who are they? I walked quietly towards the door but before getting to the door, it opened suddenly. I gasped but sighed immediately I noticed my mom.

"I told you to stay put, didn't I?" She said angrily.

"I was just worried about you, I don't..." I tried explaining to her but she suddenly grabbed the tube in my hand and poured the contents of the tube on me.

"Don't worry about me, worry about yourself," she said lightly, caressing my face calmly. She pushed me lightly into the corner.

"Sit here and be calm, wait for me or make yourself safe," she said to me before kissing me on the head and hugging me tightly.

"Be safe and alive," she said before walking out of the room the second time, shutting the door close behind her back.

I sat in silence while sniffing the air and trying to tune in on my parents. There were different scents in the air mixed with the powder and blood and tears and sweat. Were there dad and mom or the maids or our guards? They were struggling with their conversation with whosoever was terrifying them.

I crawled out of my corner and moved to the door, slightly pushed the door a little bit. Instant regret filled me, my mom was mercilessly being held at the neck by a hefty thug, her legs dangling in the air.

I could count five people, the one holding my Mother by the neck, three others standing around someone who I couldn't see well. Where is dad? I gasped when I recognized him, he was kneeling at the feet of a man who was seated on his favorite seat.

I caught a scent coming towards me and looking forward, I saw a huge reddish brown wolf walking towards my direction, it had blood smudged around its mouth.

I quickly shut the door quietly and crawled back to my space using a costume bear outfit to cover myself and waited for a while till the coast was clear before crawling out again.

They were still talking indistinctly among themselves, with Mother and Dad pleading. Then suddenly the man seated held Dad by the neck, extracting his nails into his neck.

I gasped and quickly held my mouth, sobbing into my palm. Mother briefly looked at my direction, our eyes caught each other, stayed for a while before turning away quietly.

"...love you so much, sorry... sorry I failed you... but you mustn't fail yourself," I caught his message faintly before he slumped to the ground, dead and wide open. He was staring at me dead in the eyes.

"Please..." I heard Mother 's voice.

"...I got blood on myself..." the voice breeze by my ear. That voice!

Thud! Without realizing it, Mother 's body also slumped to the ground, there was blood all over her face. I shivered in fear as I watched my Mother struggle with death.

"We are sorry, baby! We are, and we love you. I love you, I am sorry our time together is cut short. You have to live, you must survive and escape this, you are the only one left. But please try and get this image out of your head, I am sorry..." she pleaded as I screamed internally.

I placed my hand on the doorknob and was about to run to my lifeless parents who were sleeping in a massive pool of their blood when the man stood up suddenly and looked me in the eyes. Oh shit!

I remembered Mother's words, 'Be safe and alive, you have to live, you must survive and escape this, you are the only one left, we love you.' I must survive!

"Go get her!" I heard him say it loud and clear.