Chapter 2 Pieces of Her

The silence wasn't peaceful. It was deafening. Thick. Violent.

"H- happy a- anniversary?" It pressed in on her like a weight on her chest, squeezing out the breath she didn't even realize she'd been holding since Nate slammed the door behind him.

Seraphina sat there on the cold marble tiles, the hem of her skirt pooling around her knees, her trembling fingers hovering over the spot where he'd stood.

She blinked. Once. Twice.

And then the tears came.

Not soft. Not pretty.

They came in gasps. In guttural sobs that clawed out of her throat like they'd been buried for years.

"Happy anniversary??! Y- you- h- he just left! He just left! He went to tangle with another woman a- and he- he still said happy anniversary?" She didn't cry like a heartbroken woman. She cried like a damn fool. Because that's what she'd been.

"Three years," she whispered to no one. "Three f*cking years..."

"Three years of walking on eggshells. Three years of being good enough to sleep with, but never good enough to commit to. Three years of turning my back o- on my own reflection in the mirror, because every time I looked, all I saw was someone trying too hard for someone who never tried at all! I- I'm such an idiot."

She curled into herself and pressed her forehead to her knees, nails digging into her thighs as if pain would bring her back to earth.

"You skipped college for him," her voice taunted in her head.

"You gave up scholarships. You lied to your friends. You-"

Her chest heaved, and she slapped the floor, needing something - anything - to anchor her to the moment before she drowned in the memory of the past.

"You chose him over your best friend," the memory whispered.

"You let her die."

"No," Seraphina whispered. Her voice cracked. "No, don't go there..."

But her mind already had.

Flash back.

It had been a year and a half ago.

"I really don't this is a good idea, Sera." Ivy, Seraphina's only bestfriend and sister figure whispered as she clung to her arm.

Seraphina smiled as she patted her hand and said, "Everything will be fine, Ivy. It's just a night party and moreover, Nate said there is security so we don't have to worry."

Ivy clenched her fist, "I never liked Nate. I don't trust him! That guy is a cheater! He doesn't deserve you..."

"Don't start..." Seraphina bellowed as she cast a side glance at Ivy who retorted.

"But it's true! I don't get why you still stick with him like he is the only man in the world! His family is into shady business! Rumors say that he is part of the mafia! Don't get involved with-"

Seraphina cut her off again, "We came here for a party, Ivy. And That's what we are going to do. I won't have you talk bad about my boyfriend."

Ivy flinched under Seraphina's gold gaze and didn't say anything. She couldn't mutter inter breath, "I hope you wake up from what ever spell he cast on you."

"Babe!" Nate's excited voice rang out from the crowd ahead of them.

Seraphina turned to face the source of the voice as a smile found it's way to her face. She let go of Ivy who frowned and ran to hug Nate.

"You came." Nate noted as he disengaged from the hug and took in Seraphina's outfit. She was donning a deep blue shirt sequin gown. Although it was thrift, her curves made the dress give off a luxury vibe.

Seraphina giggled shyly, "of course. You had invited me so why wouldn't I come."

Ivy snorted in the background, "let's just go in already." She walked to Seraphina and pulled her aside, "I'm leaving here in exactly 30 minutes."

"Don't be a worrywart-" Seraphina was about to chide Ivy but Ivy shut her.

"30 minutes, Seraphina."

Seraphina hugged and said, "Fine." Holding Ivy's face, she teased, "don't look like that. You are scaring away your potential partners."

Ivy rolled her eyes, "Heaven knows im not going to take a partner from a club that reeks of alcohol and cigarette"

Seraphina chuckled. With that, the trio walked further into the club.

However, not up to ten minutes later, disaster struck.

A loud bang shattered the music, followed by a second, sharper crack that made the floor vibrate.

Then the chaos began.

A group of armed men, dressed in black tactical gear with their faces covered, stormed into the club like a hurricane of death. Red laser sights danced along the walls as they raised their rifles toward the ceiling and fired several deafening shots. Shards of glass from the chandeliers and light fixtures rained down like glittering shrapnel, sending partygoers into a frenzy.

"Everybody get down!"

A deep voice thundered across the club - commanding and cold, belonging to a man with broad shoulders and a six-foot frame, clearly their leader. He stepped forward through the fog of confusion, his rifle pointed not at the ceiling anymore, but at the terrified crowd.

Screams erupted.

Shoes slipped on spilled liquor. Someone was sobbing. Another was praying. Phones were dropped. People dove under tables, some ducking behind speakers, others too frozen to move.

Seraphina's heart stopped.

In one reflex, she grabbed Ivy, pulling her close, her hands trembling as she scanned the chaos.

Nate pulled them behind him instinctively.

But they weren't hidden for long.

One of the armed men paused, his head tilting as he squinted toward Nate.

"Boss!" he hissed to the leader as he pressed a finger to his earpiece. "We got the kid. He's here. With two girls.

The boss strode closer, the crowd parting for him like prey sensing a predator.

His cold eyes landed on Nate - who still had his arm locked around Seraphina protectively, while Seraphina clutched Ivy like a lifeline.

The boss didn't flinch. He gave a short, chilling nod.

"Take him."

"No, wait!" Seraphina cried as they surged forward, dragging Nate out of her grip. "He didn't do anything-please-"

She held on, her nails digging into his arm. Ivy clung to Seraphina, desperate to pull her back. "Let them go, Seraphina! Those guys are from the mafia! Don't get involved!"

"Let him go! Please!" Seraphina sobbed, fighting the men off. One of them slammed her against a speaker to wrench her free, but Ivy caught her again.

"Damn it Seraphina! Stay down!" Ivy hissed as she tried to separate her.

Their resistance only seemed to seal their fate.

The men gave each other a look, then nodded.

"Take them too."

"No!" Ivy screamed. "We're not part of this!"

But it was too late.

They were already surrounded.

In seconds, their wrists were zip-tied behind them. The music was gone. The lights flickered above them. Blood-curdling cries echoed around the club, but Seraphina heard only the sound of her own pulse pounding in her ears.

As they were dragged through the panicking crowd, Seraphina's eyes locked with Nate's.

That was when she saw it.

He wasn't shocked. He wasn't confused. He was terrified. But not surprised.

And that terrified her more than anything.