FANGS OF DECEIT (BOUNDED BY BLOOD AND LIES)

Chapter 1: A Decision Made

Anna's POV

I dragged my weary legs across the hard marble floor, my already trembling hands clutching a bottle of cheap liquor.

The flashing disco lights from the club pierced through my eyes now and then, forcing me to squint and shut them repeatedly.

My eyes, bloodshot from too much drinking, burned beneath the weight of exhaustion. My deep brown hair was a tangled mess. I staggered through the crowded club, shoving aside anyone who stood in my way.

All I wanted was to get out-breathe in some fresh air. The place was packed to suffocation.

"Move!" I snapped, pushing a young woman standing in my path. She shot me a scornful glare as she stumbled to regain her balance.

"Get your drunk self out of here. I'm not the cause of your frustration," she hissed before walking away.

Drunk self.

Her words echoed in my head like a slap.

How pathetic. That I-Anna Stone-of all people, would be called that.

Once a well-composed woman who never stepped foot in a club, who looked down on people like this. And now? A drunken mess.

A stranger's disgusted voice had become my reflection.

I wasn't going to let that slide.

Without thinking, I spun around, eyes searching for her. I caught a glimpse of her outfit and shouted, "Say that one more time and-"

The lights flared again, blinding me mid-sentence.

"Gosh!" I muttered, shielding my eyes with one hand. "Am I your only target?" I grumbled to the lights, rubbing my stinging eyes.

When I looked back up, she was gone.

"Really?" I scoffed. "You're lucky. You would've seen who's truly pathetic."

Still mumbling under my breath, I staggered out of the club.

The moment the cool night air hit my face, I let out a shaky breath. Finally-outside.

I wanted to cry. To curse my life, my existence, every miserable thought that ever passed through my mind.

Why was my life such a mess? A constant stream of pain, like a polluted river of misfortune.

I dragged my feet to a long bench beneath a giant tree. Its leaves rustled softly, singing with the wind. A few fell, dancing to the ground.

I leaned back on the bench, letting my tired body sink into its wooden embrace as the breeze swept through my hair.

Raising the bottle, I took a long gulp, only for my throat to burn in protest. I gagged, coughing loudly.

"What else should I expect from a ruined life?" I chuckled bitterly.

I'd come here to drink away the pain-to lose myself in drunken bliss-but instead, the hurt only grew deeper.

They say alcohol brings happiness.

Then why am I still so miserable?

Why does this ache keep drilling into my chest like a curse refusing to let go?

I know I don't deserve happiness, not really. But don't I deserve something?

Even just a moment of peace?

Why has my life been filled with misery from the start?

Maybe... maybe I am a curse.

Maybe I was never meant to be here at all.

I felt the tickle of tears escape my eyes-uninvited, unstoppable. One tear followed another, and before I knew it, I was crying like a child. The pain in my heart was too much to bear, and the only escape I had left was to let it pour out through my tears.

My life? It's been a mess since the day I was born.

According to my father, my mother died giving birth to me. And from that moment, everything went downhill.

Our once-comfortable family life crumbled. We went broke. My siblings, who once attended the best schools in town, had to drop out.

Yes! They blamed me. Even as a six-year-old, I remember it all-being called a curse. The memory is sharp, untouched by time. It still feels like yesterday.

And the final blow? On my 10th birthday, my entire family was murdered.

Why was I spared? My father had sent me down the street to buy balloons for the decorations.

I remember skipping back home, humming my favorite tune. It was my birthday, and I was overjoyed.

But the moment I stepped through the door, everything changed.

Blood.

Bodies.

Silence.

My family's corpses lay scattered across the floor. Blood soaked the tiles. I stood frozen in horror. I'd never seen a dead body before-and now, the first I ever saw was my own family.

I couldn't speak. Couldn't move. My small hands trembled, the balloons slipping from my grasp and landing silently among the gore.

And then I heard a voice.

"Who are you?"

It was deep-gravely and cold. The kind of voice that could crack thunder.

I turned and saw a massive man, his clothes drenched in blood, a knife glinting in his hand.

Even a fool would know-he was the killer.

I was small, helpless, but rage flared in me. I lunged at him, my ocean-blue eyes filled with fury.

"Why?" I was finally able to cry, hitting his thick legs with my tiny fists.

"Why did you kill them? Why did you take my family?"

He said nothing-just shoved me aside.

"Do you want to join them?" he growled, crouching to my level.

I stared at him, my lips trembling.

"What's the point of living? You already took everything from me. Just kill me too."

I lifted my chest, inviting the blade.

But he didn't stab me.

He shoved me away and walked out the door.

"Lunatic," he muttered before disappearing into the air.

I snapped back to reality with a sniffle, realizing the liquor bottle in my hand was empty.

What am I even doing here, drinking myself into stupor?

Because the one person who made life seems worth living... married someone else this morning.

Yeah. Pathetic.

Worse? He didn't just break up with me.

He sent me a text-cold and heartless. "Move on with your pathetic life. I'm tired of carrying your problems like I'm your father. Go ask your dead family to help you. Since you came into my life, it's been nothing but chaos."

He used my pain and secret against me. The very things I trusted him with. The things I had never told anyone.

And if that wasn't enough...

He sent me his wedding photos.

Pictures of him kissing her.

Touching her, and more worst. Photo of him sexing her.

Am I not pathetic?

He was right.

I'm useless. A burden. A curse.

Everyone who tries to help me ends up broken.

I'm destruction-living, breathing destruction.

So maybe it's better this way.

Maybe I should just end it.

Die.

And stop dragging everyone down with me.

Someone like me doesn't deserve to live.

The world will be better off without me.

Without a second thought, I staggered toward the roadside.

There was a bridge not too far off-just high enough.

It didn't take long.

Soon, I was standing at the edge.

And for some reason... I smiled.

A strange, inexplicable smile. Maybe relief?

I took in the world one last time.

Then I jumped-ready to go meet my family again.

Chapter 2: A Strange Feeling

Anna Pov... .

I stood at the edge, taking in my surroundings for the last time before jumping down to meet my family in heaven. I knew they were there, free from the crimes they never committed, victims only of life's cruel twists and my own miserable existence.

But would I join them? Did I deserve such a sacred place? I doubted it. Perhaps hell was where I belonged, for being a constant thorn in the side of those who tried to help.

The fall seemed to drag on

Forever, and impatience gnawed at me. Why was it taking so long to hit the ocean's surface? Was death itself rejecting me? Maybe the bridge was just too high; I would have chosen a more gentle descent.

My arms spread wide, I surrendered to the void, willing to wait an eternity for the inevitable.

Finally, the ocean came into view, its blue a testament to the beauty of the divine. The gentle sway of the waves was a serene lullaby, beckoning me closer.

As I drew nearer, a smile crossed my lips, and I felt the water's caress as the night wind danced across its surface. "Finally," I whispered, "I'll join you all." Longing coursed through my veins.

But just as the ocean's warm embrace seemed closer, a mysterious force yanked me back. Confusion reigned. What was happening? Why wasn't I sinking? I searched for answers, but there were none.

The force pulled me higher, and I found myself back on the bridge. I laughed, scratching my head in bewilderment. "I've lost my mind, I have finally lost my mind," I thought. "Hallucinations, that's all this is."

I tried again, and a firm grip on my wrist stopped me. I spun around, panic-stricken, to face a stranger-a man in his thirties with chiseled features and a tattoo of "Alpha Damen" on his chest.

His eyes locked onto mine, and I felt a jolt. Who was this enigmatic figure? An angel sent to claim my soul or save me from myself?

I watched as he brushed the strands of his jet-black hair covering his eyes, and I could swear I released on my pants.

"Who are you?" his lips curled out, "Who are you?" I repeated, wondering why that voice and words seemed so familiar.

"What are you doing? You want to kill yourself?" he continued, and I could only watch; I couldn't find any words escaping my lips.

"Why? What's your reason for doing this?" he continued but of course, I still couldn't respond.

"What are you? I was shocked by my own questions; I didn't expect myself to ask any questions or give a response to his numerous questions.

"What am I?" he chuckled revealing his dimples. Yes! I was lost, staring; how could anyone be so handsome?

"Yes, what are you?" I found myself throwing at him again, once again without my permission.

"I am your fated, Anna Stone," he replied, his grip around my wrist tightening. I must have given away my intention to break free, because his hold became more secure.

Shock rendered me unsteady, and I stumbled. How did he know my name? And what did he mean by "fated"?

"How did you know my name?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me. "And what do you mean by 'fated'?" I added, trying to keep my voice steady.

"I don't need to explain that to you, Anna," he said with a smile, his dimples flashing. I felt my composure slipping again, but I forced myself to focus.

"What are you? Some kind of angel?" I asked, trying to regain my footing. He smiled again, but offered no answer, just as I had expected.

"Why are you trying to save me?" I pressed on, determined to get some kind of response. "I saved you because I can't allow you to die, Anna," he replied, his words only deepening my confusion. What did he mean by that? The more I thought about it, the more confused I became.

"You are mine, Anna." He held my face and drew me closer and before I could understand what was going on, he kissed me.

He kissed me before I could even understand what was going on, and as his lips sucked deeper into mine, I felt something I haven't felt in my entire life.

I couldn't explain the feeling but it was something I didn't like and while still trying to place what was happening he whispered into my ears "Now I have claimed you forever".

I have claimed you forever? What does he mean?

Chapter 3: A New Plan

Anna Pov...

I pushed him, not knowing why I did.

"Who the hell are you? What gave you the right to save me from ending my life? And as if that's not enough-you kissed me too?"

My tone said it all. I was angry. Furious.

"I only came to claim what belongs to me. And I want you to come with me," he said, calm and commanding. He wasn't pleading-he was ordering. And I wasn't finding it funny.

"Well, if you're not going to tell me who you are, then get the hell out of here and let me do what I was about to do."

I hissed and turned back to the ocean.

"Don't try to stop me. Living is already a hell of its own."

I tried to jump again, but he pulled me back.

"What do you think you're doing? You're making a grave mistake."

His voice quivered this time. There was something in his tone-a tremor I hadn't heard before. Fear.

I looked into his eyes-those golden brown eyes-and that strange pang of familiarity struck me again. There was something about them I couldn't place. Something I didn't want to remember.

"Wouldn't you rather live and avenge your family?"

His words hit me harder than I expected.

I looked at him, eyes wide in shock.

Yes, I had always wanted to avenge my parents' deaths. But there was fear. Guilt. And then it hit me: how did he know?

I didn't hide it.

"How are you able to-?"

"Able to read your thoughts?" he said, chuckling. My shock deepened.

Now I was sure-he wasn't human. No way.

"That's a question for another day. Just think about what I told you. It would honor your family if you could avenge their deaths. Maybe that's why you didn't die, too."

He smiled, calm and eerie. I stared at him like he held the secret to my ruin.

"I'll be back to claim what's mine. Don't bother hiding-I will find you."

Before I could reply, he vanished. Just like that-gone without a trace.

My tired legs gave way, and I dropped to the ground, his words echoing in my head.

Maybe he was right.

Maybe I was spared for vengeance.

Maybe that's the only way God would forgive me.

And suddenly the plan changed: take revenge on those who destroyed me.

And make them suffer for the pain they caused.

As I thought about it, I could feel rage building up inside me-rage unlike anything I'd ever experienced. And I wondered, where has this fury been all this time?

Maybe it was buried beneath the weight of self-loathing. Maybe I'd been too angry at myself to ever feel anger for anyone else.

Staring into the empty night, I found myself strangely grateful to the one man who, in his own twisted way, gave me the courage to finally face what I'd been avoiding.

Yes-that man. The one who took my family from me.

And that bastard ex-boyfriend who didn't just betray me-he used my pain against me.

I would end them all.

My fists clenched tightly, my body trembling, my eyes burning red with fury.

I was ready to destroy.

I was ready to make them pay.

"Louis Augustine," I whispered, seething, "I'm coming for you."

"And to the man who killed my family without a shred of mercy-I promise, you'll suffer even more."

Drawing on the last strength in my weary body, I pushed myself off the ground and staggered toward the roadside to find a taxi. I needed to get home. And I needed to hear a familiar voice.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Eva-my best friend. She always picked up. Always.

But not this time. The phone rang once. Twice. Three times.

What the hell? Why wasn't she answering?

Then finally-

"Hello, baby girl," she answered cheerfully.

But I didn't smile. I was still pissed that she didn't pick up sooner.

"I'm sorry, baby. I was taking a shower," she added quickly, sensing my silence. Her concern softened my anger.

Why hadn't I thought of her earlier, before I nearly threw my life away?

She would've been crushed if I'd died.

"Are you there?" Her voice snapped me out of my spiral.

"Yeah..."

I was cut off by a sharp, stabbing pain in my side. It hit hard-deep in my stomach. But just as suddenly as it came, it vanished.

"I-"

The pain returned sharper, stronger and this time, it didn't go away.

I collapsed.

My knees gave out, and I hit the ground, clutching my stomach. My body was on fire. My breath came in ragged gasps.

I didn't want to die. Not anymore.

Not now.

I groaned, the pain unbearable, tears springing to my eyes.

"What's wrong with you, Anna? Anna!"

Eva's voice was frantic on the other end. I could feel her panic.

"Bridge..." I managed to whisper.

Then everything went black.