Seraphina's POV
"Where are they?" I demanded, my voice slicing through the air like a blade.
The head maid, Maria, narrowed her eyes as she straightened. She clearly hadn't expected me to show up, but she quickly regained her composure. "What are you doing here?" she sneered, hands on her hips. "This isn't your place, Seraphina. Leave before you embarrass yourself."
Her words hit like a slap, but I didn't flinch. Not this time. Not anymore.
"This is my place," I said, my voice cold and deadly. "And I'm taking what's mine." I stepped farther into the room, not giving an inch, my eyes scanning the cluttered space. I could already tell—they'd hidden the gifts. But I wasn't stupid. I knew where they kept things.
One of the younger maids, frightened by my sudden intrusion, took a step back, clutching her apron like it could protect her from what was coming. "Seraphina, you—"
I silenced her with a look. "Not a word."
I moved toward a small, wooden chest in the corner, shoved aside a pile of old sheets, and there it was. The box. I ripped it open, and there they were—my brothers' gifts, still wrapped, untouched. The sight of them sent a jolt through me. They were mine. No one, not even these wretched women, would take them away again.
Maria's voice cut through the air, sharper now. "You can't just take—"
"I can," I interrupted, spinning to face her. "And I will."
Before she could stop me, I grabbed the box and turned on my heel. "You should've left them alone," I added, my voice low and dangerous. "Because now, I'm taking everything back."
One of the other maids tried to block my path, but I didn't hesitate. I shoved past her, sending her stumbling back in surprise. Maria reached out, her fingers grazing my arm, but I jerked away, my eyes flashing with fire.
"I said, don't touch me." My voice was icy, cutting her attempt at control. "You don't get to touch me. You don't get to take anything from me. This is my home and if I want something, I'll take it."
The silence that followed was thick, suffocating. But I didn't care. I didn't care about their stares, their disdain, their contempt. I wasn't the weak one anymore like they remembered.
With my brother's gifts clutched tightly in my arms, I turned and walked out, leaving the servants' quarters behind me. For the first time, I felt something shift in the air. It wasn't just my anger.
This house could try to break me, but I was done being broken.
"Since I had already found what I wanted, it's time for me to leave here," I muttered and without even going back to my room, I exited the Lancaster Mansion.
I went straight to my dorm, which they'd assigned me, but I never really stayed there. Back then, I was desperate to be around my family, clinging to every second like it would help me earn their love and protection.
But things were different from back then. I don't need a family in this life. All I need is to stand on my own and make sure no one ever gets the chance to hurt me again.
I entered my room, placed my things where they belonged, and headed straight to the washroom to clean up and change out of the bloodstained clothes.
Too much had happened in just a few hours. My head was spinning, my thoughts all over the place.
I needed a cold shower to calm down.
After an hour-long shower, I decided to visit my orphanage.
In my last life, I never got the chance to repay the director, the woman who had supported me like no one else. She was more of a mother to me than my own ever was.
But in the end, she became one of Melissa's victims. She lost her life after being blamed and criticized by the public for something she never did.
"You're here?"
I collected a few things to leave when my roommate walked in and asked.
"Oh, yes!" I replied quickly. "I'm going to meet someone at the orphanage. But please don't lock the room. I'll be back before evening."
"Oh."
She looked at me, eyes wide. In the past, I could never answer her properly. I always avoided her, and couldn't form a quick sentence fluently.
But she was the only one who stood by me until the end.
"Sure, I will wait for you," she said with a smile and then handed me a chocolate. "Have it! I have an extra."
I looked at the chocolate, then at her. I was hungry, so I took it.
"Thanks," with this, I left the room.
After leaving, I checked my wallet and had barely enough for a bus. No way I could afford a taxi, and public transport didn't go that far. The orphanage was too far and in the middle of nowhere
"Damn it," I muttered, sighing. "I'd take the bus as far as I could, then walk the rest."
With that thought, I headed to the bus station and boarded the one that would take me closest to the orphanage.
I was happy, even a little excited.
It was the first moment of peace I'd felt since coming back to life.
But what I didn't know was that something evil was waiting for me ahead.
As the bus reached my stop, I got off and looked around. The road was empty, not a single person in sight, and a black van passed by as I started walking.
I didn't care. I checked the time—it was already afternoon, and I still had to walk thirty minutes more to reach the orphanage. I needed to head back before evening, so I picked up my pace.
As I took a few more steps, I noticed the same black van again. It didn't just pass once—it kept coming back, circling me.
What's going on? Is someone following me?
Panic kicked in, and I knew walking wouldn't help anymore. I took off running.
I remembered there was a construction site a few minutes ahead. I didn't know why, but it felt safer than staying out on this empty road.
I ran as fast as I could, but before I could reach the site, tires screeched behind me.
The construction area was only a few turns away, but the van doors had already swung open. They were out chasing me.
"Fuck!" I cursed under my breath. My chest started to burn, and my heart was beating faster.
My legs were slowing. I had no strength left in me. I had nothing other than that one chocolate my roommate gave me.
I was weak and malnourished. My body wasn't built for this. Running any farther felt impossible.
I crashed onto the ground— my legs just gave up.
What the hell is this?
I'd barely escaped that goddamn hospital, and now I'm being chased again? Caught again?
If this life's just a repeat of the last one, then what's the point? Why bring me back at all? Why give me a second chance?
My breath hitched—I tried to get up, but everything hurt. My arms, my knees, and my pride.
I was too slow as they were already there, right beside me.
"She's got some stamina," one of them muttered, almost laughing.
There were four. Masks. Black.
Jim was one person. That was manageable. But this?
There's no way out of this… right?
"Let us take you away from here," one of them said and grabbed my hand, yanking me to my feet.
"Ah!" I cried out, pain shooting up my arm.
"Who... who are you?" I asked, trying to sound firm, but my voice was shaky… I could hear it, and I was sure they could too.
I was falling apart from the inside. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst.
I didn't want to live that life again. I couldn't let everything repeat itself. I needed this second chance to change everything.
But if this is what it's going to be—again… How am I even supposed to survive this?
Even a second life couldn't save me.
The person twisted my arm and shoved me ahead.
"Move!" another one barked.
I stumbled, tried to pull away, but my body had nothing left to give. How stupid of me—once again, I ignored myself and my own health… just to hold onto people I loved.
"Let go of me!" I yelled, but they didn't stop.
Instead, one of them grabbed my wrist tightly and started dragging me toward the van. Then a rough cloth came over my face, and everything went dark in an instant.
"Wait—" I wanted to scream and to fight, but then felt a sharp pain.
Something was slammed into my head.