12
Seraphina awoke in a blaze of agony, feeling as though she were tied to a bed, utterly unable to break free. Her arm throbbed ince- ssantly. She distinctly felt a patch of flesh tearing away from her body. Her eyes snapped open, and she saw Alexander, surgical knife in hand, tracing patterns on her arm. His face was splattered with blood, and when he saw her wake, he gave a sudden, chilli- ng smile.
“Did I hurt you? First time skinning, my hands are a bit rusty. Just bear with it.” His smile widened. “It’s alright. Audrey could endure it, so I imagine you certainly can too.” He then continued his work, his movements growing quicker and more practiced.
The intense pain overwhelmed Seraphina’s brain. She couldn’t hold back any longer and shrieked at Alexander, “Brother, look at me! I’m your most beloved Seraphina! You used to ache with sympathy at just a cough from me! Don’t do this to me!” She cried, “Broth- er, I was wrong! I shouldn’t have sided with Dad! Let me go! I’ll side with you, and help you kill Dad, alright?” Alexander listened to her pleas, but his hands didn’t stop. In fact, as he grew more skilled, his movements became even faster. The agonizing pain crashed through Seraphina’s mind. She could no longer hold back and screamed at Alexander, “Alexander! You’re psychopath! Do you think doing this will ease your burden?” She rasped, “Ask yourself, why did you choose to bring me home? Wash t it because you knew I had the same rare blood type as you, and you wanted to use me to replace Audrey, to be your blood bag?”
“You despised Audrey’s disfigurement, yet you still wanted to maintain some semblance of sibling connection with her, so you indu- Iged me every step of the way! You saw all my little schemes, but you didn’t stop me then! Why are you blaming me now?” Her voice became a desperate sob. “And Dad! If Dad sees you doing this to me, you’re finished!”
Dau sees you doing this to me, you’re finished!”
Alexander finally made another movement. He looked up at her, blood smudged on his lips. “No need to wait. He’s right there.” Seraphina turned her head to look. My father lay naked on a large bed, surrounded by tempered glass walls. A small side door ope- ned, and a throng of ten men surged in. Seraphina squinted, recognizing them: these were the very same ten men who had caused Alexander’s humiliation earlier. Alexander watched them with a strange, satisfied smile. “I paid a fortune to catch them all. Not one of them will escape, not one can escape.”
The ten men were in a highly abnormal state, their faces flushed. Upon seeing my father, they swarmed him. Soon, the vast villa was filled with my father’s agonizing screams. Various implements were scattered around the bed. The eleven men continued their relentless assault, an unending nightmare within the glass enclosure.
Meanwhile, Alexander’s movements didn’t stop. His hands moved deftly. Seraphina had long since lost her voice, only able to fade in and out of consciousness from the agony. Her awareness grew increasingly blurred. Finally, with her last ounce of strength, she gasped to Alexander, “Audrey will never forgive you! You’ll die a horrible death, you’ll never find peace in any lifetime!”
Alexander’s grotesque smile finally shattered. He lunged at her like a madman, stabbing her repeatedly. Then, he moved to various parts of the room, kicking over the oil canisters he had prepared, and flicked open his lighter. With a serene expression, he releas- ed his grasp on Seraphina. “Audrey, I’m coming for you. Can you give your brother another chance?“
I shook my head, only feeling revulsion, and floated out of the mansion without looking back. I heard the distant wail of police sire- ns. As the flames grew, my soul gradually faded, dissipating. Finally, I vanished completely, turning into a wisp of smoke.
As I neared the Elysian Bridge, I saw Eleanor already standing there, waiting for me. She embraced me gently, then took my hand and began to walk forward, I asked her, “Eleanor, in the next life, I want to be your real daughter, and I want to take your name. Can! be… Willow Vance, alright?”
Eleanor nodded, tears welling in her eyes.
How wonderful.
We must find happiness in the next life.
One foot already on the bridge, I thought I heard a muffled sob from somewhere far behind me. But when I turned to look, there was nothing. I didn’t look back again, instead tightly holding both their hands.
Running towards our next life.
