In The Fire

Serafina Rabbia's POV:

[Rabbia's Estate]

"I told you so."

I always hated that sentence. I didn’t hate it because it was a way to mock someone.

I hated it because Papà said it so often. Although he was part of something unholy and bloody like a syndicate, he was the best father ever.

Sure, Papà was hot-tempered. Hence why he was called the Sin of Wrath.

But he was strict, and whenever I was wrong about anything, he'd immediately snicker and say:

"I told you so."

Then Mamà. Oh, my dear gentle Mamà. She'd caution him sweetly, and whenever he'd refuse, she'd knock him on his bald head.

This scenario had happened more than a thousand times.

Right now, I needed it to happen a thousand and first time. Right this very instant.

I craved it more than my life, and that's why I drove so recklessly on the road.

My fingers dug into the steering wheel as I swerved and turned like a mad woman. I was mad.

Madly pained. Madly in need. Madly idiotic for loving and marrying a man who literally represented Greed.

Roderick would never be satisfied with all the riches on Earth. He'd fly to every planet and steal everything.

Vittoria would help him. My very own sister would be by his side, and I wished my tears would blind me from the reality.

Just like it blinded me from seeing where the fuck I was driving.

Papà and Mamà became distant after I got married without their blessings. Or presence. Or even gifts.

The past years, they refused to reach out to me. And I didn’t try either. Roderick encouraged me. He encouraged my foolishness.

"Please be okay. Be okay!" I yelled, then matched the accelerator.

The car raced down the road like a starved animal. The sight of my parents would be my meal.

Finally, I stopped at a towering manor. The building was always a safe haven to me, and I prayed it would be again. I prayed Vittoria was bluffing! Was lying!

Our parents needed to be okay.

My quivering lips never rested as I scurried out of the car. My eyes darted around, and everywhere was... serene.

Ever since I came into this world, men in suits were littered around. I smelled crisp shirts more than flowers.

Then I complained. Now these men’s stern faces almost made me sigh in relief.

Almost.

Because as I came closer to the main door, my nose flickered. I smelled… fire.

I saw fire.

I nearly screamed my lungs out.

Thick swirls of smoke poured out of every window, cursing my eyes.

"There's a fire inside!" I shouted again, turning around.

I expected to see Papà's men running around, doing something. But all acted poised. Composed. Fucking unbothered.

My wide eyes landed on a hefty man as he drew closer. From the scar on his lips, I knew this was Scarface, Papà's right-hand man.

"Scarface, are my parents in there? There’s a fire!" I ranted hotly.

The giant was unfazed, and his dull eyes drifted to the manor. Then to me.

"Your Papà and Mamà were always too cold to me." His thick lips slowly curled.

"They need a sauna." Scarface smiled.

I gasped. Did I just… did I just hear that well? I shook my head as I slowly stepped back.

"You don't need to join them, Miss. Come." Again, he drew closer.

I needed no one to tell me this bastard was with Roderick. How dare he betray Papà!

I bolted straight for the door.

The moment it swung open, a cloud of smoke stopped me. But—

"Fabio, stay with me! Fabio!" Mamà's cries pulled me the fuck in.

"Mamà!" I shouted, running and dodging blindly.

The fire scorched my skin, alright. But the cries of my mother burned my soul.

I ran up something – perhaps the staircase.

I lost a shoe, and still I stepped on little flames. By the time I burst through another dark cloud, I beheld my parents.

Sorry. A parent.

"Fabio! Don't leave me!"

Fire burned everything, but I froze at the sight of Papà. Well, I think that was him.

It was hard to tell because Mamà held a charred, dark big lump.

The smell of burnt skin churned my stomach. For the upteenth time, I chomped down on my lips.

Blood flooded my tongue, keeping my vomit at bay.

"Fabio!" Mamà’s pained yell peeled through the walls as they burned.

"No. No. No." I mumbled, then tried to take a step closer.

"Mamà!" I screamed when a huge chunk of wood fell.

Flames separated me from my mother. She remained on her knees. Our gazes clashed.

Then she… smiled. Mamà smiled so much her eyes crinkled.

I became weak. Too weak. And I crashed to the floor. Heat clawed against my skin, yet my insides remained intact. Frozen by pain.

"Look how gorgeous the flames suit your red hair, My Fina." Mamà said, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

"M-Mamà." My voice broke like my soul as I trembled.

"I'm s-so…!" something restricted my throat. I dug my fingers into my thighs, and blood poured out like my words.

"I’m so sorry!" I cried rawly. And my response?

Another crash of wood. This time, I watched it fall straight onto Mamà.

"Mamà!"

I didn’t know when I scrambled to my feet. Or when I dug my fingers rawly into the burning wood.

They stung. They peeled flesh. They captured my parents.

"I’ll get you out of there. I promise. I swear. I swear. I swear."

I clawed and clawed until I saw the bones of my fingers. Until I felt my chest lock, and my eyes pepper.

As if to mock me, more wood crashed again and again and again. 

Until flames trapped me. 

"Ah!" I whimpered, feeling the pain from the pieces as they fell on my bloody thighs.

I went down on my knees again, then shakily glanced at the roof.

I didn’t see smoke. Or flames.

I saw their faces. Roderick Blackstone and Vittoria.

Agony from their bullshit licked my soul, exposing my hate. My fingers – if I had any – dug deeper. And deeper.

"They’ll pay." I didn’t hear myself, but my anger said it.

I scrunched my nose, turning to the heap of wood that now buried my parents.

I leaned against it, and the fire burned part of my face. Not that I cared. Not like I fucking felt it.

In that moment, I felt my insides finally defrost

, and so much disdain flowed in my veins.

"They’ll fucking pay. I swear!"

Like a true witness to my rage, burning wood finally crashed and fell right on me.