I breathe heavily as he pins me to the wall, his hands wrapped tight around my throat I could barely breathe. ‘You hear me, Sera? I found you first. I noticed you first! I fell for you first. No one else, I mean, no one should put their hands on you, because if they do, I swear to God, Sera, I'll fucking break their arms and legs and serve it to you to eat!’ He growls. Seraphina Puckett is the perfect definition of trauma. A walking trauma. She tries to navigate her life, trying to bring in sunshine but as the world is determined to make it rain on her, what does she do? Does she get beaten in the rain or walk through it? When her abusive father gets out of prison and is out to get her, how does she face her fear?
view moreI grip my book tight to my chest as I run in tears, making my way to the bathroom. The tears, clouding my eyes make it difficult for me to see properly and I bump into someone, the chocolate on my body affecting the clothes of the person.
‘I'm so sorry,’ I sniff, not raising my head to even see who it is. I make to leave, but an arm is outstretched in front of me and connects with the wall, preventing me from leaving. The chocolate poured on me is sticky and I want nothing more than to lock myself up in the girl's bathroom and cry my eyes out on why my life is always the most miserable. I clean my tears and make to raise my head, but then he places his arm on my head and forces it to stay still, making me unable to see who it is, but my instincts are already screaming his name. Jonathan. I can already tell by his veiny forearms. ‘Look at you, so weak,’ he tuts, giving me a condescending look. I don't raise my head to see him, but I can feel it. ‘Please…’ I stuttered. ‘Let me go. It's itchy and I need to wash it off before it destroys my hair,’ my voice cracks, I hug my book tighter. ‘You don't get to go, Sera. Not until I say so,’ he leans, growling into my ear and as his breath tickles my ear, I feel goosebumps rise in every part of my body, making it tremble. ‘What do you want from me, Jonathan? Do you want to hit me some more or even prank me? Huh?’ I look up at him this time, my heart hammering hard in my chest. This would actually be the first time I stood up to him ever since I can remember. It seems my question catches him off guard because his eyes widen with a tiny flicker of surprise, and then it changes back to a dark look. I take a shaky breath. ‘You have no idea,’ he mutters, grabbing a handful of my chocolate coated hair. ‘I want to break you into pieces,’ his voice grows dark and I shudder because it sounds as cold as ice. I want to ask what it means, but then he leans forward and sniffs my hair, then closes his eyes as if he is relishing the smell. He opens his mouth to speak but before he can, a voice interrupts him. ‘Well, well, well, if it isn't booger,’ the voice gets near and I don't even bother to turn because I know for sure it's Whitney. A literal thorn in my flesh, in fact, the most painful one. Jonathan steps back, still gripping my hair, he pushes it to the locker and makes to leave, but Whitney intertwines their arms together. ‘Where are you going, Jonathan?’ She asks, kissing him on the cheeks while staring at me. Yeah, that's right. I don't know why, but Whitney always tries to make out with him each time in front of me. I have no idea why, but it's disgusting. Having to watch two people act lovey-dovey in front of me? Disgusting. ‘You can leave,’ she dismisses me. ‘I never said she could leave,’ his cold voice cut through, making even Whitney flinch. ‘And why can't I leave?’ I ask, throwing away my fears. ‘Because I'm not done with you,’ he says. I can feel Whitney glaring daggers at me. I ignore her. ‘You know what? I'm not just some toy that you can have and do whatever you want to!’ I snap and run into the girl's bathroom, locking myself in one stall. Then I crouch on the floor, hold my hands around my body and cry out in pain. All these... my life. It's... it's so painful. All my entire life has never been one which I hold in my hands and I can do whatever I like. I had always been everyone's punching bag and trauma-dumping dumpster. If these people are pissed off, I am the one who gets the beating. I open the shirt of my chocolate-stained uniform and wince because the chocolate dried on my uniform is already stuck to my injuries and skin. I started to wonder what I'd wear to school on Monday because I couldn't afford to get a new uniform. I have to do everything myself with no one's help. And my hair... ‘Seraphina? Are you in there?’ Her voice echoes into the door and she knocks softly on it. ‘It's me, open up,’ she says. I quickly button up my shirt and open the door, coming out of the bathroom. ‘I heard what happened. I'm sorry. They're horrible! Why is Jonathan doing this to you?’ She blabbered. I smile. She brings me up to the sink and wash my hair. ‘I have no idea,’ I say to her. ‘Well, your uniform is ruined. Don't worry, I'll get you a new one,’ she says, patting my back. I nod, my heart clenching at her kind gesture. A girl runs into the bathroom, panting hard. ‘Seraphina, come see,’ she bends and breathes. ‘They're talking shit about you,’ she catches her breath and stands up. ‘What do you mean? They always talk shit about her,’ Cecile counters. ‘I know, trust me. You really need to hear this one, it's different!" she says, gesturing towards the cafeteria. ‘Come with me.’ My heart pounds. Me and Cecile exchange looks and ignoring my stained face and body, I run out of the bathroom through the hallways, then to the cafeteria. My heart races as I trail behind her through the hallways, ignoring the stares and giggles from the other students. When we enter the cafeteria, all eyes seem to turn to me at once. It's almost too much to bear. ‘That's her, the daughter of the bitch!’ Whitney points at me, her laughter echoing through the room as others join in. They continue their taunts, but I can't hear them. All I can hear is the pounding of my heart and the ringing in my ears. I fix my eyes on the big screen in the cafeteria, where my mother's face appears alongside his father's. The words on the screen confirm my worst fears ‘Mr Hill announces his engagement to Mrs Gabrielle this afternoon, as further announcements of their relationship will be made public.’ Jonathan's father.~Jonathan’s POVI spin toward Sera’s room, my heart slamming against my ribs as the fire alarm screeches through the hospital. The hallway is a mess. There are nurses shouting, patients stumbling out of their rooms, a tray of medical supplies crashed on the floor, shards of glass glinting under the flashing red lights. My phone is still in my hand, the text ringing in my mind: How long do you think you can protect her? The words feel like a blade, sharp and personal, and that shattering sound just before the alarm has me on edge. Someone is here. Someone is watching us. Watching her.‘Seraphina!’ I yell again, shoving past a nurse who is trying to direct people toward the exits. My voice is swallowed by the chaos, but I don’t care. I need to get to her. Now. Ethan’s in there with her, and I don’t trust him. He is hiding something, and I’ll be damned if I let him near her while this place is falling apart.I burst through the door of her exam room. Sera is still on the stretcher, he
~Jonathan’s POVI’m standing by Sera’s bed, my hand still tingling from where it brushed hers. Her eyes are heavy with exhaustion, her face pale and bruised, but she’s here, alive, and that’s all that matters. The hospital room smells of antiseptic and I've been holding back the urge to cringe hard, and the fluorescent lights above us cast harsh shadows. I can’t stop looking at her, checking for any sign she’s slipping away again. My chest is tight. All I feel inside is a mix of relief and rage. That Roy’s face, bloody and broken, flashes in my mind, and I wish I had hit him harder, made him suffer more for what he did to her.The door bursts open, and Ethan storms in, his eyes wide and frantic. ‘Sera!’ he says, his voice low but sharp, like he’s been running. He rushes to her side, his body trembling as he grabs the bedrail. His dark hair is messy, his jacket rumpled, and there’s something off about the way he moves as he moves to fast and too eagerly. My jaw clenches. What the hel
~Seraphina’s POVMy heart stops for a moment as I catch that glimpse of a figure ducking out of sight through the glass door of the exam room. It’s not Jonathan. He’s right here, his hand still gripping mine, his eyes locked on me with that fierce intensity that makes my stomach twist. The figure was too quick, too…dark, but it sends a chill through me, like a ghost that appears in a room, you know, that kind of chill. I force my gaze back to Jonathan, trying to shake the feeling. I’m safe now, I tell myself. Roy is gone. Jonathan is here. But my pulse won’t slow, and my skin prickles with unease.The nurse adjusts the IV in my arm, her movements quick and efficient. ‘We’re taking you for a CT scan,’ she says, her voice calm but firm. ‘Just to rule out any head trauma.’ She glances at Jonathan, who’s still hovering by my side, his jaw tight. ‘You’ll need to wait here, sir.’Jonathan’s grip on my hand tightens, like he’s afraid to let go. ‘I’m not leaving her,’ he says stubbornly, his
~Seraphina’s POVJonathan’s arms are around me, his breath heavy and shaky against my hair. His shirt is slightly wet with blood and sweat, but I hold tight on to him, my fingers digging into his back. My body shakes, every bruise and cut stinging like crazy, but his warmth is the only thing keeping me from falling apart. The warehouse is silent now, except for the faint groans of Roy’s guys and the distant drip and lapping of water. Roy is slumped against the wall, unconscious, his face a mess of blood. Jonathan pulls back slightly, his hands cupping my face. His eyes search mine, wide and desperate, blood trickling from a cut on his brow. ‘Sera, can you walk? We need to get out of here.’ His voice is rough and urgent, but there’s something soft in it, something that makes my chest tighten in a way I don’t want to think about.I nod, even though my legs feel like jelly. ‘I think so.’ My voice is weak, barely a whisper. It feels raw from screaming. I try to stand, but my knees buckle
~Seraphina’s POV The door is ahead of us and it feels like I'm being dragged into another trap. It's rusted frame gives it a rickety look. Roy’s grip on my arm is like iron bars, dragging me forward as my legs wobble, barely holding my weight. My body is a map of pain with bruises throbbing on my ribs, my cheek burning from where he struck me, blood dripping from my split lip. Every breath I take is a struggle, my lungs burning, but I cling to the flicker of hope that keeps me upright. Jonathan. I saw him. His dark hair, his broad shoulders, the dark fire in his eyes. He’s here, somewhere in this hellish warehouse, and he’s coming for me. Roy is muttering again, his voice sharp. ‘Fucking Jonathan. Thinks he can play the hero every cycling time. Pathetic matyr.’ He yanks me harder, and I stumble, my knees scraping the concrete. I bite back a cry, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry. My wrists are raw from the ropes, blood slick on my hands, but I claw at his
~Seraphina’s POV The world floats back slowly, like waking from a dream I can’t escape. My head throbs. A dull, relentless ache pulses behind my eyes like it has a life of its own. My mouth tastes of chemicals, sharp and bitter, and my tongue feels heavy, stuck to the roof of my mouth. I’m slumped against something hard, the cold concrete biting into my back. My wrists burn, the rope cutting into them, binding my hands behind me. I try to move, but my body protests, sluggishly and faintly like I’m underwater. The air smells of rust and damp, and somewhere nearby, water drips in a steady rhythm. I blink, forcing my eyes to focus. The room is dim, and the only thing lighting it is only a flickering bulb hanging from a chain. Crates are stacked around me, casting shadows to the floor. My heart jumps. Where am I? The last thing I remember is Roy’s hand on my wrist, his sneer and the cloth over my face. I also remember Alistair’s voice, shouting my name as everything went dark. My ches
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Mga Comments