Dark Imprisonment

- Vienna's POV -

Two pale figures held the little girl by the arms, one on each side. She was crying, kicking, fighting to get away, but they didn't even flinch.

I wanted to help her.

I really did.

But my body wouldn't move. My legs... felt like stone.

Another figure stood in front of her. Taller. Stronger. His hand was wrapped around a... cute boy's throat. The boy's feet dangled above the floor, kicking weakly.

"Stop!" the girl cried, her voice breaking. "Please... don't hurt him!"

But the man only laughed, low and cruel that made my stomach twist.

The boy's face was turning pale. His legs jerked less. He was... going to die.

Something inside me screamed. Move. Run. Do something.

But I couldn't.

I was stuck there, like the air itself had chained me down. Forced to watch.

'Save him... save him...'

A voice hissed in my head like a cold wind. It wasn't mine. I didn't know whose it was...

"I said stop!" the girl screamed again... this time, in anger... too much anger that sent fire to my skin, then suddenly, light exploded out of her.

Blue fire.

It burst from her skin like she was made of it, wrapping her whole body in bright, roaring flames. The two who held her... burned instantly... turning into ashes.

The man let go of the boy in shock. He fell to the ground, coughing, and gasping for air.

But I couldn't look away from the girl. The fire didn't even hurt her. It moved with her. Like it belonged to her. Like... she was born from it.

Every figure that ran toward her burned before they could even touch her.

The man stepped back, fear flashing in his eyes as the fire grew hotter, brighter.

She turned to the boy, her voice trembling. "Run."

The boy shook his head. "No. Come with me!" he shouted but there was something in his eyes... it wasn't fear... it was like... love?

"You'll burn!" the girl cries.

But he didn't listen as he ran straight through the fire and grabbed her hand. And just like that... the flames around her vanished.

I froze. My heart pounded. He wasn't burned... at all.

He pulled her with him. "Let's go!"

But she stopped. Panic filled her voice. "I lost it... the keychain... my sister gave it to me... I can't lose it!"

He grabbed her shoulders. "I'll get it. You have to leave. It's too dangerous."

She cried harder, shaking her head, but he only said, softer this time, "We'll see each other again... my Princess."

Before she could answer, he ran back into the burning mansion.

Then—

BOOM!

"No!" I screamed as tears fell out of my eyes.

---

"Vienna!"

The voice ripped me out of the darkness.

I gasped, my eyes flying open to the cracked ceiling above me. My chest was heaving. Sweat dripped down my neck... my eyes wet with tears.

It was that dream again.

A dream that felt... real. 

I dragged in a shaky breath, pushing the blanket off me. My heart was pounding so hard... My hands were still trembling as I stood up.

The smell of smoke clung to me. But there was no smoke here. Only the faint scent of stale bread and detergent. My room was dim and empty, just like always.

I swallowed, forcing myself to move... it was just a dream, that's what I told myself... but my chest still aches.

I stepped out of my room as I hurried toward the kitchen where the harsh voices were coming.

The moment mom saw me, her face twisted. She immediately grabbed my hair and dragged me toward the refrigerator.

"Ouch, m-mom. Please... let me go," I pleaded, stumbling after her.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to touch my things!" she snapped, opening the door of the refrigerator.

She took a box out. Inside were five cupcakes- no, four. One was missing.

"Where is it!?" she exclaimed, letting go of my hair only to slam the box down on the counter.

My heart was racing in fear. I never touched it. "I... I don't know."

She suddenly slapped me on the cheek. My head snapped sideways. The sting burned across my face.

"Don't you dare lie to me. What did you do to the other one!? I told you not to touch this!" she yelled at me.

"I-I never did, I swear," I said as my eyes started to water.

"Then who did!? You are the only person here in the house I know who steals my things. I baked these cupcakes for the Royals and what do you think they will say to me!? Huh?" Her eyes flared in anger, her teeth gritted.

I never stole anything but no one in this house ever believed me. No one. I bit my lip and looked down. I could say nothing but be silent. Anything I said seemed nothing to them. They never heard my pleas, my reasons. I am... nothing to them.

"What!?" she exclaimed, her voice cutting the air.

A tear fell from my eyes. "I-it's not me, I swear," I hoarsely stated, tired of reasoning. What would I ever say if she would not even believe it?

I received another slap. "You keep on denying it, huh? Let's see."

She grabbed my hair again and dragged me toward the basement door.

"Oh no, mom please... it wasn't me. I did not touch the cupcakes. Mom," I cried, my voice cracking.

She even grasped my hair tighter which made me scream in pain as she pushed me inside the basement and slammed the door shut.

"You bitch! Stay there until you learn from your mistake!" she exclaimed from the other side.

"Mom, let me out of here. Please..." I pleaded once again while banging the door, but I knew no one could hear me. Even though they could, they chose not to.

"Never give her anything until I say so!" Mom yelled throughout the house. I knew she was talking to my sister and dad.

"Mom..." I whispered as my tears dripped from my eyes.

I leaned against the door as I cried in silence. What did I ever do to deserve this? I was obedient. All I did was serve my family but none of them ever showed their love to me.

"Hmmm... the cupcake is so sweet. Wanna have a bite?" my sister, Eloisa, teased from the other side of the door.

I bit my lip, ignoring her. I knew she ate it. She always did things like this. And every time, it was me who took the blame... it was always me who got the beating.

I sat in the corner, hugging my knees. The basement was cold, I sighed.

Life.

I was used to this... to the darkness, the silence... the pain. Sometimes it felt safer down here than in the house above. Up there, one wrong word meant Dad's belt. One wrong move meant Mom's slap. If I even looked at my sister the wrong way, I paid for it with bruises.

And I had nowhere else to go.

The whole pack hated me. They said I was cursed. Maybe they were right. I wasn't even their real daughter. Dad only adopted me to clean, to cook, to obey. I should be grateful, I guess. If he hadn't taken me in, I'd probably be dead already.

Rumors whispered that I killed my own family... burned them alive. I was only nine when they found me standing outside the fire. Everyone inside had died... Everyone but me.

Since that day, no one wanted me. I wandered the pack lands like a stray dog, drinking from rivers, eating whatever I could find in the woods. When I asked for food, they just shouted at me.

Until Daddy Aldrin brought me here... to be their slave.

Ten years now. Ten long years of beatings, of basements... of hunger. Sometimes she keeps me locked up for days. Sometimes a week. No food. Only water, if she felt merciful.

Did I really kill my family?

I don't remember anything... only flames.

If I did, maybe I deserve this. Maybe I deserve worse.

I buried my face into my arms, my tears soaking my sleeves.

I'm almost twenty... yet, I still haven't met my wolf. Every other werewolf has one by now, but not me. I can run fast. I can fight if I need to. But I can't shift. What does that make me? Not human. Not even werewolf.

And not vampire either. If I were, I'd be craving blood by now.

Hours have passed, my stomach growled. My lips were dry and cracked. My whole body trembled.

I couldn't handle it anymore as I closed my eyes and darkness embraced me once again.