WINTER"Come back to me, Dawn. Wake up so we can play together. I miss you so much."Teardrops from my eyes fell on Dawn's face as I looked down at her face. I sucked my lower lip as I tried to hold back my wail.My fingers wiped my daughter's pale cheeks gently. Her skin was moist even though it felt cold to the touch.Days had passed, but Dawn had yet to wake up. We were still locked up in this room. There was no escape for us. The guards were outside the windows and balcony 24/7.I had run out of all the modes of escape that came to my mind. Even the door was as hard as a rock. I suffered a broken arm from slamming my body against the door.Countless times, my heart broke. I fell asleep crying and woke up still crying. Dawn didn't move no matter what I did. I tried to keep her warm as much as I could. I also wiped her body with a warm towel several times a day. Nothing worked."Wake up, my love. Mommy is so worried about you," I said taking her hand in mine.Her eyelids remained s
WINTERA bubbly, fizzy sensation coursed through my veins. The hairs at the back of my neck stood tall at the same time. I spun on my heels slowly.I knew that rich and earthy scent anywhere. Even if I was deep in slumber and was woken up, I'd be able to tell who owned that scent. It was Seven's. I swear!It was just like I last remembered. The scent came to my nose as the breeze continued to blow. I walked back to the handrail and held it. My eyes wandered in all directions.What was happening? Why could I smell Seven? Was I hallucinating?The bubbly sensation suddenly found its way to my chest. My hand slipped off the handrail. However, I held it with the other. I looked down and then to the side.It was already dark out. The crescent moon was out and the lights in the compound were already turned on.When I looked down, the only people I could see were the security guards. One of them looked at me. He scowled like they had been doing anytime I came out to the balcony.There was n
WINTER"Please, tell me that it's really you! Tell me that I am not hallucinating, Seven. Tell me that you are really alive and well!"Conflicting emotions suffused my chest as I looked into the woods. I couldn't see anything even though I kept straining my eyes. My ears were also pricked up. I listened hard to hear a response. Sadly, all I heard was fucking crickets!"Say something. Please! I'm losing it. Just say something if you can hear me!"I have never hated the almost deafening sound of silence like I do now. Everything was just strange, yet so real. I didn't think I was hallucinating anymore.Just when my last hope was fizzling out, I heard that voice saying, "Keep your head up, Winter. I know you are a strong woman. Be strong for our child. Be strong for our pack. Be strong for me. This isn't over yet. Everything is going to be okay very soon.Both of my hands clutched my chest tightly. I divided my gaze with both ends of the woods that I could see now. I didn't get any respo
SEVENIt hurt me greatly to see Winter in this state. She looked disheveled and beaten. She looked nothing like the cheerful Winter I knew. There was even a large bandage wrapped around her elbow. It was clear she had hurt herself. When she looked out in my direction, I couldn't help speaking to her. I didn't know if she heard me. But I just kept talking.There was something about the way she looked around. Maybe she could sense my presence. Or maybe she was just not acting herself because today was what it was: a tragic day marked by a tragic event.I had totally forgotten that it was my birthday until I saw Winter. Her appearance reminded me of when she found out that her parents had died in the blast/fire. For days, I saw her acting crazy and fighting off anyone who attempted to console her.Strangely, she pulled out of her grief long before I did. Now, it seemed she was slipping right back.I tried to assure her that everything would be alright. From where I stood, I noticed as s
RATIO"Come here, Longman. This goddamn wound is bleeding again!" I shouted, sinking my fist into my bed.You must have been wondering what I have been up to. Well, aside from making sure maggots did not eat me up alive and trying many things to stop my wound from bleeding, nothing much.Right now, I was pissed. Pissed that the wound I had wrapped up with tons of gauze a few hours ago was bleeding again even though I had done nothing but lay still all morning.Dr. Longman rushed into my bedroom some seconds later, bringing a first-aid kit with him. It was much bigger than the one left in my room. I watched as he opened it and took out a brand-new suture needle."Didn't you say sewing it up will be useless since parts of the skin are decaying already?" I asked, confused.Folding a row of bandages carefully, Dr. Longman replied, "Yes, boss. But I just thought that maybe... maybe...""Maybe what!" I growled. "Out with it!""Maybe if I sewed a gauze with your flesh, it would take a longer
KAI-VIIIn the gazebo located behind the house, three men stared at me as I discussed my plans. The day had just broken, yet I had called them all together after failing to fall asleep the night before. I hadn't been able to shake off a weird feeling all night."Boss, where exactly would you like us to start first?" one of them asked after listening to me attentively.I rubbed my chin, still resting my back on a pillar. "Go into town first. Check every building, whether suspicious or not. But I need you guys to have a look at any building that doesn't seem like it would have a lab. You know, people like hiding stuff in the strangest places. You three can divide yourself between the regions. At least, one person should concentrate on the outskirts, while the other two..."Yes, you guessed right. I was sending them to look for the lab run by Seven's mother when she was still alive. I had this strong feeling that once I located her lab, I would get a good lead on the Phoenix Orb.Destroy
KAI-VII"Why?"This word came out of my mouth before I knew it. I pressed my palm against my lips in instant regret.Ratio instantly flew off the handle. "What do you mean why? Since when do I need to cite a reason after assigning you a task?""No, no," I said quickly. "I didn't mean it that way, master. It was a slip of the tongue. My curiosity just got the best of me."He snorted, "You had better not make that mistake again.""I won't. I promise."Ratio sighed again. "Bring me Seven's ashes before the end of today. I don't care if you have other engagements. All those mourners can wait... In fact, send them all away. The death anniversary was yesterday, after all."I was reluctant. "But, master...""No, buts, Kai," Ratio said, his voice laced with venom. "It's high time they moved on. You can't keep cuddling them every year. It serves them right that they lost all those people in one day. If they don't want to move on, they might as well do me a favor by offing themselves!"I said n
WINTERStanding up to Kai was something I didn't know I would ever do. But with Dawn's life hanging by a thread and my pleas falling on deaf ears, I didn't particularly have any other choice.My heart was in my mouth as I threatened him. Strangely, my threat had worked. Who knew Kai would do my bidding as long as I threatened to throw a tantrum? How I wished visitors could keep coming every day. Maybe I would be able to escape from this prison with time.I watched with rapt attention as the nurse checked Dawn's vitals. When she brought out an injection, I darted forward and asked, "What's that? You are not about to poison her again, are you?"The nurse leveled a frown at me. She flicked the syringe and responded, "You don't have to know what it is. All I can say is that this will make your daughter better. You want that, don't you?"Hearing those words, I withdrew my hands which were outstretched. I stared at my poor daughter's pale face and then nodded at the nurse. "Sorry... Please
WINTER Seven allowed me to hold a small wake for Eric after his body was sent over to his father. I also intended to visit his grave with flowers once I got news about his funeral. As much as a part of me wanted to hate Eric for all the mental strain he put me through, I just couldn't. Despite being infatuated and impulsive, he was still a good friend of mine. His assurance to rescue me was one of the things that made me persevere during those six torturous years. More so, he had protected me from his sister. I wasn't sure I would have survived getting stabbed after barely surviving a gunshot wound with the aid of the Phoenix Orb. As for Becky, she was whisked away while shouting, "Seven, if I can't have you, no one else can!" Last I heard, she was going to be tried for two counts of attempted murder and murder. It turned out that after investigation, the bomb blast that almost took me and my baby's life was her doing. I had lost count of how many times Seven apologized. For some
WINTERI really died. I died with Seven's voice replaying in my head. Then his voice was replaced with a couple of others. I drifted in and out of consciousness as a bright light shone above me.When I finally woke up, Seven's face was the first thing I saw. He grabbed my hand with both of his and smiled brightly. "You're back!"My throat felt dry as I said, "What happened?""You were in a coma. The doctor took out the bullet and..."He picked up a ziplock bag from the table and held it up to me. I saw a bullet inside it. There was something else."Is that...is that what I think it is?" I muttered, staring at the strange-looking shiny ball.Seven nodded. "Yes, this is the Phoenix Orb.""How did it even get inside me?"He sighed. "On the night we had sex for the first time while we kissed, I put it inside of you. I did it to protect you, but I am sorry for not asking for your consent."I went silent for a while, replaying that night. "So, this thing has been inside my chest for six yea
SEVENEverything froze over as soon as Winter's body fell into my arms. I stared for a long time before my brain processed what just happened. "Aargh!" I roared as soon as I saw the blood on Winter's chest.Clutching her shoulders, I looked at her face which was fast becoming pale. "Winter! Why did you? Why!"She smiled at me. "Because I love you and you would have done the same?"I buried my face in her neck. "You shouldn't have. You shouldn't--""Good riddance!" A snarl interrupted my words all of a sudden.I raised my head only to find Nora still aiming the gun at me. With the swiftness of a thousand wolves, I let go of Winter and lunged at Nora. My claws pierced into her chest. And when I pulled back, her heart came with it.Her eyes bulged from the sockets as she fell to the floor with a thud. Ratio, whose head was still on her lap, growled at this moment.Blinded by immeasurable rage, I squeezed the bloodied heart in my hand. Then dropped it to the floor."You!" Ratio shouted a
SEVENEveryone froze on the spot. I looked upstairs just in time for a pair of heels to appear out of nowhere. Tracing the plump legs up, I was shocked to find the face staring down at me."Mother?"My stepmother, Nora, eyed me as she descended the stairs. The gun in her hand scrapped the banister in the process. Once she got to the end of the stairs, she barred her teeth. "I am not your mother! Don't ever call me that!"Another jolt of shock coursed through my body. I stammered, "What...what's happening? What...what are you doing here?""What does it look like I am doing here!" she barked.At this moment, Ratio growled. I saw him reach out his hand to Nora. "Come, my love."What the...My jaw dropped to the floor as I watched Nora walk over to where Ratio was lying. She placed his head on her lap and touched his face. She cried, "What have they done to you, darling? Oh, my God!""Nora!" I shouted. "What do you think you are doing? You know this guy?"At my question, Ratio flashed his
SEVENIt wasn't just any white wolf. It was a she-wolf. She landed on her thin long legs with stealth and barred her equally white teeth at Ratio who was down on his knees.Suddenly, the wolf’s head turned in my direction. My heart had just taken a great leap when I locked eyes with the she-wolf. I instantly felt a sense of connection and smelled that familiar scent.“Winter?” I called out, still skeptical.The she-wolf glanced beside me. She ran behind the coffin-like box. Seconds passed before she showed up again. This time, in her human form and fully dressed in a flannel dress.“Why did you come here? It's too dangerous. Go!” I shouted worriedly.Winter shook her head hard. “I am not leaving you. I only just got you back.”“He’s going to kill you,” I said, glancing at Ratio who was still down and groaning. “Listen to me, please! Leave!”Winter walked over to the cage. She reached out her index finger and touched it slightly. Her skin instantly sizzled. Seeing this, I got even more
SEVEN I stood still, trying to figure out where exactly the voice was coming from. "It's you. Ratio?""Yes, that's me," Came the proud voice. "But you don't get to call me that, Seven. It's Uncle Darren to you."I couldn't help chuckling. "Uncle, my foot! Considering all the atrocities you have committed, you don't even deserve a name, let alone to be called uncle by me.""Ha-ha-ha!" The laugh reverberated on the walls again. "I must say I am quite surprised, nephew. You are not like your father. Unlike him, you have got a very big mouth! Luka must be turning in his grave.""Keep my father's name out of your fucking mouth!" I roared.Ratio chuckled. "And if I don't?"My breathing was getting heavier at this time. I clenched my fists despite the burns on my palms.That voice came again. "It's not like you can do anything to me. You fell right into my trap, so I can say whatever name I like. Luka...Luka! Luka! Luka, that stupid cousin of mine.""Shut the fuck up!"Ratio didn't listen.
SEVENNo one could tell me nothing. The sex Winter and I just had blew my mind. I had gone over this moment several times, but it never occurred to me that it would be this good. I couldn't have enough of her body. Fortunately, she felt the same way.When I finally came, we were both breathing heavily. I collapsed beside her and pulled her into my arms. It didn't take long before we both dozed off. It was already dark outside when I was awoken by the ringing of my phone. I looked at the pile of my clothes that lay on the floor and saw a light coming from the pocket of my pants."Shit! Who could that be?" I cursed as quietly as possible.Winter stirred in my arms. She turned away, her bare butt rubbing against my groin. I held my breath and groaned. I knew it was only a matter of seconds before my little man began to think for me.Quickly and gently, I pulled my arm from underneath Winter's head. I got out of bed and took out my phone. I pressed the volume button before even looking a
WINTERThe moistness of Seven's lips threw me off guard. I wanted to pull away, but I found myself frozen. When he bit my lower lip hard, my whole world tilted.Sparks erupted in my closed eyes. Reels upon reels of pictures filled my head. There were images of Dawn in a princess gown. Then, there was an eruption. After that came the Seven's face. He was roaring at me. No, that's not him. That's...that's...I know him. But that's not Seven. That's... Oh, God! Why can't I reach that name?I was still struggling to remember that name when Seven parted my lips with his tongue and it found its way into my mouth. It sent a shiver through my gooey body. Images continued to pour into my head. No, they were more like motion pictures...videos. Seven's face appeared again. This time, he was smiling at me. He said something. When I read his lips, he seemed to say those magic three words. "I love you!"His voice sounded in my head at this time. "I love you, Winter, and I want you to be my Luna.""
SEVENWinter let go of her head. When she looked up at me, I realized that she had lost so much weight. She wasn't this thin when I saw her at Dawn's birthday party. More so, it seemed she had been crying a lot.What happened to her?I was just about to say something when Winter pulled away from me and ran over to Alaric. She squatted beside him as the soldiers pressed him to the floor. "Honey, please tell me that guy is saying nonsense?""He is!" Alaric declared without skipping a beat. "He's a bad man. In fact, he was the one who caused your car crash.""What!" Winter and I exclaimed at the same time.I saw her look at me. Rage sparked in her eyes. I sensed her blood boiling at the same time. Suddenly, she pointed at me and cried, "So, it was you! You almost killed me. You caused the accident that took my precious daughter away from me!"For a second, I was speechless. What crash were they talking about? Winter's only bad encounter with a car recently was from the abduction which ha