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The Inferno's Claim
The Inferno's Claim
Author: Luizdo

The News

Author: Luizdo
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

In a dimly lit room in which the only source of light was the gentle rays of sunlight reflecting through the tiny space that the thick and vintage curtains hung on the double door window missed covering, a small figure could be seen curled up in a queen-sized wooden bed. Her mid-waist fiery hair was sprawled over the soft pillows - a stark contrast to the grey cotton linens. 

 

She let out a low groan as she slowly drifted awake from her deep slumber. Her head was pounding as though she carried the weight of the entire world alone.

 

Genova's groggy, sapphire blue eyes took a moment of adjustment to her surroundings and noticed she was back in her bedroom. A slight frown graced her smooth and youthful forehead as she wondered if yesterday's event was only her imagination?!

 

Could she have merely dreamt of all that happened on her sixteenth birthday?

 

She shook her head to arrange her thoughts, but the pounding in her head was impossible to ignore. It was making her reasoning and focus unstable.

 

Though she often had migraines, it however, was never to this extent. And for a fact, she knew it had something to do with last night. Her mind couldn't have possibly made all of that up!

 

'But how did I get home?' She wondered.

 

'Probably made it back before I fully blacked out!'

 

Or perhaps, the dreadful experience on her sixteenth birthday was indeed just her imagination. Otherwise, how else could she explain how she had managed to get out unscathed from a situation that almost ruined her life?

 

Genova hoped her parents went to bed early because the last thing she wanted was them worrying about her even more than they already had.

 

A sad sigh left her throat as she slowly yet gingerly crawled out of bed. So much for her much-anticipated 16th birthday celebration which of course, ended up in a disaster.

 

Thank God not much damage was done! But why was her recollection so disorganized? Why can't she remember anything after she had blacked out?

 

Genova made a mental note to avoid pubs at all costs. She didn't want the same event to retake place in the future. For now, she will push back all the negativity her dream/last night's deed had stirred within her and focus on the life ahead of her.

 

It was Sunday and she couldn't be happier. That being the case, perhaps she should strive for a little more sleep since her body was desperately crying for it. 

 

She glanced at the nightstand and saw it was still pretty early. The antic golden alarm clock she had received from her dad on her fifteenth birthday and had kept beside her bed since that day showed it was only 6: 58 am.

 

There was no need for an early rise today because she wasn't required to be at work or school. The good thing about weekends!

 

With that, she laid back down and soon drifted back to sleep.

 

-----

 

It was 11:25 am when her eyes fluttered open again.

 

And with the burning sensation in her stomach, she knew she had to get something to eat soon before it worsened. She was famished!

 

And to her relief, the throbbing headache from before had also eased significantly. Thus, Genova got up, showered then headed down for brunch.

 

Her mom Mary was sitting on the kitchen couch alone with a cup of tea placed in front of her when Genova came in.

 

"Good morning, honey," Mary smiled warmly at her daughter.

 

"Good morning, mom." Genova returned the pleasantry and leaned in to kiss her mother on the cheek. "I hope your sleep was sound?!" She added after pulling away from the older woman.

 

Mary chuckled. "My night was well rested, honey. I could say the same about yours; I came to inform you of breakfast earlier but found you deep asleep."

 

Genova's mind took a quick spin to the night before and unknowingly pursed her lips. She was still unsure exactly what had happened or if her parents were aware of anything. But looking at her mother right now, the woman seemed so relaxed, a reaction that contradicted how it would be should her mom have found out about her unanswered questions.

 

She was snapped out of her reverie when she heard, "Come, sit while I fix you something to eat." Mary patted the space beside her, signaling her daughter to come closer.

 

"Hmm." She hummed and sat down beside her mom.

 

Mary took a new teacup from the tray and filled it with a pinkish-reddish liquid. "Here, have some tea while I prepare you brunch."

 

"Have I told you how wonderful you are, mom?"

"I am not so sure... but always happy to hear," Mary said with a wink. 

Genova chuckled while bringing the cup to her lips and took a sip from the hot liquid. Her eyes shut close as she hummed in satisfaction.

 

"I could never get bored with your cooking and tea skills, mom. No one can beat you in these, I tell you," she commented while grinning from ear to ear.

 

Mary let out a low laugh and shook her head. "You and your father are the people that matter the most to me. And as the saying goes, 'the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach'. And that extends to you, my dear!"

 

Images of her dad's face and how he always made such delightful sounds which always came off annoying to her mom whenever he ate, flashed through Genova's mind. Her head couldn't help but tilt back as she reverberated in a burst of laughter.

 

Mary's smile broadened. "I know what must be running through that head of yours. The fact that you immediately started laughing after my remark about your father... It can only be about him."

 

"You know me too well, mama."

 

"Indeed I do. You are my child, after all!" Mary stated while walking back to the dining table with a bowl of lentil soup and three slices of flat bread.

 

"Thanks, mom," Genova said with the utmost gratitude. Then she picked up a soup spoon and started digging into her food. But as she did, her mind suddenly registered that she had not seen her dad anywhere.

 

"Where is dad?" She inquired.

 

"Oh, he's out! Should be back soon, honey." 

 

"Ok!" Genova said nothing more as her attention returned to her food.

 

Mary refilled her teacup and kept tapping the table with her fingers while watching her daughter eat.

 

Genova noticed the older woman's unusual behavior. "Is something bothering you, mom?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.

 

Mary paused as it registered on her that she had been tapping the table while her mind wandered away. She forced a smile with, "Nothing to worry about, dear. I will tell you after you finish your food."

 

Genova felt even more on edge. She took the bowl of soup and gulped the liquid down her throat in one goal.

 

"There, I'm done!" She said, showing her mom the empty soup bowl and urging the woman to begin.

 

"Indeed!" Mary sighed. "Well, your father and I decided to have you move in with your aunt in Wooddale." She continued, "You know your chance of finding a decent job is higher in big cities. A small town like Roseville has too little to offer a girl like you."

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  • The Inferno's Claim   The News (2)

    "Well, your father and I both decided to have you move in with your aunt in Wooddale." She continued, "You know your chances of finding a better job are higher in big cities. A small town like Roseville has too little to offer a girl like you, my child."Genova went stiff upon hearing that. Her eyes shut up at her mom, looking so taken aback.Mary let out a deep sigh seeing the look of shock on her daughter's face. Admittedly, the older woman had expected this exact reaction because anyone close to them would have deduced how inseparable their family of three was. Genova was a child who had never been away from her family since the day she came into their lives. So this sudden news would surely be hard for her to digest. Leaning over the table to take her daughter's hands, "Child, as parents, you have to believe that we will always do what's best for you. Your betterment will always come before ours. And this decision is one that we have pondered greatly about and decided it was th

  • The Inferno's Claim   Eva

    Genova inched closer to her mom and wiped the tears away from the older woman's eyes with her thumb."Mom, dad. Please take good care of yourselves. I will phone you once our flight lands in Wooddale," she said while fighting back her own tears.Mary sniffled. "Okay honey… please be safe out there.""Be vigilant and always watch your back. Big cities aren't that safe for young girls like you; avoid getting deceived by some bastards that might try to sweet talk you into doing anything with them." Her dad chimed in.Mary and Genova both turned to look at him and burst into laughter.The man's jaws were clenched as though the mere thought of it was about to make him go on a killing spree."Our little girl isn't a child anymore, honey. She will find her right match one day and have her own family. I'm even more glad she's being sent away because no man will dare to pursue her knowing her dad will rain hellfire on them," Mary chided her husband.Ferd uttered no word. However, one could tel

  • The Inferno's Claim   Settling In

    Eva decided to spare the girl, who was all flushed from her tease. "Okay, Gen, let's head home now, shall we? You must be tired!?Genova quickly nodded her head. Indeed she was exhausted. And thank God her aunt wasn't planning on teasing her even more. She would have blown up for real if this had gone on. "Let me help with your luggage," Eva said with her arm stretched out to grab the large red suitcase. "Oh, I can manage-" Genova trailed off as the elegant woman beat her to it. "I know you can manage, dear, but let me at least be a good host and a supportive adult," she stated while transferring the baggage to her most significant hand. Genova tucked locks of fiery hair behind her ear, and her lips stretched into a smile. "Thank you, aunt," she muttered. "My pleasure. Now let's get you home."-----Unlike many who chose to live in a city's center, Eva's house was far from it. The ride took them 45 minutes.Genova was amazed at how much Wooddale had developed over the years. She

  • The Inferno's Claim   The Encounter

    Genova only got an hour of sleep before she began to twist and turn on the bed. Something was urging her to take a walk in the forest and the pull was incredibly strong. She had tried to fight it during the past thirty minutes but each preceding second made it impossible to ignore. Unable to endure the compulsion any longer, her blue eyes finally snapped open while blowing a puff of frustrated breath. 'Now, why on earth is going for a walk so important? Where did this sudden energy materialize from?' Genova pouted because she could barely keep her eyes open not more than two hours ago. Genova continued to huff and puff while venting her displeasure on the pillows for a few more minutes until she couldn't fight the call anymore. 'Fine. Perhaps that walk isn't a bad idea after all. Anything that will douse this unwanted energy so I can get a good sleep is more than welcome.' She sat up on the bed and stared at her reflection in the vast wardrobe mirror facing her bed with a frown.

  • The Inferno's Claim   The Natural Order

    Genova stirred awake from her sleep later that evening. Beads of sweat covered her forehead, and her breathing was uneven as though she just ran a countless-kilometer marathon. She sat up on the bed and placed her hands over her banging chest as she tried remembering her terrifying dream. She rummaged through her mind to find out what the nightmare was about, but nothing came no matter how hard she tried. Perhaps it was too horrifying, and it was best not to remember anything of it. Sighing, Genova reached for her phone on the nightstand and pressed the lock button to check the time. The phone screen showed it was 6:45 in the evening."Oh, shit! I have overslept!" She cussed and quickly crawled out of bed. Her eyes were still drowsy, and her body demanding for more sleep.She had to stand up earlier that day and prepare to leave for the airport. Moreover, she barely got a wink of sleep the night before. Genova couldn't close her eyes last night as her heart felt too heavy to say go

  • The Inferno's Claim   Zoe

    The two people at the dining table whipped their heads in the direction to see an appealing young figure in a floral over-the-knee dress walking down the stairs. Her heavy caramel waves hung freely over her shoulders to her back, and her grey eyes were sharp.Zoe! Genova almost couldn't recognize the girl should it not have been the unmistakable resemblance the female shared with her aunt.Zoe was Eva's daughter and only child.Eva's husband, Zoe's father, died in an accident a few years back. Zoe was just a toddler at that time. As such, she never truly experienced the love of having a father in her life. Her mom had been the only parent she had.The last time both girls saw one another was over six years ago. And like her, Zoe had also grown into one dashing young lady."Hi, Zoe!" Genova beamed. In contracts, Zoe's expression turned grimly to see the last person she ever expected to be in their home.She was not at all pleased with the idea that Genova would be staying with them f

  • The Inferno's Claim   Warming Up To Her New Environment

    Genova spent the last two days exploring the vast estate that seemed unending. The place was its own village with many other residents, and she met quite some of them during her expeditor.Initially, Genova felt crept out to being stared at whenever she passed by any of the estate’s co-inhabitants. But that odd feeling disappeared when she bumped into familiar faces again. She had almost forgotten how she had made a few friends, ones she had always looked forward to seeing after her last visit six years ago. However, this longing gradually faded as she aged and focused on building her life in her hometown. Genova was ecstatic to see the twins, Kaden and Karla, her favorite child playmates. Kaden had grown so tall and well-built with a cold personality that she almost didn’t recognize him at first. Karla was no different. The girl was nearly as tall as her brother with unmistakable feistiness. Genova was not at all hoping the twins would remember her because they had been kids the l

  • The Inferno's Claim   First Day (1)

    The Black Maybach transporting Eva and Genova pulled over at the school parking lot a few minutes later.Due to the side of town Eva’s mansion was located in, everything was far out of reach. Even going to the supermarket outside the estate wasn't a walkable distance."We have arrived!" Eva announced once the car was fully parked and the ignition was turned off.The driver got down and hurried to open the back passenger seat first for Eva and then intended to do the same for the other passenger. However, Genova was already out before the man could move around the vehicle."Thank you, Wilson. I will show my niece to the Dean's office; we will head to the office afterward," Eva said. Turning to the girl beside her whose mouth was agape in utter fascination, Eva chuckled lowly. "Come on, Gen. You are going to make me late for the office!"Genova closed her mouth and then opened it again like a fish, but no words came out. One could tell she was in awe of the sight that welcomed her. Thus

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  • The Inferno's Claim   The New Guy

    “Will you two quit with the saliva exchange? It's grouse!” Irene pouted at the two who had been eating each other's lips for no less than ten minutes in the school garden. “Look away if it gives you an eyesore!” Genova said drily. “Whatever!” Irene rolled her eyes irritatedly. “Break is over; we still have classes to attend. I suggest you either take this somewhere private or continue when you get home and focus on making sure you make it to the final exam. I will leave you two to it either way.” With that, she pushed herself off the wall her back rested on and proceeded to the lecture hall. “I should go,” Genova said while wriggling out of Noah’s limbs. “But I don’t want you to leave.”“Come on, Noah, it is only for two more hours.”“Who knows if your dad will prevent us from seeing each other again?” Noah pointed out. “I am not going back there again!” Genova felt rage building inside her as she recollect how her dad had slapped her. He went too far! “But I will leave for

  • The Inferno's Claim   The Announcement

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  • The Inferno's Claim   Enforcing Measures

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  • The Inferno's Claim   Forming Alliance

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  • The Inferno's Claim   The Unexpected Guest (2)

    Genova felt chills run down her spine at the aura emitting from her father. It looked like a murder was about to take place judging from how irate he seemed at this moment. She scurried to her feet, her heart racing with panic. "Dad! You… y-you are here?!” Genova stuttered. Noah’s lips formed a thin line to see her look so scared. Did she not have any trust in him to handle the situation? Also, why was her dad acting like he had committed a grave sin by fucking his daughter? Admittedly, this was nothing unexpected from an overly-protective father. But wasn’t the man the same as him? What about the woman he had been fucking all his life? Did he forget how she was also someone’s daughter as well? "Come here, babe." Noah ordered in a gentle tone while stretching out his arms. However, a frown graced his face when Genova shook her head and carefully took steps back.Ferd's expression darkened even more.How dare this useless bastard ignore him like this?He took a step forward to gra

  • The Inferno's Claim   The Unexpected Guest (1)

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  • The Inferno's Claim   The Confrontation (2)

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  • The Inferno's Claim   The Confrontation (1)

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  • The Inferno's Claim   Meeting The Pack (2)

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