[01 - The Dawn of Retribution]

The sound of her soft whimpers and occasional sobs echoed in the dimly lit room. Every now and then, a heart-wrenching cry would escape her lips as she lay on the bed, thrashing under the sheets.

Her beautiful face twisted in distress and her knuckles had turned white because of the strain of clutching the sheets tightly. Her breathing grew rapid and shallow, her eyelids fluttering as her subconscious wrestled with the horrors of her nightmare. 

"Please don't -"

"Mom! Dad! No!"

"Nate, don't leave me."

"Chrissy, it hurts."

In the dark abyss of her nightmare, Seraphina could hear ear-piercing screams, and desperate cries for help that echoed in the void. If that wasn't torturous enough, Seraphina found herself standing alone in the hallway of a mansion that was once her home. Following the screams, she reached the living room which was covered in the metallic stench of blood that made her stomach churn.

The burnt walls, the destroyed furniture, and the congealing puddles of blood on the floor were a testament to the horror that had occurred there. Tears ran unabashedly down her cheeks, and despite being stricken with fear, Seraphina moved forward.

The screams grew louder with every step that she took. But soon those screams stopped. It started as a chuckle, deep and guttural, but quickly escalated into maniacal cackling. 

Her heart pounded painfully in her chest. Seraphina could feel multiple pairs of eyes on her, watching her intently. Panic clawed at her insides, making it hard to breathe. She tripped on her feet and stumbled while trying to escape, hurting herself in the process.

Then suddenly, the laughter stopped and the only sound that she could hear was of her heart whose beat sounded similar to that of a war drum. The eerie silence fueled her fear and she tried to run away from the never-ending nightmare of blood, screams, and mocking laughter only to stumble and fall down.

Hands grabbed her ankles and began to drag her while all Seraphina could do was scream.

Just as she felt she could take no more, Seraphina jolted awake with a scream of horror tearing from her lips. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead. Her eyes snapped open, wild and terrified, and her body shook with fear.

18 years.

The same nightmare had plagued her for over 18 years and it still had the power to spark fear inside her. Pulling her legs against her chest, Seraphina rested her head on her knees and her body shook with remnant fear.

Closing her eyes, she tried to calm her racing heart reminding herself that soon everything will be fine. Running a hand messily through her hair, Seraphina stepped off the bed and went to the washroom to freshen up.

Turning the lights on, she splashed cold water on her face, letting the icy sensation ground her in the present. Taking out a hair tie from the cabinet, she pulled up her hair in a ponytail and began taking off her night dress.

She got dressed in her gym attire, laced up her running shoes, and packed her boxing gloves, a water bottle, and a few other necessities in her gym bag and she stepped out of her house, into the predawn darkness.

She handed her gym bag to her driver who placed the bag on the passenger seat and drove away while Seraphina was going to jog all the way to the gym. With a steady and unrelenting pace, she ran on the familiar path that she had traversed countless times.

After running for about 5 miles, Seraphina finally stopped at the coffee shop just two blocks away from her gym. The shopkeeper, familiar with Seraphina, was already working on preparing a cup of black coffee for her while she sat down on a nearby bench and let her head fall backward letting her racing heart calm down.

She looked up at the sky noticing the stars had faded up and sunrays were starting to creep up. One day, her nightmares would fade away like these stars. One day, she would be able to dream about light and happiness, and not of the tragedy she suffered18 years ago.

Her expressions turned firm, her eyes hardened with determination and anger, and her hands clenched tightly into fists. Today was the day she will be putting her plans into motion. 

She had spent months preparing for this day, honing her skills, gathering resources and information to bring absolute destruction upon those who had shattered her world. The faces of her family flashed through her mind, and she drew strength from the happy memories that she had of them. It was time she avenged their sufferings and she would not fail them.

After drinking a cup of coffee, Seraphina covered the remaining distance to her gym by walking. Once there, she worked out for 2 hours before going back home. Instead of walking back, she chose to be driven back home. 

Sitting in the backseat of her car, Seraphina took out her cell phone to check her schedule for the day and other important emails. One such email had a list of interns who would be trained personally by her.

Among the three fashion design graduates that she had taken under her wing, the name that interested her most was Chloe Sophia Grayson.

With a delightful chuckle, Seraphina opened the attached resume and went through Chloe's details and designs that she had submitted at different levels of the selection process.

She was an okay designer but not capable enough. The only reason Chloe was chosen to be her intern was her name and who her parents were.

Chloe was the youngest and only daughter of Marcus Grayson; the main perpetrator behind all that happened 18 years ago. She had been informed that out of three children, Marcus dotted upon Chloe the most. She's the quintessential daddy's little girl.

"Oh, I am going to have so much fun with you little canary." the excitement on Seraphina's face was scary.

Chloe was going to be her first pawn in this game of revenge that she was playing against Marcus. Her fingers hovered over the innocent and beautiful face that belonged to the daughter of her enemy. Alas! This innocent was nothing but a façade. It hid behind it a dirty soul and a dark heart.

That's why Seraphina had no qualms about what she had planned for Chloe. Some people just deserve all the bad things happening to them and Chloe was one of those just as her father was.

"I am going to absolutely enjoy ripping you all apart into shreds. Starting with you, little canary." with another chuckle, Seraphina put aside her cell phone.

Closing her eyes, she leaned back on her seat in a relaxing position and let out a hum of satisfaction. Once she arrived back home, Seraphina went to take a shower and get ready for the day.

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Dressed in a red business suit; straight red trousers, a white corset top, and a red jacket over it, Seraphina walked inside her office building, "The Seraphina Atelier".

After working hard for over 10 years in the fashion industry, Seraphina successfully reached the top and was counted among the top fashion brands in the world. The Seraphina Atelier did not only create couture outfits but also high-end jewelry pieces, luxury bags, and other accessories.

Seraphina wasn't just a name. It was a brand. And a very successful and powerful one at that.

Walking inside her cabin with her secretary, Gina, following her, Seraphina sat down on her chair listening to Gina brief her about her schedule for the day. As she was instructed to do, Gina had pushed back other appointments to accommodate a face to face meeting with the new interns.

"Call them in, Gina." told Seraphina her lips curved up in a smirk.

"Certainly." responded Gina and stepped out of the cabin for a few seconds to call in the three interns who would be training directly under Seraphina.

Trisha Bennett, Jacob Hughes, and Chloe Grayson.

The three interns entered the cabin, each with a distinct demeanor. Trisha appeared slightly nervous yet confident, Jacob was visibly the most excited, and Chloe seemed as if she owned the place, casually strolling in as if it were a leisurely walk.

After the initial greetings and introductions, Seraphina stood up and walked around her desk to stand in front of the interns. Leaning against the massive desk, she crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking at them in a scrutinizing way, making an evaluation based on their appearances.

"If you guys are to work for The Seraphina Atelier, you have to look like you belong." commented Seraphina walking closer. She circled them once before going back to sit on her chair.

"That oversized jacket is completely swallowing you and doesn't do justice to your frame. It's making you look bulky. Throw it out and try something more form fitting with simpler patterns than the atrocity that you are wearing." she commented while pointing at Trisha.

"Jacob, those wide legged pants are so not in style, especially not for those who have short legs like you. Straight trousers would suit you better. Ditch those bright summer colors, winter tones would suit you much better."

"And Chloe is that what Aurora wore during the promotions of Eternal Eclipse." Chloe smiled in self-satisfaction not noticing the derisiveness in Seraphina's tone.

Smoothing her hands over the dress that she was wearing, Chloe responded, "Yes -" but was interrupted mid-sentence when Seraphina tsked.

"I thought so." she spoke disdainfully and with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"Aurora is an exotic beauty, this dress, this color, and the pattern were specifically made for her. Not anybody can carry this dress like Aurora did, not you certainly." Seraphina pointed out. She wasn't lying though.

Chloe's eyes widened slightly and embarrassment colored her cheeks but Seraphina continued, "That shade of orange suits olive skin tones better. It's completely washing you out. And my God, why would you wear such chunky pieces of gold jewelry with that dress."

"Don't mind, hmm, darling, but you are in dire need of a complete makeover, darling. Like I said, if you are going to work for me, you have to dress to match the standard of my brand." Seraphina smiled but the smile on Chloe's face was gone.

"Gina, tell Aaron to show them their working stations and have them work on the assignment. The file's with Aaron, he'll know what to do." ordered Seraphina.

With an acknowledging nod, Gina walked out of the cabin followed by the three interns. Once they were gone, Seraphina relaxed on her chair and smiled wide. It wasn't much and it was petty but it was just the start. There's so much more that Seraphina had in mind.

"I am gonna make your life hell, little canary. Just wait and watch."