As thunder crackled right outside a small apartment complex, a girl no older than a college freshmen curled up into a ball, trying to forget the noise of the outside world as she scrolled through her favourite novel the umpteenth time that night.
Her pale hands trembled each time the rain fell harder, or the sound of thunder echoed. She tried not to squeeze her light green eyes shut at each bit of noise.
Her dark brown locks fell over her face as she huddled closely into her blanket, rereading the same lines. "I love you." The male lead, her second favourite character in "The Lady of Andromeda". She had read the novel from start to end, nearly ten times that month alone.
The novel was not the greatest in terms of its treatment to their side characters, or even second leads, but the romance had always brought her back. A girl that has a whirlwind romance with the male lead, a duke with a cold attitude and power behind his name, mix with fantasy and nobility.
Such a classic, but she truly adored it. Even amongst the crippling student loans, she still bought merch. However her favorite character was the second male lead, the prince, who tragically passed to save the female lead, and had the duke, his cousin, inherit the title of future king as the only remaining member of royalty of the next generation.
As a second loud cackle followed, she jumped as the light blew out. A blackout was the last she needed, she thought as she tried to search for a candle.
With a simple mistake, she managed to start a fire, blocking herself in when setting the candle down, only for the flames to swallow her whole. A miserable end with a barely reached adult.
As she closed her eyes she felt something swallow her. A bright light. When she opened them, she found a boy hovering over with a slightly panicked look. "We have an issue," he whispered to a boy next to him. "Mom is going to be mad." He finished as they notice her wake.
Two boys with similar appearances, one with honey-blonde hair, the other with grey-ish purple hair. Their eyes were a light shade of forest-green, and they observed her every move. Their bodies were hard to really see as they leaned.
"Clover?" One of the boys called, and waved his hands. She was confused, that was her name but who was this child?
Blinking, she tried to move but her head pounded. "Mmf… what about the fire?" She tried to mutter out but instead of her voice out came a softer and lighter tone.
Panic arose on her face as the other boys noticed. "Oh we are getting spanked," the one with honey hair said as he tried to reason with her. "Don't tell mother, and I'll let you have my dessert." He begged.
Just who were they? Rather, who was she? Looking down she saw a pair of thin and pale arms, and messy pink locks touching her cheeks as the boy beside her pulled her up. "Who are you?" She asked with fear in her eyes.
This was not her body. They did not look normal. Even her attire, a dress with roses adorning the corset was not something she would wear. Eyes widening, the other boy helped her fix herself and quickly questioned. "Do you know who you are, Clover?" He asked.
That's when she shook her head and tried to step back, only for her heel to gave way and cause her to fall back, only for the two to try and help her. "Did we overdo it?" The blonde asked the other who tried to stay reasonable.
She really wanted to push them away, but as they heard a shout, "Young Masters," coupled by footsteps they were quick to step in front of her already looking solemn. "We have been looking everywhere, the young lady is here too." A man said with a worried expression.
An older gentleman, his hair was already white. His eyes a light blue, and a neatly gentle look. He was clearly worried for them no matter who he was. Or in fact, who was she?
"This is our fault." The blonde said and bowed with tears in his eyes as the other moved over and showed her to him.
"Clover doesn't remember us." He said in a smaller voice than the other male, as she looked to the side confused, pointing to herself. As the man tried to approach, she only stepped back.
Her leg really did give out a second time as the man yelled out for other people. "Quickly, call the doctor and summon Marquis Hargrove." He called out, only for something to register.
Her name was Clover, Clover Hargrove. This was a minor side-character within the novel side story, "A Memory of the Past." She debuted in a chapter in the actual novel later in the hundreds. The little sister of the fourth and fifth final male leads. A girl who suffered a tragic illness in her childhood. Her older brothers were very caring.
In the side-story after story, it described their childhood with her in more detail. She looked similar to their father and was doted on by him and her brothers, but all the money would not save her. However, as she grew older she survived. Only for the female lead to have used her as cannon fodder in later chapters.
The female lead grew close to Clover, but allowed the girl to die in a fire. Unable to go far due to her illness, she encouraged her to leave after saving her. The little girl died in a fire the girl she died for had caused due to the antagonist. A man who was obsessive with her after rejection, a minor plot point to help her relationship with duke.
As realisation hit, her eyes wavered as she feared. Not just for herself, but for what would happen. The people who called themselves her family would also suffer. The twins who were in sketchy business ultimate are gotten rid of by the duke himself, so it's all of them together.
The only reason she remember Clover was one thing. Their eyes shared the same colour like their name, something she thought was cool during the time of appearance and side-story release. She secretly hoped the character was modeled after her. A frequent commenter.
However now of all times, she wished Clover never existed. "Are you able to walk?" The man before her asked as she could barely squeak with warm tears beginning to prick.
The tears were warm, this wasn't a dream, she had become numb due to confusion, but finally felt the pain in her leg and the heat of her body.
She was going to die a second time. Only this time, the fire would be no accident and she would be stuck sick for who knows how many years as Clover died at seventeen years of age.
She was scared. She had always wished to be the protagonist and not some side-character, especially not cannon fodder, she wanted a happy end.
She had a hard time believing it was reality, even as the doctors came to the yard and begun questioning her. She could barely open her mouth before at long last she whispered, "I don't want to die to a terrible heroine as a side-character." Confusing the people around her.
Quickly, the marquis and even marchioness rushed to the yard. There a man with rose-gold pink hair and light brown eyes came out looking frantic and rushed for her. A telltale sign that he was the man in charge, followed by a woman with honey-gold hair and forest green eyes.
The woman was a bit far as the man practically ran. He sprinted towards her and scooped her up, telling them to head to the infirmary. She had now recalled this scene, this was the day in the side chapter.
Clover was not born with an illness. They had reason to suspect she was poisoned, by a person within the family who sent a spy, likely from her mother's side.
Today was the day she had her first faint. She dropped while playing with her brothers. They blame themselves, even her father did. After her passing they could never tell if it was magic, illness, or poison as her body went up in flames.
But… if there was the slightest chance her body really was poisoned and this was only the start, then perhaps there was a chance.
She was never a heroine, a cool protagonist charismatic and untouchable. She couldn't even prevent an egg from burning.
However, if there was the slightest chance of living she had to take the opportunity. With a bold accusation she grasped at her father's chest, tugging his shirt.
She felt sweat drip down her forehead as she clutched tightly. "I.. have been… poisoned." She said between gasps and trying to struggle for air as she tried to swallow her nerves and pain. No way was she going to take away her future a second time, even if they didn't believe her she could still try.
There was no way the author would throw in poison for no reason. Perhaps she was a scrapped idea. No one important enough to get an explanation, but she was surely going to get one.
She felt herself beginning to black out again, and she felt like she would never be able to do anything else. As her eyes shut her grip loosened, as her father begun shouting orders.
His brown orbs were filled with anger at the sight of his daughter. "Everyone is banned from leaving. Anyone who leaves the property will be condemned as a traitor, and sentenced to the dungeons."
It was then he looked at his own sons with a look of pure frustration. "Ensure that no one leaves, and investigate everything she has eaten and including the chefs, now." With that he quickly took her away, leaving behind panicked staff, two twins who only gave each other a look before going to reach for their swords, and the marchioness who was in such shock her fan she was gracefully holding had slipped.