[A/N: I struggled writing this chapter because it's from a female POV. I don't know how to write female POVs. Sorry for the delay. Cut me some slack.
Also, thank you very much for three more collections.]
[Seraphina's POV]
Existence
It is a seemingly simple word, but its complexity is endless.
Every intelligent being encounters this question at least once.
The query or reason for their existence.
Everyone finds a different answer to this concept.
Some realize it at some point, while others suffer despair.
Surprisingly, I realized my existence as well.
Cursed
I am cursed to see an unchangeable future.
The unchanging fates which the heavenly providence had established.
I can't change it.
I can only witness it.
A bystander.
I tried to twist fate, only to face despair.
I was a child who was no different from others.
A girl with innocent dreams.
We were roaming the garden of our mansion, chasing butterflies and animals.
A time when this curse, which I loathe with all my heart, never existed.
I still remember being a clueless child running around the orchard with my dearest friend, Emma.
Emma was the daughter of a maid who worked at our mansion.
My father and mother were the kindest and helped me become her friend.
It was awkward at first, but eventually, we became best friends.
We were both six-year-old dolls who roamed around chasing our adorable cat, Suzy.
Emma was strong and kind-hearted, always wearing a smile that could chase away the darkest clouds. Her laughter was a melody that filled our days with joy, and together, we wove dreams of a future as bright as the summer sky.
One afternoon, while we were playing in the garden, I had my first vision.
It was sudden and overwhelming, a surreal experience that shattered my reality. I was no longer in the sunlit garden with Emma.
Instead, I was transported to a twilight world where shadows stretched long, and the air felt thick with foreboding.
Despite my initial confusion, I stood up and tried to make sense of my surroundings.
I remembered my parent's words always to be vigilant.
I roamed the surroundings in fear and frenzy, each step more cautious than the previous one.
Until I saw our cat, Suzy's lifeless body.
The moment I saw her lifeless body, I ran.
I ran to her body in a frenzy, unbothered by my surroundings.
Her body was frizzled and dried up.
It was as if somebody had drained her entire blood from her frail, tiny figure.
In my confusion, my eyes felt moist.
I rubbed my eyes with my hands, only to realize that they were soaked in blood.
I released a bloodcurdling scream that echoed in silence.
Belatedly, I noticed Emma, who was also crying while gazing at Suzy's body.
Her face was filled with despair as she saw Suzy's frail body.
Before I could understand what to do further, my vision blurred again.
I saw Emma's worried face before me as she shook my body repeatedly and mumbled something under her breath.
Gradually, I could understand what she was saying.
"Seraphina! Seraphina! Are you alright? Are you okay? What happened to you?" Emma was restless as she witnessed my trembling figure.
We were still in the garden, and Suzy was nearby.
The sunlit garden was filled with warmth.
Nothing changed.
Suzy watched us both intently with her vertical irises.
Her snow-white fur, covered in red blood in my vision, shone in the sunlight.
But now it was as clear as distilled water.
Emma still held my trembling as she gradually calmed down after witnessing my conscious self.
"Emma! I am alright." I replied to Emma meekly as she held my figure.
"Are you sure? Should I call-" Emma questioned and tried to call someone, but I stopped her.
"No! Emma! Wait, Listen to me!" I calmly stopped Emma after regaining my composure.
Emma stopped and waited patiently as I mulled my thoughts over.
"Emma, do you trust me?" After a long silence, I questioned Emma in a shrill voice.
Emma made a confused face and flicked her finger on my forehead.
"Is that something you have to question me about? Of course, I trust you!" Emma shouted joyfully as she held my hands.
My raging heart calmed down as I conveyed my vision to Emma.
Emma didn't laugh at me and patiently listened to my story.
I held Suzy close in my arms to seek comfort as I reiterated the whole vision repeatedly.
After hearing my vision, Emma mulled over her thoughts calmly.
We were both surrounded by silence.
"Don't worry! I have an idea!" Emma held my hands and shouted joyfully.
"What idea?" I questioned in anticipation.
"According to your vision, the surroundings were damp, right? You mentioned the atmosphere, too. If we think it over, we can save Suzy." Emma guided me cheerfully as she played with Suzy.
"Really?" I questioned, still unsure.
The rest of my memories are a blur.
But I remember that we were able to save Suzy.
She was saved.
Yes, she lived with me for a long time after that day.
The only difference was that Emma died.
Emma died instead of Suzy.
The reality which unfolded in front of me shook me to my core.
Emma's frail, bloodless figure paralleled Suzy's figure in my vision.
I was devastated.
I was confused.
I despaired.
Why?
Why did this happen?
Why was this happening?
I just wanted to save Suzy, but why did Emma die?
I couldn't leave my room for months.
It wasn't due to sadness.
I couldn't leave my room because of guilt.
I killed Emma.
If I hadn't saved Suzy, then Emma would have lived.
In my vision, I had seen Emma crying while embracing the dead Suzy.
That day was the day Emma died or the day Suzy was supposed to die.
I denied this seemingly absurd fantasy.
'It isn't possible. I am not thinking right.'
But, Alas.
I was cursed.
The visions never stopped.
The more I locked myself in the room, the more I witnessed the future.
The future is never changing.
I realized this fact after trying to change the future again.
Another death.
I learned from my mistake and realized I would suffer the primordial wraith if I tried to change the predetermined fate.
After realizing this fact, my life became monotonous.
I never changed any predetermined fate ever again.
The deaths I witnessed henceforth weren't worrisome for me anyway.
Maybe I closed my heart, or I was indifferent.
I don't know.
My only solace was my family.
My father, mother, and younger twin brothers.
They were the only thing keeping me sane.
But I feared.
The fear of witnessing a vision of my family's death.
How many deaths does a human even witness in one life?
Ten or twenty, maybe even thirty?
The deaths of family, friends, and even strangers.
How would one feel if they witnessed their death?
Despair or relief?
The day my twin brothers were born, I wasn't happy.
I was worried.
In despair that I will witness their death and remain alone forever.
Either it was God's mercy or a fool's delusion, but I didn't foresee such a vision.
Gradually, my powers developed, and I could see the inner selves of humans.
I retracted myself more into my bubble as I realized the reality of these miserable creatures.
Confining and protecting myself in my world was my only solution.
But fate had other plans.
A disaster struck through my miserable life.
Presenting me with this absurd destiny.
They say that your life flashes before your eyes as you die.
I have witnessed this vision countless times.
The vision in which I will be imprisoned along with my twin brothers, Adel and Aiden.
Then, the day would come when the leader of the gang who kidnapped and imprisoned us would visit us.
As I heard his footsteps, I knew that I would die soon.
I will be played with and killed in front of my brothers.
The only thought running through my mind isn't fear of death.
But worry.
I am worried about the type of lives of my brothers.
I know what kind of life they will live after escaping from here.
The blood that their vendetta will spill.
In the end, all I wish for is their happiness.
That is all.
Amidst my melancholy, the footsteps of the boss named Dominic stopped, and his shadow cast through the prison bars.
I had witnessed this vision countless times but still trembled with genuine fear.
The fact that the event will unfold made my feet feel numb and my heart paced fast.
I am scared of death.
But it is inevitable.
"Hoho, Are the three of you conscious?" Dominic laughed heartily as he spoke in a gruff voice while addressing us.
******
[Sorry for the delay. I will have a much more terrible schedule following this. Sorry for that too.
Also, this chapter was supposed to be darker, but I chickened out. However, I subtly hinted at what would happen in the previous chapter. If you want to know the original draft, you can comment.]