Sharp nails, like daggers, could pierce through flesh in an instant and kill someone.
At that moment, I inexplicably believed I could kill Kael.
But as my nails dug into Kael’s chest, my fingers began to tremble uncontrollably.
I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t kill Kael. Kael was too good.
I kept repeating this to myself.
Yet, the voice in my head urged me on.
“Do it, Seraphina. If you don’t seize this chance to kill him now, you’ll never have it again.”
“Move, Seraphina. Kill him. Hurry!”
I felt powerless to resist the hypnotic pull of that voice. My body moved on its own.
My nails were already embedded in Kael’s chest, digging deeper. Blood poured from his chest.
“Seraphina.” Kael’s eyes opened. He stared at me in disbelief.
That instant, I snapped out of it.
I looked at the blood streaming from his wound, dark and ominous in the dim light.
“I… I didn’t… it wasn’t me…” I stammered, struggling to sit upright.
Kael clutched his chest, pain etched across his face. He reached out towards me.
But before he could touch me, a flash of golden light appeared. I saw a strange formation, glowing and intricate, before my body was sucked into it against my will.
“Seraphina!”
Kael’s anguished cry echoed in my ears. He reached for me, and instinctively, I reached back.
But I didn’t catch his hand.
The world around me twisted and warped. Darkness enveloped me, and I lost consciousness.
—
When I woke up, I was lying on a bed.
The room was unfamiliar. There were no windows, only a heavy iron door, tightly locked.
It felt like a prison.
I held my head, trying to recall what had happened before I blacked out. But no matter how hard I tried, the memories remained elusive.
What was wrong with me?
I frowned, forcing myself to remember.
The door creaked open.
A man walked in. He had golden hair, piercing blue eyes, and wore a white lab coat. His face held a gentle, reassuring smile.
Something about him felt familiar. But when I tried to call his name, I realized I didn’t know what to say.
It was as if I had forgotten who he was in an instant.
“Seraphina, why are you looking at me like that? I’m your attending doctor, Magnus. Look at you-are you surprised again? Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me already,” he said with a soft chuckle.
His smile was warm as he asked about my condition.
He seemed professional and caring.
But why would I need a doctor? I was perfectly healthy.
“Why am I in a hospital? I’m not sick,” I said.
“Every mental patient believes they’re fine, Seraphina. You’re no different,” Magnus replied with a smile, jotting something down on his notepad.
“But I’m sure I was studying at Mountaindusk College. My body’s fine. I think I was a student in animal sciences…”
“No, no, no, Seraphina. How many times do I have to tell you? There’s no such place as Mountaindusk College. And since you were sixteen, due to severe mental illness and depression, your parents sent you here for treatment. You haven’t been to school, nor have you left this facility, since then.”
I froze.
I hadn’t been outside or attended school since I was sixteen?
I glanced around, taking in my surroundings.
A memory surfaced.
When I was sixteen, I became a danger to myself and others. My parents, overwhelmed by my behavior, sent me to this facility. They believed I could no longer live like a normal person.
Here, I met Magnus. He was kind and attentive. He checked on my mood, brought me snacks, and always seemed to care about me.
I liked him a lot.
These memories filled my mind, and I couldn’t help but smile. How could I have forgotten all this?
I felt a pang of guilt for forgetting.
“I remember now. I’m sorry, Dr. Magnus,” I said softly.
“It’s all right. I’m used to it,” Magnus replied, smiling. “Your biggest issue, Seraphina, is your tendency to fantasize. You imagine you’re a college student, that you have romantic entanglements. But you must understand, none of it is real.”
Magnus stepped closer.
I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze. He stood tall, like a figure of authority.
“Do you feel any better, Seraphina?” he asked, concern evident in his tone.
“Yes, a little,” I replied.
“Take your medication, and you’ll feel even better.” Magnus handed me a red pill.
The pill was small, bright red, and almost beautiful. But as I held it, an inexplicable resistance rose within me. I didn’t want to take it.
It felt as though I’d lose something important if I swallowed it.
Magnus noticed my hesitation. His eyes locked on mine. “What’s wrong? Don’t you want to take it? If you do, you’ll recover quickly. You might even leave this place soon.”
Leave?
The thought of leaving this suffocating place was tempting.
No windows. Only the smell of disinfectant and the oppressive silence.
I hated it here.
Magnus’ words were a glimmer of hope.
I swallowed the pill, then drank the water he handed me.
As I set the glass down, Magnus reached out and gently stroked my cheek.
I stared at him, surprised.
He smiled, leaning closer.
“Seraphina, why do you seem so distant now? It hurts me when you pull away like this,” he murmured.
“Distant? Were we close before?” I asked.
His gaze turned pained.
“You used to love me the most. Did you forget that too?”
His words stirred something in me.
Love?
I searched my memories.
I seemed to recall loving someone.
Could it have been Magnus?