SERAPHINA
"Oh my god, Yuki! Get out of here—shoo! Go home!"
I sprinted toward the road where our long-haired mutt was tangled up with a stray, fur flying as they circled each other. I held my umbrella high, using it to nudge them apart before things went too far, my nose wrinkling at the earthy, musky smell of their excitement.
I pointed at Yuki—Dad had begged his boss for her years ago, and she'd been ours ever since. "You horny little troublemaker! We don't have money for puppies if you get knocked up!" I snapped.
Yuki whined, her tail drooping as she stared after the stray. When I made a show of swinging my hand at the male dog, he took off in a flash of brown fur.
"And you!" I glared at her. "Planning to camp out here all night?" She flinched and bolted toward our rickety wooden house, her claws clicking against the dirt.
I followed her inside to find Dad hunched over his phone, his shoulders hunched in the way I knew meant he was gambling again. I cleared my throat loud enough to make him jump—he whipped around, pale as fresh paper.
"S-Sera!" He stuffed the phone behind his back so fast it nearly slipped. "Been home long?"
I shook my head. "Just got here, dad."
If only mom knew about this. He looked hooked, and the thought twisted in my gut. But he just raised an eyebrow, acting like nothing was wrong.
"Hmm. Well, get inside then. What are you staring at? The dishes are piled up in the kitchen—wash them before you start dinner."
I forced a smile. "Yes, dad. I'll take care of it."
He went right back to his screen. Not a word about my day, or if I was tired, or what I might want to eat. No surprise there.
I didn't linger. Even from the doorway, I could see the mountain of crusty plates and pots—they'd clearly waited for me to clean up after them. I was drained from back-to-back classes, but this was how it always was. I'd grown used to feeling like an outsider in my own home, but the sting never quite faded.
As I scrubbed grime from a pot, mom walked past. Her face tightened the second she saw me.
"Really, Sera? What kind of girl comes home this late? Good grief—you're always causing problems!"
It's barely five o'clock. I bit back the words. Arguing only made her yell louder.
"I'm sorry, mom. Classes ran long."
"Tsk! Hurry up! Hera will be home soon, and you haven't even started cooking." She stomped off, her footsteps heavy against the wooden floorboards.
I sighed and kept washing. Hera was two years younger than me, but we'd be graduating college together—I'd had to take two years off when mom made me quit to work. I'd had no choice but to agree.
My stomach rumbled as I finished up—I'd skipped lunch to save my allowance. I got to work right away, boiling rice and frying canned corned beef from the town's relief supplies.
"Mom, dinner's ready. You should eat first," I called out before heading to my room—the walls were cracked, and a hole in the roof was big enough to stick my head through.
I changed clothes and stayed put, waiting for them to finish. I knew they'd never ask me to sit at the table with them—it was always this way.
I still didn't understand why they hated me so much. Even as a kid, they'd kept their distance. I'd asked if I was adopted, but they swore we were blood—said a DNA test would prove it.
I let out a long breath and looked up at the sky through the hole above me. "Really, Lord? You love testing me, don't you?"
When I heard dishes clattering in the kitchen, I finally stepped out. I was starving.
"Mom, did you save me any food?" I asked quietly.
"There was some left, but we kept it for Hera. We forgot about you." She laughed, but it was sharp as glass.
I dropped my gaze. Of course. For Hera.
"Okay, mom. I'll just go to sleep then."
She raised an eyebrow. "Fine, sleep. Why the long face? Are you mad you didn't get any?"
I jumped at her shout and shook my head. "No, Mama!"
"Don't give me that look, Sera. Get a job if you want to eat! Dammit, you're always bothering me."
I turned away, my jaw tight, just as Hera walked in. "Hey, everyone!"
Mama and Dad rushed to her side. "Our beautiful girl! Even tired from class, you're still so pretty!" They kissed her cheeks, cooing over her bag and her hair.
"Go eat, Hera—we saved your favorite for you," Mama said, her voice soft as silk.
I bit my lip and headed back to my room, staring at the cracked wall as my mind spun.
That's all I'd ever wanted—for them to look at me like that. We were both their daughters, so why was I so different? Why did they hold every bit of care back from me?
The pain was sharp, but I didn't cry—I was used to it by now. Even so, a part of me still ached for the love they showered on Hera.
I slapped my cheeks hard, then pinched them to pull myself together. "Come on, Sera. You're tough—this won't break you. The Lord must have something big planned!" I forced a laugh, whispering the words to the empty room.
Sleep was better than dwelling on it. I had an event at school early tomorrow, and I needed to be up before dawn.
"Mom, I'm heading to school!" I called out, raising my voice to cut through the quiet house. She could be anywhere—her room, the yard—so shouting was the only way to be sure.
I waited a few seconds, but no answer came. I scratched my head, my heart racing—I was already running late. I needed to ask her for a hundred pesos to cover something my savings couldn't stretch to.
"Mom?" I called again.
I was about to give up and leave when I heard footsteps. Mom rounded the corner, phone in hand, wearing a smile I'd never seen before—tight and strange.
She looked me up and down, her eyes narrowing when they landed on my backpack.
"Mom, I have to go—"
"You're not going anywhere," she said, her voice flat and firm. Confusion knotted in my chest.
"What do you mean—"
"Quit school, Sera." She stared at me with a cold glint in her eye, then let out a small smirk. "There's a better life waiting for you."
My chest tightened with unease. I forced a laugh. "Mom, come on—it's too early for jokes—"
She cut me off, grabbing my arm so hard I winced. I'd never seen her like this—her grip was like iron.
"I said you're not going. Do you understand me?!"
I gasped and pulled my arm away with all my strength.
"I'm going to school," I repeated, and ran for the door.
"Sera! Get back here, you little brat! I'm talking to you!" I blocked out her shouts, sprinting down the dirt path away from the house.
What is wrong with her? She'd seemed almost happy a minute ago—why was she turning on me again?
I shook my head as I walked, knowing I'd never make the event on time now. I'd had to walk since I couldn't afford fare, and the school was just ahead.
Great, Seraphina. Real smart. I messed up my hair in frustration. "Why do you always land yourself in this mess?!"
I muttered to myself as I trudged onward, just steps from the school's back gate. I could already picture my teacher scolding me, my friends teasing me—but none of that mattered when I saw the black van pull up beside an old woman standing by the road.
Then I saw the glint of a knife.
My eyes went wide as two men shoved her toward the van's open door. Kidnapping? Oh my god!
I acted without thinking, charging toward them as I screamed. "Stop! You can't do this—let her go!"
They turned to look at me—masked faces, dark eyes hard with anger. I hurled my heavy backpack full of books at one of them, then rushed to the old woman, who'd slumped against the van, blood seeping from her side.
"Oh my god! Are you okay? Breathe slowly!" I pulled out my handkerchief and pressed it to her wound, holding tight to stem the flow.
"Who the hell are you?!" one of the men snarled.
"Help! Someone help us! They're trying to hurt her!" I yelled at passing cars, my voice cracking with fear.
The men panicked—they didn't want attention. They started climbing into the van, but my eyes were locked on the man in the passenger seat—he wasn't masked, and he was staring right at me. We held each other's gaze for a second too long, then something cold and sharp sprayed into my face.
"AHHH! My eyes!" I screamed as searing pain shot through them. I couldn't open them, couldn't see a thing—whatever they'd used burned like acid, making tears stream down my cheeks.
"Argh…" I groaned, but forced myself to keep holding the old woman close, my hands shaking.
"Hold on, ma'am," I whispered.
But the pain was too much. The world went black before I could feel if she was still breathing