Chapter 3 NOTHINGNESS

AURORA

Carl suddenly stopped walking, and before I could react, he shoved me to the ground.

“Ahh!” I cried out as my body slammed into the muddy ground painfully.

I looked up at him, frozen in shock and pain. “Carl…” My voice trailed off, my chest felt very heavy, as though stacks of bricks were being placed on it by the minute.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked in a whimper. “What do you stand to gain? You hurt me, Carl, you broke my heart. You cheated on me with my own brother. And now this?”

“Why does it feel like I am being punished? What wrong did I ever do to you?”

“All I ever did was love you. From the very first moment we met, up until now. What are you doing?”

Carl scoffed, rolling his eyes at my words. “John makes me happy. You don't understand our love for each other, all you have ever done is come in between us.”

I shook my head, confused by Carl's accusations. “I didn't even know, because you never mentioned it!” I screamed at him, breathing heavily.

“Of course you didn't, because I had always been scared of what you would do to John when you found out. You both had always hated each other, you were the bane in his existence, and you took everything from him. You overshadowed both of us in the eyes of our parents, you acted all mighty and special…” Carl said as he slowly pulled out a silver dagger from behind him.

“Carl…” I swallowed, trying to sit up, but he reached for my hair and pulled it, forcing me up on my toes

“No.” I sobbed, “I never did any of this, I never hurt you, Carl. John and I have our differences, but I always wanted the best for him, for both of you.”

Carl laughed, and it was dark, sending shivers down my spine. “Do you know what will be best for us?” He asked, bringing the dagger towards me. I closed my eyes, trembling in fear.

Slash!

I heard the dagger slit through and I expected the pain to set in immediately, but instead I felt my hands free up. My eyes snapped open to see the ropes falling off my wrist.

I looked up at him, wondering why he released my hands. “Carl…”

“Your death.” He blurted out.

“What?”

“Your death will be the best thing that will ever happen to John and me. I am now the Alpha of this pack, I no longer need you as my Luna,” he said and grabbed my neck, bringing the dagger close to my neck.

The slight burn drew me closer to what I couldn't believe. My life flashing before me in just one second.

“Carl, please don't do this to me…” I choked on my tears, as the rain poured heavily, drenching me completely.

The burn of the silver dagger pressing against my throat made my heart ache and my fear tripled. I couldn't die like this, I couldn't let this happen.

There was nothing else I could do, but beg for my life.

“I don't trust you Aurora.” He smirked, pressing the dagger even further. “You have served your purpose, I don't need you anymore.”

“Carl please…I swear, I will keep my mouth shut, I will keep your secret safe, and no one will know. Please don't kill me, I love you…”

Carl laughed, his tone filled with mockery, “Love? You know nothing about love, Aurora. If you knew, you would never have agreed to our marriage.”

I tried to shake my head, but the dagger against my throat made me think otherwise.

“Please… I am carrying your child.”

Something flashed in his eyes at my revelation, his hand retreated a little, and I saw that as my last chance to get out of this alive.

Gathering all of my strength, I pushed him and he staggered, releasing his grip on me. I ran as fast as I could.

Further into the woods, I didn't know where I was going, but right now, it didn't matter. All I needed to do was get away from him.

I glanced behind me in sheer panic, and Carl was getting closer.

Out of the blue, my leg caught a branch and I stumbled and fell face-first on the ground.

A cold chill spread through my body hearing Carl stop before me. I didn't need to turn, I could already feel his presence, I could feel life slipping away from me.

“You bitch!” He yelled, kicking me in the face.

White-hot pain spread across my face as my body forcefully turned.

More tears poured out of my eyes as helplessness dawned on me.

“P–Please…”

Before I could finish my words, Carl moved mercilessly, driving the blade straight into my throat, and it was nothing I could ever prepare myself for.

There was no dramatic pause, no clean slice of instant darkness, only a solid burn and a sharp, searing pain tearing across my throat, and stealing the air from my lungs.

My body jerked instinctively, hands flying up a little too late, too useless, as warmth gushed down my neck in a rush.

I tried to breathe, but I couldn't, a wet, choking sound escaped instead. Carl released me and I fell.

The world tilted violently as my knees hit the ground, and then my whole body.

The sky flashes above me, dark, no moon, the Goddess refused to watch.

My body twitched, struggling to respond, but I was already fading out of myself. My fingers claw weakly at the soil, smearing mud with blood that refused to stop pouring.

I parted my lips, hoping I could say something, Carl’s name, a curse, but nothing came out, just my blood rising into my mouth and spilling out.

So this is what dying feels like, it wasn't sudden, or peaceful, it was just slow, and painful, filled with flashes of your life once lived.

The sounds above me grew distant, the sound of my pulse slowed, my breath weakened, my limbs grew numb, cold replacing warmth.

Darkness replaced the sky, and then there was nothing.