BLYNA’S POV
I stood before the mirror, mechanically going through the motions of getting ready for school. The reflection staring back at me was a hollow shell, a mere facade of the girl I once was. As I adjusted my uniform, my mind drifted back to that fateful day, the image of my father’s execution etched painfully into my memory.
A tear welled up in my eye, its presence a bittersweet reminder of the profound grief that still consumed me. The injustice of it all, the brutality of witnessing his life snuffed out before my eyes, threatened to overwhelm me once again. But I blinked back the tears, determined to stay strong, at least on the surface.
Turning away from the mirror, I walked toward the window, drawn to the daylight streaming in. With a trembling hand, I grasped the thick covers that had shielded me from the outside world. But the moment they parted, my heart froze in my chest.
A rock crashed through the window, shattering the fragile peace of our home. I stumbled back, my hands instinctively shielding my face from the shards of glass that rained down upon me. Fear gripped me tightly, squeezing the air from my lungs, as I tried to comprehend the sudden intrusion.
In that instant, my mother burst into the room, her eyes wide with alarm. “Why did you open the curtain, Bylna?” she asked, her voice laced with panic. “I told you not to. They’re out there, waiting to hurt us.”
Regret washed over me, mingling with the shock of the shattered window. I hadn’t realized the danger that lurked just outside, the hostility that simmered beneath the surface of our community. My mother rushed to close the curtain, blocking out the outside world, and pulled me into a tight embrace.
From beyond the confines of our home, muffled voices reached our ears. The hateful words, the derogatory slurs, pierced through the walls, a painful reminder of my father’s unjustified death. I clung to my mother, seeking solace in her presence, trying to drown out the cacophony of hatred that threatened to engulf us.
Reluctance weighed heavy on my shoulders, an invisible burden that threatened to keep me confined within the safety of my home. The events of the morning had left me shaken, my spirit weary and fragile. The thought of venturing out into the world, where hatred simmered just beneath the surface, filled me with apprehension.
My mother, however, stood beside me, her eyes filled with hope. She gently took my hand and looked into my eyes, her voice filled with a mix of reassurance and conviction.
“Bylna, my love, I know how scared you must be, but we can’t let fear control us. It’s vital that you continue going to school. We won’t let them rob you of your future.”
Her words struck a chord within me, reminding me of the resilience that ran through our veins. Reluctantly, I nodded, acquiescing to her reasoning. I knew deep down that she was right, that succumbing to fear would only perpetuate the cycle of oppression.
Together, we walked towards the car, braving the storm of hostility that awaited us. The moment we stepped outside, voices rose, filled with venomous words that sliced through the air.
“Filthy traitors!”
“Go back where you came from!”
The shouts were accompanied by the thud of objects and stones striking nearby surfaces. My mother’s grip on my hand tightened, and we quickened our pace, desperate to escape the wrath of the crowd. With each step, the hateful stares burned into my soul, branding me with their malice.
Finally, we reached the car, its metal frame offering a small semblance of security. My mother ushered me inside, her hands trembling as she fumbled for the keys. The engine roared to life, drowning out the vile words that still echoed in our ears. Without wasting a moment, she sped away, leaving behind the torment of the outside world.
As we arrived at the school, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead. With a gentle touch on my shoulder, my mother spoke to me.
“Its going to be hard, but don’t let it get to you. Alright sweetie?”
I nodded and stepped out of the car, the heavy weight of judgment upon me. The hallways greeted me with a chilling silence, broken only by the piercing stares of my peers. Their eyes bore into me, filled with contempt and hate, and I felt a knot tighten in my stomach.
With a heavy heart, I walked through the corridors towards my classroom, aware of the whispers and sidelong glances that followed me like shadows. As I took my seat, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach, anticipating the hurtful comments that were sure to come.
“Look who decided to show up. Don’t you have any shame?” a classmate sneered, their voice dripping with disdain.
“Bet your traitor father is proud of you,” another chimed in, their words laced with venom.
The barrage of hurtful remarks continued throughout the day, each comment a dagger to my already wounded spirit. I endured it all, burying the pain deep within, determined not to let them see the cracks in my armor.
As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, a sense of relief washed over me. Without a moment’s hesitation, I gathered my belongings and fled from the classroom, my feet carrying me as fast as they could.
Running, breathless and with tears streaming down my face, I raced through the streets towards home. The jeers of my classmates echoed in my ears, a haunting reminder of the cruelty that surrounded me. Each step fueled by the desire to escape the torment, I pushed myself to the limits, desperate to reach the sanctuary of my house.
As I reached the front door, the sound of my mother’s desperate pleas reached my ears, mingling with a growing sense of panic that gripped my heart. My hand trembled as I grasped the doorknob, uncertainty and fear intertwining in my mind.
With a burst of urgency, I pushed the door open, and what I saw inside struck me like a bolt of lightning. My mother knelt on the floor, her eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling as she begged for mercy. The bags beside her, packed with our belongings, served as a grim reminder of the imminent upheaval in our lives.
Guards loomed throughout the room, their eyes fixed upon me, their presence a suffocating weight. But what seized my attention, what ignited a furious fire within me, was the figure standing before my mother. It was Griffith, his back turned to me as he conversed with the guards.
Rage surged through my veins, overriding any other emotion. How could he, the one who had promised to help, stand there, complicit in this unfolding tragedy? The hurt and betrayal washed over me, mingling with the anger that simmered beneath the surface.
“Griffith!” I shouted, my voice raw with emotion. As if in slow motion, he turned to face me, his eyes meeting mine. His expression faltered for a brief moment, a flicker of guilt crossing his face before it hardened into a mask of indifference.
“The alpha’s orders. You both are hereby banished from this pack and must leave with immediate effect.”
I scoffed as I stumbled back. Disbelief crossed my face as Istared at the man standing right in front of me. The man I thought was the love of my life, the man that cherished me. He stood before me now, staring at me like I was a stranger.
Hurt welled up in my chest and it increasingly became hard to breath.
“How could you?” I whispered, my voice choked with a mix of hurt and anger. My fists clenched at my sides, as if ready to fight against the injustice that surrounded me.
“Blyna, you need to understand that-“
I brushed passed him, and ran to my mother’s side. I crouched down and enveloped in an embrace. My mother’s body trembled as she melted into my embrace. Seeing my mother look and act so broke sent a wave of sadness crashing on me.
My sadness slowly dissipated and it was replaced with a burning rage, one that lit up a fire within me. I clenched my fist as I glared at Griffith.
“You son of b***h! I trusted you! I love you!” I screamed.
Griffith remained a stoic expression, which riled me up even more. His gaze turned to the guards situated around him and he gave each of them a look, followed by a nod.
“Leave, all of you.”
The guards all shared a look and remained fixed in their position.
“I said leave, now!” he barked.
They all nodded and scurried out of the house. Once the door slammed shut, Griffith walked closer to me.
“Blyna, you need to calm down,” he said in a soft tone.
“Calm down? After you all murdered my father?!” I seethed.
I rose up from the floor, fists clenched as I pointed a finger at him.
“I will come back for all of you, I will have my revenge and s*******r each of you, one, by one.”