Once Seraphina was released from the hospital, she signed up for a self-defense class at the karate center. She kept that secret to herself, not wanting Vandal to keep an eye on her every day. She wanted to be able to keep herself safe and already had a plan in case those "heroes" wanted to kidnap her a third time. People say that the third time's the charm, but their plan would fail a third time. Seraphina walked down the street, feeling vulnerable if she didn't have friends with her.

Vandal walked a good distance behind her about a one-mile radius where he could still see her and gave her space to herself but enough space for him to run in and help if need be, although he stopped and walked home around 4:00, when she went to the dojo.

The master of the dojo bowed to Sera as she walked in. "Good afternoon, Sera-San," he said gently, raising his head. n

Seraphina bowed in response. "Good afternoon, master," she responded.

"Show me that you have been practicing," he said, holding a board up for her to break.

Seraphina punched the board, breaking it. "Very good," the sensei said. He held up two boards. "Again," he directed.

Seraphina did it again. Sensei smiles. "But can you go three?" he asks, getting three boards of wood and placing them on two cinder blocks.

Seraphina focused all her anger and energy into a karate chop, cracking the planks in half.

"Very good. Now, time to spar, Sera-San," Sensei said, leading her to a group of people her age who were fighting one another. Seraphina hesitated, remembering how her parents fought the "heroes" before they were killed.

"We're not letting you hurt our daughter!" her mother yelled. Her father punched Kenna in the nose, breaking the bone, before he turned his full fury on Nathaniel. He kicked him in the knee, shattering it.

Seraphina was hiding in the attic. "Where is she?! She's too dangerous to even be with you!" Timmothy yelled, shooting her father in the leg. He let out an ear piercing scream.

"No!" her mother shouted, using a knife to stab Timmothy's calves. Timmothy grits his teeth and aimed at her arm, shooting it. Ida ran upstairs, checking the bedrooms. The attic entrance was hidden.

Seraphina bit back a whimper and covered her ears until the fight was over. She didn't hear her parents' voices.

"Are you sure she's not here?!" Kenna yelled.

"Yes, I'm sure!" Timmothy, Nathaniel, and Ida shouted. Eventually, all four people left, someone slamming the door behind them. The window in the attic rattled, and Seraphina seemed to be frozen in her spot.

She didn't scream nor did she go downstairs. She'd stay in the attic. It was safer. She breathed heavily since the heroes were gone, and she heard police sirens.

Seraphina didn't know when she landed on her knees. She was gasping, trying to breathe properly, as tears slid down her face.

"Seraphina? Are you alright? Maybe that's enough for today, hmm?" Sensei said, seeing her like this.

Seraphina nodded, breathing heavily. Sensei helped her up and helped her get to her car. "Go home. Get some rest. Calm down, okay?" he said.

Seraphina nodded. Sensei nods, seeing her drive off before going back in. When she went back to her apartment, she locked the door. She breathed and grabbed onto the counter in the kitchen. Seraphina shut her eyes, counting down from 100 slowly.

"100 ... 99 ... 98 ... 97 ... 96 ... " Then the TV turned on to the news:

"We have the reports of the heroes sentencing:

Kenna is sentenced to two years, Nathaniel four months,  Timmothy ten years, and Ida twenty years.

When we questioned a man that allegedly knew the heroes, he refused to say anything other than these words: 'I'll keep them at bay for as long as I can, but be ready for another attack soon. These heroes don't seem to give up easily, but for you, I know they aren't much of a threat.'

The man then walked away when we asked for his name, but in other news, the weather ... "

"17... 16 ... 15 ... 14 ... 13 ... " she continued as the reporter told the weather. She calmed down and drank a glass of water. She breathed out and looked at the clock for the time.

It was about 6:30 p.m., and she made herself a salad for her dinner. She started to eat it when her phone buzzed. Seraphina ignored her phone. It buzzed again.

Seraphina put it on silent. Someone had left a voicemail. Seraphina checked the voicemail, listening to it.

This is your sensei. Just wanted to check if you were okay.

Seraphina emailed him, saying that she was fine. She took a breath. Someone knocked on her door, and she jumped, almost dropping her phone.

It was just someone going to welcome her to the building. "Good afternoon, I'm Marge. Nice to meet you. I made you some cookies," Marge said politely through the door.

Seraphina opened the door, taking the cookies politely. "Thank you," she said, suspicious of this act of kindness.

"Don't be suspicious. There's nothing in there but regular ingredients," Marge said.

Seraphina nodded. "You didn't add anything odd?"

"No," Marge said.

Seraphina thanked Marge, shutting the door. She put the cookies on the counter. She looked at the cookies. She didn't trust them. She debated on sniffing it. No weird smells.

Seraphina didn't risk her life by eating them. The man in the lobby asked her over the intercom that Vandal was there to see her.

Why is he still following me? she thought. Seraphina said, "No."

"Yes, ma'am," he said.

Seraphina sighed. She rubbed her eyes, feeling exhausted.