Chapter Song: I know the end- Phoebe Bridgers

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I woke up slowly, rubbing at my eyes. Mom and Dad weren't shouting which meant they must have left for work. I pushed myself up and walked into our small, shared washing room. I splashed some water onto my face as I took in my appearance. Large purple bags were under my eyes making me look like a living zombie. I took a deep breath before glancing away and grabbing my toothbrush. I hated looking at my appearance in the mirror. I didn't need the constant reminder of all of my flaws. My brain does that enough.

I pulled on a simple outfit which consisted of my usual sweatshirt and leggings before heading downstairs. I opened the small hatch in our wall looking for any letters to appear in the fire, but nothing showed up. I groaned in frustration as I tried to figure out what to do about all of my things that I left at the library. I saw several humans walking in the area, likely towards their workplaces. My sweatshirt fell to my knees, yet it didn't feel big enough at the same time. I sometimes wished it would just swallow me whole, so I could avoid speaking with people.

Once I reached the familiar place, I froze when I noticed the door slightly ajar. I pushed it open slowly glancing around the entrance. Miss Dalaris would've known to lock up before she left. I walked slowly into the main part of the library; I could spot my desk behind the massive stacks of books on the far right. I walked towards it slowly reaching for my things. I threw my bag over my shoulder before looking around the room once more. I was about to reach for the door when I heard a loud creak.

I should run. I should definitely run. So why wasn't I?

I turned and walked back in when I noticed that door that Miss Dalaris disappeared behind yesterday. What if she's in trouble? She did save me. But do I want to die?

I shouldn't answer that.

I took my five hundredth deep breath of the day and walked towards the cracked door in the back. I reached for the doorknob and shrieked when I felt zaps of electricity run through my fingertips. What the actual hell?

I could hear muttering in a language I had never heard before. It almost sounded like it didn't belong here.

I slowly walked down the stairs. I was definitely dead. Why didn't I just run? What is a human going to do against whatever the hell these people are. I reached the final step and looked around the room, expecting to see the group of people from yesterday, but there was no one. I walked further into the room. The floors and walls an unsettling shade of cement. There were racks upon racks of objects I have never seen before. I walked to the middle of the room and saw a pedestal with an unusual book laid open in the middle. The pages almost had an unusual shimmer to them. I was going to reach my hand out to brush it along the pages but decided against it. I didn't trust magical objects, and this was definitely one of them. I turned on my heel and head back out.

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Once I reached my house, I unlocked the front door and headed up to my bed to take a quick nap while I still could, it was often I had peace and quiet here. I shut my eyes, but it was short lived when I heard the front door slam again. Mom and Dad were screaming at each other in the kitchen again. I groaned and took my pillow using it to sandwich my head between the flat pillow and my hard mattress. I quickly got up and dug through my bag for my headphones, I pulled the little pieces out and shoved them into my ears, it was all prerecorded music from before the Great War. It was a gift from Miss Dalaris when I secured a deal on her behalf to acquire a box of rare books, she had been sending me information on.

I clicked the small button on the side waiting for the music to begin playing but I was only met with static noise. My eyes widened and I pressed the button again, but it was the same thing. I could hear the screaming still. I kept pressing the button over and over again hoping it would sort itself out and work.

I screamed out in frustration throwing the useless pieces against the wall as I gripped my hair tightly. I rested my head against my knees as I tried to tune out the curses and threats from downstairs. I was dragged out of my thoughts at the sound of things getting thrown. I quickly pushed myself up and ran downstairs as quick as I could.

"STOP!" I screamed as loud as I could. Mom was charging at dad with a kitchen knife in her hand. There were dishes and plants shattered everywhere. This was all we had. They were destroying everything.

I charged at my mom without thinking, shoving her against the dirty counter so I could pry the knife from her grip.

"Enough with this!" I screamed out as the dam broke. I couldn't stop the tears from rushing down my cheeks. "Please." I cried out sinking to my knees, ignoring the burning of the glass shards digging into my knees.

"Just stop." I breathed as my hands shook in front of me.

"Ele—" I glared at my dad.

I glared at him through blurry eyes, effectively cutting him off as I furiously wiped at the never-ending stream of tears pouring down my cheeks.

Mom mumbled something under her breath looking around at all the destruction they have caused, including me. She turned on her heel slamming the front door shut as she left to go who knows where. Dad just stormed past me leaving me alone in the kitchen. I couldn't do this anymore. I don't want to be here anymore.

I kept swiping at the rush of tears that didn't seem to want to stop as I shoved my way through the front door. I pulled my hood up over my head as I let my legs take me.

I swallowed the hiccups that were threatening to leave my throat as the panic settled into the deepest parts of my chest. I gripped at my chest as the pain settled in. My fingers were twitching and rubbing against my leggings uncontrollably as I tried to steady my breathing and thoughts.

They have never gotten physical with each other before; well, I mean they have but not with weapons. I haven't had to get between my mom and dad because I thought one of them was going to actually kill the other before. I finally reached the library again, deciding that being killed by immortal monsters, was better than one more minute in that house. I went to make my way to the desk when an icy hand gripped by shoulders, shoving me into the wall. I cried out in pain as I heard an unsettling snap. Everything felt numb as I stared at my unnervingly bent wrist.

"G-Get a-away!" I choked out as I scooted away from him, clutching my wrist against my chest. It was the same man that got too close to me the other day in the attic.

"Your blood smells truly divine." He whispered getting closer to me, his disgusting eyes becoming several shades darker.

"S-Stop!" I screamed as I narrowly dodged his lunge for me. I rolled on the floor as I ran for the door to attic stairs. But he was faster. I was thrown into one of the bookcases, crumpling onto the hard wood floors. I cried out and squeezed my eyes shut at the ringing through my skull. I grabbed a book and chucked it with my good hand at his face. He caught it, buying me a second to get to my feet.

"I do enjoy catching my prey." His voice laced with malice as he walked towards me. I slammed the basement door shut and charged down the stairs. I made it halfway down when my knees were kicked in. I screamed as I rolled down the remaining steps. I clutched my ribs as I look up at the unusual book on the pedestal. I could've sworn I saw an unusual glow emanating from it, but it must've been from hitting my head too hard. I screamed out as I felt teeth sink into my neck. I thrashed as my body grew weaker. His grip on my sweatshirt was deathly tight. I yanked my arms through the sleeves as I disappeared inside the fabric. He had no choice but to let go as my head disappeared through the fabric. I threw it in his direction as I ran faster than I ever have. I reached the book. My hands nearly gripping the binding when his teeth reconnected with my neck, this time his arms snaked around my waist in an excruciatingly tight grip.

I reached my arms out, he was too distracted by his bloodlust to notice, or he simply didn't care. I gripped the binding and felt an unusual feeling. One I felt like the day Dalaris sent me to the attack with a snap of her fingers. Then there was just pain. I collapsed onto the cold stone ground as I gripped at my abdomen.

Cold stone. Cold fucking stone and a breeze.

I snapped my eyes open and let out a blood curdling scream.

Where the actual hell was I?

I glanced behind me as I stayed curled in a ball. There was a wall that seemed to go on forever in every direction. When I looked back ahead, I nearly collapsed at the sight. There were several warriors standing in front of me. Each of them holding swords and various blades out and pointed at me. I cried out as the searing pain in my side seemed to get sharper.

"Who are you?" One of them yelled out. I tried to respond, but I couldn't form any words as I let the darkness consume me.

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I could hear speaking in the distance, but I couldn't feel anything. It almost felt as if I were underwater. I slowly cracked my eyes open, but everything was blurry. I could make out the silhouettes of two people, but my eyes refused to focus. I let out a shriek of pain as I tried to move my hands. I felt cold metal dig into my skin, earning the attention of the two individuals. I blinked several times hoping to clear my vision.

Was I outside of the human sector? We weren't allowed out; had I been arrested for ending up wherever the book brought me?

I tried to calm myself down, as my thoughts ran rampant through my brain. I yanked at the chains as I tried to get myself further away from the people. I kept scooting back until my back connected with a freezing, stone wall. I squeezed my eyes shut as I felt myself start having a panic attack.

"Who are you?" One of them grounded out. His voice sounded like it was everywhere. I just cried out more as I pushed myself impossibly closer to the wall.

One of them slowly crouched down in front of me. I blinked several times as my vision grew clearer.

"We won't hurt you, if you tell us what we want to know." The other one spoke, earning a look from the other one. Both men were dressed in all black and were absurdly tall.

"Who are you?" The one that was crouched in front of me kept his eyes trained on mine.

"E-Eleia." I mumbled I tried to say my last name, but I couldn't remember it.

How does someone not know their own name?

I felt tears rush down my cheeks as I tried desperately to remember.

"I-I don't—" I cried out as I tried to grip my head with my hands, only to be stopped by the shackles.

"Calm down." The one in the back snapped. I glared through my blurry vision at him as I kept yanking at the shackles.

The man stood up and walked over to the other one, mumbling something quietly so I wouldn't hear. Then they both walked out the door without a second glance back at me.