"I don't want to die". Sophia screamed. As tears streamed down her face. " I can't die am not ready, my life can't end like this!" Desperation clawed at her. The sound of approaching flames grew louder. Sophia's voice rose to a panicked scream.
"NOOOOO! Am not ready, please someone save me. I don't want to die". Her cry echoed through the room. The man's laughter merged with the crackling flames made her heart pound. Sophia's world narrowed to a single terrifying thought: she was going to be burnt alive. Sophia screamed, coiling herself into a fetal position as her life flashed before her eyes. Her constant life of rejection and pain flooded her mind. Memories of a lifetime of pain and rejection flooded her mind like a tidal wave. She relived the agony of her father's abandonment in the hospital, the sting of her mother's resentment. "You're a mistake", her mother words echoed, piercing Sophia's heart like a dagger. No one to turn to, no one to call. The struggle to escape poverty and much more, a lifelong sense of rejection gnawed on her, like an open wound that refused to heal. And now she was going to die like this, in the worst type of death.
Tears streamed down her face as the memories assaulted her. The smell of the smoke and gasoline choking, as she waited for the flame to engulf her.
Suddenly, a deafening bang shook the room. Sophia's eyes snapped open to see the man with the fuel flying backwards. He hit the ceiling with a sickening thud. Time froze, Sophia's breath caught in her throat. The man's body crumpled to the floor, his face contorted, his limps splayed like a broken puppet as blood gushed out of his body. The flames halted inches from her feet. Sophia's mind reeled. What just happened? Was this salvation or another nightmare? As she struggle to comprehend, a figure emerged from the smoke. Sophia looked closely and for the first time, Sophia smiled on seeing him.
"Atticus". She whispered as tears of relief flowed down her face.
Atticus walked up to her, his face filled with concern and relief. As he smiled, placing his hands on her face.
"Sophia". Atticus whispered, his voice trembling. He squatted and freed her from her chains. Her wrists bleeding from all her erratic movement. Atticus arms enveloped her, warm and protective. Sophia sobbed, clinging to him, her face buried in his chest. His heartbeat steadied hers.
"I thought I'd lose you". Atticus whispered, his warm breath against her ear.
Sophia raised her head and looked at him. Tears pouring out of her eyes and snort from her nose.
"Atticus... I don't want to die!". She said as her whole body shivered by the thought of it.
Atticus held her tight, unshead tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner, I won't let anything happen..
"I WILL MARRY YOU". Sophia shouted.
"What?, I thought you said you don't want to have anything to do with me". Atticus asked in shock.
Sophia wiped the tears in her cheek with the back of her hand.
" I don't want to die atticus, I'm not ready to die...I can't just die, not now. I can't". Sobbing. "...So if marrying you keeps me safe, then I would do it, I would do it a thousand times because I don't want to die. It's scary". Sophia said crying ,as she kept shivering.
"Really" Atticus asked his eyes never leaving her face. His hands cupping her face.
"Yes... you are a vampire... and those things after me are your kind. I can't fight them... but you can. So yes I will marry you... But please, you have to promise me that I don't die..."she said sobbing as she folded her body with her arms.
"Sophia". Atticus said with a low tone.
"Promise me... ". Sophia shouted in desperation."promise me Atticus ".
"I promise you Sophia, I will protect you". Valentine responded." I will protect with all my being, no one, not even death can touch you ever again".
"I don't need your protection, I just want to not be dead at the end of this ". Sophia once again wiped the tears off her face and then she felt a sharp pain in her head.
"Ahhaaa". She screamed
"Sophia". Atticus said in panic as Sophia slowly slumped.
Shaking her. "Sophia, come on, wake up". she wasn't responding, "You told me I should protect you so don't do this". It was then he noticed the blood at the back of her head. She was bleeding to death.
Panic running through him. His hands shaking in fear as his heartbeat quickened. He quickly carried her in his arms.
" You can't die on me Sophia...not after accepting my proposal". He shouted, his mind going back to how it all started.