Scarred Seductress

The Donor

“Leo!” Selene screamed, panting, her feet carrying her through the dark, empty hallway in seconds, her eyes searching every turn and corner for the slightest sight of her son.

“Leo, baby, where are you?” she cried, threading her fingers through her hair crazily as she felt the air in her lungs burn.

“Mama!” Leo's voice echoed from behind her, whipping her gaze in that direction instantly.

She gasped, her eyes widening as she watched Marina tighten her fingers around the child's hair, pinning him still, a small knife glinting low against his neck.

“Marina, no!” Selene begged, her tears falling freely, rubbing her palms together in a pleading gesture as she lowered to her knees.

“Please, he's just a child. I beg you…”

Marina scoffed.

“You should have stayed dead, Samantha… now your stupid revenge is going to cost you your son,” she snarled, a wicked chuckle ripping from her throat.

“Please, Marina… I beg you. I'll go away if you want, just don't harm my son.” Selene cried.

Marina scoffed again, bitter and venomous.

“Too late, Samantha… you asked for this when you lied your way back into our lives. Blame yourself,” she sneered, ignoring Leo's cries and just about to push the knife into his neck when Selene's voice blared into a frantic scream—

“Selene… Selene!”

Ava's voice echoed in Selene's head, followed by the cold rush of liquid against her skin, tearing a gasp out of her as her eyes finally fluttered open.

“You're awake!” Ava heaved, putting aside the cup of water in her hand and pulling Selene into a consoling hug as she settled beside her on the bed.

Selene broke down, cold sweats breaking across her forehead as flashbacks of Marina holding a knife over Leo's neck replayed in her memory.

“It's just a dream, Selene… you have absolutely nothing to worry about,” Ava assured.

Selene shook her head, wriggling free from Ava's hold.

“It’s not just any dream, Ava… I can feel it in my bones.” She sobbed, crumbling into her palms as hiccups shook her.

“You have absolutely nothing to—”

“Take Leo with you,” Selene suddenly blurted, looking up, her frantic eyes meeting Ava's face.

Ava swallowed a tight breath.

“What are you talking—”

“I can give you everything to my last dime, Ava… just leave this city with Leo, as soon as he gets better.”

Ava let out a hollow laugh, blinking as though in confusion.

“Selene, if we're leaving this city… we most certainly are leaving together.”

Selene lowered her head, exhaling a calming breath as her face crumbled into her palms again.

“I’m not Leo's mother, Selene… you are, and there's no way I'm letting you throw your life away.”

“I've come so far, Ava,” Selene choked weakly.

“Does it even matter now, Selene? Leo should be your first priority.”

“He is!” Selene croaked, sniffing as she wiped the tears from her face.

“And that's why he's better off with you, Ava… I'm a ticking time bomb around him.”

“That's because you've been messing with the wrong people!” Ava snapped, pacing.

Selene sighed, a small smile curving her lips.

“I can't run away this time, Ava… not when I know deep down inside me that Marina could wake up one morning and take it all away from me.”

“She won't even find us…”

“I thought the same seven years ago.” Selene heaved, her face etched with pain.

A tired sigh escaped Ava's lips as she swallowed back her words, stumbling to the couch and settling quietly.

“Please, Ava…”

Ava ran her fingers through her hair, exhaled a deep breath, and pressed a reluctant nod.

“I'll think about it, Selene.”

Selene exhaled as though in quiet relief, just about to lay back down when the doctor's words rushed back into her head like a chilling reminder, seizing her spine with terror as her gaze whipped toward Ava.

“We'll need a donor… and real fast too.”

“Ava…” Selene breathed, her eyes pooling with tears as she pushed herself fully out of the bed, stumbling toward Ava.

“The… the… the blood transfusion. Tell me it went well. Tell me you were able to save Leo…”

Ava's gaze dropped to the ground, her lips parting to speak but nothing coming out.

“Say something, Ava! Leo is just a child… he could actually die from—”

“I wasn't a match for him.”

Selene gasped, her shaking hands creeping to her lips.

“Please don't tell me…”

“But luckily, we got an anonymous donor just when all hope was about to be lost.”

“An… anonymous what?”

Ava nodded, her face lighting with a relieved smile as she rose to her feet and took Selene's hand.

“Isn't it a miracle, ma'am?” she said softly.

Selene said nothing. Her thoughts spiraled wildly as she tried to piece it together.

“The doctor promised he'd shed more light on the donor once you're awake…”

“Then take me to him,” Selene rushed.

“I'm up now.”

She peeled her hand free from Ava's hold, just about to hurry for the door when it creaked open instead.

The doctor stepped in first—

leading Matteo into the ward.

The air drained from Selene's lungs as their eyes met.