when darkness chooses her

The rain came without warning. One moment, the evening sky above Blackwood City glowed with streaks of gold and crimson. The next, dark clouds swallowed every trace of sunlight, casting the city beneath a curtain of gray. Within minutes, rain hammered against skyscrapers, splashed across busy sidewalks, and transformed the streets into rivers of shimmering neon. Blackwood was breathtaking. It was also dangerous. To the outside world, it was a city of wealth, prestigious universities, luxurious penthouses, and billion-dollar corporations. Tourists admired its glittering skyline while students chased dreams within the halls of Westbridge University. But beneath the city's polished surface lay another kingdom. A kingdom without laws. A kingdom ruled by blood. Few knew it existed. Even fewer survived after discovering it. --- Seraphina Vale adjusted the strap of her worn backpack as she stepped out of Lewis Café. The familiar scent of coffee clung to her clothes, blending with the cool fragrance of rain. She sighed, pulling her hood over her chestnut hair. "Of all the days to forget an umbrella..." "You've been saying that since last year." Mr. Lewis stood in the café doorway with his arms folded across his round belly. Despite his gruff appearance, kindness always softened his eyes. "I have a spare one inside." Seraphina smiled. "And you'll complain tomorrow that I forgot to return it." "That's because you always do." She laughed. "Fine. I'll get soaked instead." "Stubborn girl." "The word you're looking for is independent." Mr. Lewis shook his head with a chuckle. "Get home safely, Sera." "I will." She waved before jogging into the rain. Her sneakers splashed through shallow puddles as she hurried toward the bus stop. Life hadn't been easy, but she had learned to make peace with it. Between morning lectures, evening shifts at the café, and endless assignments, every day felt like a race she couldn't afford to lose. She was only nineteen. Sometimes she wondered what it felt like to live without worrying about money. Her phone vibrated. Ivy 🌻 Three missed calls. One message. Don't tell me you're still working! I'm starving! Seraphina laughed softly and typed a reply. Five minutes away. Don't eat all the noodles. The reply arrived almost instantly. No promises. 😋 She rolled her eyes. "Ivy is impossible." Sliding her phone back into her pocket, she continued walking. The rain grew heavier. Streetlights flickered to life one after another, their reflections dancing across the wet pavement. Cars rushed past, spraying water onto the sidewalks. Couples hurried beneath shared umbrellas. Everything felt... Normal. Until it didn't. A strange silence settled over the street. The chatter of pedestrians faded. The sound of traffic seemed distant. Even the rain felt muted. Seraphina slowed her steps. Her heartbeat quickened for reasons she couldn't explain. The air suddenly felt... heavier. She glanced around. Nothing looked unusual. Yet every instinct told her to run. Across the road, a black SUV rolled to a silent stop. Its windows were tinted too dark to see inside. Probably a businessman waiting for someone, she thought. Another SUV appeared. Then another. All identical. All black. All silent. Her stomach tightened. Coincidence? Maybe. She looked away and continued walking. The vehicles moved too. Slowly. Keeping pace with her. She stopped. So did they. A cold shiver crawled down her spine. "No..." She crossed the street. The SUVs turned the corner. Still following. Her breathing became uneven. Don't panic. You're imagining things. The comforting lie lasted exactly five seconds. The doors of the first SUV opened. Four men stepped out. Each wore a perfectly tailored black suit. No umbrellas. No hesitation. Rain soaked their clothes, but none of them seemed to notice. They weren't looking around. They were looking at her. One of them lifted a hand to the small earpiece hidden beneath his hair. His voice was calm. "We've located the target." Seraphina froze. Target? The man slowly raised his eyes until they met hers. "There she is." Every survival instinct inside her screamed. Run. She didn't think. She ran. Her backpack bounced violently against her shoulders as she darted between startled pedestrians. "Hey!" "Watch it!" She barely heard them. Behind her came the sharp sound of footsteps. Not one pair. Several. She risked a glance over her shoulder. The suited men weren't chasing wildly. They moved with terrifying precision, weaving through the crowd as if they had rehearsed this moment countless times. Professional. Who were they? Police? No. Criminals? Then why were they dressed like executives? Fear tightened around her chest. She turned into a narrow alley, hoping to lose them. The alley was deserted. Only overflowing dumpsters and flickering security lights greeted her. She pushed harder. Rainwater splashed around her ankles. Her lungs burned. At the end of the alley, she burst onto another street. Relief washed over her. People. Traffic. Safety. Then her relief vanished. Another black SUV waited at the curb. The rear door opened. A silver-haired man stepped out, his expensive suit untouched by the rain beneath a massive black umbrella held by another guard. He looked no older than forty. Elegant. Calm. Dangerous. His sharp gray eyes settled on Seraphina with unsettling interest. "So..." he murmured. "We finally found you." Seraphina took an instinctive step backward. "I think you've mistaken me for someone else." The man smiled. "No." His smile disappeared as quickly as it came. "We've been searching for you for nineteen years."