Girl From The Dead World

"This is too taboo. You are my step-brother. I know we have no blood relations, but this is just... so wrong." Anna's voice trembled as she spoke, her eyes wide with disbelief and fear. Jean Zensen-Rosenberg, a good-looking 20-year-old, her oldest step-brother, relaxed in the armchair of their manor's living room. The flickering light from the fireplace created spooky shadows on his face, highlighting the wicked smirk on his lips. His cool, calculating eyes stayed locked on Anna, who was scared. "Sister." he started, his voice as smooth as the fancy whiskey he was enjoying. "An ugly girl like you doesn't even deserve a touch. Not a single man would want to touch you. But hey, lucky you, I've got a thing for taboo thrills. Sell your virginity to me, be my s*x partner for one month and you will get enough money for your college tuition fees. And well, consider yourself blessed that I am willing to be the one to take your virginity. I am the most handsome man in this town, sweet sister." Anna's stomach churned at his words. She could barely believe what she was hearing. But as much as she wanted to reject him outright, to scream at him and expose his monstrous proposition, she couldn't ignore the fact that she was desperate. She needed money for college, and she had no other options. She was trapped, and she knew it. "I'll think about it," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. Jean's smirk widened, but he said nothing, simply raising his glass in a mock toast. Anna spun around, her heart pounding. Every instinct urged her to flee, but she resisted and walked. "This is Jean, what did I am expected from him? Even Satan worship him." she thought. Once outside, she let out a shaky breath, leaning against the cool wall for support. With one last glance at the closed door, Anna pushed herself off the wall and walked away. After leaving Jean alone in the living room, Anna wanders around the huge Zensen manor that supposed to be her home. "It's all right, Anna. You will live in UK soon, and it's more beautiful and aesthetic than this cursed manor." she said to herself. Anna was the illegitimate daughter of the richest family in Drislane Town, the Zensen Family. Her father, a man burdened by debt, had married the wealthy Audrey Rosenberg when Anna was just a baby and she already had three children of her own: Jean, Jace, and Jessica. They all had no blood relations with her father, yet the oldest one, Jean Rosenberg, become the heir of her family's company. While Anna was isolated in the pavilion right next to her own's rightfully manor. Now, with her father sick in the hospital and unable to support her, she was faced with Jean's horrifying proposition. The acceptance letter from a prestigious college in the UK, which should have been a reason to celebrate, felt like a cruel joke. She pushed herself off and walked away, the weight of her past and the uncertainty of her future heavy in her heart. As Anna left the manor, she sought solace in the forest, her favourite place, her personal escape from the harsh realities of her life. Surrounded by the calming aura of the forest, Anna's senses were heightened. 'Just focus on the flowers,' She walked deeper into the forest, her eyes scanning the foliage for her favorite blooms. As she bent down to pick a particularly vibrant flower, Anna allowed herself a small smile. But, suddenly, Anna felt a chill run down her spine. She stopped in her tracks and saw a man standing a few feet away. He was very gorgeous, with white hair that fell around his waist and piercing green eyes. He reminded her of a chilling tale she'd heard about a legendary serial killer who haunted Drislane town. 'Is that him... that... serial killer' she thought, her heart pounding in her chest. The serial killer who used to burn his victims' bodies, had been murdering thousand people, yet the police never able to catch him. For a moment, Anna's heart just stopped. So there she stood, frozen in fear. "My promised flower has bloomed," he said, his piercing gaze fixed on Anna. Anna felt her heart hammering in her chest. "What..what are you talking about?" she stammered. "My apologies," the man said, a mysterious smile appear on his lips. "I'm getting ahead of myself. I've been waiting for you, Anna." Anna felt a shiver run down her spine. "How... how do you know my name?" The man shrugged, his green eyes sparkling "Let's just say I have been... keeping an eye on you. But don't worry, I mean you no harm." Anna backed away. "Stay away from me," she warned, her voice shaky. The man didn't move, his smile never leaving his face. "I'm not the monster you think I am, Anna." The world began to spin around Anna, her knees buckling under her. The last thing she saw before everything went black was the man's piercing green eyes and his enigmatic smile. As Anna slowly opened her eyes, she found herself in her bed, her room bathed in the soft glow of the evening sun. Confused, she blinked, her mind still reeling from the encounter in the forest. 'Was it all a dream?' she wondered. "How... how did I get here?" she murmured, trying to sit up. Next to her, Deloria, her faithful servant, jumped up from her chair, rushing to her side. "Miss Anna, you need to rest," Deloria insisted, gently pushing her back onto the bed. "But... I am in the forest... there... is.. a... there is that... man..." Anna stuttered. "You were found unconscious in the forest, Lady Zensen. We brought you home." "But... the man.. I meet the serial killer in the forest. That one everyone's talking about." "There was no one there, my lady. Just you," Deloria said gently. Anna lay back on her bed, her mind filled with questions. "Who was the man in the forest? Why did he know my name? And why did he say he had been waiting for me?"