RAVENNA PIERCE

Chapter 2

Days passed, each one bringing Ravenna closer to her wedding. Time was running out. Tomorrow was the day she would be married off to a man she didn't love. And still she had no plan to escape or become a run away bride at the Alter, She thought as she lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

As the hours ticked by, Ravenna's sense of desperation grew. She knew she had to do something, but she didn't know what, because the thought of wearing a wedding dress, of standing in front of a crowd of people and promising to love and obey a man she didn't even know and spending the rest of her life with a man she didn't love., was almost too much for her to bear.

In a desperate moment, a terrible thought crept into her mind. What if she just ended it all? What if she escaped the pain and the suffering by taking her own life?

Ravenna's thoughts were calm and resolute. She wasn't afraid of the possibility of ending her own life. The thought of living a life without love, without freedom, was far more terrifying to her.

But she remembered Miranda , imagining her devastation, her grief, and how she would constantly blame herself.

The thought of causing Miranda such pain made Ravenna pause from her killer mindset. Realizing that her actions would have a far reaching consequences, affecting not just her own life but also the live of her beloved cousin Miranda.

Ohhh well !.. it doesn't matter anyways she already made up my mind ... "she will take her life." Just one knife driven into her body, and her life will be over.

Ravenna's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. It was her uncle, the man she had grown to fear and resent, entered her room with a stern expression. His eyes scanned her.

"Ravenna, I hear you've been...uncooperative," he said, his voice low and menacing. "I warn you, girl, you'd better change your attitude. Tomorrow, you'll be marrying Dimitri, and you'll do well to remember your place."

Ravenna felt a surge of bitterness, but she remained silent, her eyes fixed on the floor.

"You're not like other girls, Ravenna," her uncle continued, his tone dripping with malice. "You're not privileged. you're not spoiled. You're a burden, a weight on our family's shoulders. And tomorrow, you'll be someone else's problem."

Ravenna's heart twisted in her chest, but she remained still, her face expressionless.

"You'll do as Dimitri says. you'll obey him without question," her uncle lectured. "You'll be a good wife, a dutiful wife. and in return, we'll benefit from the union. We'll gain wealth, status, and security."

"Remember, Ravenna, you owe us," her uncle spat. "You owe us for taking you in and taking care of you for raising you as one of our own. And tomorrow, you'll repay that debt. You'll marry Dimitri, and you'll make us proud."

With that, he turned and left, leaving Ravenna feeling shattered, trapped, and utterly alone.

"Ravenna!.... Ravenna, open up. Mom asked me to bring this up to you," Miranda said, her voice soft and sympathetic. "It's your wedding dress. She wants you to try it on to make sure it fits perfectly."

Miranda seemed to sense Ravenna's unease. "Hey, cuz, are you okay? You look a little...off."

Ravenna forced a weak smile, not wanting to burden Miranda with her troubles. "I'm fine, just a little...nervous, I guess."

Miranda nodded understandingly and began to unzip the garment bag. "Well, let's get this over with, then. Mom wants to make sure everything is perfect for tomorrow."

As Miranda helped Ravenna into the dress, the dress was beautiful, and she gazed at her reflection in the mirror.

Miranda fussed over the dress, making adjustments and smoothing out wrinkles. "You look beautiful, Ravenna," she said, her voice sincere. "Really, you do."

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The next day:

The day of the wedding dawned bright and early, with frenetic energy permeating the air. Ravenna lay in bed, her heart heavy with dread, as she listened to the sounds of her aunt and cousin bustling around the house.

She knew she had to get up. had to go through the motions of getting ready for the wedding.

Ravenna threw off the covers and swung her legs over the side of the bed. Her feet dangled in the air, feeling heavy and unresponsive.

She took a deep breath and stood up, her eyes scanning the room as if searching for an escape route. But there was none.

Aunt Victoria burst into the room, a look of excitement on her face. "Good morning, Ravenna! Today's the big day! Let's get you ready, shall we?"

Ravenna nodded listlessly, feeling like a puppet on strings. She went through the motions of getting ready, her mind numb and detached from her body.

As the morning wore on, the house began to bustle with activity. The sound of cars pulling up outside and the murmur of voices carried through the air.

Ravenna's heart sank as she heard the groom's family arriving.

Aunt Victoria flitted around, ensuring that everything was perfect for the arrival of the groom's family. She fussed over the decorations, making sure that everything was in its place.

Maidservants carrying trays of foods and glasses of champagnes hurried from the kitchen to every corner of the house.

They moved with a quiet efficiency, their faces expressionless as they went about their work.

As the guests continued to arrive, Ravenna's anxiety grew. She had been dreading this moment for what felt like an eternity - the moment she would finally lay eyes on her groom, Dimitri.

She had heard so much about him, about his wealth and his family's influence. But she had never actually met him, never actually seen him.

And then, suddenly, he was there.

Dimitri stood tall, his broad shoulders and manly features making him look imposing and stern. His eyes scanned the environment, his gaze lingering as she peeped at him from inside ..... He hadn't noticed or seen her yet.

She had expected him to be charming and charismatic, but instead, he looked... otherwise and uninterested.

It was time for her to walk down the aisle and marry a man she didn't love.

Her took her arm, his grip tight. "It's time, Ravenna," he whispered. "Let's go." "she nodded." As she hid the small kitchen knife, she stole from the kitchen earlier and hid it inside her flower bouquet.

Ravenna took a deep breath and stood up, her legs trembling beneath her. She smoothed out her wedding dress, the silk and lace feeling heavy and suffocating.

She saw Dimitri standing at the altar, his expression stern and unyielding. He didn't even bother to look at her, his eyes fixed on some point beyond her shoulder.

As she reached the altar, Ravenna felt like she was going to collapse. Her legs were shaking, her heart racing with fear.

Dimitri turned to her, his eyes cold and detached. "Let's get this over with," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the music.

With a deep breath, Ravenna took Dimitri's hand, her fingers trembling as she placed them in his. The priest began to speak.

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The priest cleared his throat and began to speak, his voice booming through the silent crowd. "Dimitri and Ravenna, today you stand before us, ready to commit to one another in marriage. repeat after me and say your vows to each other."

Ravenna felt a lump form in her throat as she looked at Dimitri. He was staring straight ahead, his expression unreadable.

The priest began to speak, his words slow and deliberate. "I, Dimitri, take thee, Ravenna, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part."

Dimitri repeated the words, his voice firm and detached.

The priest turned to her, his eyes kind but firm. "And now, Ravenna, please repeat after me. 'I, Ravenna, take thee, Dimitri, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, to obey and honor, till death us do part."

Ravenna's voice trembled as she spoke the words.

The priest continued, his voice guiding them through their vows. "Do you, Dimitri, promise to love and cherish Ravenna, to support her and be faithful to her, through all the joys and challenges of life?"

Dimitri nodded, his voice firm. "I do."

The priest turned to Ravenna. "And do you, Ravenna, promise to love and cherish Dimitri, to support him and be faithful to him, through all the joys and challenges of life?"

Ravenna hesitated..... as the priest repeated the vows again. do you, Ravenna, promise to love and cherish Dimitri, to support him and be faithful to him, through all the joys and challenges of life?"

The priest looked at her expectantly, his eyes kind but firm.

Ravenna's eyes darted around searching for an escape, but there was none. she couldn't marry a man she did not love.

with a swift motion, Ravenna pulled out the small knife she hid from her her flower bouquet.

The room gasped in shock as she threatened to stab herself.

"I won't do it," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"I won't marry him. I'd rather die than spend the rest of my life with someone I don't love.

The room erupted into chaos. Dimitri's face turned red with anger, while her aunt Victoria, her uncle, Miranda, and her sisters screamed.

please! n..no don't do this Ravenna. we can sort this out without you hurting yourself.

But Ravenna already made up her mind to take her life.

"I can't take the pain and torture you all made me feel ever since I was a child. The hate , the torture. they are unbearable!" "she said."

it was already too late as she drove the knife through her stomach. The room fell silent as Ravenna's body crumpled to the floor,bleeding to death.