Chapter 4
Just as my foot was about to cross the threshold, my entire body seized up.
I saw a group of figures emerging from the mist - shrouded path.
Among them, Alpha Frank's presence was like a thundercloud on the horizon.
The moment our eyes met, a jolt coursed through my bod.
For him, the sight of me standing there, beside the wilted bouquet of flowers at the factory entrance, must have been like a punch to the gut.
His eyes, usually a steely blue, darkened to the color of a stormy sea.
Laura, Elena's mother, was at his side.
She lunged forward like a predator pouncing on its prey, her hands outstretched.
In a flash, she had my collar in her grip.
"Who the hell let you slither back here, you wretched creature?"
Laura screeched. And then, she swung her hand.
The sound reverberated, a sharp, stinging crack that left me reeling.
I teetered on the edge of collapse. "Auntie, please, I - "
"Silence!" Laura roared.
" You, who are responsible for my Elena's death? You have no right to even breathe the same air as us! Get out! Vanish from my sight, and never, ever come back!"
My left cheek, already reddening from the slap, swelled rapidly.
But Laura was not appeased.
Her eyes, wild and unfocused, landed on the flowers on the ground.
She charged at the flowers, scooped them up, and then, with all her might, hurled them at me.
"We don't need your pitiful attempts at remorse!"
"If it weren't for you, my Elena would still be here! That truck... it smashed her to pieces! Her bones... her blood everywhere..."
Laura grabbed my arms, her fingernails digging deep into the soft flesh.
"My Elena was so young, so full of life,"
"Why were you with her? Why couldn't you protect her?"
Finally, with a last burst of energy, Laura pushed me with all her might.
"Why did Elena die?" she screamed. "Why aren't you the one in the grave?"
My body flew backward.
The back of my head hit the edge of a rusted machine with a sickening thud. I felt warm blood trickle down my forehead.
"Mom, calm down," alpha Frank said.
"I'll handle this."
Dragging me behind him like a ragdoll, he pulled me out of the factory.
Alpha Frank released his grip and shoved me hard.
I landed on the ground with a thud.
Alpha Frank loomed over me. "Are you suicidal?" he hissed. "I warned you never to come back here. This is the last time I'll tell you. Stay away."
Despite his harsh words, there was a flicker of something else in his eyes, a pain that he couldn't
I looked up at him.
"I just wanted to see Elena," .
"You don't deserve to," he spat and turned on his heel and strode back into the factory.
As I stumbled away, my face streaked with tears, Elena's voice echoed in my head.
"Nancy, try these cookies. I made them just for you."
"My brother can't stop talking about you. He's head - over - heels."
"Let's win this competition together. We'll be unstoppable."
My legs gave out, and I sank to the ground.
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