[h1][color=#F08080][center][b]?????[/b][/center][/color][/h1]
[center][color=red][h3]TRIGGER WARNING: VIOLENCE[/h3][/color][/center]

[color=#F08080]Location[/color]: Near the Sorian Library, in the alleyway between buildings
[color=#F08080]Music:[/color][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTFLYCMkyiM&ab_channel=InstrumentalHalloweenMusic] Click here for spooky music[/url]
[hr]

A young woman had left the Sorian Library and made her way into the alleyway between buildings. Her body was relaxed, letting her pursuer know that she had no idea she was being followed. The crickets chirped as the woman paused in the dark alleyway to rummage through her bag. 

Somewhere hidden in the alleyways: [color=#F08080]“Greetings, what brings you here on this lovely night…”[/color]

The woman emitted an almost inaudible gasp. She looked around frantically as she tried to find the source of the voice she had suddenly heard. Stiff as a board, she called out into the air, [color=FireBrick]“Hello? …Who’s there!”[/color] 

The voice continued to echo around her in the alleyway, almost as if there were multiple people present, but all belonging to the same voice of hatred and demise. [color=#F08080]“... Status. Secrets. Success. The Damien family seems to have it all… all because of that wretched man that you call a father….[i]Lady Violet Damien.[/i]”[/color]

Violet shuddered and hastily moved forward, lowering her head. She was not that far from home. Her heart was beginning to race; it was now or never. Gathering her skirt, her speed-walking grew into a full-out run.


The voice became louder, seemingly haunting her as she started to run, and ringing inside her head. [color=#F08080]“Running and hiding as always. Even if there is someone who you may want to save, you’ll choose to run away…”[/color]

Her lip quivered as she slowed her movements. She had been almost out of the alleyway and close to the Damien estate. She turned around with a paler face than usual, panic filling her voice as she cried, [color=FireBrick]“What do you mean?!”[/color] Considering they knew her name and her family, it was possible. And that possibility was what kept her from escaping.

[color=#F08080]“Perhaps a tall, adventurous fellow. Someone you grew to care about [i]tonight[/i]…”[/color] The voice is now in a centralized area. Behind Violet stood a dark silhouette, but one that was unidentifiable. To Violet, it could have been anyone. [color=#F08080]“Now, wouldn’t it be considered a tragedy if this little tale ended a bit early?”[/color]

Violet positioned her body to face the figure. She stared down the alleyway as tears brimmed in her eyes, her fists clenched. [color=FireBrick]“Please don’t hurt him.”[/color] She pleaded and then boggled her mind for answers, [color=FireBrick]“What is this about? Money?”[/color]

[color=#F08080]“Not money. No…”[/color]

From down the alley, a vial rolled down, stopping just a few feet away from her. [color=#F08080]“I will tell you exactly what I wish, but to hear my demands, you must drink the same potion as your beloved had. Upon doing so, you will be reunited once you wake up. But if you refuse, he will be no more…”[/color]

The dark-haired girl folded her arms. [color=FireBrick]“You have no proof he’s even within your possession. I will not fall for some trick. ”[/color] She retorted.

[color=#F08080]“If that is the risk you wish to take, then so may God bless his soul. But take the potion with you, and consider my words. You have an hour to decide and return to this area. Otherwise, it will only be regret…”[/color] The presence steps back into the shadows, but before doing so, a single piece of jasmine flew into the air, just barely being present in the moonlight shadow.

 Violet froze at the sight of the jasmine in the air. [color=FireBrick] [i] No… Could it be that this man has already hurt Roman? [/i][/color] Her face contorted as she thought harder, [color=FireBrick]“There’s no proof of anything. This is a ridiculous game. “[/color]

[color=FireBrick][i]Of course the one night I sneak out to find a new book to read, this happens.[/i] [/color] 

With a hard swallow and rush of mixed emotions, she moved forward, calling out, [color=FireBrick]“ This is absurd! Just who are you! I know you’re still there!”[/color] With rising irritation, she scooped up the vial in hand to examine it, planning to find this person and throw it in their face. [color=FireBrick]“I was not born yesterday! I know it’s poison!”[/color]

Despite the display of disbelief, she failed to realize the string attached to the vial, pulling up from the ground. She heard a swinging noise in the area from behind her. As she turned around, an ax swung toward her, hitting her in-between her eyes and digging deep in her skull, killing her instantly. The girl did not even have time to scream. Her body fell straight to the floor, limp on her back. Blood began to drip down her head and pool beneath it, her dark hair becoming sticky in the red puddle that formed. Her eyes were lifeless as they were fixed staring into the sky. [color=#F08080]“Sometimes the most effective trap is the most simple, my dear Lady.”.[/color] The mysterious figure stared at the now motionless corpse sitting in the middle of the alleyway. [color=#F08080]“I am terribly sorry things had to end this way, but your father needed to learn some lessons”[/color]. The figure cut the string off the ax, and quickly removed the mechanisms attached, carefully of course. It was not originally complicated at all. The ax itself was carefully not touched. All that was left was the body and the vial.

[b][i] It was only wine inside, after all.[/i][/b]