It's early in the morning when Seraphina received a missive, an invitation letter to be exact. She herself was the one who answered the mailman for not a single soul except hers can be detected in the boarding school.

It seems like everyone pretty much relished the days full of autonomy sans the four Headmistresses and the boarding school's unjust rules.

Fingertips touching the ragged cream-colored envelope, Seraphina skims the letter, the handwriting comes off like it was carefully done by a professional. With that, it is unfamiliar.

Seraphina cannot help herself from concealing her awe as soon as her emerald eyes wrapped up the letter for she cannot assume she would obtain such a letter about Edward Finnegan's funeral later tonight.

Sure, she conversed with the man before but it doesn't seem like sufficient reason to be invited to Edward's funeral. To be frank, Seraphina feels wicked for receiving such a note but she knew her feelings will continue to deteriorate if she chose to flout the invitation.

By that, wearing her conventional black frock, Seraphina steered towards the graveyard later tonight, not bothering to inquire for the Headmistress' approval. Thus, Seraphina roamed all alone in the midst of the night, without a single chaperone insight.

However, Seraphina inferred something was amiss the moment her dainty ebony shoes strode into the muddy necropolis, harsh breeze passing her, Seraphina encompassed her pale arms around herself, denouncing herself for not bringing a cloak.

Despite the scarcity of light and people in sight, Seraphina still valiantly leaped deeper into the cemetery, scouring for a mob of people, signaling Edward Finnegan's funeral.

After a few twinklings, her feet began to jail for Seraphina had been sauntering on and on yet not a sole soul arose right in front of her.

Paranoid Seraphina is for she began to think of many possible explanations why she failed to find the others. Perhaps, they didn't really mean to mailed her an invitation letter or possibly because they started early but what if this is their way of pulling a prank on the last seen lady Edward spoke with before he was slain.

As rude as it is, Seraphina ceased in her tracks, preparing herself to just simply call it a day and head home.

Nevertheless, just as Seraphina was about to ultimately leave the strange old necropolis, there she noticed a standing hooded man, a few gauges away from her, his back facing her.

Seraphina was at first, fused in her point but was shooked to her very core when she found herself galloping towards him, curiosity eating her up.

The hooded man must have sensed her approach for he commenced to walk away rapidly, not run, but merely walk. Undoubtedly, his knees are long compared to Seraphina's.

By the time Seraphina reached the spot where she saw the hooded man standing very stationary, the man was already nowhere to be found.

Eyes wandering around the surrounding, Seraphina let out a horrendous outcry, ravens flying out of the trees for what Seraphina saw was pure evil.

For there lay Edward Finnegan's lifeless body in the ground entirely coated in dirt. His left eyeball was missing just what she heard based on the news that quickly circulated around the area. Regardless, what they neglected to notify Seraphina was how both of his arms and legs were all chopped off and were all huddled beside him.

Her heart skipping a beat, Seraphina recklessly ran for her life, evacuating the Cemetery as promptly as she can, not heeding the muds sticking right into her frock and even her neatly tied bun as she sprinted.

Despite how loud her heartbeats are, Seraphina could tell someone is running behind her, chasing her, perhaps. She knew it was the hooded man.

She was already a few paces away from the horrifying place, her heart still racing like crazy, her fingers jiggling, the gruesome image of Edward Finnegan flashing in her mind, Seraphina let out such a relieved sigh at the sight of a carriage approaching her.

Thankfully, it was not occupied, meaning, she has a ticket for her way back to the boarding school. By the time she mounted the carriage, there she saw the hooded man standing under the willow tree, gazing at her, smirking at her, his blond hair all bloody but what made him more frightening was how his whole eyes were black. As in black.

Seraphina doesn't know but she can't seem to take her eyes off him even as he raised his forefinger between his lips.

It was already near supper when she reached the boarding school.

By that time, Seraphina's state is somehow back to normal. Eyes surveying the surroundings, it was how she left it earlier except now is much darker. Not a single lamp post is lit and no passing carriage can be seen. It was as if the street was wholly abandoned.

Her soft footfalls audible, Seraphina headed towards the boarding school, gripping her satchel in her hand, licking her lips in nervousness.

However, everything began to turn sideways once again when there stood an enormous man a few paces away from the boarding school, his raven suit, untrimmed beard, and tired-looking features scare the hell out of her. Not only that, but half of his face is also scorched.

The two of them briefly shared awkward eye contact, Seraphina breaking it at first.

You see, he might seem bizarre but Seraphina knew it's obscene to judge someone solely based on one's appearance.

With that, the girl in black simply shrugged, fishing for the golden key from her beaded satchel Aunt Veronica bought her last winter.

Her delicate hand twisting the silver doorknob, Seraphina knows someone is approaching her and she doesn't need to turn her head around to see who it is.

Terror emerging within her, Seraphina hastily flew the door open, blasting it shut as soon as she strode foot inside.

After a few moments, Seraphina began to feel guilty once more since the man might be harmless. Who knows, he was just strolling towards her for some directions or so.

Still, she must not involve with strangers too much especially in times like this for murder and violence are rampant in the streets.

Eyes wandering around the room, scouring for a sign of someone's presence but found none. Indeed, the rest of the girls, even the Headmistress, still haven't come back.

She should've stayed back in Avebury. Well, if only she hasn't made a fool of herself in front of Zachary Canning. She should've minded her own business.

The only sounds that can be heard were her wild heartbeat and the grandfather's clock at the end of the sitting room.

Squinting her eyes, Seraphina strolled towards the side, planning on lighting a mere candle to somehow pull back from utter darkness.

However, shock encircled her when the door flew open and there stood the burly man from outside. The man then gaped at her with such creepy stares., making her tiny hairs stand up.

That's what you get for thinking way too positive of people, huh.

"Ho-how'd you get in, Mister and who are you?" roared Seraphina, her feet glued on the floor, mentally uttering profanity to herself.

The sight before Seraphina made her knees turn jelly for the man was strolling towards her with an ax in his very hand.

As expected, the man mumbled no such thing, his mouth kept shut, his footfalls loud and frightening, his eyes menacing.

"Get out of here, Mister," squawked Seraphina once more, her eyes glued on the ax in his hand.

As stupid as it is since Seraphina knew no one is back, she screamed and screamed, pleading for help but none answered her.

Everything happened so fast right before Seraphina, the man began to swing the bloody ax at her with an intent to kill.

Smirking, the man with a burned face began to walk towards her quickly. With that, Seraphina sprinted towards the stairs, looking back, there she saw the man still swinging the ax, only a few steps away from her.

God is indeed good for Seraphina managed to reach her chamber upstairs and hurriedly shut it locked as she began to recite her prayers.

Her back against the door, her eyes vicious, her chest rising up and down.

As much as Seraphina loathes the idea of it, at the very back of her mind, she began to pray for Zachary to come here, to rescue her, to save her from this man who is far creepier than him.

Seraphina was about to begin amassing the furniture, shielding it from the door when abruptly, a boisterous and harsh knock was heard. The knock was so hard to the point Seraphina thought the door would likely be destroyed any minute now.

Seraphina stepped a few paces away from the door, afraid the man would fling his ax at the door.

She's no stupid, no way is she gonna open it and confront the man knowing she knows nothing about combat.

"Come out, sweetie, I promise I won't hurt you," murmured the man behind the door, his voice cracking.

Eyes wide, Seraphina began to shake her head despite how the man cannot see her. Will it not hurt her? Then explain that ax of his.

"Come on, sweetie. I won't hurt your pretty little face," added the man, his voice low and sarcastic yet still made the hairs on the back of his neck rise.

Seraphina shut her eyes for a second in frustration, she has a feeling Zachary Canning is involved here.

Silence enveloped the whole house, Seraphina began to think the man already fled for no knock was followed.

Almost leaping from her place, Seraphina trembled once more at the sound of yet another knock. However, a few moments went by when she heard a familiar voice on the other side of the door.

"Seraphina, what's the noise all about?" implored the Headmistress.

With that, the door flew open, Seraphina racing towards the Headmistress, her arms swaddling around the stern old woman.

"Goodness, my child, what's with that face of yours?" blurted the Headmistress, glancing at her with such horrid eyes. Well, Seraphina must've looked horrible.

Seraphina discarded her embrace from the woman before her, her frightened emerald eyes gliding around the corridor, searching for a hint of the man a while ago.

"Where did he go?" asked Seraphina, her eyes still searching and searching.

"Where did you go? Don't tell me you brought a man here sans my permission,"

Shaking her head, her eyes shifting back to the furious Headmistress, "You've got the wrong idea, Headmistress. I saw on my two own eyes a giant man with a burned face chased me inside the manor a few moments ago,"

Brow lifting in disbelief, the Headmistress crossed her arm, "Must've been a hallucination of yours,"

"It was not a hallucination, Headmistress," and since when did Seraphina begin to have such a thing?

Seraphina was about to revolt once more when the Headmistress bestowed her such demanding gaze, "you've traveled a lengthy amount of time so I suggest you heading back to bed,"

In just one snap, the Headmistress is out of sight. Seraphina's eyes wander around the surroundings once more, searching for the man but thankfully, he is nowhere to be seen.

Latching the door, Seraphina let out a sluggish sigh, strolling down her trunk as her fingers began to work on her frock's ties.

By the time Seraphina is changed to her black silky nightgown, she sits down on her bed, not bothering with her two-week-old sheets.

Crunching her brows, she snagged sight of a white envelope plopping in her mattress which Seraphina laggardly opened for she knew whose letter was this.

Letting out a baffled laugh for Seraphina has a feeling Zachary still doesn't realize that Seraphina is completely knowledgeable of the sender's identity.

Fingers grazing on the thick paper, her eyes ran along with the familiar yet bothersome words.

His letter questioned her why she went back to Bath without him. Together with the unwanted letter is an unwanted white rose covered in dried blood. Its thorns are all removed.

Seraphina knew she should be stunned at such a sight but she just found herself laughing, her fingers caressing the bloody rose.

With that, Seraphina cannot help herself from remembering the time how creepy Zachary was. She was 17 years old when she first received a flower-covered in the blood similar to this one.

Dorian and she were simply debating, laughing, Dorian getting all touchy once again. Flinging his arms around her, confiding jokes in her ears which made the two of them laugh out loud in the balcony.

"Spare me from your lousy tricks, Dorian," laughed Seraphina, hitting her friend with a hardbound in the arm.

Dorian simply kneaded the area where his friend whack him, "only tell me you don't find them funny when your lips are not twitched upwards like a fool,"

Seraphina was eager for a sharp comeback when there she saw Zachary behind Dorian, all outfitted in the black once again, his hands behind him.

Suddenly, Seraphina lost the appetite to converse with Dorian because his older brother's presence made her really skeptical.

Dorian must've noticed the sudden change of atmosphere since he halted laughing, looking behind him

He was about to open his mouth, asking her brother what brought him here, daring to leave that library and chamber of his.

hands behind his back, Zachary answered his brother with such menacing voice, "Aunt Veronica requested for you downstairs,"

"in a minute, Brother, I was just telling Sep here abo-"

"Now, Dorian," enunciated Zachary, his voice low yet still intimidating.

In just one snap, Dorian excused himself for a bit before Seraphina stuck her tongue on him, teasing him, Dorian only chuckled, messing her hair up.

At the very corner of her eyes, Seraphina knew Dorian's creepy older brother was not finding the sight before him even tolerable.

As soon as Dorian left, silence enveloped the whole place, Seraphina acted busy reading the book Dorian and she was sharing just a while ago.

Now, Seraphina and Zachary are all alone on the balcony. None said anything, Seraphina deluded not to notice him, feeling the fatal gapes of Zachary.

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him strolling towards her spot, Seraphina cursed Zachary in her very mind, interrogating him what the hell does he even want.

Seraphina still hasn't looked up from the book even as she is aware of his presence right in front of her, a foot away from her.

However, she was stunned when Zachary suddenly yanked her bare hand and before she could protest, he laid a rose-covered in blood with its thorns all chopped down in her hand.

Before she could protest further, in just one blink, he was out of sight.

After a second, Dorian came back, unaware of what just arose. Seraphina hurriedly hid the bloody rose inside her burgundy gown, feeling the blood dripping down her thigh.

Cursing Zachary in the back of her head nth time this minute, Seraphina fought the urge to wince at the idea of knowing whose blood this is. She cannot even entertain the idea of Zachary slaughtering an innocent animal for the sake of this exotic rose.

"Weird, Aunt Veronica said she never called for me," uttered Dorian, scratching his head in confusion.

Later that evening, Seraphina dreamt of Zachary standing over her bed looking serious as ever, his calloused fingertips grazing across her cheek and lips, staring down at her with those eyes that frightened her over and over again, mumbling the words, "She looked beautiful even in death,"