Angel of Death

Chapter 1

P.O.V. SELENE

It was a gloomy, Sunday evening and Selene had arrived home. She came home from a long day of work at the hospital. Selene was a nurse at the Panacea Hospital in downtown Manhattan. Usually she did nightshifts, but on this particular day she had happily excepted the dayshift. It was around six o'clock in the afternoon when Selene entered her apartment on the seventh floor. She was greeted by her roommate, Iris. Her roommate was two years younger than Selene and was the total opposite of her, yet that brought them even further together. It was a friendship that was destined by the Fates. "Hi, how was work? I heard there was a big car crash. Was it busy?" Iris was always very curious about Selene's job but she didn't mind. "Oh, it was pretty hectic but there weren't any fatalities so that's positive. I'm just exhausted." It was true wat Selene said, no fatalities but why did she have such a bad feeling in the lower part of her abdomen, as if there was something horribly wrong? Selene shrugged off the feeling and bolted to the fridge. "Ooooh, did you make pasta?" Iris was an extraordinary cook. She had gone to culinary school, against the will of her parents. Even though her parents disapproved, the girl could cook! "Haha, yeah, I made your favorite. It's in the Tupperware in the fridge." Selene opened the Tupperware and put it in the microwave to warm it up. Iris always knew how to make her day with a delicious meal. "So how was your day? Have you already found a restaurant willing for a new employee?" "Omg I totally forgot! I got accepted by HESTIA. It's like the best restaurant in New York!" "No way! That's so awesome. When do you begin?" Selene was genuinely delighted for Iris, yet that weird feeling came back. Feeling uncertain but determined to find out later she distracted herself by focusing on Iris. Right at that moment Iris interrupted her thoughts: "Well that's the thing. I don't know, they said they would call. I know it's sketchy but they guaranteed a job." The sketchy job Iris had gotten only confirmed Selene's thoughts. "You know I will support you no matter what, but this is sketchy Iris..." "You're right, but I need to do this. I'm willing to dangle my trust for this one awesome opportunity." "You know what Iris, we need to celebrate this accomplishment. I don't have work tomorrow and I'm in great need of a drink and a party." Selene really needed to take her mind off of work and the abnormal, eerie feeling in her gut. "Hey, I just read that there's a big event at this nightclub or something. Maybe we can go there tonight?" Selene responded excitedly: "Ooh, that sounds fun, is there like a theme and in which club is it?" Selene always loved to go to nightclubs, but you had to know the good ones. "The club's called ASTRAEA, it's like this fancy ass club in Upper Manhattan. I'll check for the theme and dress code." After an hour of prepping themselves for the event of the night, Selene and Iris were ready to party. Selene opted for a midnight blue, almost black, silk dress falling down to her ankles with a cowl neck line, thin straps and small gems that represented little stars. On her feet she wore simple black strappy heels. Her hair and makeup were natural to highlight her own beauty. When Selene took a glimpse of Iris' outfit she was amazed, "OMG, Iris! Your dress is stunning, you look absolutely fantastic!" Iris wore a beautiful long, sunrise pink dress that complemented her sun kissed tan. As a response Iris complimented: "Girl, you look like you just stepped out of the midnight sky, I love it!" The theme of the event was sky, it was a fun theme which could be interpreted in different ways. Selene saw it as the midnight sky while Iris saw it more as a sunrise. Together the two girls went for the club.

Selene was feeling on the edge, so when she and her best friend arrived at the club she immediately bolted for the bar. Iris was already talking with a complete stranger, she was very social whilst Selene didn't like talking to strangers. At the bar, Selene ordered a whiskey. It wasn't a common drink for ladies, but Selene was used to the strange looks the bartenders gave her. While she waited for her drink, Selene admired the interior of the club. It was decorated according to the theme, beautifully dark and the ceiling was decorated with small jewels to picture stars in a midnight sky. "Here you go, enjoy." Selene startled as she was shaken out of her thoughts but responded politely, "Thanks." She downed the drink and soon after ordered another one. After receiving the second drink, Selene could feel a pair of staring eyes, yet she couldn't find them. Lightly taking sips of the smokey drink, she turned around and searched the club to find the staring eyes, but when it was clear she couldn't detect the eyes Selene set the glass on the bar. She walked towards the less crowded space in the club. There, she sat down on a comfy couch. "Hey, how are you enjoying the night?" A unknown voice called to her. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" Selene preferred not to talk to strangers, but didn't see the harm in this particular girl. "Oh, I don't think so. I just wondered, I saw you alone at the bar and thought maybe you would like to chat." The stranger had to raise her voice over the music. "Oh, no I'm fine. Just here to have some fun." Selene did not like the way their conversation was turning. "Talking about some fun, let's get some fresh air." Again that strange feeling in the lower part of Selene's stomach. "No, I'm fine." Selene responded "No, I actually insist." The girl grabbed her wrist and tugged her making Selene stand up. As a cause of the few drinks the mysterious girl had drunk, the grip on Selene's arm wasn't all too tight. Selene wormed her wrist out of her grip and took a small sprint to the bathroom.

As she exited the ladies stalls, Selene texted Iris saying she would already go home. She left the club and walked home. Suddenly she felt a body present near her, so she quickened her pace. Then she was yanked by the arm. The man started to touch her, but Selene punched him in the face and kneed him. After that a group of approximately 6 men came towards her. The first one made the mistake of coming too slow, Selene kicked him in the groin and stomped on his hand. The other men were taken aback by the skill that Selene showed, yet it didn't compromise their goal. After her two bold moves, three other men came in and closed around her. Selene went in for the first punch and knocked out one of the three, another man came close to her and closed his hands around her neck and pushed her against the alleyway stone wall. Her head throbbed by the lack of air and her fingernails dug and scratched his only tightening hands. She stomped her pointy heel on the man's foot, in the hope of distracting him, but failed. The look of determination in his eyes was unshakable, his pupils dilated significantly in the act of pleasure. Selene had accepted her faith and prayed to the Gods, she never prayed to them, in act of hatred, but now found solace in talking to them:

I'm so sorry I never prayed to all of you. But I only ask one thing of you. Please make sure I don't end up in Tartarus or Elysium. I've done everything to be a good part of this world by taking care of the human race and making sure they are safe or die peacefully. This prayer goes directly to Hades, God of the Underworld himself, I bet you're probably not listening, but please I beg you, please do good and let me have peace when I die. If I go to the Underworld, please, I need to speak to you. I need closure about my parents.

Selene's eyes rolled back and her knees shook, she collapsed to the ground. She knew she wasn't dead yet, Selene could faintly hear a voice and feel a pair of fingers carefully settle themselves at the crook of her neck.

Checking your pulse, someone's checking your pulse. Make it stronger Selene.

She felt herself being lifted from the ground and her hands found the chest of a man. Suddenly her blood ran cold.

Oh no please no, no, no, no... I don't deserve this! Please don't let this man touch me, please don't let this man rape me! I beg of you to halt this man in harming me!

It felt as though she was screaming, yet no sound came out of her mouth. She felt warm tears stream out of her eyes, following the contours of her face. Tasting them on her mouth and feeling a thumb brush them away. Her limbs went rigid, Selene was scared for her life. Yet this man's presence was weirdly familiar. She suddenly felt safe and Selene let herself relax in his warm and gentle grip. She tried to open her eyes, but her muscles didn't cooperate.