BEASTLY ALLURE

●Pain & Crimson.

Picture source: Google.

■Warning: Details of panic attack, Blood.

"Carry him to the room," the Ape's voice resonated through the castle walls, echoing with a command that cut through the chaos.

I stood frozen, my eyes trailing the path as four beastmen carried a limp body.

Blood dripped drop by drop, leaving a red trail along the way. I couldn't catch a glimpse of his body as the beastmen's bulky forms shielded him from view.

As they moved closer, my eyes caught a glimpse of silvery white hair streaked with red. His blood.

His hands hung limply, swinging with every step, red drops trickling down his fingers. His blood.

"Move your legs, Aurelia," a voice echoed in my head. My voice.

Then I saw his face. Winston's face.

Red liquid spurted from his mouth. His blood.

Move your body, Aurelia. Move. Again, the voice resonated in my head, desperate and pleading.

But my muscles refused to obey the command of my brain. I stood there, rooted to the spot.

My legs remained frozen in place. My arms hung limp at my sides, as if they were no longer a part of me.

And my heartbeat thundered loudly in my ears, muffling the voice in my head.

The metallic scent of his blood filled the air, mingling with the dampness of the fog that had seeped into the castle.

I wanted to scream, to shout his name, to push through the crowd and be by his side, but all I could do was watch in horror.

I felt tears welling up, but they refused to fall, trapped behind the dam of my shock.

The sight of his blood-streaked face and lifeless hands would be burned into my memory forever.

The beastmen disappeared through a doorway, and with them went my heart, my hope.

He's going to leave you forever if you don't move. This time, the voices in my head resonated louder than my heartbeat.

My mind and heart seemed to be at war, each vying for dominance in my ears, each trying to drown out the other.

Sweat began to drip from my forehead, sliding down my cheeks and pooling at my neck.

"AUREL... LOOK... ATT... MEEE... "A muffled voice echoed in my ears, but this time it wasn't mine.

My throat started to constrict, blocking my air passage.

"AURELIA... PLEASE... DON'T... LOOK AT ME... "the unknown voice resonated louder than before.

My lungs started to ache. The echoing of my own heartbeat slowed down painfully, as if my life was dripping away from me, second by agonising second.

"OH MY GOD, SHE'S NOT BREATHING. AURELIA, PLEASE BREATHE," warm hands shook my shoulders desperately.

My knees gave out, my vision blurred, and I felt myself go limp, only to be supported by someone's warm hands.

Hands that weren't Winston's.

"Hopelessly, I find myself in love with the female named Lia." Memories started to resurface in my head.