Bound By Blood.

ch.44~ Its Dark...

"I'm glad your finally realized,

perhaps now you'll give up. 

The same way I did. 

Hurts like a bitch, huh, Riddle?"

Recovered Translated Correspondents between Order Member Alexandra Brooks to Death Eater Mattheo Riddle, 2003.

Order Safe House, 2003.

Alexandra. 

"Over one hundred murdered, in Death Eater mission conducted last night by Head Death Eater,  Mattheo Riddle. Evidence Seems as if, he acted alone, avenging his Fathers name, living up to his wishes. 

Sources say he shall soon take the place of, The Dark Lord."

That is the headline that starred back at me during breakfast. 

Over one hundred dead.

All by his hand. 

Suddenly, I'm regretting answering his letter. 

Giving him the satisfaction that I had. Given, I didn't write him a love letter, I didn't confess my feelings and scream them from a roof top. I simply told him I'm happy he had given up on me. 

Also, given there were no feelings to confess anymore. 

Especially not now with this headline staining my memory, my coffee threatening to make its way back over. 

Over one hundred dead.  

Harry glanced over at Ron, who was still staring at the newspaper in disbelief. "Can you believe it?" Ron murmured, shaking his head, his voice thick with tension. "Over a hundred lives... just like that. What kind of monster does something like this?"

Harry sighed, grimacing as the words on the page swirled like a storm in his mind. "It's the world we live in, Ron. It's always been like this, and it feels like it's only getting worse. But he has to be stopped."

Ron nodded, his brow furrowing deeper. "And now he's targeting anyone who—"

But before he could finish, I pushed my chair away from the table, my hands trembling slightly. 

"I... I need some air," I mumbled, before hastily retreating from the dining room.

Harry exchanged a worried glance with Ron. "Should we—"

"No, let her be. She needs to sort through her thoughts," Ron replied, though the worry etched on his face suggested he thought otherwise.

As I stepped onto the porch, the cool morning air hit me, but it was far from refreshing. 

I leaned against the railing, trying to steady my breath. 

I was so caught up in my own turmoil that I almost didn't notice Luna approaching with her usual dreamy demeanor.

"Hi, Alexandra," Luna said softly, her large, spectre-like eyes searching my face with concern. "Was hoping to find you out here." 

I turned slightly to face her, forcing a smile. "Hey, Luna," I said, though the words felt brittle in my throat. "I just needed a moment."