SOUL SNATCHERS

PROLOGUE

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to reserved unto judgment;

2 Peter 2:4

She couldn't count the number of times she shed tears that day. Her eyes swollen, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Clutching a blood-stained razor in her right hand, her left wrist bore a deep, painful wound, filling the sink with crimson.

The metallic scent of her blood pervaded the air, almost causing her to retch. The excruciating pain in her wrist matched the sorrow that consumed her, as droplets of blood dripped incessantly onto the cold tile floor. In her current state of despair, death seemed like a preferable escape from a life filled with unending agony. Two months pregnant, she found herself overwhelmed by the desire to end both her own suffering and the unborn child's, adding another layer of anguish to her already heavy burden.

Gazing into the mirror, she conjured an image of her ex-boyfriend standing before her. The desire to slap him and curse his existence consumed her, wishing upon him a fate of immense suffering and a dreadful demise.
 
Placing the razor blade near the faucet, she dipped her forefinger into the bloodied wound on her wrist and inscribed the name "Bryan" onto the mirror. For several minutes, she stared at that name, a flood of memories washing over her.

Bryan had been her partner for six long years. Now, she was bewildered as to how they had arrived at this juncture. Six years filled with sacrifices, where she had fought battles and relinquished everything, only to find herself with nothing but a sense of loss and defeat.

She couldn't fathom any valid reason for her sudden abandonment by Bryan, despite all the goodness she had shown him. Was this how he chose to repay her for her selflessness? It had become painfully clear that she had been nothing more than a means to satisfy his own needs and aspirations. Deceived by the man she deeply loved, the betrayal cut even deeper, especially considering the sacrifices she had made, including the life of her father, all in the name of her love for Bryan.

"Damn you! You've shattered my life!" Fueled by anger, she hurled the razor blade and struck the mirror with a powerful blow. The impact sent fragments flying, mingling with the crimson stains of her fresh blood.

"I gave you my all, what did I do to deserve this? I don't deserve this!" Her voice reverberated with a mix of frustration and anguish.

Dizziness overwhelmed her, and she sank to the floor, mumbling a string of curses. The pristine white satin of her blouse now tainted by the evidence of her inner turmoil.

"Forgive me, Dad...please forgive me for the choices I've made..." She enveloped her knees, allowing her blood to drip onto the unforgiving tiles, a silent plea for forgiveness.

Her best friend's piercing words echoed relentlessly in her mind, "What a foolish girl you are, Sophia. Graduating Magna Cum Laude, yet letting yourself be deceived by that worthless boyfriend." Deep down, she knew her friend was right, painfully exposing her own naivety.

"Is it worth it? Taking my own life because Bryan discarded me like trash? Is that a reason significant enough to end it all?" As utterances gave shape to her thoughts, she realized she wasn't ready to embrace death. She wanted to cherish her unborn baby and become the loving, devoted mother she yearned to be. Shaking her head, a laugh escaped her lips, a sudden realization of her own vulnerability when it came to matters of the heart.

"What have you become, Sophia?" she asked herself, gazing at the wall, absentmindedly combing her hair with her trembling hand. A deep sigh escaped her lips, as her gaze shifted to the wound on her wrist, a constant reminder of the pain and struggles she endured.