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October 2026,

Scars Bay, USA

Dimitri

Darkness. Nothingness. A boundless void.

I was stuck here for what felt like the billionth time. But I couldn't figure a way out for the life of me.

'Murderer,' a high-pitched voice whispered. 'Murderer.'

Oh no. Please no.

'Heartless murderer.'

I covered my ears. I didn't want to hear it.

'I deserved better than you.' I heard a familiar voice shriek.

The voice was loud. Too fucking loud. There was no source in sight but I didn't need to see her to know who she was. I could recognize that voice anywhere.

'Cold, heartless murderer,' the high-pitched voice kept murmuring in the background.

'I was supposed to be the Queen,' she sneered. 'I was supposed to rule the world.'

I ran. I need to get away. I need to get away from the voice.

'And here I am, stuck with the man who is only good at running away. Running away from fights. Running away from what you could be. Running away from me,' she said bitterly. 'Run back to your fake little family.'

'They are my real family!' I growled as I ran harder.

'You don't even know the meaning of real family,' she shouted. 'You don't have one. And you took mine away! You killed my father. And when that wasn't enough, you killed me!'

'Murderer. Murderer. Murderer.'

My eyes filled up with tears. I tortured myself by thinking of all the things that could I have done differently. Maybe then, our story would have had a better ending.

'Run to your fake sisters. I know you are in a twisted relationship with them, you sick bastard.'

'Leave me the fuck alone!' I screamed and ran harder.

'Murderer. Murderer. Murderer.'

'You have made sure that I left you for eternity. But you just can't let go of me, can you? Because you know you made a mistake. You are guilty. You are here, in your own personal torture chamber, condemning yourself for your crimes. And you won't be able to leave until your soul has cleansed itself.' She started laughing. 'You are here for eternity.'

'I did the right thing,' I whispered in between breaths.

'Then why can't you let me go?' She cooed sardonically. 'I am a figment of your imagination, Dimitri. All you have to do is let go.'

My legs felt weak before they gave away. I fell down to my knees and clutched my head. I gripped my hair and pulled. Wake up. Wake up. Wake the fuck up!

'You can run away all you want but you know you can't stay away. Your guilt will always make you come back for more.'

'Murderer. Murderer. Murderer.'

The voices faded away as I opened my eyes. I could feel a headache forming.

I threw my blanket off me and got off the bed. I zombie-walked to the bathroom and saw myself in the mirror. My red eyes, dark circles, and sunken cheeks screamed sleep deprivation. I didn't remember the last time I had gotten a good night's sleep. It had been so long. Years, probably.

My mind went to Katerina.

She had been dealt a shitty hand. She definitely deserved better than me. But I was a selfish motherfucker and there was no way I was going to give her up just so that someone else could come along and give her the happily ever after that I wanted to share with her. Even if that someone else was better than me.