Chapter 1 - The Monster awake

Being dead for a thousand years isn't exactly a conversation starter.A sudden flash of blinding light struck the creature's face. It lay inside an ancient casket, the wood cracked with age and stained by the rot of centuries. Dust danced through the air like restless spirits disturbed from a long, suffocating slumber.For the first time in a millennium… she felt warmth.Sunlight."Who is that?"Her inner voice whispered, sharp and cold as shattered glass."Who is brave enough to set me free?"Slowly, the creature's eyes fluttered open. The sun burned directly into her pupils, forcing a hiss from between dry, cracked lips. Her body trembled as she pushed herself upright. Bones cracked violently—a sickening sound of rusted metal grinding back into place after centuries of stillness.She inhaled, the air tasting of ancient dust and new blood."I am free…"The voice was hoarse. Inhuman."I am free!" she screamed. Laughter burst from her chest—wild, broken, and utterly unhinged.Then, her gaze shifted.In the far corner of the dim chamber, a girl crouched behind a wooden table. She was trembling violently, her wide eyes filled with liquid horror.She looked almost identical to me. Almost.The only difference was the beauty. Unlike the "ugly" version of myself, this girl was flawless.The creature tilted her head, a predator spotting a wounded fawn. How fascinating.She moved forward with a jerky, uneven grace. Her lips curled back, revealing teeth too sharp for a human as a low growl rumbled in her throat. In one swift motion, she lunged, her hand clamping around the girl's neck.I tried to scream, but my throat was a desert.The grip tightened. I watched as the girl's life force was drained—something invisible, something warm, was ripped out from deep inside her. Her strength faded. Her vision blurred into a grey haze.The monster's body convulsed. I heard the sickening thud-click of bones resetting, like heavy iron locks finally finding their keys.Pain. Then, a terrifying silence.When the creature finally released the girl, the monster was gone. In its place stood a woman with skin like cream and eyes that were no longer hollow pits.She looked human. She looked beautiful.She smiled at the crumpled heap on the floor and vanished into the Abyss, leaving the lifeless girl behind.I shot up from my bed with a violent gasp.My chest heaved, sweat slicking my skin and soaking the sheets. My hands trembled so hard I could barely press them against my face.It was just a dream. Just a dream.I grabbed the glass of water on my nightstand and gulped it down. The cool liquid did nothing to quench the fire burning in my throat. It felt too real. The smell of the dust, the sound of the cracking bones… it was still clinging to me.I glanced at the clock. Late."CLOVER!" My mom's voice shrieked from downstairs, right on cue."Oh, man," I muttered, kicking the covers aside.I scrambled into a warm bath, trying to wash off the nightmare. But as I wiped the steam from the mirror, I froze.A mark.It was vivid, angry, and red—circling my neck exactly where the creature's hand had been. It looked like I had been strangled.My fingers brushed the bruised skin, and a chill crawled down my spine. This wasn't a dream. This was a signature."It was just a dream, Clover," I lied to my reflection. "Get it together."I reached into my wardrobe, grabbing the first thing I touched. I didn't care about style. As long as it covered my skin, it was a win. I wasn't like my cousin, Helen.Helen treated every hallway like a Parisian catwalk.I pulled on a high turtleneck—hiding the mark perfectly—and stepped into some baggy brown trousers before sprinting downstairs."Good morning, Mom. Dad."I gave them quick pecks on the cheek before sliding into the chair between them. Helen sat opposite me, looking like a filtered Instagram photo come to life."Good morning, Clover," she chirped sweetly.My mood plummeted. I hated that name. Clover. It sounded like a pet or a lucky charm, and I was neither."You don't have to greet me," I muttered, my voice cold.Everything about Helen irritated me. Her perfect skin, the effortless way her hair fell, the way she just... existed without struggle. I was the older one, yet I was the shadow. She was the one who glowed."Why are you snapping at her?" Mom sighed, not even looking up from her coffee. Her eyes drifted over my clothes. "And why are you dressed like a boy again? Look at Helen. She looks like a lady."Here we go. The daily comparison. The invisible dagger in my chest.I stuffed a piece of bread into my mouth and downed my tea in one go."I'm done," I snapped, standing up. "Thanks for the food."I grabbed my bag and bolted before the next comparison could land. I didn't want to walk with her. I didn't want to be the "before" picture next to her "after."Helen wasn't just beautiful; she was perfect. Top grades, top looks. And me?I was the girl who came last.