“Dolcezza. You’ll be okay. We’re gonna make sure you’re okay. Just keep breathing.”

Yes. Breathing. That’s important. Vital.

It seems so easy, but it’s hard when you suddenly feel so weak. The best way to describe it is running a marathon that should take hours upon hours in fifteen minutes and expect to be fine and dandy.

I could use a nap. Maybe a power nap… I need to meet Ares at the library.

Zander’s voice is soothing me, fading away like the rest of the world, but at the peak of bliss, that man’s image comes to my mind.

The venomous anger of the bully who ruined my life.

Ruined everything that was set up for my success.

I grasp every detail of his face. Take in the fine lines of rage and the intense scrutiny his gaze holds just for me.

My existence riles him up, my victory leaves him feeling insanely unwell, and I realize if it was truly his way, I’d be dead.

He wants me dead.

Domino Leighton.

In the darkness, all I can do is repeat that realization until tiny voices begin to creep in and encourage something dangerous… unethical.

“Ruin him.”

“Kill him.”

“Give him a taste of his own medicine.”

“Take it all away.”

“Every single thing.”

“His family. His friends.”

“EVERYTHING!”

The voices chant and plead with me until I have no choice but to listen because we want the same thing.

Victory.

The only way to achieve that is by committing a heinous crime that leads to the grand finale.

Vengeance.

It makes me want to laugh.

Or maybe I am laughing?

Laughing awake? Or asleep. I don’t know.

No, I don’t care.

The giddiness gives a different sense of bliss. An odd sense of pride. It makes me want to fulfill all the voices’ desires and become the victor I’ve always been destined to be.

Voices are mumbling in worry far away.

I don’t care.