Page 53 of Hellfire

My gaze darted to Chris, his eyes darkened with malice. Amid my swirling emotions, the wickedness that enveloped Chris and Diamond seemed to intensify in the shadows that danced around us.

I braced myself for a fight, determined to hold my ground. Deciding to strike first, I launched a punch towards her jaw. My fist connected with her face, a glimmer of satisfaction flickering within me. But that satisfaction quickly faded when a manic look crossed Diamond’s pretty face.

Blood stained her teeth, and an evil smile pulled at her lips. A mix of fear and confusion washed over me, making it difficult to concentrate. Taking a shaking breath, I lunged forward once again, hoping to land another blow.

But Diamond’s speed was unfathomable. She moved with such incredible swiftness that it was as if she disappeared and reappeared behind me in a blur of colors. Disoriented and caught off guard, a sharp pain tore through my shoulder, causing me to cry out.

The pain was sharp and immediate as Diamond’s teeth sank into my shoulder. I gasped, feeling the searing agony radiate through my body. It was then that everything clicked into place.

How have I not seen the signs? How has she managed to hide this secret from us all this time?

Vampire.

I screamed in rage. The wind carried my pain and horror into the night. Chris laughed sadistically as Diamond gained the upper hand. Terror seeped into my bones, rattling my very core. I desperately yanked myself free from Diamond’s grasp. Agony radiating down my shoulder. My mind raced to formulate a plan. I fought with every ounce of strength I possessed, throwing punches and kicks, but it was futile.

“You should have never come here, Katrina.” Diamond shook her head as she circled me.

I felt like prey as her eyes zeroed in on my throat. The blood from her bite dripped down my neck and soaked my T-shirt. Within a blink, she lunged for me again.

Diamond’s strength was overwhelming, overpowering my attempts to defend myself. Each blow I landed seemed to have little effect, and frustration swelled within me. Fatigue made my movements slow and useless. Despite my best efforts, the realization sank in: Diamond was too strong, too skilled. The odds were stacked against me. But even in the face of certain defeat, I refused to surrender.

How can I compete with her supernatural abilities?

It was a losing battle, and deep down, I knew it. But still, I fought on, drawing upon every ounce of determination within me. Each swing of my fist and kick aimed at her felt like an act of defiance, a small rebellion against the overwhelming power she possessed. But as the seconds ticked by, ‌victory was an impossible dream.

Diamond’s unyielding strength prevailed, and my body ached with exhaustion. The fight had taken its toll, physically and emotionally. Yet, in the depths of my spirit, a flicker of resilience remained a refusal to surrender to the darkness that threatened to consume me.

Diamond laughed. “Is that really all you got? Pathetic.”

She lunged at me, her teeth latching onto my neck. Gritting my teeth to stop myself from crying out, I fought against the pain. I struggled to break free from Diamond’s iron grip. My muscles strained against her supernatural strength. But she held me with unnerving ease, relishing in my blood.

As I struggled, my gaze turned to Chris, who remained seated, his eyes fixed on the chaos unfolding.

“You should have given me a chance, Katrina. Now, you’ll finally get what’s owed to you.”

Defiance welled up within me, fueled by the pain and the overwhelming sense of betrayal. I refused to be a victim of their wicked games. I launched myself forward with renewed determination, aiming a series of strikes at Diamond. But she effortlessly dodged and countered every move, her speed and agility surpassing anything I had imagined.

Chris’ laughter echoed through the garden, fueling my anger and frustration. Every blow I landed seemed to have little effect, and the realization of my powerlessness gnawed at my spirit.

How could I have underestimated Diamond and the depths of her abilities?

But just when hope seemed lost, a figure emerged from the shadows, commanding all of our attention with their presence. I could feel their gaze upon us, assessing the situation. Recognition flickered in their eyes as they locked onto mine, a connection that sent me a fresh wave of ice-cold fear.

The garden fell silent, the tension thick in the air. I held my breath, waiting for him to make a move. Fatigue and blood loss sent me down to my knees, the gravel digging into my skin. Tears of defeat ran down my face. At that moment, fate caught up with me. This figure standing before us would be my downfall.

Epilogue

Snake

As we raced towards the Hive’s hideout, my heart was pounding with anticipation. Our mission was clear. We had to stop Venom at all costs. He was a dangerous enemy who always stayed one step ahead of us. We couldn’t let him get away with his latest scheme.

But then Tank’s voice broke through my thoughts, “Snake, something’s not right.” I could hear the unease in his tone.

“What do you mean?” I asked, feeling a sense of foreboding.

“I can’t smell her,” Tank growled in frustration. “Her scent isn’t here.”

Steele chimed in. “Let me send Cyrus ahead. He has sharper senses and can find her.”

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