She Who Burns

Zaria’s POV

Morning took its sweet time, dragging each second across my skin like barbed wire. I lay there, helpless, forced to listen to my boyfriend and my best friend plot my death between kisses and laughs.

A twisted romance.

Born from betrayal.

Daniel.

I met him in my final year of college. He was the golden boy—the captain of the football team with a dazzling smile, fair skin, dark bangs that kissed his brows, and piercing hazel eyes that looked like they could read your soul.

To every girl on campus, he was a dream.

To me, he became my reality.

When he asked me to be his girlfriend, it felt like the universe had finally smiled at me. Every other guy avoided me—terrified of my father’s reputation. The rumors were endless: mafia connections, underground punishments, violent wealth.

But Daniel didn’t care.

He made me laugh after long lectures. Held me when I cried. Let me talk for hours about nonsense, and he listened—always. He became my best friend before he became my boyfriend. He was my safe space when the world turned dark after my mother’s death.

So how…?

How did my sanctuary become my executioner?

What did I do wrong?

Love too deeply? Trust too blindly?

And Ava…

My soul sister.

We did everything together—sleepovers, secrets, promises. When she lost her hair to chemo, I shaved mine in solidarity. I did everything a true friend should do.

She was more than a friend to me. She was family.

The only other person I had besides my father.

How could they both betray me?

How do I even begin to process this?

I didn’t want to return to a life that held this much pain. I didn’t want to wake up and face a reality that had turned into a living nightmare.

I wanted to stay in the darkness.

Alone.

Unaware.

Until—

“Hey Dan,” Ava said, her voice coated in venom. “Why don’t we just unplug the oxygen? That would do the trick.”

What?!

“Is it safe to do that here though?” Daniel asked, hesitant—but not horrified.

So it’s not a no.

They’re really considering killing me.

Again.

I heard her footsteps retreat as Daniel stayed behind.

“I’ll check the hallway,” Ava said.

And then—his breathing. Right above me.

He was close.

Too close.

I tried to scream.

Move.

Blink.

Nothing.

Until—

A hand.

Not theirs. Not physical. But a pull.

From the darkness into light.

And then—

My eyes opened.

And I was staring directly into the face of the man who tried to kill me.

Daniel.

His expression twisted in horror.

I didn’t blink.

Didn’t cry.

Didn’t scream.

But inside, I made a silent vow.

They wanted me dead.

Now it was my turn to rise from the grave—

And make them wish they had never failed.