Freya

"I'm so sorry, honey," Danielle whispered, gently stroking her hair. Freya buried her head in her lap, trying to sink deeper into the comfort of her scent and warmth.

But it couldn't stop the tears that kept falling relentlessly. Her whole body ached. Her head throbbed.

All because of him.

"He fucked me over," Freya sobbed into her lap. "He knew... he knew the whole time."

"I know," Danielle whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the crown of her head.

"I feel so... I don't know..." Freya mumbled. "I feel like I failed."

She had never imagined Seth could be this dark. He was a snake-a snake who toyed with people just for the thrill of it. He wanted to mess her up, to break her.

Destroyed her hope of saving herself.

"You didn't fail, Freya. You didn't. He did. He failed someone as kind and full of spirit as you. That's his loss, not yours," Danielle murmured, her fingers gently tangling in Freya's hair.

"But I failed you... and Nova. I failed myself. This is why I don't trust people. They always let you down. Every fucking time. Except you," Freya whispered, tilting her head to meet Danielle's gaze.

"You've never failed me."

Danielle gave a faint smile. "What happens now?" she asked, her eyes betraying a flicker of fear.

"I'm not sure... His father... you should've seen him. I don't think I've ever seen eyes so dark, so... cruel," Freya said, her gaze drifting into the void. "And Seth... he was scared of him. Like, terrified. And I didn't do anything... just walked away," she continued, guilt creeping through her chest.

"I don't think you could've done anything. If that man is as dangerous as he seemed, maybe the safest choice was not to meddle," Danielle replied.

"Yeah, maybe. And yet, part of me feels nothing for him," Freya whispered. "Anyway, I guess he'll start his plans soon. The eviction process might even start tomorrow."

They shifted into a more comfortable position on the couch, Danielle starting a movie to fill the oppressive silence.

But Freya paid no attention to the screen. Her mind spun relentlessly, refusing her peace.

The worst thing about hope is realizing it was never real. It didn't exist. You thought it was there, holding you up, keeping your soul fighting-only to find it was a lie. A false promise that led you to the inevitable downfall.

A false hope was more shattering than the outcome itself.

~*~*~*~*~

Freya wrinkled her nose. Her fingers drifted up to her face, rubbing over her lips and the bridge of her nose, which itched uncomfortably.

There was a strange, acrid smell in the air, like something was burning. Her eyelids parted sluggishly, still heavy with sleep, her vision blurred. The scent grew stronger, wrapping around her senses like a warning she couldn't yet comprehend.

It smelled... like smoke.

Her eyes flew open, the haze of sleep dissipating in an instant. She sat up abruptly, her heart pounding violently in her chest. Panic clawed its way into her thoughts as her gaze darted around the room. A thick, dark haze clung to the ceiling, swallowing the light. The entire living room was blanketed in smoke, curling and twisting like it had a life of its own.

Instinctively, she pressed the crook of her arm against her nose and mouth, trying to block out the acrid sting that was already burning its way down her throat. She coughed violently, her lungs seizing against the intrusion. Every breath she took felt heavier.

She turned, glancing at the sofa behind her. Danielle wasn't there. The realization sent a fresh wave of fear coursing through her veins. She was alone.

Freya dropped to her knees, her palm bracing against the floor as she tried to think through the panic. Her mind was screaming at her to move, to find Danielle, to get out, but her body felt sluggish, weighed down by the heat and the suffocating smoke. She began crawling across the floor, keeping her head as low as she could. The wooden planks beneath her palms were hot to the touch, almost blistering.

Her movements grew slower with each passing moment. Every inch forward felt like a monumental effort. The coughing wracked her body, stealing the air from her lungs, leaving her trembling and disoriented. She pulled her arm tighter against her mouth, but it did little to shield her from the choking haze.

Her vision blurred. The edges of the room melted into an indistinct haze, and the overwhelming heat pressed against her skin like a suffocating blanket. Her arms wavered, threatening to give out beneath her, and she slumped against the floor.

The world tilted, her cheek pressing against the scalding surface. A strange, heavy numbness settled over her body, making it impossible to move. Her eyelids fluttered shut despite her mind screaming at her to stay awake.

Somewhere, faint and distant, a voice broke through the suffocating fog.

"Freya?! Freya!"

The sound was muffled, like it was coming from the other side of a thick wall. She barely registered the panic in the tone before her eyes fell closed, her thoughts slipping into a dark, soundless void.

~*~*~*~*~

The engine hummed softly as the car rolled onto the gravel path. Freya stared out of the window, barely registering the world outside. Her eyes still stung from the smoke, her throat raw and sore, and her body ached as though she had been beaten.

She tilted her head toward Danielle, sitting behind the wheel. Her best friend's gaze was vacant, hollow-like everything inside her had been drained away.

"I don't want to see the house..." Freya whispered, her chest tightening at the thought of the home she had loved. Gone now. Reduced to nothing. Only ruins.

"Me neither... but I guess we don't have a choice," Danielle said, her voice flat, her eyes fixed blankly on the gravel road ahead.

Freya stepped out of the car reluctantly, her movements sluggish. Her legs felt like lead, trembling slightly as her feet met the ground.

Two massive fire trucks stood outside, their presence looming over the wreckage like silent sentinels. The fire was out, but what remained of the house was unrecognizable.

A half-collapsed, blackened skeleton of a building. No longer the cozy red home she and Danielle had shared. Smoke still spiraled upward, twisting into the night sky like ghosts of what once was.

Her eyes burned, partly from the smoke that had invaded them hours earlier, but mostly from the tears welling up now.

"I don't even recognize it," she muttered, stretching her arms around Danielle, clinging to her for support.

"The important thing is that you're okay," Danielle mumbled into her ear, her voice breaking as she held Freya tightly. "I'm just so grateful you're safe," she cried softly.

Freya's heart raced again, the shock still gripping her, holding her together-barely. She had been rushed to the ER earlier, taken in an ambulance as the medics worried about carbon monoxide poisoning. Luckily, they had rescued her quickly enough to prevent serious damage to her lungs.

And speaking of her rescuer, there he was now, walking toward her and Danielle.

"Are you okay?" Seth asked, his voice low but steady as he gripped her face gently with both hands, tilting her chin so he could see her properly.

"I'm fine," she mumbled, her words muffled by the way his hands pressed into her cheeks.

Before she could process his movements, he pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against him. His grip felt overwhelming, almost suffocating.

"Hey, hey-I'm fine," she said softly, trying to free herself from his embrace. Her voice wavered slightly, betraying her attempts to sound unaffected. "Just a bit bruised from the whole thing."

She hesitated, her gaze meeting his, before continuing. "But thank you, Seth. I don't even know how to say it... You saved me. I would have di-"

"You scared the hell out of me, Freya," he interrupted, his voice breaking slightly as he let go of her and ran a hand through his hair. "I thought I was too late. I-" He paused, taking a shaky breath. "I'm just glad you're okay. That's all that matters."

A single tear escaped down her cheek, but she quickly swallowed the rest, refusing to let them spill.

Seth's lips quirked into a faint, almost hesitant smile as he straightened. "But you do realize this is the second time I've saved you. Maybe it's time you start calling me your hero," he teased, a deliberate attempt to lift the weight of the moment.

Freya rolled her eyes, a small, involuntary laugh escaping her lips despite everything. Of course he'd try to lighten the mood.

Even after she'd nearly died in a goddamn fire.

Their light laughter was cut short when one of the firefighters approached them-a man in his forties with messy hair and a kind, weathered expression.

"I'm sorry, but there's nothing left to salvage," he said, crossing his arms over his chest. "The important thing is that you're both safe. Do you have somewhere to stay tonight, or do you need a ride into town?"

"We have our own car, but thank you," Freya said, glancing over at Danielle. "I guess we'll just check into a hotel."

Danielle ran a hand over her face, exhaling heavily. "I can't... I can't deal with any of this," she muttered.

"What the hell are you two talking about?" Seth interrupted, stepping closer to the girls and the firefighter. "You're not going to any hotel," he said firmly. "I've got plenty of room. You can stay with me." He turned to Freya, locking eyes with her.

"Absolutely not," she snapped, giving him a hard glare. "There's no way I'm moving in with you. We're not that desperate." She scoffed, her arms folding tightly across her chest.

Her eyes met Danielle's, who was giving her a strange, almost questioning look.

"What?" Freya asked sharply.

"Maybe don't completely crush the offer the second you hear it?" Danielle replied.

"I-no. I'm refusing," Freya said, her voice growing harsher as she grabbed Danielle's arm, dragging her a few steps away from the men. "I'm serious, Danielle. You can't possibly mean that. Please tell me you're joking."

Danielle pulled her arm free from Freya's grip, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I'm just saying, maybe think about it for a second before shutting it down completely. Hotels are insanely expensive, Freya, and we won't see a damn cent from the insurance until they've figured out the cause of the fire."

Freya felt a cold, irritating chill crawl up her spine as Danielle continued.

"And how exactly do you plan to keep working here if you're staying 45 minutes away by car? Let's not forget you don't even have a car," Danielle said. Her words made Freya's stomach twist with irritation.

"I don't care. I refuse to move in with the man who ruined my life," Freya snapped.

A/N - A big thank you to all of you who brighten up my dark winter days. I truly appreciate each and every one of you following Seth and Freya's story <3

So, the drama has begun. What do you think caused the fire?

Or... who? ;)

Love,
Kenna.