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The screen flares to life once more, the picture from before now a video.

We all turn to look at the screen as the events start playing. What was before two children comforting each other in the darkness soon turns into the most gruesome scene I've ever witnessed.

Tears make their way down my cheeks as I see Vanya fall to the ground, her body beaten and battered, a huge hole in her chest leaking blood.

But my heart hurts even more for the boy next to her. The one who's holding her still beating heart, crushing it in his grip—all the blood draining to the floor.

His eyes are completely blank as he stares at her corpse, as he simply lifts the heart to his lips, his mouth closing over the organ as he bites into it.

"What the fuck," I hear Marcello's voice behind me.

Bianca and Adrian are both saying something, but I can only stare at the events playing on the screen.

"No… No…" Vlad's voice reaches my ears as he too stares at the screen, his eyes wide, his mouth hanging open in shock. "It can't be…"

"It's fake. It has to be fake," I whisper, even though I know it to be real.

"Oh, Vanya, what happened?" My voice breaks as I realize that this might very well be the end.

Vlad falls to his knees, his entire body trembling, a loud howling sound escaping his lips.

"Let me go, Marcello. I need to be with him."

I have to be with him.

Because I feel his pain as my own, and my entire being is quaking with anguish.

His features are drawn back in so much pain, torturous sounds escaping his lips as he brings his fists to his chest, banging them loudly against his ribcage.

I know what he's doing. He's trying to punish himself.

I can't let him.

"Let me go, please. You don't understand." I try to wrench myself away from my brother, knowing that every second matters.

There's an urgency inside of me, an instinctual reaction because Iknowthis can only end one way.

"No, Sisi. It's too dangerous.Heis too dangerous."

I shake my head, my limbs trembling.

He hurts, I hurt.

"No, Marcello. I need to get to him. I need to get to him before…" The words die on my lips as I see the sudden change. The change I knew was going to come.

No.

"No," I whisper, my entire heart breaking as I see him give in to this sorrow and embrace the darkness. "No, Vlad, please don't," I continue, even knowing it's already in vain.

There's nothing left behind his eyes.

Nothing.

He's gone.

A gasp escapes me as I realize the immensity of just what happened—of what will continue to happen. He'll just retreat into himself until he loses himself completely.

"Let go!" I cry out, desperation clawing at me as I see him slowly stand up, the predator in him awake and ready for blood.