The echo of Seraphine's mocking laughter faded into silence, leaving a void that seemed to reverberate through the very walls of the hospital room. Brielle's fingers curled into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms until they drew blood.

"You're right, Seraphine," she spat, her voice laced with a steely determination that belied the turmoil raging within her. "It's not over. Not until I've made sure you can never threaten my family again."

Seraphine's laughter echoed down the corridor, a twisted, macabre sound that chilled Brielle to her very core. "We'll see about that, darling. We'll see."

As the sound of Seraphine's mocking laughter faded, Brielle felt...