I watch helplessly as the bullet pierces through Violet's heart, his eyes widening in shock and pain. The life that once shone so brightly in those deep, soulful eyes fades away in an instant, replaced by a dull, empty stare. His body crumples to the ground. Blood seeps from the wound, staining the earth beneath him.

I bolt upright, gasping for air as tears stream down my face. The acrid taste of fear lingers in my mouth as reality slowly reasserts itself. My body is drenched in sweat, the nightmare still clinging to my mind. The familiar surroundings of my bedroom gradually come into focus, chasing away the ghostly images of Violet's lifeless form.

With shaking hands, I reach for the pendant that hangs around my neck, my fingers closing around the delicate glass sculpture. It's a work of art, a gift radiating with Violet's skill and devotion. He crafted it for me, pouring his heart and soul into every intricate detail. As I gaze upon it, I can almost feel his presence, the warmth of his love enveloping me.

The way the light catches the glass, refracting into a kaleidoscope of colors, is mesmerizing. It's as if Violet has captured a piece of the rainbow, forever preserving its radiance in this tiny, precious object.

Hours pass in a haze. I don't remember getting out of bed or going through my morning routine. It's all a blur, a hazy sequence of actions that I've performed so many times before. My body simply moves on autopilot.

Eventually, I find myself lying on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. The only sound that breaks the suffocating silence is the ticking of the clock. Each tick mocks me for being weak, for giving up the life I once shared with Violet without much of a fight.

Lying there, I begin to notice the state of my surroundings. The room is a mirror of my inner turmoil. Dust coats the surfaces like a fine, gray shroud. How long has it been? Weeks, or perhaps months, have passed since I last found the energy to clean.

I know I should find the strength to rise, to bring some semblance of order to this space. But the grip of my grief and guilt is like shackles, pinning me in place. The mere thought of moving, of facing the ruins of the life we once shared, is enough to send fresh waves of pain crashing over me, stealing the will from my limbs.

"What happened to us, Violet?" I whisper, my voice barely audible even to my own ears.

As if in answer, the images of Violet's death flood my mind once more. I see him fall, over and over again, each time in a different way. The outcome is always the same, inescapable. Violet, my love, my partner, my soulmate, lying dead at my feet. It's a cruel twist of fate, a cosmic joke played at our expense.

"Why?" I sob, my tears falling freely now, a bitter rain of sorrow and regret.

But there is no answer, no solace to be found in the echoing silence of the room. I am lost, adrift in a sea of pain and longing, with no shore in sight.

In the darkest moments, when the agony becomes too much to bear, I find myself wondering if it would be better to end it all. To surrender to the oblivion that beckons me, to find peace in the nothingness that awaits. The temptation is strong, a seductive whisper in my ear, promising an end to the suffering.

But even as I teeter on the brink, my hand reaching for the blade that glints so invitingly in the moonlight, a flicker of something stays my hand. A memory, a promise, a love that refuses to be extinguished. Violet's face swims before my eyes, his smile, his laughter, the way his eyes sparkled with joy and mischief.

.

.

.

"Close your eyes, Rose," Violet murmured, his voice quivering with barely contained excitement. "I have a surprise for you."

I obliged, a smile tugging at my lips as Violet's gentle hands settled on my shoulders, guiding me to the center of the room. Anticipation tingled across my skin, my heart fluttering with each passing second.

"Okay, now keep them closed until I say so," he instructed softly. His footsteps echoed around me, accompanied by the faint rustling of fabric and the metallic clink of his tools. The familiar hum of his workstation sprang to life, a sound that had become as comforting to me as a lullaby.

Moments stretched into small eternities as I fought the urge to peek. The air around me shifted, carrying the scent of Violet's cologne - a subtle blend of spice and wood that never failed to make my heart skip a beat.

"Can I look now?" I whispered, my voice trembling with a mixture of excitement and curiosity.

"Not yet, my love," Violet replied, his tone warm and playful. "Just a little longer. I promise it will be worth the wait."

I could sense him moving around me, his presence a constant comfort. "Violet?" I breathed, my pulse racing.

Finally, his voice filled with quiet reverence, he said, "Okay, Rose. Open your eyes."

Slowly, I let my eyelids flutter open, blinking against the sudden brightness. As my gaze settled on the mirror before me, my breath caught in my throat, a gasp of wonder escaping my lips.

A halo, glowing with soft, radiant light, hovered just above my head. It was an exquisite work of art, intricate and delicate, crafted with otherworldly skill. The light emanated from within, casting a warm, ethereal glow across my features.

But that wasn't all. As I watched, awestruck, a pair of wings unfurled from my back, stretching out behind me like a cloak of shimmering feathers. They moved with a fluid grace that seemed almost alive, each feather a masterpiece of engineering and design.

"Violet," I choked out, tears welling in my eyes. "This is... I can't even..."

He stepped up behind me, his arms encircling my waist as he rested his chin on my shoulder. Our eyes met in the mirror, his shining with love and pride.

"Now that's what a real Angel looks like," he murmured, satisfaction evident in his voice and the tender smile playing on his lips. His gaze roamed over my reflection, drinking in every detail of his creation. "This is how I see you, Rose. Every single day."

His hands caressed my arms gently, his touch sending shivers down my spine. The warmth of his embrace and the sincerity in his words overwhelmed me, and I felt hot tears spill down my cheeks. I leaned back into his strong, comforting hold, my heart so full of love and gratitude that I thought it might burst.

"It's... it's beyond incredible," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. Hesitantly, I reached up to brush my fingers against the halo, marveling as it seemed to respond to my touch, the light intensifying. "You've outdone yourself, Violet. Again."

A soft chuckle rumbled in his chest, his breath warm against my ear as he nuzzled my neck. "For you, Rose? This is just the beginning," he murmured, his tone playful yet laden with deep affection.

Turning in his arms, I met his gaze directly, losing myself in the depth of love I found there. Violet cupped my face gently, his thumb wiping away a stray tear. "Happy one-year anniversary, my love," he whispered, before leaning in to capture my lips in a tender kiss.

.

.

.

The memory fades. The thought of abandoning Violet, of condemning him to a fate worse than death, is unbearable. My fingers scrabble for purchase on the crumbling edges of my sanity. I will not let go. I will not succumb to the darkness.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

For Violet, for our love, for the future torn from us, I endure, knowing that somewhere, Violet fights too. He searches for me, trying to mend our shattered love. I won't let him down. I refuse to abandon him to this cruel world.

Suddenly, a searing pain rips through my skull. I cry out, fingers digging into my scalp. This familiar sensation isn't just pain — it's my power warning me of an unresolved disaster.

I grit my teeth. It's always the same headache. Once I've seen the outcome, I must sift through countless potential futures, testing every conceivable choice to find a path that avoids catastrophe.

How many failures will I have to endure before I stumble upon a tolerable outcome? How many times must I witness those I love suffer before I can finally save them?

I curse this 'gift', this burden I never wanted. It's stolen everything from me, leaving me a hollow shell. But I can't ignore it. I have to keep searching, keep trying, until I find a future I can bear to live in.

With shaking hands, I lift the pendant, dreading what I'm about to see. As I peer into its depths, the world around me blurs. The vision takes hold, dragging me into a future I fear to witness.

I find myself on a set, an observer in a room where Violet confronts an unfamiliar figure. The tension in the air is noticeable. I move closer to the unfolding scene, my footsteps silent, a ghostly presence in this frozen moment of time.

I pause to study the unknown actor as the scene unfolds. His face contorts with surprise and indignation as he notices Violet's presence.

"Who are you? What do you think you're doing here?" he demands, voice wavering slightly.

Violet leans back in his chair, fingers steepled. His eyes, cold and calculating, never leave the man's face. "Last night, you fell asleep at precisely 23:05:14. Your heartbeat was 62 bpm, lowest body temperature 36.2 degrees Celsius, and highest 37.1 degrees Celsius. You certainly love tracking your own vitals. Scared to die?"

The man's face pales. "How did you..."

"I also noticed the broken security system of your home," Violet continues, cutting him off. "The camera model XS-900 on the front yard malfunctions once every 10 hours 21 minutes for 2 minutes and 13 seconds when nothing is recorded. You should get someone to check it out."

The man lunges for the emergency button, but nothing happens. The door seals shut with a soft click.

"The room has been isolated from the network, Director Sage. Or would you prefer me to address you by your true identity, Mask?" Violet twirls a key around his finger, his voice devoid of emotion.

Mask's face twists with fury. "You have no idea what you've done!" he spits out. "The lives you've destroyed, the families you've torn apart!"

Violet doesn't flinch. "Every action serves a purpose. Sacrifices are sometimes necessary."

"Sacrifices?" Mask scoffs. "Is that what you call murder now?"

"Your emotional outburst is irrelevant. Your illogical mind wouldn't understand."

"I understand perfectly! You play god with people's lives."

Violet's eyes narrow imperceptibly. "That's enough. From now on, you'll speak only when asked."

Mask's nostrils flare, defiance blazing in his eyes. "You think you can silence me?"

Without warning, Violet's hand moves in a fluid motion. A sleek gun materializes, its barrel aimed squarely at Mask.

"Your disobedience only quickens the process," Violet states, his voice as cold and emotionless as winter frost. "No information is safe from me."

The gunshot rings out, sharp and sudden. Mask crumples to the floor, unconscious.

I gasp, my hand flying to my mouth in shock. This isn't the Violet I know. It's as if I'm watching a stranger wearing my beloved's face.

Violet calmly rises from his chair, tucking the gun away with practiced ease. He approaches Mask's still form, his movements deliberate and unhurried. Without a word, he begins to drag the unconscious body towards a hidden chamber I never knew existed within our headquarters.

I silently follow them into the chamber, its walls lined with cold, gleaming metal, the air a sinister soundtrack to the unfolding horror. Center stage stands a chair adorned with scanners and probes, but no restraints.

With detached efficiency, Violet hefts the unconscious figure into the chair. While working, he mutters to himself, his voice barely audible over the clicking of keys.

"Initiating memory extraction protocol," he murmurs. "Calibrating neural interfaces... All for Angel. Every procedure, every sacrifice — it's all for Angel."

The scanners whir to life, casting grotesque shadows across Mask's face. I watch, transfixed and revolted, as the machine penetrates the depths of his mind without a single visible connection. This technology...

"Fascinating," Violet whispers. "The human psyche, laid bare. Such intricate patterns... All for Angel's greater purpose."

As the process concludes, Violet pauses, a syringe appearing in his hand. I can see the internal conflict play out across his features.

"Two options," he muses. "Quick and painless, or slow descent into oblivion. Hmm... Personally disposing of a nameless obstacle should raise fewer problems. Mercy, it is."

The mere fact that Violet considers a painless death to be mercy shatters my last delusions. Tears stream down my face as I confront the ugly truth of what my beloved has become.

"No!" I scream, my voice raw with desperation. "Violet, stop!"

But my pleas go unheard, echoing in the void of this terrible future. I am helpless, an invisible observer to this nightmare.

I can't bear to witness another frame of this horror show. I look away, hastily stepping off the stage, my heart leaden with the knowledge of Violet's transformation, of the depths to which he's sunk in the name of Angel.

The vision fades, reality crashing back.

The silence of the chamber is deafening, broken only by the sound of my own sobs as I weep for the man I once knew, for the love we once shared, now warped beyond recognition. Tears scald my cheeks as the full weight of Violet's actions crushes me.

I gasp for air, my body convulsing in the aftermath. Nausea roils in my gut, disgust and revulsion. Bile rises in my throat, its acrid taste a physical manifestation of betrayal. Clamping my hand over my mouth, I fight the urge to retch as the horror of Violet's deeds settles like a poison in my core.

The man I loved, the one who once cradled my heart with such tenderness, has mutated into something monstrous. I search desperately for a glimpse of the Violet I knew in this twisted creature, but find nothing. He's gone, consumed by a darkness I never saw coming.

The future I once dreamed of lies in ruins, shattered by the very hands that once built it with such care. I curl into myself, body wracked with sobs, each tear a lament for the love we've lost, for the innocence that can never be reclaimed.

In this moment, I am utterly alone. How could I have been so blind? How could I have let things go so terribly, irrevocably wrong?

I sob uncontrollably, each gasp for air a struggle. Tears stream down my face in an unrelenting torrent, blurring my vision and stinging my eyes. My nose runs, a constant stream of mucus that I make no effort to wipe away, mingling with the tears and saliva. My throat constricts, my mouth parched, tongue heavy and swollen, as if my body has finally run out of moisture to shed. I'm dimly aware of the damp patch beneath me, the fabric soaked through with sweat, tears, and mucus, but I can't bring myself to care.

Yet, amidst the crushing weight of my sorrow, something within me emerges. It's a primal, desperate thing, crystalized from the ashes of our love and illuminated by the memory of who Violet once was. This crystal, this tiny rebellion against the overwhelming darkness, begins to grow into something else entirely — a wild, reckless hope. It's as if the gods, in a rare moment of pity, have granted me the strength to rise.

"This has to stop," I whisper, my voice fighting for dominance over the thunderous pounding of my own heart.

For too long, I've been shackled by my own trepidation, hesitant to confront the full extent of my powers and the terrors they might reveal. I've watched helplessly as our dreams of a brighter tomorrow crumbled, replaced by a bleak and unforgiving void. But now, faced with the prospect of losing Violet forever, I know I have no other choice.

I must plunge into the futures once more, no matter how treacherous the journey. I will navigate the infinite possibilities, the countless permutations of time, until I uncover the one thread that leads back to the Violet I know and love.

I am Rose, the Seer. I know his heart, his true essence, more intimately than anyone in this world or any other.

"Wait for me, Violet," I whisper, my voice quavering with the intensity of my resolve.

No matter the cost, no matter the trials I must face, I will find you. I will bring you back to me, back to the love we once shared. I swear, with every beat of my heart, I will never abandon you to this darkness.

With a shaky breath, I push myself up from the couch, my limbs heavy with the weight of my grief. I stumble to the bathroom, my hand fumbling for the light switch. As the harsh fluorescent light flickers to life, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror. The haunted eyes that stare back at me are barely recognizable.

Fighting against my trembling hands, I turn on the faucet and cup the cool water, splashing it over my face. The shock of the cold provides a momentary respite from the burning ache in my chest. I strip off my sweat-soaked clothes, letting them fall to the floor in a crumpled heap. Although the simple act of dressing feels like a monumental task, I force myself to pull on a fresh t-shirt and sweatpants.

I return to the living room and lower myself to the floor, crossing my legs in a meditative pose. Closing my eyes, I steady myself, focusing on regulating my heartbeat and clearing my mind. The world around me fades away as I concentrate on my breath, each inhale and exhale a conscious effort to find balance.

And then, I open my eyes.

The surrounding has morphed into an infinite realm, a vast expanse where I am the director. Rising to my feet, I am driven by a singular goal: Save Violet. As if in response to my determination, fractures form beneath my feet, splitting and splintering as far as my eyes can see. Some are abruptly cut short, signaling premature deaths, while others stretch on, winding paths filled with countless possibilities. Each one a timeline, a chance for me to correct my mistakes.

With a final whisper, I take my first step into the abyss.

"For you, Violet."