Chapter 2 Prolog **The Promise of Revenge**

Silence.

Sigrid sat curled in the corner of the dark basement, her body trembling, her knees hugged tightly to her chest. The images of her mother's screams, the clanging of metal, and the horrifying roars outside played over and over in her mind, like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. Thin smoke seeped through the cracks in the wooden planks above, carrying the acrid scent of burning wood and flesh. It clawed at her throat, making every breath feel like swallowing needles.

Her hands gripped the tattered doll in her lap-a gift from her father just a month ago. The stitching on one of its arms had come loose, but Sigrid refused to let it go. It was her only connection to the life she had before. Before the monsters came. Before her world was torn apart.

She buried her face into the doll's faded fabric, trying to muffle her sobs. Tears rolled down her cheeks, soaking into the fabric. She had been told to stay quiet, to wait until it was safe. But it was so hard. Her small body shook with fear, her stomach ached from hunger, and her heart screamed for the warmth of her parents' embrace.

"Mom..." Sigrid whispered, her voice trembling, barely audible. It wasn't a call-it was a prayer. But the only response was the creak of the wooden beams above her, a sound so faint it felt like the house itself was mourning.

She hugged the doll tighter. The memory of her mother's final words echoed in her mind. "Stay hidden, my love. No matter what happens, don't come out until it's safe."

But what if it was never safe again?

The dim light of the basement came from a single lantern, its flickering flame casting long, eerie shadows across the stone walls. Sigrid stared at the shifting shadows, her imagination running wild. Every sound-whether it was the faint howl of the wind or the distant crackle of collapsing debris-made her heart race. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block it all out, but the silence that followed was even worse. It was too quiet, too still, like the calm before another storm.

Her stomach growled, a sharp reminder of how long it had been since she'd last eaten. The loaf of bread her mother had left for her was gone, and the water jug was nearly empty. She pressed a hand against her aching belly, trying to convince herself she could wait just a little longer.

Minutes stretched into hours. Time felt meaningless in the suffocating dark. She had no way of knowing what was happening above her. Had the monsters left? Was her mother coming back? The questions gnawed at her mind until they became unbearable.

"I can't stay here," she whispered to herself, her voice shaking. "I have to see... I have to know."

Her trembling hands reached for the trapdoor above her. She hesitated, her breath hitching. Her mother had told her not to open it. But what if her mother was waiting for her? What if her father was hurt and needed her help? The thought gave her just enough courage to push forward.

The wood felt rough against her small hands as she slowly lifted the door, wincing at the creak it made. Her heart pounded in her chest, so loud it was all she could hear. She paused, holding her breath, waiting for a sound-any sound-that would signal danger. But nothing came.

Gathering her courage, Sigrid pushed the trapdoor open further, the cold air rushing in to meet her. It smelled of smoke and something else-something metallic and sickly that made her stomach turn. She climbed out, her legs trembling, her doll still clutched tightly in her arms.

She tried to hold back the tears, biting her lip until it hurt, but they kept coming. Her mind wandered to fleeting moments of happiness: her mother singing while brushing her hair, her father lifting her high into the air, his laughter booming like thunder. They had promised to protect her. They had promised they'd always be together.

And yet, here she was. Alone.

Time crawled, each second stretching endlessly. The muffled sounds of chaos above had faded, leaving only an eerie stillness. She didn't know how long she had been there-hours, maybe days. The stifling air felt like it was suffocating her. Finally, driven by a desperate need to know, Sigrid forced herself to move. Her small hands pushed against the trapdoor, and she lifted it slowly. The cold air rushed in, cutting against her tear-streaked cheeks.

The scent of death hit her instantly, sharp and overwhelming. She gagged, covering her nose with her sleeve as she climbed out. The sight that greeted her stole what little breath she had left.

The world she knew was gone.

The town was reduced to rubble. Blackened skeletons of buildings stood as grim reminders of what had been. Ashes swirled in the cold wind, and the ground was littered with bodies-men, women, children-all frozen in their final moments of terror. Sigrid's small feet hesitated on the blood-soaked earth. Her eyes darted frantically, searching, hoping.

"Papa...? Mama...?" Her voice cracked, barely audible over the sound of the wind. She took a step forward, then another, the tattered doll slipping from her grasp. Her breaths quickened as she recognized familiar faces among the dead. Neighbors who always greeted her with warm smiles now lay lifeless, their eyes staring blankly into nothingness.

And then she saw him.

Her father.

He was sprawled on the ground, his once-strong frame now motionless. A deep gash ran across his chest, his shirt soaked with blood.

"Papa...?" Sigrid's voice was barely a whisper. She stumbled forward, her legs weak beneath her. "Papa, it's me... it's safe now... We have to go... please..."

She collapsed beside him, her small hands trembling as they reached for his face. It was cold. Too cold.

"Papa, wake up... please..." Her voice broke as tears streamed down her cheeks. "You promised we'd leave together... You promised..."

But there was no response. Only the lifeless silence of the ruins.

"Why aren't you answering me?!" she screamed, pounding her fists against the ground. "Don't leave me, Papa... I'm scared... I'm so scared..." Her sobs echoed through the desolate streets, carrying her pain to the empty sky above.

The wind howled softly, scattering dust and ashes around her. Exhausted, she collapsed against his chest, clutching his torn shirt like a lifeline. "Papa... please..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't know what to do without you... Please come back..."

The rain began to fall, at first a gentle drizzle, then heavier, soaking her dress and washing away the blood and soot. Sigrid didn't move. She stayed there, holding onto her father's still body as though refusing to let him go.

"Papa, don't go..." she murmured weakly, almost to herself. "You promised... we'd see the stars tonight..."

But like her mother, her father would never return.

As the rain poured and the wind whispered its mournful song, something stirred within Sigrid. Amidst the crushing grief, a small flame ignited in her chest. It was faint at first, but it grew with every passing moment, feeding on her fear, her sadness, and her despair. That flame turned into fire-a burning, unrelenting rage.

Her tear-streaked eyes, once soft and innocent, hardened into something unrecognizable. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms until they bled. Her lips quivered, then pressed into a firm line. Slowly, she stood, her small figure dwarfed by the ruins around her.

She tilted her head back, staring at the smoke-filled sky, her jaw tightening.

"I HATE YOU!" she screamed, her voice raw and filled with fury. "I HATE YOU ALL! I WILL KILL YOU! I WILL KILL YOU ALL!"

Her words reverberated through the crumbling remains of the town, slicing through the silence like a blade. Though she was only a child, her determination burned brighter than the fires that had consumed her home.

In the distance, a low howl echoed once more. The werewolf's call drifted on the wind, fainter this time, as if mocking her. Sigrid's fists tightened, her jaw clenched. Fear no longer gripped her heart. Instead, it was replaced by an unrelenting hatred.

"I will find you," she whispered, her voice trembling but resolute. "And I will make you pay."

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**End of Prologue**

What was once a quiet human town had been reduced to ashes. All that remained was a lone survivor-a girl with wounds too deep to heal, both in her body and in her soul. Sigrid Valkyrie, the daughter of shattered valor, stood at the edge of destruction, her heart filled with nothing but vengeance.

She vowed that one day, Fenrir's blood would stain her hands.

And with that vow, the small flame of human resistance began to burn once more in this dark, desolate world.