Chapter 3: Stella's Training
Two days later, the cold morning wind blew softly through the old trees behind Stella's grandfather's house. The sky was gray, and the air smelled like rain. Stella stood outside wearing a black hoodie and dark jeans while staring at the empty field behind the house.
Her grandfather slowly walked out of the house carrying a wooden box in his hands. His face looked serious, colder than usual. Stella noticed the scars on his hands as he placed the box on an old table.
"Today," he said quietly, "your real training begins."
Stella swallowed nervously.
Ever since the death of her parents, nothing in her life had felt normal anymore. The police called it an accident, but deep inside, Stella knew something was wrong. Her parents had not simply died. Someone had taken them away from her.
And now her grandfather was acting strangely.
Sometimes he disappeared at night.
Sometimes Stella heard him talking to himself.
And sometimes… she caught him staring at old photographs with anger burning in his eyes.
Her grandfather opened the wooden box.
Inside was a black gun.
Stella immediately stepped back.
"Grandpa…"
"Take it," he ordered.
Her hands trembled. "I-I can't."
"You must."
Stella slowly picked up the gun. It felt heavier than she expected. Her heartbeat became faster.
"Why are you making me do this?" she whispered.
Her grandfather stared at her silently for a moment before answering.
"Because the world is cruel."
The wind suddenly grew stronger.
"People killed your parents, Stella. Dangerous people. If you remain weak, you'll die just like they did."
Stella looked down at the gun again. Her chest tightened painfully.
"I don't want to kill anyone," she said softly.
"You don't have to want it," her grandfather replied. "Sometimes survival gives you no choice."
Silence filled the field.
Then her grandfather walked toward several empty bottles placed on a fence.
"Point the gun there."
Stella hesitated.
"I said point it."
Slowly, she raised the gun with shaking hands. Her arms felt weak.
"Good," her grandfather said. "Now breathe slowly."
Stella tried to focus.
"Pull the trigger."
BANG!
The loud sound exploded through the field. Birds flew from the trees instantly.
Stella gasped in shock and nearly dropped the gun.
Her grandfather looked at the broken bottle and nodded.
"You hit it."
Stella stared at the shattered glass pieces on the ground.
"I did…"
For the first time in days, she felt something strange inside her.
Power.
But the feeling scared her.
Her grandfather walked closer.
"Again."
Hours passed as Stella continued training. Her hands became sore, and her shoulders hurt badly. Every gunshot echoed through the empty field.
By sunset, Stella collapsed onto the grass, breathing heavily.
"I can't do this anymore," she complained.
Her grandfather sat beside her quietly.
"You remind me of your mother."
Stella looked up immediately.
"My mother?"
"She was stubborn," he said with a small smile. "But she was strong."
Stella rarely heard him talk about her parents. Usually, he avoided the subject completely.
"What were they like?" she asked softly.
For a moment, her grandfather's eyes darkened.
"Your father was fearless," he answered. "Too fearless."
"What does that mean?"
He looked away instead of answering.
That night, Stella couldn't sleep.
Rain tapped against the window while thunder rumbled outside. Stella lay awake in bed thinking about everything.
The gun.
Her parents.
Her grandfather's strange behavior.
Something felt hidden.
Suddenly—
THUD.
A noise came from downstairs.
Stella sat up quickly.
Another sound followed.
THUD.
Her heart pounded.
Slowly, she climbed out of bed and opened her door carefully. The hallway was dark. Only the sound of rain filled the house.
She walked downstairs quietly.
The living room light was on.
Her grandfather stood near the fireplace speaking to someone on the phone.
"She's not ready yet," he whispered angrily.
Stella froze.
Ready for what?
"I said give me more time," her grandfather continued. "If they discover her identity now, she'll be killed."
Stella's eyes widened.
Identity?
Who was he talking about?
Suddenly, the wooden floor creaked beneath her foot.
Her grandfather instantly turned around.
"Stella?"
The phone call ended immediately.
"I-I heard noises," Stella lied.
Her grandfather stared at her carefully.
"You should be asleep."
"So should you," she replied.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then he sighed.
"Go back upstairs."
"But Grandpa—"
"Now."
Stella slowly returned to her room, but her mind raced with questions.
What identity?
Who wanted her dead?
And why did it feel like her grandfather was hiding the truth?
The next morning, Stella woke up feeling exhausted. Dark clouds still covered the sky.
At breakfast, neither of them spoke much.
Her grandfather suddenly placed an old silver necklace on the table.
"This belonged to your mother," he said.
Stella picked it up carefully.
The necklace had a strange symbol carved into it—a black wing.
"What does this symbol mean?" she asked.
Her grandfather's face immediately became tense.
"Never show that necklace to anyone."
"Why?"
"Because there are people searching for it."
Stella frowned. "Grandpa, what's really going on?"
Instead of answering, he stood up.
"Training starts in ten minutes."
Stella clenched the necklace tightly.
She was tired of secrets.
Later that afternoon, while training near the forest, Stella suddenly heard movement behind the trees.
Crunch.
She turned quickly.
"Did you hear that?"
Her grandfather's expression hardened instantly.
"Stay behind me."
Another crunch echoed through the forest.
Then silence.
The air suddenly felt colder.
A shadow moved between the trees.
Stella's breathing became uneven.
"Who's there?" her grandfather shouted.
No answer.
Then a tall man wearing black clothing slowly stepped out from the forest. His face was partly hidden beneath a hood.
Stella felt fear crawl through her body.
The man smiled coldly.
"Well," he said, "I finally found her."
Her grandfather stepped in front of Stella immediately.
"You shouldn't have come here."
The stranger laughed softly.
"You know why I'm here."
Stella looked between them nervously.
"Grandpa… who is he?"
The old man's voice became deadly serious.
"Run."
Before Stella could react, the stranger pulled out a knife and attacked.
Everything happened too fast.
Her grandfather blocked the attack, pushing Stella backward.
"RUN!"
Stella stumbled through the grass as the two men fought violently. Rain began pouring heavily from the sky.
She heard punches.
Shouting.
Then—
BANG!
A gunshot echoed through the forest.
Stella screamed.
She turned around and saw her grandfather on one knee, bleeding from his shoulder.
The stranger slowly pointed the gun toward Stella.
"You really look like your mother," he said darkly.
Fear froze Stella completely.
The stranger smiled.
"She should have stayed dead."
Something inside Stella snapped.
Anger exploded through her chest like fire.
Without thinking, she grabbed the gun her grandfather had given her earlier.
Her hands trembled violently.
The stranger laughed.
"You think you can shoot me?"
Stella remembered her grandfather's words.
Breathe slowly.
Focus.
She closed one eye.
Then pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The bullet struck the stranger's arm.
He shouted in pain and stepped backward in shock.
Stella stared at the gun in disbelief.
She actually hit him.
The stranger's expression changed instantly from amusement to anger.
"You little—"
Before he could finish speaking, her grandfather tackled him to the ground.
"RUN, STELLA!"
This time she listened.
She sprinted through the rain-covered forest while tears streamed down her face. Branches scratched her arms as thunder roared overhead.
Her heart pounded painfully.
Nothing made sense anymore.
Who were these people?
Why did they want her dead?
And what was special about the necklace?
Suddenly, Stella stopped running.
Ahead of her stood an abandoned church hidden deep inside the forest.
The doors were slightly open.
She hesitated.
Then another gunshot echoed behind her.
Stella quickly ran into the church and slammed the doors shut.
The inside was dark and dusty. Broken candles covered the floor.
Lightning flashed through the windows.
Then Stella noticed something strange on the wall behind the altar.
The same black wing symbol from her necklace.
Her eyes widened.
"No way…"
Slowly, she walked closer.
Under the symbol were words carved into the stone:
"The Blood Angel will awaken."
A cold chill ran down her spine.
Before Stella could understand the meaning, she heard footsteps behind her.
Slow.
Heavy.
She turned around slowly.
The hooded stranger stood inside the church doorway, bleeding but smiling.
"You can't escape your destiny, Stella."
Stella backed away fearfully.
"What do you want from me?"
The man removed his hood completely.
A scar stretched across one side of his face.
"Your mother once asked me the same question."
Stella froze.
"You knew my mother?"
The stranger laughed quietly.
"Oh, Stella… I didn't just know her."
His eyes became dark.
"I killed her."
The world suddenly felt silent.
Stella's breathing stopped.
Anger and grief exploded inside her at the same time.
The stranger slowly raised his gun again.
"And now," he whispered, "I'll finish the bloodline forever."
Stella's hands tightened around her weapon.
Rain crashed against the church windows.
Lightning flashed brightly.
And for the first time—
Stella's eyes began glowing red.