Chapter 60: Chapter 49, part 3

When I saw what was on the paper, I felt my eyes open wide. On paper, it was me; there was no doubt of it. It was my face.

He had proclaimed me. My stepfather had announced me. I should expect that my stepfather wouldn't just sit and watch, and the money he gave as a reward was so much that it wouldn't leave cold a lot of people. I had become the treasure that everyone would hunt, that everyone would seek to find. Maybe the captain too? Would he hand me over to my stepfather?

I swallowed with difficulty. I felt the air running low in my lungs, and I couldn't breathe. I put my hand on my chest, trying to catch my breath.

My mind was blurred, as was my vision from the tears that had been collected.

"Serena? What happened?" I heard Brielle's voice. Her chair jerked abruptly, and she came up to me. She hugged me by the shoulders.