Twisted Fate

Warning: Explicit Content: language, s****l abuse, suicide, extreme violence, etc  Laurence had loved Melody for as long as he could remember. As friends for many years, they shared a bond that remained unbreakable to any outsider. Their friendship was strong enough to withstand any hardship, and their trust was difficult to break. Some tried to tear them apart, some questioned their closeness, and some observed in envy, longing for a friendship like theirs. No one could come between the two best friends who trusted each other with their lives. They were a barrier blocking out those who were only outsiders. Melody was kind, generous, empathetic, and caring. She was a beautiful girl with few faults, and her presence served as a light to those around her, especially to Laurence, whom she loved dearly. He was a boy of fair judgment, one who knew the difference between right and wrong. To others, he seemed cold, even estranged from his own parents at times, creating a wall between the two generations. He kept his distance from those he didn't trust, allowing only Melody to cross the line. Hearing their story from the past, it should come as no surprise that Laurence was greatly angered by Melody's death. For a while, he stood in denial, unable to believe his best friend and true love had died at such a young age. Her essence lingered in his heart, leaving him in a rigorous hell of his own. "Why did she have to go so quickly? Why was she taken away from this world when she stood for everything considered good? Why was an angel placed on this earth, only for her to be taken away?" Tons of questions were left unanswered, silence following after the calling of her name. The truth was that Melody never died; her parents faked the tragic news. A girl paid the price for those who raised her—a much darker and twisted story that no one knew. Melody was sold to another family. Her father's debts were unforgivable. He was a gambler, a man with no money taking risks with what little he had. Finally, his naive thoughts and bad decisions came back to haunt him. The family she was given to involved themselves in extremely dark activities. Truthfully, it wasn't a family at all but a dangerous society that would be frightening for any twelve-year-old to be a part of. They took her away in hopes of avoiding suspicion, faking her death and giving her a new identity. She was no longer the Melody that everyone loved, no longer the girl who brought smiles to others' faces with her bright energy. She was no longer the light that could show the way; instead, she was broken into a victim, feeling the pain that came with beauty. She did not own herself, not even her name. Everything changed as she lost herself day by day. From the time he thought he'd lost her, Laurence allowed the demons within him to roam freely. He turned hostile and didn't fail to show his resentment towards others, transforming from a simple boy who kept his distance into a beast that one shouldn't encounter. "A heartless monster" was a common description of him, at least for those who dared to utter it outside his presence. He was broken, and the pain had turned into anger and violence. He did become a monster, and it wasn't something he denied. Laurence knew what he was, and he embraced it. Willingly, he would accept the call of the devil's tongue. He was the leader of one of the top, most ruthless mafia groups to ever roam their world, owning an extremely wealthy manufacturing company to hide behind the dark empire he had built. But it was no secret what kind of monster Laurence was. You couldn't say anything he did was clean, and you wouldn't even think of mentioning it. Nobody dared to question him, as anyone smart knew they could find themselves sleeping alongside their ancestors. Laurence thought Melody was dead, and that belief remained rooted in the depths of his hatred. But there was someone out there—someone entirely different yet similar to the one he loved. Someone who could break through his facade without any effort. A beauty that reminded him so much of her, a beauty that was unknowingly... her. The one who would save him from becoming one of the fallen. He would take that girl for himself, even if it were to cost him his freedom or his life.