The Vengeful Rebirth

Chapter5

The next day, I was discharged. I returned home and played my part perfectly well. I accepted the fake concern they all showed me and pretended nothing had changed.

I looked around the house and shook my head at how naive I had been. Every family photo hung in the living room and hallway consisted of no pictures of me.

I was never part of the family. I was adopted when I was about five years old with no memory of who I was and how I had gotten in. They had been nice to take me in but I never blended in with the others. I was too shy.

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. Memories resurfaced in my mind but I pushed them down. This wasn’t the time for grief nor time for weakness.

I opened the door to my old room. It was just as I left it two years ago. Nothing changed.

I opened the drawers and lifted the notebooks, running my fingers over the desk where I spent hours daydreaming of the perfect life with my family. That version of me that was too hopeful. Too trusting.

I spent the first day in silence. I had told them I needed rest after my episode. They didn’t press and let me do what I wanted. Luisa became more affectionate and it made my skin crawl.

At night, I wandered around the house as everyone, including the servants, was asleep. The camera in the hall was still broken. I remembered it had been broken a week before Luisa disappeared that night, so there was nothing to use to back up my claim at the prison then.

By the second day, I sat in my room, trying to remember every detail of what was soon going to happen.

I walked out of my room to get water in the kitchen when I overheard someone whispering in the hallway.

“No. She still doesn’t remember anything. I don’t think she would be a threat. She’s too timid for that.”

There was a pause after that.

“I can handle her. Everything will go as planned tonight. I will take her car….of course. I will beg her to take the blame.”

I quickly dashed into my room and pretended I was just coming out.

“Hi, Luisa. You’re home early today. I thought you were out spending time with your friends?” My voice was low.

She stared at me, probably to see if I heard anything, but my face gave nothing away.

“I came back to dress up. How are you now?” She asked her. Tone filled with concern. I wanted to tear away that mask off her face.

“I’m fine now. I want to go get water in the kitchen.” I moved to walk past her.

“Okay. Wait, Matty. Can you lend me your car? Mine broke down and I just called the car repair to check it.”

I almost launched a slap at her. She had killed those people on purpose. Did she hate me that much? But from the looks of it, there’s someone else instigating it.

I realized Luisa was just a pawn.

Who wanted to kill me and watch me be destroyed? I didn’t interact much with people other than the people I call family.

My face pulled into a frown. “I’m sorry, Luisa, but I can’t give it to you—“

“Why?” Her voice was sharp as she widened her eyes at me.

I faked a shiver and she calmed down. “I’m sorry, Matty. I didn’t mean to shout. Why can’t you lend me your car? It is not like you have somewhere to be tonight?”

“No. The four tires have been slashed and I think the gear isn’t working properly.”

I had destroyed the gear and slashed the tires with knives yesterday night.

“What? Who did that?”

“I don’t know. Maybe the servants?” I suggested.

Luisa raged as she stormed off, calling all the servants. I chuckled, not feeling remorseful for shifting the blame.

The servants had all treated me badly and I was looking for ways to get rid of them. This was the perfect opportunity. The cameras at the spot where my car was were broken and I was a bit grateful to Luisa for destroying them. It made things easier.

As I stood staring outside the kitchen window, rage consumed me the more I spent time in this house.

I wanted to let Luisa take the car and secretly plant a camera in it but my heart softened at the thought of the family who had died.

They didn’t deserve it. They should live, so I had to change my plans. In my heart, I knew even if I planted that camera, Luisa would still get out unscathed. Her father and mother would make sure of that and it would alarm them that I was already aware of what was happening.

I bite my lips anxiously. I needed someone powerful. Someone stronger who could help me. Someone who isn’t in their control. Someone who operated better law.

My head scanned the lists of people but wasn't satisfied until a name popped into my head.

Theron Moros.

I had once believed the stories about him as myths. Until I caught a glimpse of him three years ago at an auction house. Even though I was far away from him, I trembled at the intensity of his dark eyes and deathly aura. I had seen the way men trembled in his presence that night, even known politicians and fathers.

He was a man who ran his empire in whispers. Who dwells in silence and secret. A ghost king with a crown. He was arrogant, cunning, ruthless, merciless, mysterious, manipulative and untouchable.

He didn’t offer favors.

He commands the room and everyone in it.

He was feared.

He reeks of power and pride.

I didn’t just want him.

I needed him.