Her retribution

Mabel " Mommy! Daddy! Please don't leave me!" a 5 years old version of me cried and cried holding on to my stuffed animal toy for dear life. Their lifeless bodies were sprawled on the cold floor with eyes wide open and a bullet between their eyes. Suddenly I was outside in the arms of a man watching the place I once called home engulfed in flames. I lost everything that night. I was left all alone in this cruel world. Beep! Beep! Beep! I shot up the bed breathing heavily. I was drenched in sweat because of the nightmare I had. Well more like a dreadful memory that keeps on playing over and over once I close my eyes. I was taking prescribed sleeping pills but I began taking more than I should, Vincent stopped me from taking them. He said something about having to confront my demons. It won't end. The memories of the past will keep haunting and tormenting me until I do something. Until I kill those who snatched my whole life from me. If only it was that easy but that is not it at all. Not as easy as killing the leader of the American mafia organization could be. I won't even get close enough to land a scratch on his face. The Archers are the most dangerous crime family in the whole of America. Dean Archer is the former boss and is now succeeded by his eldest son Slade Archer. Then there is Reginald " Reggie " Archer who works as Slade's younger brother and right-hand man. He is also the CEO of their front legitimate business, Archer Constructions. Slade and Reginald are a formidable bunch. Yvette Archer is the woman of the Archer family and Dean's second wife. She is Reginald and Sara's mother, their younger sister. The whole family is right knit but they do have their differences. You would be surprised to know that, Slade Archer didn't want to be the next boss. The reason was his mother dying when he was just a boy. He always wanted to escape that life but he was born into it. He was bound to it for the rest of his life. While Reginald is the more serious and stuck-up dude, Slade tries to drown himself at parties and all sins that the city of Los Angeles can offer. After all, it is the city of sin. They may be powerful and influential but that is not going to stop me from getting my revenge for the death of my parents. I don't care what I'll have to do or what lengths I will have to cross. I will do anything to make sure I avenge them and they can finally rest in peace. I took a quick shower and picked a grey sleeveless crop top, leather pants, and heels combat boots. I tied my hair in a high ponytail. I looked at my bare face in the mirror and just saw a shell of the person I was. That little girl who was once full of life and joy just vanished that same day. This person I am seeing in the mirror is not her but someone else completely different. A merciless killer is who she is. I sighed and left my room. That is why I don't like mirrors. They reflect the truth about one's self. I jogged down the stairs and headed to the kitchen. No one was there except Rosita, the help. As soon as she saw me, her eyes lit up. I smile a little and leaned over the counter. " Good morning Rosita." " Good morning my dear. Would you like anything special for breakfast?" she asked with a sweet voice. My heart melts a little. She reminds me of my mother with her kindness and gentle touch. She is the only person who keeps me grounded. " Whatever you have prepared is fine Rosita," I said taking a seat. She nodded her head and began to dish out for me. " Did you see Vincent anywhere this morning?" I asked her curiously. He had been disappearing on me for a few days now leaving me in the dark. I don't him being so secretive and going behind my back. It makes me nervous and uncomfortable. " No dear. I thought that you would know," she said confused. I shook my head in dismissal. " Don't worry Rosita. I am sure that I'll catch him later. Now I am starving and craving your blueberry pancakes!" I tried to sound enthusiastic but I was worried. I don't know what is going on. I satiated my hunger and I went out to satiate my curiosity. I took my motorcycle and hit the streets to scout for anything out of the ordinary within the territory. I looked everywhere but I didn't find anything strange at all other than normal gang bangers rowdy in the streets. I thought of going back home but I decided to go to the beach instead. The beach was practically empty with a few suffers. I stood there just watching the waves crashing on the seashore. It helped me calm the storm brewing inside of me. I was conflicted with everything going on. Vincent Green is the man who saved me 16 years ago. He took me in and provided everything for me. He played a fundamental role in the person I am today. He told me to survive in this cruel world I will have to learn to defend myself. And I did. I turned into a killer. I have killed more people than I would care to admit. I have done things that I am not proud of. That will forever be in my consciousness for as long as I live. I promise myself that I will kill this version of me once I am done with my vengeance. Once my parents finally rest in peace I will stop being a killer and I will try to be something else, someone else. But for now, I need her to finish what I started. I rode back to the house and Vincent was back. I immediately packed my motorcycle in the garage and headed straight to his office. He has some explaining to do. He knows very well I don't like being left in the dark. I don't bother knocking, I budged into his office. He quickly hid a file underneath the others. " Didn't I teach you how to knock Mabel!?" he exclaimed in annoyance. He was hiding something just now. " I would have knocked had I known someone was in here," I said much to his discomfiture. " Tell me what you are up to. What are you hiding there," I gestured to the file he hid His face stiffened and his eyes blazed with anger. I was waiting for him to blow up on me like he usually does when he gets angry or cornered. Instead, he visibly calmed down before getting up from his chair and cycling the table to get to me. " Do want to know what I was doing?" he tilted his head to the side and folded his arms. " Yes, I do. Why else would I have asked?" " Alright then. I got in touch with my old friend. We are going to be having dinner with him and his family. I'm sure you'll be happy to find out who it is," he said with a sly smirk. I stood there confused as ever to know what the hell he was on about. I waited for a little while for him to get on with it and tell me but he just loves keeping me in suspense. " Well, are you going to tell me it is that a mystery too?" I was getting annoyed by his little antics of taking his good damn time to get to the bloody point. " Calm down will ya. You have no patience and I have told you that will one day cost you. I keep telling you-" " That the fruits of patience are the sweetest. Yeah, I've heard that a million times before and I get it. Now, who is going to have dinner with?" His expression changed to a serious one. " Dean Archer!" he declared. My eyes widened and I thought I did not hear him correctly. " I'm sorry what!? What did you say?" " You heard me right the first time Mabel. We are going to wine and dine with your enemies. Now the real question is, are you ready for this? Are you ready to come face to face with the man whose blood you have been thirsty for so long?" I thought about it but I had no answer. I did not know how to feel about it. But there was one thing I was certain about. The hatred I felt for Dean Archer was undeniable. I could feel the resentment coursing through my veins and my blood boiling. I looked at Vincent dead in the eyes. " I am more than ready," I said in affirmation. " But why now? Not so long ago you did not think that I was ready. What changed your mind all of a sudden?" I asked him inquisitively. He smiled and went over to the minibar. He grabbed two glasses and a bottle of Scotch. He poured in one glass and handed it to me and then he poured one for himself. " I never once thought you were not ready. Especially after all the missions I sent you on. You proved to me that you could pull this off. I just said what I said then so I could stop you from doing anything stupid. I was waiting for the opportunity to arise and it did." That is Vincent for you and his mysterious ways. He says something but means something else. And he is not very forthcoming with the plans he concocts in his mind just barking out orders. " So what is the plan?" I asked taking a sip of the scotch. The liquid went down my throat and left a burning sensation. " The plan is very simple. If you can't destroy your enemies from the outside you will have to get in the inside. When we go there, you will not be Mabel Harper. You will be my daughter, Sage Green," he informed sipping his drink as well. " Won't I do as Mabel Harper?" He shook his head. " I don't want anyone questioning your identity. And if they get a whiff of your real name, you won't make it out of there much less get your revenge. So you are now Sage Green. Don't forget." I nodded my head in agreement. After my talk with Vincent, I went back to my room. I am one step closer to my goal. But couldn't help but think about the file he hid when I got inside his office. I have a feeling that Dean Archer had nothing to do with the contents of that file. And the fact that he is hiding it means that it is something big. For all the years I've known Vincent, I know that he is dangerous and unpredictable. I just hope it's nothing too serious.