A Billion Dollar Revenge

An Unfortunate Beginning

Two Weeks Earlier.

Kristen stirred in her bed, her body was laced with sweat. Most nights she was able to have dreamless sleep but some nights she couldn't escape the nightmare of the trauma of her past.

Kristen dreamt of the park back in Los Angeles. It was quiet and empty under the rather solemn gleam of the summer sun that day. She saw herself, a bright-eyed seven-year-old, skipping alongside her father, Owen, her hand securely clasped in his. They were finally enjoy some time together after Owen had been so busy in his lab.

" I know you would prefer being in a school and having friends your age, Kristen," Owen had said, his face softening as he looked at her,

" But for the next few months, it will just be Daddy the hero, and Krisberry, his sidekick."

Only he called her Krisberry, she was a sweet child and as delightful as a berry to him

" And Evelyn," Kristen chimed in, her voice full and happy.

Owen chuckled, with a glint in his eyes." It's Aunt Evelyn, Berry," he corrected playfully, gently tapping Kristen's nose.

" But she said I could call her Evelyn. She does not like feeling old," Kristen protested, reacting just as dramatically as her father was.

" Well, isn't she already...old?" Owen brought his voice to a low and winked at her.

" I will tell on you!" She calls out to her aunt." Aunt Kristen come hear what daddy said!"

Little Kristen shouted mischievously, no one could stop the glee that rang in little Kristen's happy voice.

" Oh now, she's Aunt Evelyn?" Owen responded to her laughing.

Owen reacted happily to his daughter who attempted to run. He lifted her in the air as she squealed with delight before gently setting her back down. Taking her hand in his, he began to walk with her again.

Her aunt Evelyn, a beautiful blond lady, was looking at them from a distance, smiling.

It had been just Evelyn and Owen for a long time after their parents died, before Owen got married and had Kristen. Kristen's mom had developed complications a few months after Kristen was born and died in the hospital.

Evelyn was happy to be present as a mother figure in Kristen's life.

Back where the happy Kristen and her father stayed, Kristen held on to her daddy, just very pleased to be with him after his numerous days at the lab.

As they rounded a corner, Owen's easy smile shifted, and his once-happy face turned dark as he noticed the approaching vehicles afar. Noting the change in her father, Kristen looked up at him, her innocent eyes filled with curiosity.

" Daddy, what is wrong?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

Owen's response was firm but decisive." Kristen, how about we play a game? Hide and seek. You go hide, okay? I will count to 100."

Confusion clouded Kristen's innocent mind for a moment before she bounced off eagerly to find the perfect hiding spot. As she faded into a thick spot, Owen began to count.

Left alone in her hiding place, Kristen's excitement snappily gave way to fear as she watched a scene unfold before her. Men in dark suits came down from cars that had suddenly appeared in the park, their voices low and menacing as they approached her father.

Kristen twisted in bed, she knew what was about to come but she couldn't wake up from this nightmare, she kept dreaming.

She saw as fear gripped her tiny heart as she tried to make out the words of the men talking to Owen but could barely hear anything. Soon, her aunt Evelyn appeared beside her, her eyes wide with alarm.

" Kristen, darling, we need to stay quiet," she muttered urgently, pulling her niece in her arms.

" Do not say anything, even if you get scared."

Kristen's breath got caught in her throat. She struggled with her sheets, she didn't want to see what came next but she was stuck in this dream.

Then it happened.

The sharp crack of a gunshot shattered the stillness, echoing through the park like a blast. Kristen's heart pounded fast as she clung to Evelyn, her little mind spinning out of control. At that moment, innocence was lost, and everything she knew fell apart.

The pressure in the air thickened, Evelyn kept Kristen close to her bosom, their breaths shallow and ragged. They waited, silently hoping no one would come looking for them until eventually, a tense silence settled over the park like a heavy mask.

Evelyn glanced around cautiously, to ensure that the coast was clear before she made her move. With urgent but shaky hands, she seized Kristen and pulled her out of hiding, her face fixed with determination.

" Come on, Kristen," she spoke urgently, her voice slightly above a murmur." We need to go. Now!"

Kristen followed her aunt, her small hand tightly clasped in Evelyn's grip. They moved quickly and quietly through the path without looking back, their steps echoing in the stillness of the night.

Taking a shortcut, Evelyn led Kristen to her house, the first place that felt a bit safe for Kristen, for now. Once inside, Kristen watched wide-eyed as her aunt packed some clothes and bags speedily, her mind began to get filled with questions and confusion.

" Can we go home, Aunt Evelyn?" Kristen asked, showing every bit of worry.

" Is Daddy okay? Is he sick? I saw him fall"

Evelyn's heart pained at Kristen's innocent questions, but she forced a reassuring smile, to hide her fear and be the bigger person for the two of them.

" Daddy..." Her voice broke. "Daddy is fine, baby" she finally said with her voice shaking slightly.

" But we. we need to go on a little adventure, just you and me. Everything will be okay, I promise."

Hurriedly, Evelyn guided Kristen into her small car, her hands shaking slightly as she buckled her into her seat.

" Now, I need you to be a big girl for me, Kristen," she said, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Kristen's eyes widened in confusion,

"...but Daddy said..." She started to protest but Evelyn catches her mid-sentence.

"I know baby, I know...but we need to go now!"

Kristen kept dreaming, her nightmare showed how her little self knew that something had gone terribly wrong.

She saw as her aunt steered the car away from her house, and watched as she stole a final glance at the path leading back to the park,. With a trembling voice, she asked her aunt.

Tears fell from Kristen's eyes but she still couldn't wake up, she was stuck in this terrible dream.

"Has Daddy gone to be with the angels like Mommy?" She saw her little self ask.

Her aunt was unable to answer her, little Kristen knew her daddy was dead. With heavy hearts, they drove into the night.

As they sped away, Evelyn's mind raced with questions, she tried to think, but could not come up with anything.

Why had this happened? Who would want Owen dead? No one knew about Kristen so what exactly could have happened?

She knew Owen's last invention was too dangerous and that is why they didn't complete it, but no one knew about that either.

As she drove, she vowed to uncover the truth and avenge her brother's death, but for now, Kristen's existence had to remain a secret. Glancing at Kristen, trembling in the back seat, Evelyn's determination hardened.

"Don't worry, baby," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "We'll make them pay, someday, very soon."

Then unexpectedly, a lead came to light- Maisy. Her face flashed in Evelyn's mind. She was alive and Evelyn was the only one who knew this secret. Could Maisy have exposed them?

"No, no, no" Evelyn cried silently "You bastard, I should have let you die.." Evelyn accelerated.

First, she must find a secure place far from Los Angeles to keep Kristen safe and then find Maisy Anderson, Kristen's Mother.

Kristen looked at her aunt and started to cry, she didn't know what else to do she just wanted to cry. Evelyn looked at her and tried to comfort her, she took her eyes off the road to comfort her niece.

From nowhere, a truck appeared in the opposite direction coming at them with bright lights and a very loud horn....

Crash!!!

Kristen woke up from her sleep screaming! Her aunt Evelyn ran into the room, her eyes wide with a knowing look. She quickly took her seat beside 22-year old Kristen on the bed.

It's been 15 years and she still had nightmares from the day her dad died. Evelyn hugged and kissed her. Today, she was going to tell her the truth about the man who murdered her father and what she must do to avenge him.

“Happy birthday, Kristen.” She whispered.

It was time.