Chapter:27
Nala.
( The tragic event )
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my holster and checking my guns. The familiar weight of the weapons brought a sense of comfort, but it was short-lived. My friend handed me a backpack with supplies, her eyes filled with concern.
"Are you sure you can do this?" she asked, her voice trembling. "It's dangerous. You could die."
I nodded, trying to appear more confident than I felt. "I have to do this. This is the only thing I can do for him."
My friend's expression turned skeptical. "But at what cost? You're putting yourself in harm's way, and for what? Revenge?"
I took a deep breath, remembering the day he fell off the cliff. I had shot him, right in front of my father, to save him from a worse fate. The guilt and grief still lingered, a constant reminder of what I had done.
"It's not just about revenge," I said, trying to convince myself as much as my friend. "It's about justice. My father's secrets, his illegal businesses… they need to be exposed."
My friend shook her head. "I don't know… Can't you just go to the police?"
I laughed, a bitter taste in my mouth. "The police? They're in my father's pocket. I've tried… No one will listen."
My friend's expression softened, and she placed a hand on my arm. "I'm sorry… I didn't realize…"
I pulled away, trying to compose myself. "It's okay. Let's just focus on the plan."
We went through the details one more time, making sure we had everything covered. As we prepared to leave, my friend's concerns resurfaced.
"Please rethink this. It's not worth risking your life."
I took a deep breath, trying to push aside the doubts that had been plaguing me. "I have to do this. For him, for myself… for justice."
We chose a sleek black car and drove out of the city, heading towards the forest where my father's men were hiding. As we drove, I looked out the window, watching the scenery change from urban to rural.
We passed by people going about their daily business, shops and restaurants, and then the landscape gave way to trees and forest. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the landscape. With every mile, I felt a sense of nostalgia wash over me.
I remembered the conversations I had with him, about how we wanted to escape the city and live in the mountains or by the sea. We had dreamed of a life free from the secrets and lies that had consumed my family.
As we drove deeper into the forest, the trees seemed to close in around us. My memories became more vivid, more painful. I was ready to face my father and his men. Ready to put an end to the secrets and lies.
"We're almost there," my friend said, breaking the silence.
I nodded, taking a deep breath. It was time for revenge, time for redemption. But as I looked over at my friend, I saw the fear in her eyes, and my heart wavered. Was I really ready for this?
We drove down the winding road, the trees growing denser as we approached our destination. My friend glanced at me nervously, her eyes wide with fear.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I nodded, my jaw set in determination. "We've come too far to turn back now."
We turned a corner, and the mansion came into view. It was a sprawling monstrosity, its walls towering above us like a fortress.
"We're here," I said, my voice firm.
My friend nodded, and we both got out of the car. We walked towards the mansion, our footsteps echoing through the stillness.
As we approached the entrance, I turned to my friend. "You need to go back."
"What? No, I'm not leaving you," she protested.
"I have to do this alone," I insisted. "But I need you to go back and help him. He could be in danger."
My friend's expression changed from concern to understanding. "You mean…?"
I nodded. "Yes. Please, you have to make sure he's safe."
My friend hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay, I'll go. But promise me you'll be careful."
I nodded, a sense of relief washing over me. "I promise."
My friend turned and walked back to the car, her shoulders slumped in defeat. I watched her go, feeling a pang of guilt.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. I pushed open the front door and stepped inside, my guns at the ready.
The foyer was empty, but I could hear the sound of voices coming from the next room. I crept forward, my heart pounding in my chest.
As I entered the room, I saw a group of bodyguards standing by the window. I raised my gun and started firing, taking out the bodyguards one by one.
I moved from room to room, taking out anyone who got in my way. I was a force to be reckoned with, driven by my desire for revenge.
But as I reached the second floor, I realized I was running out of bullets. I grabbed the dagger from my back pocket and prepared for hand-to-hand combat.
The bodyguards were numerous, but I was determined. I fought my way through the hallway, taking down anyone who stood in my way.
But I wasn't invincible. I took a stab to the arm, another to the leg. I stumbled, my vision blurring.
I fell to the ground, my dagger slipping from my grasp. I looked up to see a bodyguard standing over me, his gun raised.
But before he could fire, I kicked out at him, sending him crashing to the ground. I scrambled to my feet, my heart pounding in my chest.
I stumbled forward, my vision blurring. I reached the stairs, but as I started to climb, someone hit me from behind.
I fell, my head spinning. I tried to get up, but everything went black.
I was out cold.
I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. I was tied to a chair, my wrists and ankles bound by thick ropes. The sound of splashing water echoed through the room, and I saw that I was in some sort of dimly lit cellar.
As I struggled to free myself, I felt a wave of pain wash over me. My head throbbed, and my body ached from the beating I had taken.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps echoing through the room. My father appeared before me, a cruel smile spreading across his face.
"Why did you do this?" he asked, his voice dripping with malice.
I spat at his feet. "Because you're wrong. You've done wrong to him, to his family, to everyone. And now I don't want anyone to suffer because of you, Father."
My father's face twisted in rage, and he struck me across the face. "I told you to call me Boss. I'm not your father."
I glared up at him, defiance burning in my chest. "You're a monster," I spat.
My father sneered. "Yes, I am. But what made me this monster? It's them. It's you. If you hadn't gone to the park in the heavy rain, my wife wouldn't have died. The accident wouldn't have happened."
I pulled my face back, tears streaming down my cheeks. "Yeah, I know it was my fault that she died. But why take it out on me? Why hurt Zayden's family? Why kill your own friend, your business partner?"
My father's eyes widened in shock. "So, you know all of this?"
I nodded, my voice shaking with rage. "Yes, I know everything. And it's not too late to apologize, to accept your mistakes."
My father sneered. "No, it's too late for that. Everything has become a mess, and I have to end it now."
I shouted, desperate to stop him. "No, please! If you want to kill someone, kill me! I'm the reason for all of this! Please, don't hurt anyone else!"
My father's face twisted in rage, and he struck me again. "Yeah, you are the reason. And you know what? I've already killed you. But you have the blood… the blood of my wife."
I cut him off, my voice shaking with anger. "She's not just your wife. She was my mother too."
My father's eyes flashed with anger, and he hit me again. "Yeah, and she had to pay the price for being your mother."
I cried, my body shaking with sobs. "You sent me to hell, Father. You didn't care about me."
My father's expression twisted in anger. "I sent you there to get rid of you, but you even survived there. You're such a bitch that you survived among those gangsters who did you wrong."
I looked up at him, my eyes filled with tears. "You know what happened to me there? Why didn't you save me?"
My father sneered. "I have all the news of how you survived there. How Tony helped you get out. How they beat you, how they tried to kill you…"
I cut him off, my voice shaking with rage. "You should have comforted me, Father. You should have helped me get over the trauma. But instead, you sent me away. You tried to kill me."
My father's expression didn't change. "After your mother's death, I wanted you to die."
I looked up at him, my eyes filled with tears. "Father, if you hate me that much, why did you even give me birth? You should have killed me before. You should have killed me."
I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. "I didn't ask to be born. I didn't ask Mom to die. I didn't ask to have a father like you. I didn't ask to be a girl."
My father's expression changed, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of sadness in his eyes. "It's not that I hate you, Nala. When you were born, I was happier than anyone."
He took a deep breath, his voice cracking with emotion. "But when she died… you… you were the reason. That's why I wanted you to die."
I stopped crying, shocked by my father's words. But as I looked at him, I saw the pain in his eyes, and my heart went out to him.
"But… but she didn't die because of me," I said, my voice shaking. "It was an accident. Someone else tried to kill her. Thomas told me that someone ordered him to do it."
My father's eyes widened in shock. "I knew it," he whispered. "I knew someone had ordered the hit."
I looked at him, my eyes filled with tears. "You knew it, and yet you blamed me for her death. You blamed me, and you tried to kill me."
My father's face contorted in pain. "I blamed you because I didn't have anyone else to blame."
I shook my head, my heart heavy with sorrow. "You killed them, but you never told me. All my life, I thought I was the reason for Mom's death."
My father's eyes filled with tears, and for a moment, I saw the man he used to be, the man who loved me and my mother.
"You were also the reason," he whispered. "If you hadn't run…"
I cut him off, my voice shaking with anger. "I ran because of you and Mom. You didn't pay attention to me. You know what it was? It was my birthday that day. You forgot it. Mom forgot it. I wanted to celebrate it myself, so I went there alone."
I looked up at him, my eyes blazing with anger. "You tried to kill me, Father. You tried to destroy me."
My father's expression didn't change. "I blamed you," he repeated. "I blamed you for her death."
I shook my head, my heart heavy with sorrow. "You blamed me, but it wasn't my fault. You should have protected me, Father. You should have loved me."
My father's eyes filled with tears, and for a moment, I saw the pain in his eyes. But it was too late. The damage had been done.
Just as I thought the confrontation was over, a voice from the back laughed and said, "If your melodrama is over, can I get my revenge?"
I looked back and saw Zayden standing there, a gun pointed directly at my father.
"No, Zayden!" I shouted, but it was too late.
The guards began shooting, and chaos erupted. My father's guards returned fire, and the room was filled with the sound of gunfire.
I saw Harper, Zayden's assistant, shoot one of my father's guards. The man crumpled to the ground, blood pooling around his head.
In the end, it was just Zayden and his guards standing, surrounded by the bodies of the dead. My father was badly injured, but still alive.
Zayden walked over to my father and said, "Tie him to a chair."
As his guards bound my father, Zayden laughed and said, "I didn't think I'd catch you this easily."
My father looked up at him and said, "Yeah, I thought so too. If it weren't for my daughter, you'd already be dead."
Zayden glanced at me, a mixture of surprise and anger on his face.
"She saved me," he said, his voice dripping with venom. "She laughed. It's crazy, your daughter betrayed you."
My father looked at me, a hint of sadness in his eyes.
"Oh God, Kaiden, look as you sow, so shall you reap. You deserve this."
I looked at Zayden, pleading with him to stop.
"Zayden, please. Please don't do that."
Zayden looked at me, his eyes cold and hard.
"He tortured you, he tried to kill you, he sent you to hell. He didn't even care if I killed you."
I shook my head, tears streaming down my face.
"I know, I know he did all that. But still, he's my father."
Zayden's expression didn't change.
"Yeah, I had a father too, but he was killed by your father. This monster. You don't even know how many families have died and been wronged because of him."
I shouted, desperate to stop Zayden.
"I know, I know everything! But still… I know I'm doing wrong by asking you to spare him. I didn't ask you to forgive him. You can punish him by law. But please, Zayden, please."
Zayden's face twisted in anger.
"He killed my family. We were ruined because of him. He's a monster. I get it, he kills, it's okay. But if I want revenge, it's not okay."
I begged him, tears streaming down my face.
"Zayden, please. I know you don't want this. I know you… you are kind."
Zayden cut me off, his voice cold and hard.
"Kind? I'm not kind, Nala. And for God's sake, forget about all this. I'm not going to forgive him."
I begged him again, desperate to stop him.
"Zayden, please. I beg of you."
After a moment, I said, "If you want to kill someone, you can kill me. I… I also don't deserve this life. He turned this way because of me. Please, Zayden."
My father looked at me, a mixture of surprise and sadness on his face.
"Nala," he said, his voice shaking. "Cut the creep. I'm not the one who needs your kindness."
Zayden sneered.
"Yeah, listen to your daughter, Kaiden. She's not as stupid as you think."
I begged Zayden again, desperate to stop him.
"Please, Zayden, please."
Zayden's expression didn't change.
"If you beg one more time, I'll kill you before him."
My father looked at Zayden, a hint of defiance in his eyes.
"Okay, kill me, Zayden. But forgive her. She's not in this. Let her go."
I looked at my father in shock, surprised by his sudden change of heart.
Zayden sneered.
"You act like you care about her. You should drop the act, Kaiden."
My father looked at Zayden, tears streaming down his face.
"You can do anything you want to me, but forgive her."
I looked at my father, shocked by his words.
"Why are you trying to save me, Father?" I asked, my voice shaking. "I ask my father."
My father looked at me, tears streaming down his face.
"I… I… I just don't know."
He started to cry, and I started to cry too.
I asked him again, my voice shaking with anger.
"Why are you crying now, Father? You didn't care about me. So why now?" I hate it now it's all messed up and now my father know about his mistake , his sins .
Father say " he knows it all about all of this "
He's telling me about zayden .
"So, he knows it all along," I whispered, horror creeping up my spine as I realized that Zayden had been aware of my father's secrets all along.
Zayden's voice cut through the air, cold and detached, sending shivers down my spine.
"Enough time. Now it's time for my revenge."
He walked towards my father, his gun raised, and I knew I had to act fast.
I ran towards him, grabbing his arm, desperation clawing at my heart.
"Please, Zayden, I beg. Don't do this. He's my father."
He jerked his arm off, and two shots rang out, echoing through the room like a death knell.
One bullet hit my father's chest, and another followed, sending him crashing to the ground.
Zayden looked back at me, his eyes empty, devoid of any emotion, and I felt my world crumbling around me.
I fell to my knees, my heart shattering into a million pieces as I realized that my father was going to die.
I ran towards him, tears streaming down my face, and cradled his head in my lap.
"Father… no… Father, no, please no!" I shouted, screaming for someone to hear, for someone to save him.
But no one came.
My father's voice was barely audible, his breaths shallow and labored.
"Nala, please don't love him. He's a monster… please. He's just like me… Please, Nala."
I shook my head, tears streaming down my face, my heart heavy with grief and anger.
"You're sorry now? After everything you've done to me?"
My father's eyes filled with tears, but I felt no pity for him.
"You know who ordered to kill your mother… You want to know who I killed…?"
I shook my head, my voice cold.
"I don't care. You're going to die, and I'll never have to see you again."
My father's eyes locked onto mine, a hint of regret in them.
"It's him… It's his family… It's his father who ordered… who ordered to kill your mother."
His voice trailed off, and he took his last breath, his body going limp in my arms.
His lifeless body is in front of me . I wanted to wake him up but I can't I scream so hard for everyone for anyone wanting to help me but none does .
I felt a mix of emotions: relief, anger, and sadness.
I looked up at Zayden, my eyes filled with tears. With pain with the wound that are not going to heal .
"Why did you do this?"
I ask wanting him to say something. Maybe something to comfort me but
Zayden's expression didn't change.
"He deserved to die."
All he says is he deserves to die . I know that but that's not what I wanted to hear .but I can't do anything about it .
I nodded, knowing that my father had gotten what he deserved.
But as I looked at Zayden, I saw the monster that my father had described.
And I wondered if I had just traded one monster for another.