One day, Tyler came to Deya's room to talk. Even before he began, she knew it would be serious.
Sitting opposite, Tyler hesitated for a long time but finally began:
"My request may seem strange to you, but Cassie and I agreed that this will be our last attempt to have a child. If it doesn't work, I want you to be the mother of my child. Cassie is strongly opposed, but I see you two get along well. I think if it's you, she might accept it."
Deya was shocked by such a request. Composing herself, she replied:
"I'll think about it."
Tyler was a good friend of her brother's, but she didn't think she was ready to do this for him.
With difficulty opening his eyes, Tyler realized he was in a basement. It was dark, but several lamps lit a small area around him. He realized he wasn't alone: his parents and wife were there too. All were tied to metal chairs bolted to the floor.
Tyler's father spoke first:
"Do you even know who I am? If even one hair falls from my family's heads, I'll make your life hell."
At his words, a wheelchair rolled out of the darkness into the light.
If Tyler, his father, and Cassie understood what was happening, Tyler's mother was bewildered. She said anxiously:
"I don't know what you want, but my daughter is definitely not guilty of anything. Please don't touch her."
"If you're talking about your younger daughter, she really isn't guilty — but only if we adhere to the principle that children aren't responsible for their parents."
Pausing, the man in the wheelchair added:
"If you behave well, I give my word she will live. But your older daughter's life will become hell. That I promise you."
"What are you talking about? My older daughter died many years ago," the woman replied with genuine pain in her voice.
"As you know, your older daughter suffered abuse from her grandfather for years, until your younger son witnessed it and killed the old man. The outcome of these events was that both your children ended up in a psychiatric hospital. Soon after, you learned your daughter had died. But the truth is, she was alive all these years and was the shadow of her savior — her younger brother. Choosing the right moment, she became your daughter-in-law. Now I suggest you watch a video recorded many years ago. It will explain why you're here."
Tyler's mother had visited her daughter's grave for years, sincerely mourning her, consumed by guilt. So now she looked in surprise at her daughter-in-law, realizing the new reality.
A group of people emerged from the darkness and quickly started the video. Once it was done, the mechanical voice echoed through the basement again:
"Dear guests, please pay attention to the screen. I want you all to know why you're here."
When the brutal rape scene began, Tyler's mother couldn't hold back her tears, his father tried not to look, while their children behaved rather strangely, but an experienced psychologist could tell they were enjoying it. The man watched them intently.
When the video ended, he said:
"The girl in that video was my first love, the mother of my children. This video was found in your son's house. Besides that, there were other things, so I have no doubt that your daughter was behind the death of my family, and your son covered for her. Moreover, they clearly enjoyed watching it."
After these words, a second video played. It showed a group of people storming Ray's house. The footage made it clear that the attackers only succeeded because part of the security was on their side.
Tyler's mother saw a sweet girl smiling as she opened the door. Seeing the man with a gun, she tried to step aside and scream, but everything happened too fast — the beauty's body was riddled with bullets.
"Your husband attacked my house; his people burned my family, including my newborn daughter, all because he was afraid I'd dig up evidence that he followed in his father's footsteps. You know, doctors have repeatedly told me the gods love me very much, so I want to offer you a game — Russian roulette. If I lose, you won't be released, but I give my word you'll be killed quickly. If I survive... Your beloved sister will be thrown into a cell with rapists and pedophiles. I don't think I need to explain what they'll do to her there, and you will watch," Ray said, looking at Tyler.
Knowing he had no way out, Tyler nodded and said:
"Okay."
"You know, you were my friend, and if, upon learning the truth, you had made her face the law, I might have tried to spare her life for your sake. But you not only covered for her — you enjoyed watching Lily suffer. This is my mistake — I was always too sentimental. I should have strictly vetted everyone from the start — Frank, Jill, and you. Then I wouldn't have had to pay such a price."
"The first four bullets go to the limbs," said a girl emerging from the darkness. "Any attempt to shoot anywhere other than yourself is death, and your bitch will become a toy for filthy pigs."
Tyler was shocked to find that the video excited him when his sister showed it to him, so he had nothing to say. He knew Ray very well, so when he was assigned the "Devils" case, fear of retribution led him to fabricate the case.
The fear of the "Devil" among corrupt officials was so great that they authorized Ray's elimination. Tyler devised the plan together with his father.
His sister wanted Deya to survive so they could use the little one as a surrogate mother, but they were unlucky that Ray had sent Yuno to watch over his sister.
Spinning the cylinder, Tyler shot himself in the leg, flinching, while Ray calmly shot himself in the head.
Everyone who saw this understood that the man wanted the bullet to blow his head off. Watching this, Yuno and Deya wanted to stop him, but they had given their word not to interfere, so the girls suppressed their emotions with all their might.
The game continued. The sound of gunshots in the basement nearly deafened those present. When Tyler shot himself in the leg and screamed in pain, Cassie, who had remained silent all this time, laughed and said loudly:
"That little slut believed you'd find us and take revenge. Even on her deathbed, she kept that faith. You really did it. But tell me, what's it like to lose a third daughter and kill your stepdaughter with your own hands? You really are a pathetic bastard."
"You're right, I really am pathetic," Ray replied with a malevolent smirk. "But the road to hell in life for you and your brother has only just begun. You'd better pray that one of these bullets blows my brains out, because if that doesn't happen, you and your beloved brother will face hell."
Ignoring the screams, Ray continued to calmly shoot himself in the head.
When the game ended, all of Tyler's limbs were shot through. In the final round, Deya helped him, clearly enjoying it. Ray's head was still intact, which meant the gods either loved him very much or hated him with all their souls.
"Take this piece of shit to the medics; tell them he must survive, and put these in cells. Make sure they don't do anything stupid. Especially that bitch — I need her alive."
After Ray's words, a group of people emerged from the darkness.
When they left the basement, Deya looked at Ray and said:
"What was that suicide attempt right in front of me?"
"Relax, my revenge hasn't even started yet. I won't die so easily; besides, the gods love me very much," Ray said with a bitter laugh.
In the light, it became clear the man had no right arm. He was the only one who survived that fire. When he woke up, the first thing he heard was: "It's a miracle, and the gods love him very much."
Everyone played their roles well, allowing him to find those responsible. Now hatred boiled in his soul, but he knew that once his plan was carried out, only emptiness would remain.
"Sorry, little one, it won't happen again."
After that accident years ago, he was no longer handsome, but now even the Joker would be scared of him.
Yuno suffered greatly watching the man who meant everything to her lose himself. Appearance wasn't important to her, but what happened had broken his spirit. Now only thirst for revenge and hatred kept him going.
The only small comfort for him was that his best friend's and Michelle's children hadn't been caught in the fire, as they had long been living with their grandmother to ease her loneliness.
Yuno saw nothing that could keep Ray in this world