The Two Faces of Judgment

I was in a psychiatric hospital, focused on the livestream of my brothers wedding.
Suddenly, a man, naked and covered in blood, burst into the ceremony and threw himself at my brothers feet, slamming his head against the floor.
Abel, my brother! Youve already ruined my face, youve shredded my clothes! Im not a threat to you anymore. Please, Im begging you, dont have me locked up in an asylum. Ill stay away from Isabella, I swear
My brothers bride, Isabella, erupted in fury. She ordered her guards to slap my brother across the face, again and again.
Callahan grew up as an outsider, always having to walk on eggshells. Hes the kindest soul I know. And you you cant even stand the sight of him?!
It seems Ive been far too lenient with you. Today, you will learn that the Vance family has no place for a vicious snake like you!
The wedding was brought to an abrupt halt. My brother was violently shoved into a car and sent to a remote monastery to reflect and repent.
The next time I saw him, his face was a canvas of wounds, his chest was caved in, and all ten of his fingers were mangled.
The vibrant young man who used to visit me, his eyes full of life, was gone forever.
My face twisted into a mask of pure fury. I pressed a restraint strap against the hospital directors throat and forced him to sign my discharge papers.
Whoever touched my brother would die.

1.
When I pushed open the door to our home, my mother was lying motionless on her bed.
My brother was dead. My mother had gone to see Isabella.
When Isabella heard the news of Abels death, she looked at my mother with utter disbelief.
But Callahan, who was lounging beside her, suddenly smiled.
He slowly pulled out his phone. Abel is dead? How could that be?
His fingertip tapped the screen. Thats strange. In the video they just sent me, he looks like hes sleeping so peacefully.
In the video, my brother lay still, his long lashes casting dark shadows on his pale cheeks. It looked as if he could wake up at any moment.
My mother, shaking with rage, lunged at Callahan. My son is lying in a morgue, his body broken and bruised! Hes dead, and youre the ones who killed him!
Isabella shot to her feet, her face a mask of contempt.
Thats enough! Is Abel so desperate for forgiveness that hed drag his own mother into this pathetic act?
Youre a family of actors, Ill give you that. So convincing. But everything that comes out of your mouths is a lie!
Callahan leaned back into the leather sofa, a smirk playing on his lips. Maam, youre really embarrassing Abel with this little performance.
Isabella flicked a piece of lint from her sleeve and gestured to the guards at the door. Throw her out.
My mother was thrown out. Both of her legs were broken.
As I listened to her story, I reached out with a stone-cold expression and pulled back the white sheet covering my brothers face.
His features were marred by a crisscross of scars. His chest was concave, his limbs twisted at unnatural angles, like a butterfly with crushed wings.
My mother sobbed behind me. When Abel left it must have hurt so much, didnt it?
My name is Cain. Abel was my twin.
He was bright and full of life from the moment he was born. I was the opposite: quiet, grim, with a chilling light in my eyes that made people uneasy.
No one ever wanted to talk to me. They called me a monster, a freak.
Only Abel would press his only piece of candy into my mouth, his eyes sparkling.
Is it sweet, brother?
I gently touched his cheek now. His eyes were sealed shut. He would never see me again.
Years ago, the headmasters son took an interest in him.
One day, a group of shadowy figures cornered my brother and dragged him into an alley. He ran, terrified, while I followed them silently.
When Abel finally stumbled out of the alley, relieved that his pursuers had given up, he didnt see me behind him, drenched in their blood.
The moon was full that night. I didnt go home.
The headmasters entire family was found slaughtered.
When the police arrived, they were stunned by the carnage.
I was sitting in a pool of blood, smiling as I counted the candy wrappers my brother had given me.
They said I was sick. They locked me away in the Blackwood Asylum.
The windows in my room were always barred.
Every time Abel visited, he would press his face against the cold iron, his eyes curving into crescents. Cain! The cherry blossoms by the road are all in bloom today!
Even though I never spoke, he would chatter on, sharing every little joy with me.
The last time I saw him, he was beaming. Brother, Im getting married.
On the wedding day, Ill have Mom livestream it for you. You can see how handsome I look as a groom!
I never imagined the wedding wouldnt even finish before he was gone.
I used a restraint strap to choke the director until he signed my release.
The people who touched my brother I will make them all die.
After arranging Abels affairs, I had just walked through the door, holding his ashes, when the door was violently kicked open.
Callahan teetered in on high heels, arm in arm with Isabella, a mocking sneer on his face.
Well, well, if it isnt the late and great Mr. Abel.
Isabellas gaze fell on the urn in my arms, and her expression flickered. But when she saw my face, her eyes instantly turned to ice.
Abel, have you no shame? Using such a disgusting trick to beg for sympathy?
Callahan wrapped his arm around Isabellas waist and simpered, Isabella only sent you to the monastery to reflect for a few days. But you you not only injured the master, but now youre back with some prop urn, trying to play the victim.
Dont tell me youre planning to use this cheap box to trick Isabella into attending some fake funeral?
His hand shot out toward the urn. Let me see what piece of trash you picked up from the dump.
I sidestepped, and he stumbled, nearly falling flat on his face.
Abel! Isabellas voice was sharp. How long are you going to keep this up? Faking your death wasnt enough, now you dare to push Callahan?
Callahan rubbed his ankle pathetically, but his eyes glinted with malice. I know Abel is still mad at me for ruining his wedding Isabella, dont blame him. Its all my fault
Isabellas face darkened. Abel, apologize to Callahan. Now!
I stood there, expressionless, clutching my brothers urn.
My mother, from her wheelchair, rolled in front of me and screamed at them, Get out! You are not welcome here!
Isabella, enraged, grabbed my wrist. Is this the upbringing your family gave you?
Since you refuse to repent, men! Seize him and take him back! He can return when he learns to behave!
I shook her hand off and let out a low, sinister laugh. Fine.
I was just wondering how I would find my brothers killers. And here they were, delivering themselves to me.
Isabella was taken aback, clearly not expecting me to agree so easily.
I gently placed my brothers urn on the small memorial altar I had set up. I caressed his photo on the box. In the picture, his smile was so sweet.
Just as sweet as when he used to press candy into my mouth.
As I turned to leave, my mother grabbed my hand.
Cain! she whispered, her eyes filled with a universe of reluctance.
I patted her hand reassuringly.
She let out a heavy sigh and finally let go.
Go.
I nodded and followed Isabella to the car without a backward glance.
Callahan sat in the front passenger seat. The moment I closed the door, he whined, Isabella, I think I got something in my eye~
Isabella immediately leaned over to blow on his eye, their noses almost touching, their breath mingling in the small space. They had completely forgotten I was in the back.
Afterward, Callahan shot me a triumphant look over the seat.
I sat perfectly still, my eyes downcast, as if I hadnt noticed a thing.
The car sped along the winding mountain road, getting closer and closer to the monastery.
The bloodlust in my veins began to sing. These were the ones. The ones who killed my brother.
The radio suddenly crackled to life. Emergency broadcast: A patient classified as extremely dangerous has escaped from Blackwood Asylum. All citizens are advised to remain vigilant
I looked at the two in the front, completely oblivious. A silent smile stretched my lips.
After dropping me at the monastery, Isabella drove off without a second thought, completely missing the look of sheer terror in the masters eyes.
The heavy gate slammed shut with a deafening CLANG.
A group of men, cigarettes dangling from their lips, surrounded me, their faces twisted into nauseating grins.
Well, look what we have here. Missed us, pretty boy?
You didnt have enough fun last time, did you? Dont worry, well make sure youre satisfied this time!
What are you waiting for? Get to it, boys. The usual way!
I kept my head down, listening as their heavy breathing grew closer, every muscle in my body coiling tight.
Seeing that I wasnt moving, the leader sneered and pulled out a long whip.
Worthless piece of trash! You only listen when we beat you to a pulp, is that it?
The whip cut through the air, but I caught the end of it in my hand.
He froze for a second, then his face contorted with rage. You dare to fight back? Im going to have some real fun with you today!
Before he could finish his vile curses, I yanked the whip.
He stumbled forward, and I met him with a dozen slaps, my hand a blur.
CRACK. CRACK. CRACK. CRACK
The sharp sounds echoed in the courtyard.
The others were still laughing. Whats wrong, Tommy? Cant handle one pretty boy?
Their laughter died when Tommy turned his head, now swollen like a pigs, and spat out a mouthful of blood and broken teeth.
The courtyard fell dead silent.
The master suddenly screamed, Abel is dead! Hes supposed to be dead!
The men froze, their eyes darting down to my feet.
In the sunlight, my shadow was stark and clear.
Shit, hes alive! the leader spat, his eyes turning vicious again. Who cares who he is? Whats one scrawny little punk going to do?
They closed in, their knuckles cracking, their sneers returning.
I kept my head bowed, but my lips curled upward uncontrollably.
Of course, they didnt know.
I was born with unnatural strength. How else could I have slaughtered the headmasters entire family?
My blood runs thick with violence.
If it werent for my brother, why would I have ever restrained myself?
Now, finally, I dont have to hold back anymore.
The screams lasted for three days.
The beauty of this remote monastery was that any sound, no matter how loud, was like a stone dropped into a deep wellgone in an instant.
When Isabella came to pick me up, the entire monastery had been reduced to scorched earth.
I was huddled by a ruined wall, my clothes in tatters, my face smeared with ash, my fingernails caked with dried blood.
Disgusting, she muttered, tossing a coat at me.
As Callahan passed by, he whispered viciously in my ear, Too bad you didnt burn to death.
I kept my head down, trembling in the back seat of the car. The cuffs of my sleeves were stained with the dried blood of those men.
It was so amusing, the way they begged for mercy on their knees.
Especially when I took the wooden mallet and, inch by inch, smashed the rotting flesh between their legs.
They were men of reflection, after all. They needed to be purified.
How wonderful.
Now every one of their bones was as beautifully broken as my brothers.
Remembering their agonized wails as the fire consumed them, I smiled to myself.
When we finally got home, I was about to step inside when Callahan blocked the doorway with his foot.
Abel, youre filthy. You should probably clean up in the yard before you come in.
The hose in the backyard still works. Ill have someone help you.
He feigned a gentle, caring tone, but a flicker of cruelty crossed his eyes.
It was the dead of winter. The water in the yard would be ice cold. A shower like that would make me sick for days.
I turned to look at Isabella, but she was already walking away. Get yourself clean before you step inside this house.
The door slammed shut, locking me outside.
I squatted in front of the rusty spigot as three bodyguards surrounded me. They were the same men who had slapped my brother at the wedding.
They pulled out a fire hose. No hard feelings, Mr. Abel.
The leader licked his lips as he deliberately aimed the powerful jet of water down my collar. Miss Vances orders. We have to make sure every last crevice is spotless.
Through a gap in the second-floor curtains, I could see Callahans silhouette. When Isabellas figure approached, he quickly closed the curtain and disappeared.
I wiped the freezing water from my eyes and gave them a slow, chilling smile.
A moment later, the high-pressure hose was shoved into their mouths.
When I walked into the house, spotless, there were three new fountain sculptures in the yard, swollen and bloated like waterlogged pigs.
Isabella frowned, wrapping a towel around my dripping hair with a surprisingly gentle touch.
What took you so long?
I only told you to rinse your feet.
She pushed a bowl of steaming chicken soup toward me. I had the kitchen make this especially for you. Go change, then come down and have it while its hot.
Mm, I grunted, a rare response, and went to change.
When I returned, Callahans eyes were filled with jealousy. He eagerly brought the soup to me.
But before I could take it, the entire bowl of scalding soup was poured onto my body.
Ah! Callahan cried out in pain.
Abel! I was just trying to be nice, and you deliberately knocked it over to burn me!
I know you cant stand me! Isabella, Ill leave right now! I wont get in your way ever again!
Isabella rushed over, cradling his uninjured hand, her face filled with anguish. She didnt even notice the massive red welt on my own hand. She spun around and snapped at me.
Abel, apologize to Callahan!
A sharp pain lanced through my chest. Is this how they treated my brother?
His pure heart, wasted on these dogs.
I lunged for the front hall. With a click, I deadbolted the villas main door.
Isabella roared, Abel, what do you think youre doing? Have you forgotten every lesson you were taught?
Apologize to Callahan now!
My face was dark, my eyes bloodshot as I slowly advanced on them.
Suddenly, Callahan, still nestled in her arms, stared past me in horror.
He pointed a trembling finger at the wall-mounted television, too shocked to speak. You youre
I raised a finger to my lips and whispered,
Shhh. The show is just beginning.

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