Vengeance by My Own Hand

1
The day I was supposed to marry Raven Blackwood, the citys most feared crime boss, I was kidnapped and dismembered. I died with my eyes wide open.
My parents, their eyes red with grief, demanded justice. Raven swore she would hunt down my killer herself.
But when all the evidence pointed to my twin brother, Tom, they went silent.
The case was closed with unnatural speed. Soon after, Raven married Tom.
Watching them live a life of blissful love, my soul shattered in the heavens.
When I opened my eyes again, I was five years in the future, inside the body of one of Ravens most trusted enforcers, a man named Shane.
That night, I abducted their twin son and daughter. I put their organs up for auction on the high seas.
As the dark web livestream went live, buyers from across the globe flooded in, the bids climbing at a feverish pace. I smiled into the camera, a cold, predatory grin.
Raven, I purred, do you remember your promise to Liam? To kill the man who murdered him?
Now is your chance. Kill the real murderer with your own hands. Otherwise your precious little darlings are going to be sold off piece by piece.
I knew Raven had hemorrhaged during childbirth. Theyd had to remove her uterus. She could never have another child. That was the only reason I dared to make this gamble.
The viewer count on the livestream skyrocketed into the millions. The chat exploded.
Organs this fresh? The transplant success rate will be through the roof!
Hurry up! My daughter has been waiting for corneas for three years!
In an instant, the childrens eyes, ears, heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys were all claimed, the prices soaring higher with each bid.
Raven, always the picture of cold, ruthless control, finally broke. She shot to her feet, her eyes locked on the screen.
Youre not Shane. Who are you? What do you want?
I chuckled, shaking my head. Just a little cosmic justice, I said airily. Cant stand to see a good man die in vain.
My words sent my parents, who were standing beside her, into a rage.
The truth is already out! The police closed the case! my father roared.
Liam was never any good! my mother shrieked. He was kidnapped for five years and came back a complete savage! Always skulking around, always trying to hurt his brother! He deserved to die!
Their words were daggers of ice in my soul.
When I was five, they took me on a trip to the countryside. They were so absorbed in a card game that they didn't notice when a trafficker snatched me away.
Five years later, the police rescued me from an illegal coal mine. I was covered in scars and spoke with a thick, rural accent.
My brother, Tom, had grown up swaddled in luxury, a master of piano and equestrian sports.
My parents found me crude. My brother called me a hick. They made me live in the storage room and told visitors I was the maids son. School was out of the question. My short life was spent working to support them, desperately trying to earn their affection.
And this was my reward. To be told I deserved to die.
Tom, emboldened by our parents support, sneered. Thats right. The evidence was conclusive. What kind of story are you trying to spin now? Let the kids go, or Ill make sure there isnt enough of you left to bury!
I didnt answer. I just grabbed a scalpel and, with one clean motion, carved out one of the twin's eyeballs.
Blood dripped in front of the lens. I read the buyers ID aloud.
Corneas claimed by user Rebirth1999 are now harvested. Send your address via private message.
The chat erupted. The buyer was ecstatic.
I turned my gaze back to Raven. Her face was ashen, her lips trembling.
You youre insane!
I just smiled, brandishing the bloody scalpel. Youve already wasted one opportunity. We still have ears, a heart, a liver, a spleen, lungs, and kidneys to go. Are you going to keep hesitating?
Seeing me harm their beloved grandchildren sent my parents into a fresh wave of fury.
Are you crazy?! my father screamed. There is no other killer! Who do you want her to kill?!
Liam brought this on himself! He pissed off the wrong people and they came for revenge! You talk about getting justice for him, what did he ever give you? Its money you want, isnt it? Well give you double!
My notoriously stingy parents were suddenly generous.
Double? How about a billion? Ten billion? Would you be willing to bankrupt yourselves for him?
They didnt hesitate. Of course!
A bitter taste filled my mouth. When they first brought me home, they called me a disgrace and said they were too poor to send me to school. They forced me to work. I hauled bricks at a construction site by day and washed dishes at a night market by night, saving every penny, giving them half my wages every month.
And Tom? He went to a private academy, had piano and riding lessons, wore designer clothes, and studied abroad. For him, money was no object.
Now, they were willing to lose everything just to protect him.
It was never that they didnt have the money. They just werent willing to spend a single cent on me.
Tom saw the flicker of change in my expression and thought hed found my price. Just let them go, he said quickly. Name your price. We wont press charges. Otherwise, the police will hunt you down and youll rot in a cell for the rest of your life!
I laughed coldly. Were in international waters. A lawless zone. The police have no jurisdiction here.
I had my years in the abyss to thank for that knowledge, for the skills Id picked up navigating the dark web.
Toms face fell. He clearly hadn't expected me to be immune to his threats.
I ignored them and checked the time.
Raven still hadn't moved. Without another moment of hesitation, I pressed the scalpel against the other childs ear.
Ears claimed by user BloodiedDawn, I announced to the camera. Now harvesting.
Stop!
Raven finally broke. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her voice a strangled whisper. Ill Ill do it.
My parents faces contorted in horror. They grabbed her arm. Are you mad?! The man is a lunatic, and youre going to play his game?
Raven, hes not worth it! Not for Liam!
She just gave them a reassuring look and waved a hand at her bodyguards. Bring him in.
A moment later, a man, bound and gagged, was shoved in front of the camera. His face was a mess of bruises.
Raven pointed at him. This is the driver from that day, a man named Marcus. Liam caught him stealing from the family and had one of his hands broken. He held a grudge. On the wedding day, he deliberately leaked your route to your enemies.
I stared at the man. I recognized him. He was my driver, before he got caught stealing and was thrown out. He knelt on the floor, sobbing.
It was me I did it I hated Liam, so so I took a detour and led him right into their trap
I sneered. Yes, he was a part of it. But he was no mastermind. A pawn, at best.
You think you can fool me with this?
My hand shot out. The scalpel flashed. The boy twin let out a muffled, piercing scream as blood gushed from his face.
You! Raven shrieked, lunging toward the screen. I gave you the killer! Why did you still do it?!
I stared at her twisted face and slowly smiled. Do you take me for an idiot? Who would believe such a pathetic lie?
I turned to the trembling driver. Marcus. Tell me. Who gave you the order?
His eyes darted nervously to Raven before he looked down again. No one It was me
Hah. I pressed the tip of the blade against the other childs cheek. It seems you need more convincing.
Enough! my father roared, slamming his hand on a table. Youre a complete psychopath! What kind of person would be friends with a maniac like Liam? We gave you the killer and you dont believe it! What the hell do you want?!
Tom stared at me, his voice hoarse. Thats the truth. What more could you possibly want?
I turned my head slowly, my gaze like a razor. What do I want? You know exactly what I want, dont you, Tom?
The blood drained from his face. He was speechless.
Ravens breathing grew ragged. Shane, she said through gritted teeth, Liam was my fianc. Do you really think I would protect his killer? If it was someone close to me, I would kill them with my own two hands!
I stared at her, my heart a block of ice.
Yes, I had wondered about that. Why had she accepted Tom so quickly after my murder? Hadnt she sworn she loved me more than life itself? Hadnt she said I was her only salvation?
It was only later that I learned the truth. She had never loved me at all.
She had met Tom long before she met me. Theyd crossed paths at an auction. She only came into my life because she mistook me for him.
Everythingher tenderness, her promises, her salvationit was all built on a ridiculous misunderstanding.
And I, like an absolute fool, had been their plaything until the very end.
I tilted my chin, a sarcastic smirk playing on my lips. Is that so? I guess only you would know for sure.
I glanced impassively at the scrolling comments on the screena chaotic mix of demands for delivery and furious condemnations. The bids had reached astronomical figures, but the comments that stood out were the ones that called me a monster.
Worse than an animal!
Youll burn in hell for hurting children!
Times up, I announced, the scalpel gleaming under the lights.
Toms pupils constricted. He struggled to lunge forward, trapped by the screen.
Just as the blade was about to touch the second twins ear, a familiar voice cried out from off-camera.
Stop!
I whipped my head around. There, standing in the Thornes living room, was my adoptive sister, Lily. The only person who had ever shown me warmth in that rural hellhole was now standing there, pale and trembling.
Her presence made me pause. After my rescue, I had secretly funded her education for years. She was the last piece of goodness I had left in the world.
I know the truth about Liams death. Lilys voice shook, but she held up a file folder with a steady hand. Liam he killed himself. Ive been investigating for a long time. This is all the proof.
She pulled out a stack of yellowed letters. This is his suicide note. He said he was living in his brothers shadow, that the pressure was too much so on his wedding day, he deliberately leaked his own location to his enemies.
My fingers tightened on the scalpel. Thats bullshit! I snarled. When he was paying for your school, he was starving himself, and he never once thought of suicide! And youre telling me hed kill himself on the verge of marrying a crime boss?
Lily bit her lip and produced a stack of photos. These are his medical records. He was on antidepressants. And this She held up a bank statement. A month before he died, he transferred all his assets to my name.
The chat exploded with speculation, but I couldn't care less. I stared at the evidence in Lilys hands, my mind reeling. The Lily I remembered, the one who always had a kind word and a warm hug how could she betray me too?
Her tearful voice echoed in my head like a nightmare. People change, Liam. He talked to me a lot near the end. He said he said he felt like a joke.
Youre the one whos changed! I spun around, and without a second thought, I sliced the scalpel across the second twins ear.
As blood sprayed, Tom let out an inhuman scream. He thrashed wildly, sending his chair toppling forward.
To everyones surprise, Lily moved with astonishing speed, catching him before he hit the floor. Her movements were so practiced, so fluid, even faster than Raven, the supposed crime lord.
My pupils contracted. The scene was too strange.
Interesting, I purred. Your concern for the younger Mr. Thorne seems to go beyond simple friendship, wouldnt you say?
The chat went eerily silent for a moment.
Lilys body went rigid. She quickly straightened up, her voice righteous. Youre mistaken, Shane. The only man Ive ever loved is Liam.
I sneered and turned my attention back to the auction. The buyer, BloodMoon, had paid in full and was demanding I harvest the boys heart.
I slowly picked up the scalpel and leaned over the boy, pressing the tip against his small chest.
Heart claimed by user BloodMoon. Beginning extraction now.
STOP! Raven screamed, clawing at the screen. Shane, there is no other killer! Where do you want me to find one?!
My parents, having just returned from taking Tom for medical attention, rushed back in. You monster! my mother shrieked. If there was a real killer, dont you think Ravens people would have found them by now? You just want to destroy our family! Liam is dead, but Tom is our life!
My heart turned to stone. These were my parents. They would sacrifice me in a heartbeat to save Tom. The last shred of affection I had for them vanished.
I stared at Raven, pressing the scalpel just enough to draw a bead of blood. My patience is running out. Either you kill the real murderer, or I cut his chest open right now.
Ravens face was a mask of terror. Finally, backed into a corner, she screamed, It was Tom! The killer is Tom!
My parents froze, their eyes wide with disbelief. Raven, are you insane?!
She ignored them and ordered her men, Bring Tom here.
He was dragged back in, with Lily trailing behind him, sobbing. Raven, you cant
I tightened my grip on the scalpel. Do it now, I commanded, or I take the heart.
Ravens hand trembled as she took the knife a bodyguard offered her. Amidst my parents soul-tearing screams, she swung the blade and slit Toms throat.
Blood arced through the air. My parents fainted.
Lily collapsed, a broken sound that was half-laugh, half-sob escaping her lips. Hahaha she pointed a trembling finger at me. Are you satisfied now? Are you finally satisfied?
You wanted the truth, didnt you? Ill give you the truth! she shrieked, her voice cracking. When you were kids, it was Tom who distracted your parents so the trafficker could take you! And when he found out you were living with my family, he paid my parents to abuse you! Hes always hated you, because your parents always compared you to him!
The brutal truth hit me like a physical blow. So that was it. All the suffering, all the pain it was all his design. Lilys kindness was just another one of his manipulations.
I stared at her, a storm of rage and grief churning inside me. He deserved to die.
My revenge was complete.
I was about to drop the scalpel, to let it all end.
But then my eyes fell on Toms body. My pupils contracted.
Behind his ear, where a dark red birthmark should have been, there was nothing. The skin was perfectly clean.
The man who died was not Tom.

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