My face drained of color as her words echoed in my mind. I felt my knees begin to buckle. I had acted on impulse; anyone would have done the same in my situation—right? I couldn't bring myself to hurt anyone, let alone the woman kneeling in front of Veronica.
"Do it, Adonis," Veronica urged, her voice laced with impatience.
"Please, it was a mistake! My mother is sick. I shouldn't have... I'm so sorry." Piper's pleas grew louder, but Veronica's gaze remained fixated on me.
"I can't do it..." I finally breathed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can't kill someone." I hoped she would hear the desperation in my tone and spare me this horror.
Piper's sobs gradually quieted, possibly out of relief that I wouldn't be the one to take her life. Her fingers reached out to grasp Veronica's leg in a last desperate plea for mercy.
"Pardon me; I forgot you were playing superhero today, Adonis," Veronica scoffed.
The moment Piper's palms touched Veronica's skin, her expression twisted in sheer disgust. Piper lifted her gaze, her words barely forming a plea before Veronica wrenched her leg free. As she did, a sharp blade ejected from her Louboutin heel, which she used to stab Piper directly in the throat.
Piper's eyes widened in horror; her mouth opened in a silent scream as blood streamed down her neck. At the sight, my body heated with a mix of nausea, my heart racing uncontrollably as Veronica withdrew the shoe, the blade still firmly lodged in its place on Piper's neck, the shoe appearing as pristine as ever.
Piper's lifeless body collapsed to the ground. I quickly looked away, trying to block out the sight of the blood draining from her, taking her life with it.
The marking of the Nightingales began to reveal itself across Piper's skin, signifying her transformation into one of them. Veronica turned on her heels to leave, exuding an unsettling calm. "Tamaya," she called, and an Everling immediately entered the room.
"Y-yes, Madame," Tamaya stuttered, bowing her head.
"Prepare a bath. I've disposed of enough trash for one day."
She left me standing there by the open door, the reality of my fate rushing in. I knew I was doomed. First, I had stepped in her way, defended a guilty visitor, and worse, I had defied her orders. I retreated to my room, aware that sooner or later, Piper's wound would heal, and she would reemerge, ready to embrace her new role.
For the next few hours, I isolated myself in my room, pacing back and forth as I watched the clock's hands crawl along the wall. Eventually, I sank onto my bed and drifted into a deep sleep.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a ten-year-old version of myself sitting in the garden of the orphanage where I had grown up. How did I get here? I watched an old friend—a former friend, rather—Louis Garfield, running toward me.
"Can you help me keep this, Adonis?" he asked, thrusting a box into my hands.
"Sure, what's it for?"
"Just keep it, okay? I'll collect it after the games today."
"Alright," I agreed, taking the box.
"Don't open it, okay? It's something really special," he added as he turned to leave.
I kept my promise and held onto it. Time zipped by, transitioning to the dorm room. The master and nuns stormed in, the master wielding his whip like an instrument of despair. The nuns rang their bells, rousing us from slumber.
"Which of you boys took my wristwatch?" the man growled, and as quickly as lightning, every boy—including me—denied it. "Search these brats," he sneered, glaring at all of us. We slid down from our beds, revealing our meager possessions from the small cabinets assigned to us.
I felt calm, as if guilt couldn't touch me, for I knew deep down that I hadn't stolen anything. But then one of the nuns retrieved the box Louis had given me earlier, and the wristwatch plummeted from inside. I gasped, and before I could process my emotions, a strong lash struck my frail back.
"Wretched boy," the master hissed.
"Adonis, how could you stoop so low?" a nun interrogated.
"I didn't do it!" I cried. "Louis gave it to me, I swear."
"I didn't give him anything! I was playing games all day! I saw Adonis go into the master's office," Louis defended, stabbing me further while pouring salt into the wounds with his words right in front of everyone.
"I did go to the master's office, but I was only dropping off mail." Tears streamed down my face. I had seen what happened to thieves here: hands sliced off, skin cut and smeared with freshly ground pepper. I hadn't stolen a thing; I was grateful for the little I had. Yet, I had unknowingly walked into Louis's trap.
Another whip crack rang out, striking my back and sending jolts of agony through me.
The master raised his hand again but paused, a dark smile creeping onto his face. "We'll deal with you tomorrow." He scoffed, leaving everyone in stunned silence. He had never postponed punishment before. Grabbing the wristwatch from the nun, he left the room, urging us to go to bed as the nuns followed. I clutched my blanket tightly, sniffling. Louis was my friend, and yet he had betrayed me. The pain in my heart paled compared to the agony in my back, which now blossomed with blood that was dried up by the cold wind. The metallic scent filled my nostrils, and I sniffled for relief.
"Stop disturbing us, thief," I heard Louis grunt.
I sat up, incredulous. "Thief?"
"You heard me," he replied, his tone dripping with malice. "Soon, you'll be back in that wretched place they found you in, bad luck."
I could hardly fathom that this was my friend; rage surged within me, replacing my pain.
I rose from my bed, fists clenched. "Say that again."
"You're a sly little thief—" I cut him off, launching myself at him like a vengeful spirit, just as I had seen in the master's wrestling DVDs. I punched him hard, denying him any chance to breathe. Sweat poured down my body as I unleashed my fury, paying no mind to the scent of his blood or his cries of pain.
Everyone formed a circle around us, chanting, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Louis struggled against me, but I was fueled by anger. I hit him relentlessly, and when his hands tangled in my hair, I seized his hair tightly, raised his head, and slammed it against the concrete floor. He froze, his hands falling away from my grasp. Just then, someone flicked on the light. The realization washed over me; his face was beyond recognition, soaked in blood. I had done this. I was a monster.
Panic ensued as the nuns raced into the room, their chants fading away. Immediately, I stepped back, panting heavily.
"Oh dear Lord," one of them gasped.
"Is he dead?"
"Adonis killed Louis."
...
My eyes flew open as I sprang upright, panting heavily as I struggled to draw breath. I clutched my collar, taking deep breaths until my breathing steadied. It had been fourteen years since that incident. I hadn't killed Louis outright, but my actions had caused a severe brain injury that took him four years to recover from.
He lost all memory and ultimately died months later after he awoke from his coma. I had long given up on fighting and violence, but why was it all resurfacing now? Even if no one had pressed charges, I had lived freely since that day, yet I remained chained by those haunting memories.
As I glanced at the clock, it struck midnight. The door creaked open, followed by footsteps and a gentle tap on my hand.
"She wants to see you," an Everling whispered. "She's in the garden," she added.
The fear in her eyes conveyed a dire warning of what awaited me. Perhaps it was time for my execution. I stepped out of the elevator and into the bustling lobby, where bellhops greeted guests. Each face mirrored expressions of gloom and pity. This might very well be the last time I would see them. I clutched my chest tightly, stepping outside into the back garden.
My heart raced when I spotted Veronica, standing amidst the trees, her arms crossed as she gazed into the woods. She had changed into a velvet dress, her long hair swaying gently in the evening breeze. She always looked… perfect.
A few Nightingales watched from the kitchen door, and others hid within the shrubbery, feigning interest in the garden as they awaited Veronica's next move.
"You haven't answered my question, Adonis," she said, turning to face me.
"I… I, umm… what question exactly?"
"Answering a question with a question, are we?" She sighed, a devious smirk curling her lips. "I suppose someone will explain it to you, then." She stepped aside, and my eyes darted from her to the slender figure approaching me. Louis.