Breathe

 "You show the lights that stop me turn to stone
You shine it when I'm alone
And so I tell myself that I'll be strong
And dreaming when they're gone"

-Lights (Ellie Goulding)

It never mattered what time I decided to fall asleep at night. I was waking up at 5am and I won't be going back to sleep unless I decided to try again at 11am. But I guess that's my fault for breaking my body clock one too many times.
It's okay. At least I know I can give myself longer days and commit to my tasks of the day.
That's a fucking lie. Those post it notes I stuck on my computer for those days I'm lucid enough to believe I can change won't matter. I'll still go on living without living.
I check my phone, ignoring the muffled screaming in my head telling me I won't be able to stop scrolling until 7am if I do.
Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok... They're nonsense. But I'm so bored of life that every little tidbit of tea that I can find that will stir me or make me laugh for at least 5 seconds makes them valuable of to me. But credit to myself today. I tried putting it down and going back to sleep. Obviously I failed because I didnt take more than 3 winks to open back my phone to waste time. Time that I cannot tell because my body lives as if time was fleeting.
It was 5am. Then it was 6am. Then it was 9am.
The alarm goes off and I have to "get up". Fun.
I finally put down my phone and stare up at the ceiling.
Yes. Contemplate life some more, think about a few silly conversations with my friends and think about the people who came and went. The people you chose to believe would be there forever and vanished. The people who still want to be there for you but you forget they exist.
"Jettes." My roommate, Leon, knocks on my door. "I'm heading off in 40 minutes. Do you need a ride to work?"
I do. I have work in 2 hours but our apartment is like at the end of the train stations and taking the train would take me at least an hour and 30 minutes to get there. At least if my best friend takes me, I'll be there in at least just an hour.
"Nah. It's fine. I can take the train."
There was no response at first. Then a sigh. "Okay. Tell me if you change your mind."
His footsteps become quiet as he walks away from my door. I turn my head back up to the ceiling and breathe in.
I can make it in time. My mind so arrogantly tells me again. But I know I'll have to call the office up to tell them I'll be late again. Then I turn once again, cover my body with my sheets.
From here, I could hear my friend prepare his lunch and go to the bathroom to take a shower. It's so mundane and normal that I sometimes forget its a person. And everyday I feel guilty that I someone so close to me is someone I forget exists.
I stir for another 40 minutes and I could hear Leon walk towards the front door.
"Last chance, Jettes." I don't reply. I could feel him shake his head and shrug before the door shuts.
I get up, hunger I've ignored for over 2 hours finally winning me over.
My mind is already mentally dreading over the decision I have to make.
I look over the food stored in the fridge. Leon had always made it a point to be meticulous about preparation and storage. But I guess that's what having a chef for a roommate is like.
Beef Stroganov, hard pass. Spaghetti? I had noodles yesterday. Fried chicken... mental note to eat that tonight. Assuming I remember anyway. Tempura maki. Nah.
My eyes drift over to the container of Mac and Cheese I made for myself 2 nights ago.
I just ate that last night.
My hands already pull the container and head to the microwave.
Why do I do this to myself?
~
I stare at my laundry, taking a minute to decide if I was gonna call in sick or dig into the clothes I refuse to fold for a button up.
I need money to pay for my vices. I tell myself.
Reluctantly, I find a slightly less crumpled blue button up. I can just hide its state with my jacket.
My phone pings, notifying me that my uber driver is just downstairs.
I nod to myself and grab my badge, backpack, and headphones.
"Jettes Manner?" The driver asks.
"That's me." I beam and buckle my seatbelt.
I put my headphones on, the music turning my brain off and leaving me on communal autopilot.
The new Paramore single, This Is Why, playing on repeat as my brain scrutinizes the beats from the guitar and the bass and the drums and the pitch of Hayley's voice. My spotify has a lot of wonderful songs. But this song was just the latest of things that stimulated my brain.
It was Lights by Ellie Goulding 2 weeks ago. Capabilities Unseen by Void_Chords a month ago. Body by Mother Mother 3 months ago.
I don't know why I'm like this. My fingers just rewind and replay and eventually I'm at the station.
"Stay safe." I tell the driver and make my way to the station. The train arrives in 3 minutes and I'm using the local train app to see how long it would take me to reach my building.
I was going to be 10 minutes late.
Just as I predicted I would be.
I pull out my phone and pause my music to call the office, hoping our Area Manager, Andy, doesn't pick up.
"Y'ello. This is Sean speaking." Thank god.
"Hey. It's Jettes. I'm just gonna be a little late. Missed the earlier train."
"Yeah sure s'all good. I'll see you later."
He hangs up and I go back to enjoying my music.
At least until the invasive thoughts came by to interrupt again.
You should have left with Leon. Do you think you even have a future the rate you're going? Where's that novel series you said would be done 10 years ago?
Pathetic.
Oh this cat meme is really funny. I should send it to Nica and Thea.
Does Blizzard hate Symmetra that much?
I like this fan art of Jake.
Gotta fold my laundry and clean my room when I get home.
Wait what's that thing called again?
I breathe in, my mind going on overdrive to the sound of Lights by Ellie Goulding again after I remind myself of that song and the Supercrooks meme.
4 more stops before I get there and I try to mentally organize myself so I can have a good day at work.
I exhale, trying to focus intently on the music.
It doesn't take 5 seconds for me to zone out.

-Author Notes:
This is probably one of the few things I've written without any planning.
I didn't think much about this when I was writing it and based it mostly on instinct and struggles I find myself facing with my ADHD. I might write some more when I have the time.

Thanos Venge - Wrath

 "Someone said I am such a foolish girl
Who cares? It's better than without a light
Sometimes I need someone to hold me tight
Explain to me what is justice, what is right"
- Someday (Sawa)

Before coming to Eastbrick Academy, Reese, Mandy, and Terrence all agreed to  make peace with the fact that they were going to be leaving their friends at their old school behind and that by the time they were at the front of the academy gates, they would attempt to start fresh with no homesickness or regrets. After all, this was a fancy school. Beautiful dorm rooms, amazing academic program, exclusive clubs and more. Not to mention the extravagant food they keep hearing about. The three of them were smart enough and had the money to come here, so they might as well enjoy their time there.
At least, that was the plan.
Considering what happened to Terrence, there was no time to prepare themselves emotionally for their arrival at the academy. They were supposed to be awed. Excited. Hungry, as Mandy once mentioned.
Instead, the moment they got to campus parking, what registered on Reese and Mandy's faces were passive, tired, even depressed expressions.
Their reasons for coming here have changed. Reese, mostly.
The moment they stepped into the administration building, they were immediately greeted by an almost too perky young woman wearing a bright yellow sash over her green sweater.
"Hi!" She practically squeaked. "I'm Victoria Mason. You must be Reese Morrison and Mandy Roe."
Reese gasped, placing a hand over his mouth. "Are you psychic?"
The girl laughed, perhaps a little too much.
Reese and Mandy exchanged looks and looked at the student guide who seems to be desperately trying to be optimistic to the cynical looking students.
"I'll be your student guide for today. We'll help you with your luggage and bring you to your dorm rooms. After that, we'll give you two the official campus tour so you can be ready for your first day on Monday."
They return to Reese's car to grab their things with Victoria skipping right behind them. They knew she means well, but her overflowing aura of sunshine annoyed the hell out of them. On their way, Reese hears a young woman complaining to a young man that looked their age.
He could barely make out what they were talking about.
"Well, what do you expect me to do about it?" the young man asked.
"You know, your thing!"
Reese didn't seem to notice he had started to slow down to listen to the conversation until Mandy pushed him forward.
"You're being nosy again."

~X~

To call the Eastbrick Academy dorms, well, dorms, was an understatement.
The building that served as the dorms looked more like a 4 star hotel. A buffet style mess hall, a cafe, a large student lounge with a lot of entertainment systems, board games, foosball, pool tables and other stuff. You name it.
That wasn't even the start of it. Leading them to the back patio, they were pleasantly surprised to find a large swimming pool and hot tub.
"Well, now that you got a look at the first floor, it's time to send you to your dorm rooms."
Victoria waved over to two people sitting around the cafe area.
A blonde, burly young man who Reese guessed was in the football team, and a brunette young woman who exuded grace in her simplicity. Mandy envied her slim shape.
"This is Scott Wills and Jeanette Mars. Scott will be Reese's roommate and Jeanette will be Mandy's"
"Remind me again why we're not roommates ?" Mandy quips.
Reese nudges her slightly. "The dorms here aren't Co-Ed."
"They will be helping you to your rooms. I will meet you at the school fountain in an hour after you've acclimated with your rooms!" With a clasp of her hands, Victoria beams one more smile to the two before taking her leave.
Reese and Mandy wave to her goodbye and give each other one last glance.
Suddenly, Mandy moves over to Jeanette and quickly turns on that radiating and friendly aura of hers. "Hi! It's nice to meet you! I'm Mandy"
The girl gives a quiet but polite response. "Nice to meet you. I'm Jeanette. I'll show you to our room."
The two slowly inched away to the elevators talking as if they've always been friends.
Reese turns his head to Scott. Huge, quiet and intimidating, Reese felt pretty unnerved.
He wasn't one to believe in stereotypes such as jocks being bullies or party heads considering he was friends with a bunch at his old school.
But that didn't stop those types from existing anyway.
The man seemed slightly uninterested and tired.
When he suddenly moved forward, Reese twitched slightly backwards but did not close his eyes to not show any of his fear.
"Oh, uh. Sorry." Scott suddenly said, picking up some of Reese's bags. "I just thought you needed help with your things."
And the tension all suddenly faded away. Sighing in relief, he smiled. "Thanks. I didn't mean to look startled."
"I get it." He says. "I'm a pretty big guy. But trust me, I don't bite. I'm Scott."
He raised his hand and Reese shook it. "Reese."
Like most of the dormitory, the dorm room looked amazing. Located at the third floor, the room had two beds at opposite ends and desks at the foot of each one.
Reese was thankful that Scott wasn't a slob as the room was well maintained and fairly clean.
Scott's side of the room seemed modest at first. Then you feast your eyes on his wall and you find sports posters mixed in with a surprising amount of horror movie posters and some video game posters as well. Bridging the gap between beds was a TV. A Playstation 4 was hooked on and a bunch of slasher dvds were located just above it too.
Wow. I really misjudged Scott. Reese thought.
"Didn't expect a Football Player to be a horror buff or a video game nerd did you?"
"Honestly, yeah." Reese stood there looking at each one of the posters on the wall. Dumbfounded still at what he's looking at. "You really like the Scream franchise, don't you?"
Scott smiled, setting down some of Reese's things, and sat on his bed.
"What's your favorite Scary Movie?" Scott asked in a near perfect Ghostface voice.
Reese paused, genuinely thinking of an answer. "Stay Alive."
"That was a terrible movie."
Reese shrugged as he continued to unpack. "I didn't say I had good taste in the horror genre." 
Just as Reese scrutinized Scott's side of the room, Scott returned the favor as Reese unpacked his things.
The huge box Reese had was a computer. It was the very first thing that he took out of his things. Scott knew pretty basic stuff about computers but he could tell that Reese had a very expensive set up that he most likely saved up for.
Decor wise, Reese was minimal with his side of the room. While Scott had stuck at least 12 posters on his wall, practically covering it even, Reese only hung up 5 things on his side.
A Mr. Robot Poster, a Final Fantasy Tactics Poster, and three photographs.
Two were family photos. The last one was a picture of him with the girl he was with in the lobby along with a tall young man with shaggy, dark hair.
Scott noticed that he looked at that picture extra long before he hung it up. Curious as he was, he tried not to bring it up.
"Ugh, are you for real?!"
Outside their window, they watched as the loud girl that Reese noticed at the parking lot start to have a nervous breakdown in front of the boy she was talking to earlier.
"That's Erika Dela Cruz." Scott returned to his bed seemingly uninterested and opened his phone. "No need to stick our nose in her business. She'll probably have her family's money deal with her problems."
The more people told him to not be nosy, the more he so badly wanted to be.

~X~

It was hard to seem excited even as Victoria gave glowing commentary on the already magnificent looking school building and its facilities.
But Reese and Mandy certainly tried to be amazed. The effort to smile seemed to at least keep Victoria's spirits up as she brought them to every nook and cranny.
Advanced science and computer labs, clean libraries, very prestigious cafeterias and multiple club spaces for extracurricular activities.
It was very impressive.
But it didn't seem to matter. Not when they weren't complete.
"Alright! Now that we've gone through the campus, let's head over to the faculty room so we can set you up with your schedules and whatnot."
Mandy didn't quite notice, but Reese somewhat perked up. His poorly veiled boredom had fizzled and his face steeled.
An opportunity to see places where he can check for clues.
"You CANNOT be serious here! I built this club from the ground up!" The shouting was ear piercing from the club room they passed that even Victoria paused to watch from the room's window. It was the girl that Reese had been seeing all day.
How the hell do we keep encountering this girl? For someone so small, she moves around so fast.
"Erika, these allegations are too serious." A girl of Chinese Decent stepped forward and pointed a finger at her "We let it slide at first because you are our president, but it has piled up and your alibis have been getting less convincing as days go by."
"But all at once? Gia, I did NOT steal tests from the records room. I did NOT put tacks in Lana Burke's purse. And I most CERTAINLY did NOT start that rumor about her being pregnant either!"
The girl, Gia, gave her a slow clap. "Or maybe you're just doing this to boost your standing since you might just actually lose your position here. Face it, your Daddy's money can't buy you out of this one. "
All of it spiralled too fast. Suddenly, Erika was on top of Gia and pulling her hair.
"Tarantado ka!" She shouted, the language unfamiliar to Reese and Mandy. "I worked my ass off to build this community without my father's help. Don't talk as if I'm just some rich bitch!"
A Japanese student pulled her off. "Stop it! Both of you! Gia, enough!"
"She started it, Azuki!"
"How about this." A Malaysian boy stepped forward. "Until this matter is resolved, Erika is suspended from the Asian Community meetings."
A loud thud to the wall breaks the trio's stupor from what they witnessed.
It was the boy that Erika was talking to earlier. "Show's over."
He was tall, rather pale. His hair was done in a buzzed undercut and he had small clock gear tattoo on spanning over his left arm. 
Victoria practically jumped. "We're so sorry."
She turned to motion the two over and started speeding off into the hall.
The boy aimed an annoyed glare at Reese and Mandy.
But his piercing green eyes met only with what his mind could only describe as tired souls in the irises of the new students.
Reese returned a look, a knowing look, as he gave the boy a once over.
After all, it didn't take much to identify another computer nerd. Not when the boy was clutching a pretty heavy laptop in his left hand.

~X~
"Collin Sanders? Oh you mean our old math teacher. We were told he was transferred somewhere else." Reese expected as much. But he had to try and see if Victoria knew something.
The guide opened the empty faculty room and went over to one of the desks. It was weird seeing the teachers so lax to leave duties to the guide.
"Ah. Here we go. " She returned with two folders and handed it over to the two.
"Neat." Mandy dangled the ID from the folder. "And it looks like our schedules are in here too."
Before they could be dismissed, Victoria stopped them. "I'm sorry, I almost forgot. I have to get your meal cards in the Records room just next door."
Reese observed carefully, watching Victoria's fingers press the password into the room's door.
1583.
This was almost too easy.
Reese knew where he was going first.
Minutes later, Victoria returns with two white cards with their names on it. "Try not to lose these."
Reese and Mandy thanked the tired guide and watched her walk off back to the administration building.
"Say Reese." Mandy looked around. "Don't you think that they're a little too relaxed here? There are no teachers. Barely any security guards. And no one to stop us from just looking around the teachers room."
Reese shook his head. "I took a look around while Victoria was looking for our documents. There are CCTVs almost everywhere and most of the cabinets are locked with a combination lock. Even if we did have the code to say the records room, there was no way we were getting in there without alerting a few people."
At least, if that were normal students trying to sneak around.
They hadn't met Reese.
Mandy had no way of knowing that Reese already noticed that some of the CCTVs were just for show and that he was mentally preparing his way around the building. Certainly, it wouldn't be that hard to find a way to disable or loop the CCTV footage. 
Some security.

~X~
Reese was thankful Scott didn't question that he was almost immediately too eager to go night exploring onto the campus. Even more so that he was more inclined to play Dead by Daylight than join Reese in his mission. Every day he thanks his peerless memory as he made himself a route that would leave very little suspicion on him.
A short trip to the cafeteria for a little chocolate. Sugary Brain food was always important. Leaving the cafeteria, the normal route would be to take the left hall towards the footpath to the dorms.
Truly, it was just a fake out. That left hall opened to a small staircase that lead to the hallway with the computer room. This way did not have a CCTV and the computer room had a dead camera.
It was a matter of finding a way to disable the cameras near the faculty room. Guards were primarily at the first floor and the Security and Records room was unguarded during the weekend night.
The computer room was the perfect place to start.
It shouldn't take long to bypass the admin locks on the school desktops. Hopefully the IT people at the school were bad.
Reese expected to be alone, yet for some reason, someone had already beat him there. For the fourth time today, Erika and her friend are there.
Reese hadn't turned on the lights, but the door did make a lot of noise.
He knew it was them because the already open computer's light beamed at the pair.
"Shit." Erika stood, ready to run. But the boy stops her.
"Hold on." He stands as well, his tall frame coming closer towards Reese. He didn't know what to do. Should he run, or should he stand his ground.
"You're that nosy kid that was with Victoria today."
Reese didn't answer, simply shutting the door behind him. "We just happened to walk by."
"What's he talking about, Paul?"
Paul looked back for a second and returned his attention to Reese. "What are you doing here, new kid? You're not here to snitch on us, are you?"
Reese crossed his arms. "I don't even know who you are. I'm just here to use a computer."
"The Computer Lab is closed."
"Obviously."
Paul laughed and pulled Reese over. "I like you. What's your name?"
"Reese Morrison.""
"Paul! Now's not the time to make friends! Life or death here!"
"Tak nuzhdayushchiysya" Paul muttered under his breath. 
Reese heard it and looked at him in confusion.
"Sorry. I'm half-Russian." He lets go of Reese. "I'm Paul Evanoff and the loud one's Erika Dela Cruz. Anyway, feel free to try using the other computers. But if you're trying to use one with admin privilages, you're going to take quite a bit of time trying to break in."
Reese had expected it and sat next to the pair. But before he could boot a computer, he noticed that the one those two were using was already using Admin controls. "How are you..."
"I'm technically the IT guy. School is bent on placing responsibility on the students." He smirked. "So let's just say that it's gonna take you more than the average time to hack into an admin's account thanks to my security."
Reese weighed his options. If he's dealing with another IT expert, confident enough to tell him outright that hacking the system would take him a while, then what choice did he have.
"Can I use it after you're done?"
Paul laughed, incredulous at this boy's boldness. "Bro, I'm not a model student, but I'm not morally corrupt enough if you think I'd let you snoop around for tests."
"I'm not here to cheat.  I came here looking for something."
Erika groaned. "Look, whatever your crisis is, can it wait? You're interrupting us trying to find answers."
Reese looked over to see what exactly Erika was dealing with.
The colorful school website was something akin to that of Facebook. Of course, students were more inclined to use this site to learn announcements and encourage support of the student body that built the website on HTML. 
On it was the rumor that Erika was being accused of. The admin should have deleted the post by now but Paul had managed to stop and preserve it to try and trace whoever posted it.
It was an anonymous account using Erika's handle. The email used was also a dummy.
"They were extra careful." Paul said.
While Erika practically pulled her hair out, Reese took over and check the site elements.
"Schooch over." Reese tapped away, performing a Cross Site Scripting Attack on the profile and forced control on the account.
While Erika seemed impressed, Paul was still unsure."That's great and all, but it's still a dummy account. We still don't have the information we need." 
"Not necessarily." Reese clicked over the emails. "To open an account at the school website, you need to connect the school email you created with your real account and send them an sms."
The email linked to the account was a ceratin nram@gmail.com.
"It doesn't quite tell us who this is, but if we request a password change, the account's number will display on the confrimation email, yes?"
And Reese does just that. As he said, a number appeared on the confirmation email.
"Let's give it a call, shall we?" Paul dialed the number on his phone.
Erika had to hold her hands to her mouth to not alert who answered.
"Hello?" It was Azuki. The Japanese girl who seemed to be on Erika's side earlier.
Paul hangs up, looking quite disturbed himself. "Uhh... I didn't expect your sweet little secretary to be stabbing your back."
"That little skank!" Erika pulls up her phone. "Oho, when I'm through with her, she's gonna wish-"
Erika gasped as Reese pulls her phone from her. "Don't act carelessly. She's just gonna erase any evidence if you confront her."
She wanted to shout at this stranger who had just abruptly butt into their business. But he did uncover the truth for her.
"And what do you suggest I do?"
"Finding out her motive is one. But what say you get even?"
In the darkness of the computer room, the smirk on Reese's mouth almost seemed evil with the computer light bouncing off of his face.

~X~
It only took them two hours to finish their compilation. After finding Azuki's email, it wasn't hard to get into her Facebook and find out that she'd been conniving with another community member to try and get Erika booted off and place Gia in control. She felt as if Gia's more head strong personality and hands on actions was a better form of leadership than Erika's careful planning. Azuki was also tired of all the important calls and paperwork that Erika entrusted to her. Surprisingly, Gia was not in on this conspiracy. She was simply a bitch. Azuki's petty attitude and extracurricular activities also uncovered a lot of ammunition for Reese and Paul's little surprise.
"She'll never see it coming." Erika grinned, watching as Reese prepared the timer site's little bomb. "I'll be sure to print the rest outside. The only problem we have will be the cameras. There's not enough dead cameras to cover my tracks"
"Leave that to me." Paul typed into the keyboard and opened up the CCTV's app on the school computer. "Those dumbasses at the security room won't know a loop if it hit them over the head. I'll copy this into my computer so I can remote control it from my room."
It was the perfect opportunity. "Paul, is there any way you can loop the footage right now?"
"Why?"
"I need to break into the Records Room."
The boy was new and was already planning on commiting a felony. He shook his head and sighed. Should he trust him? Was he just gonna let shit slide?
"30 minutes." He says. "Get what you need in that time and then explain when you get back."
There was no time for an argument. 30 minutes was enough time. Reese stood and prepared to leave.
Erika stood up. "I'll come with you."
Despite Reese's objections, the girl insisted on following. He was on the clock and he had more important stuff to deal with.
Thankfully, the records room was only two hallways away.
Erika expected another hacking session, but was disappointed to learn that Reese just remembered the code from Victoria. 
"What are we looking for?" She asked, immediately going over random files.
"Anything about Collin Sanders."
Erika looked up, confused. "What do you want with our old Math Teacher?"
Reese remained silent for a few minutes.
He furrowed his eyebrows and grit his teeth. "Revenge. Justice."
The venom was so crisp on his voice. She has never heard someone emit spite with such quiet yet such anger.
She could question him more, but she realized he'd explain to them later when they get back to the computer room.
Three cabinets in, Reese found little of note about his best friend's father.
Surely a math teacher that students still remember should still have data on here.
"Oh!" Erika squealed. "Here's a file on Mister Sanders."
Reese grabbed it with such force that Erika nearly tipped over.
Basic information, lecture plans, meetings, and attendance notes.
There was not a lot of background information on him. But this would have to do.
He hurried over to the copy machine and made copies of the file before promptly returning it to the cabinet.
The two briskly walked back to the computer room with 5 minutes to spare.
Reese never planned on involving other people with his mission. He considered lying to them and say that it was for a prank.
But Reese's determination to go after a teacher that's been gone for a while was just too strong. So he spilled his guts out, letting these strangers in.
"And I won't stop until he pays for what he did."
Understandably, the two were speechless. It almost seemed unbelievable to think that a normal looking Math Teacher could do that to his own son. But the pictures and police reports Reese produced confirmed it. Somehow the school managed to keep it hush hush, but Reese wasn't going to rest until he's found everything that can point him the right direction.
"Wow." Was all Paul could say.
Erika shrugged. "Well, if we're going to look for this guy, we're going to have to start looking for more information."
"What?" Reese backed up. "I can't involve you guys in this. "
"We're already involved. Besides, after what you did for us tonight, we're in debt. And just imagine, a vigilante group like this... Who know's who you could help around here?"
"Help? I'm not exactly going around helping people get revenge."
"Not for free, of course." Erika winked.
"Or at all. I don't want to help people get even."
"Are you sure about that?" Paul asked. "Cause I saw the look in your eyes when you helped Erika. It was borderline twisted."
Reese paused, contemplating the situation. He couldn't deny what Paul said even when he tried to. He found tremendous satisfaction upon helping Erika get even. "What would we even name ourselves?"
The trio sat and think. It was Erika that came up with the first name. "Thanos Venge!"
"What? That sounds so lame." Paul and Reese collectively graoned.
"No, it's cute and it's final."
"Don't we have a say in this?"
"I already bought the domain name."
That night, Thanos Venge emerged from the shadows. A small name that started lurking around the prestigious Eastbrick Academy. Though Reese and Paul swore they would change it at some point, they never did come up with something else. None of them ever thought that they would start the fires of something big.

~X~
The Monday morning was never pleasant for most students. It was the end of the weekend. The fun killer.
But for Azuki Sakamoto, it was the beginning of her end.
She was ruined.
The perfect image of a gentle and helpful student. Shattered.
Leaks of her conversations about overthrowing Erika spread like wildfire. Not only that, captures of her commiting small crimes that she tried to pin on Erika surfaced.
Even her little ponzi scam she had started was exposed.
Posters of her smoking around bars and pickpocketing strangers in her area were hung up. No one could find who did it since it was never caught on camera.
Gia was stunned, her mouth agape as she turned to the Asian Community's cherished Secretary.
"It's a fucking lie!" Azuki's tears made her mascara run through her cheeks.
"Get out." She wasn't just kicked out of the Asian Community. She was expelled almost immediately to preserve the campus' image.
Reese briefly wondered if they should have kept it light and get her in smaller trouble before he realized that the girl was slowly pinning each of her violations and crimes on Erika. Even with her money, Erika would have most likely been unable to save her reputation and spot at the school.
At the bottom of the posts were signed Thanos Venge. A last minute touch up by Paul. 
Students clamored at this mystery of Thanos' identity.
"'Revenge is Sweet. Almost as Sweet as Cupcakes.'" Mandy read out loud from one of the posters. "There's a QR code to a site that says it's under construction."
She turned to her friend, looking at him with incredible suspicion. "Did you stick your nose somewhere it didn't belong again?"
"Mandy, we've been here for 3 days. Do you think I have the time and energy to cause this much damage?"
"I can believe it." She teased. Still, she didn't doubt that Reese could pull something like this if given the resources. But would he really go through the effort to make such a big splash like that? She knew he was looking for Mister Sanders. This would be too much time away from his search. And so she put it at the backburner of her mind. Her friend couldn't possibly engineer this kind of crap. Could he?


Author Notes:
Thank you for reading the newest chapter of Thanos Venge.
This story has been on development hell for months and it took me time to actually sit down and force myself to finish it.
I admit that it's long and kind of a slow start, but I hope to build the story from here and proceed without a hitch.
This is the true start of the newly reborn Thanos Venge.
-MaxAxil

The House Magriuz - An FFXIV OC Lore Companion

"Cornet 'n spinet
The sound flows, follows till they're home
Dragged by the power of dreams
That power is yet unknown"
- Twister (The World Ends With You)

"Legends once talked about a forgotten city just outside the borders of Eorzea. Though history has long erased the name of its city, the legends of their existence persisted and preserved many clans of myth and legend. One such noble clan was that of the House of Magriuz. Few scholars and historians remember the name of those once recognized as the Wanderers of Green. Notable for their green hair, those with the blood of Magriuz were easy to spot within the city. Scholars, merchants, mages, adventurers... Small they may be to those within the walls of Eorzea, but their exploits were that of legend. And like most legends, they were erased.
Those who survive the memory of the city's legend debate to this day on what Umbral Calamity cleansed away those who perished in history. Some say it was the fourth. Others the fifth.
Many deny that it could have been the sixth Umbral Calamity with claims that a clan with bright green hair and regarded influenced could not have perished and be forgotten in just the previous cycle."
- The Borders of Eorzea (Rhiean Und, 6th Astral Moon)

At the Quicksand, a male highlander white mage and a female midlander warrior sat across each other on one of the tables looking over the book describing the Magriuz Family.
"Hmmm" The highlander boy crosses his arms, giving the book a stern look. "Is this really all they have? It was a miracle we got a blurb out of it even."
The woman pound her fists on the table. "Take this seriously! It took me forever looking for this."
She looked down on the book, slowly losing the energy as she continues staring.
"But you're right... There... really isn't much to go by with this."
Silence, nothing but the bustling of the adventurers guild echoed them as they sit there, defeated.
"Don't give up just yet, Aria." The mage tells her. "At least you found something. Not even the many preserved knowledge in Giridania could tell me anything."
"Lars, why do you insist on staying with the forest people anyway?"
The large mage shrugged "Would you rather I go around being unpredictable like Uriah? Where is he anyway?"
With a small puff of smoke, another midlander appeared before them. Unlike the white clad Lars, this one was dressed in black from top to bottom.
"Here I am!" He exclaimed. "Sorry I'm late. Had to pick something up."
Aria sighed. "For once in your life, can you PLEASE be on time."
The boy sneered. "Aw, but being fashionably late is so much more fun. It builds suspense."
The two were not amused.
Uriah pulled up a chair and took a look at the book laid out in front of him. "Don't bother with that. It won't tell you anything."
"I noticed." Lars hissed.
From the Quicksand's counter, the lalafel that tended to the guild strode over to the table with 3 tankards of mead for them.
"Aw, thanks Momodi." Uriah smiled.
Momodi gave him a curt chuckle and tossed him a key. "Don't go casting spells in your room... again."
The mage returned a grin and looked back at the two.
Incredulous glances were given to him as if to ask "What the hell are you doing?"
"I was late... Because I picked up something Mom gave me a long time ago. I've seen what most historians have written about the Magriuz. But wouldn't you say... It would be much easier to learn more about them from the source?"
The two were silent once again.
Uriah pulled down his hood and shook the sweat off of his messy green hair.
Lars did the same, sweeping a hand over his short, green hair.
Aria took off her helmet, allowing her flowing green locks down her shoulders. 

~~

Lars, Uriah, and Aria Magriuz were raised like normal Eorzean citizens by their mother. A beautiful, green haired maiden by the name of Contessa Magriuz.
It was always a mystery where Contessa and her children came from.
Most assumed she was but a refuge at first glance. But she couldn't have been when she looked to have the Gil for all they need.
No one knew where the Magriuz came from and no one bothered them when they could live like any normal citizen. Mayhaps they had just decided to move there?
Though one did wonder how Lars were related to his siblings, Contessa explained that her first husband was a highlander who had died many years ago.
When asked where the father is, Uriah and Aria would grimly recount the moment of his death in detail. A trip gone wrong. A sudden ray of light that erased the poor midlander father from the face of Hydaelyn. Only the man's dagger remained.
Contessa does not like to talk about it.
Because the existence of the Magriuz name was all but myth that very little know about, they had lived in relative peace.
Lars, large in size, was expected to become a warrior by friends and peers. And while he did exceed in physical combat, the man was far too kind and put his interest in healing others and learned white magic from a family friend. He was teased at first, being belittled for not living up to the image projected on him. That is until his magic had saved his peers from death in one particularly dangerous skirmish.
His younger brother and sister were a different story.
The fraternal twins were two sides of a coin.
Uriah, the older twin, was quite unlike his kind and gentle older brother.
There was a dangerous inquisitiveness that accompanied Uriah's playful and smug nature. It was hard to believe that someone with a smart mouth would be related to Lars. Contessa, in her few comments about her late husband, would mention that his father had a similar attitude.
But no one denied his talents. His sneakiness and sharp mind was only accompanied by his ability to use magic. Though capable of healing, Uriah was well versed in destruction and randomness that fuels his unpredictable nature. He was expected to become a rogue.
Aria, the younger twin, was steadfast and louder than her patient brothers. Where they excelled in magic, Aria was more enthralled by the prospects of holding a sword. Having spent her time with soldiers of the Immortal Flames, she would spend her time getting stronger physically as her Aether could not match that of either Uriah or Lars. Initially, men who had encountered her sneered and underestimated her capabilities for being female. Those men would soon find their throats under the heel of her boot as she quickly defeats them. Unlike her brothers, she became a warrior quickly just as she was expected to become a warrior.
Their lives went on like normal until Aria would one day find mentions of the House Magriuz in a small book of family history. There was very little mention of their history and she would soon share this interesting find with Lars and Uriah.
Lars and Aria were more than happy to ask their mother for answers while Uriah watched on.
But Contessa gave no answers, only cryptic clues about the nature of their bloodline.
"We the Wanderers of Green walk to harness the Projected"
Unsatisfied with this, Lars and Aria would soon leave home and pursue their careers outside the walls of Uldah in an attempt to also search about their bloodline.
Lars, migrating to the trees of Giridania. Aria, wandering as an adventurer in Eorzea.
They never did find out when Uriah decided to leave. Just that he was not home when they had come to visit Uldah.
His exploits would quickly reach their ears however as they learn of a green haired sorcerer wreaking havoc in fields of battle and proceeding to participate in strange jobs.
He had gone on to pick up an alias, a borrowed name from someone they believe to be his friend.
"So what is this thing that Mom gave you?"
"Her diary."
"Are you serious?!" Aria pushed Uriah to the wall. "You had this all along and you didn't think to contact us?!"
Lars restrained their angered sibling.
"First, Ow." Uriah said, swept his shoulder. "Second, it's not like you guys asked. You guys sort of just went on to do your own thing."
"You know we wanted to know more about our family!" Lars pointed his finger at him. "We searched our whole lives for clues and you're just telling us now that you had them?!"
The highlander jabbed an accusatory finger at Uriah. Normally calm, it was easy to understand why even the kind one had lost his patience.
Uriah swatted his finger away, finally a serious look replacing his annoying grin. "Mom didn't want you guys poking around it so I didn't say anything."
He picked up one of the tankards they had brought with them and took a drink as he walked over to the bed.
"You guys just took off and left her alone. Broke her heart. She said she wasn't ready to tell you."
"Well she's not here anymore, is she?" Aria crossed her arms and glared at her twin brother.
Uriah shrugged. "I guess."
He put the tankard down and reached into his bag. From within, he procured a small, black diary. It was wrapped in twine and slightly beat up but relatively preserved.
Without another word, he handed the diary to Lars, who had quickly swiped it from him.

"Preserving our history:
The Magriuz Clan had scattered during the 5th Umbral Catastrophe. In that neverending ice age, the city that once kept my grandfather's family alive had started giving in. The cold was too much and not even the solace of the grand Magriuz Household could keep them going. It is with great sorrow that they must scatter as foretold by them who preserve the future. They of past and present follows. We were called fools by those who stayed but far be it compared to those whose fates were that of oblivion. Father lived through the War of the Magi while more of his family were lost. More and more scattered, quickly resulting in ensuring the legacy of the Magriuz from being further diminished. We were scattered. We were lost. My generation persists through the 6th astral era.
Though little, the Magriuz that were still within my father's reach stayed together and tried to rebuild Not such an easy feat.
Soon, I would be born.
Contessa Magriuz lived peacefully. But would Lars, Uriah, and Aria be the same?
Being told what my future children's names would be, even as a prank from my Forward Projected Seeing Brother, Celo was something I wanted to hear.
I of the backward projected could only look back.
~
I met Thulm as a young lass. He was large and scared me at first, but he was kind. He loved me.
And inevitably, he would save me from the destruction laid upon my family.
My brother would soon be the only one left as mages of some sort of voidsent had come searching for the powers of the Wanderers of Green.
They found it and died along with it.
We had since gone on to live quieter lives. Alas, Thulm would not survive another Astral moon after succumbing to illness.
~
I have always been one to avoid people with silver tongues and fast fingers. So why was it that Addas swept me off my feet?
The backward projection he held was that of a powerful history such as ours and we found kinship. That of the Magriuz and that of the Verc. So while it shocked me to watch my husband eradicated by light, it also did not surprise me.
I do not know if he is dead. I do not know what happened. But I will find out. Mayhaps I will find him.
~~
It has been decades since my brother had contacted me. Hearing him tell me that he had met Uriah in a dream meant that Uriah has awakened to our bloodline's secret. He who can Forward Project. He who is a soul of the future.
It pains me to watch my sweet... rather, sharp boy undergo that pain. But he is very good at hiding it. Seeing into far to the future and extending his soul to what must be the modern era and yet be trapped here in the present.
Lars and Aria have been saved from this power... for now. I will let them enjoy their lives.
~~
They have begun asking questions. Questions I cannot answer. No, questions I do not want to answer. Questions I forbade Uriah from answering.
They are not ready.
~~
Uriah has been comforting me as of late. It must have been painful for him as well when he watched his siblings leave. Even if he may have known it would happen. But I cannot divulge them of what fate may await them until they awaken to it.
Even Uriah cannot tell when that is.
I hope one day they can forgive me.
The history of the Magriuz is one bathed in sorrow and violence.
~~
If you are reading this, I have passed on and Uriah has allowed our history to live.
Lars, Aria, do not blame your brother from withholding this secret.
I could not be there to teach you what our Projection could do. I have failed you.
But it is not the end.
When the time comes that you awaken to your power, it is up to you to find the rest of our family. Save them from the next Calamity.
All my love,
Your Mother Contessa."
~~
Lars looked up from the diary, his mouth agape as he handed it to Aria.
Uriah stared at him, another sneer on his face.
He ignored it, proceeding to sit down next to his younger brother.
Suddenly, he pulled the boy into a slow embrace. The smug smile faded from Uriah as he felt awkward from his older brother's hug. "I am so sorry..."
"What's the big deal?" Uriah pat Lars' back. "I've been lying to you two for ages. This one was a cinch."
Aria shut the book and scowled at him. "How even? Why even?! This isn't something that you should have been burdened with!"
Uriah scoffed. "Please. It really isn't a big deal. I saw the future here and there. So what?"
"But that's not--" Lars pulled away from his brother.
He lowered his head and felt sweat drip down his head.
"Lars?" He keeled over and dropped into the bed.
Aria rushed over and tried shaking him awake until Uriah stopped her.
"Stop." Aria didn't even get a chance to yell at her. "It's happening."
"What do you mean it's happening?"
"He's awakening." Uriah placed a hand over Lars' forehead and Lars winced as if in pain. "He's seeing the past."
Aria backed away. Not because of surprise.
In her heart, she felt it once again. That envy.
That envy that used to consume her as her brothers were recognized for their magic. And now both of them have powers? She was always the one searching for her family's history and now she was the one left behind again?
Uriah switched his gaze unto her. "Aria. You have to awaken your powers. And if my guess is right, it will be soon."
"Why? Because you saw the future?"
He shook his head. "Just a hunch. If it took Lars this long to awaken, I think your powers are next. But what it may be, I don't know. Mom never talked about how Projection of the Present worked."
"Projection of the Present?" Uriah said nothing, only watching over his unconscious brother.
Aria sat down next to him. "What are we supposed to do?"
"I don't know." Uriah gave her an indecisive grin. "But if anything... Eorzea certainly got a lot bigger."

Thanos Venge - Exordium

"If you're a ghost, whispering
 Then I'm waiting, listening"
- Left of You (Eclipses for Eyes)

Reese Morrison never had a problem coming over to his best friend, Terrence Sanders' house even if it was a little far from the rest of society.
"Who would pass up on a chance to live in a beautiful house overlooking the cliff?" Terrence had once asked him.
"Sane, sensible people who don't want to fall to their deaths when an earthquake hits." He sarcastically replied to his Best Friend.
"Dad paid good deposit to make sure that doesn't happen."
But there was something very wrong when they arrived this time.
For the first time in their lives, Reese and Terrence had overheard Terrence's father, Colin, angry. With some lady in their house no less.
But they weren't alone. Inside, Reese could spot at least 2 other men wearing business suits and shades like some sort of secret service.
They couldn't hear much of the conversation from the porch, but it sounded like a business thing that Reese and Terrence shouldn't be messing with.
"You're going to jeopardize us all!" Colin shouted.
The woman, whose hair was dyed a deep blue, crossed her arms.
"You have no idea what you all are playing at here. We're crossing too many lines!"
"And you grow a conscience now?" One of the men replies.
"I needed the money. I didn't expect this revolution!" She stomped her foot down. "Why on earth would you want something this radical?! I can't be a part of this!"
Reese already knew this wasn't good. That they should leave and probably call the police. But he and Terrence were rooted to the spot.
"We should..." Terrence started. The sea crashed down from below and the sounds of waves echoed across the area. But it couldn't muffle out the obvious sound of a gunshot.
Reese fell over. He kept his mouth from screaming by covering his mouth with his hands. But he couldn't say the same for Terrence, who had gasped at the horror of watching his father murder someone right before his very eyes.
The woman, who had stubbornly stood her ground was now lying lifeless on the ground with a gaping hole on her forehead. Blood seeped out from her wound, mouth, and nose.
"Dad..."
They all heard it. The two men and his father looked over.
His father gave a similarly horrified look. A look of guilt and pain over what his son had just witnessed.
The two men whispered something to him and his eyes widened in even more despair.
"What?! But..."
"We need to make sacrifices." One of the men suddenly said. "Your heart belongs with us, I know. Just as Rain's heart was when he had to do it. We need no compromises."
Terrence stepped back, his quick mind already processing what this sacrifice could mean.
"Or you can follow Janine's sacrifice." Colin turned to the woman's body, staring at the shocked expression that was left on her face.
He closed his eyes and sighed.
Reese didn't need to look to know what was going to happen next.
He grabbed his friend and made a beeline to his car.
There was shouting from behind them and three footsteps as well.
Terrence didn't have time to put on his seatbelt as Reese revved the car and gunned it.
"We have to go to the police. We need to-" Terrence, who was looking behind them as they went, suddenly turned the wheel. He swerved just as he heard the gunfire across the path behind them. Glass shattered from behind and Reese screamed, speeding his Honda Civic to get the hell away from their.
They made it out to the main road and Reese quickly followed the road towards the police station.
He looked back to see if they were following behind. Terrence's father was a dot on the path to the house, but he didnt follow anymore. "I don't think they're following us. What did you turn the wheel for?!"
Reese slowed down a bit and turned to his friend. "Whatever. We're almost to the police and--"
Terrence had slumped over. Blood seeping out from the side of his head. A bullet had hit him to the left side of his brain.
Reese choked back a scream and quickly sped to the hospital, which was thankfully a corner away.
He was waiting at the emergency room, blood soaked his shirt and pants. His eyes were wide, his hands were shaking and he could only keep staring down.
30 minutes later, the cops arrived to ask for his statement, with his father his other best friend, Mandy Roe, and Cynthia, Terrence's mother arriving minutes later.
He powered through the questions, trying to pull it together enough to provide the police what they need.
After they were done, his Father and friend tried to comfort him but he could not utter a word and only let tears flow down his cheeks.
He refused to leave, wanting to know how his friend is.
About an hour later, a surgeon returns to them and talks to Cynthia.
The next 5 foreboding minutes drove Reese crazy. He was waiting, hoping that Terrence's mother does not break down crying to signal his friend's death.
But she did not. She had her hand to her mouth and exhaled. But as the doctor continued, Cynthia's expression darkened.
"What did he say? Is Terrence going to be okay?" Reese's father asked.
She nodded her head. "Terrence was shot at the far left side of his head. He narrowly missed a fatal blow. They were able to remove the bullet successfully."
Her eyes suddenly got glossy and she had to sit down to breathe.
"But he's in a coma and they don't know when and if he'll ever wake up."
When they were finally allowed to see him, Reese could only look at his friend, once vibrant and energetic, now a vegetable and quiet.
If he hadn't swerved the wheel, it would have been him in this state. Or worse, dead.

-X-

Reese woke with a start, his body drenching in sweat and his heart racing.
Another dream about that day. He pressed his face against the pillow he clutched to his chest and exhaled.
It's been a month since the incident and almost everyday he's reminded of it because his dreams wouldn't let him forget.
"Reese!" His father called. "Breakfast! You don't want to keep Mandy waiting!"
That was right. Today was the day he and Mandy would move to Eastbrick Academy dorms. With their parents going abroad and none of their siblings around, they had to move to a boarding school. 
They all planned to do this for over a year and now that it was happening without Terrence, it felt empty. Sad.
"Are you sure you still want to push through with this?" Vas Morrison took a sip of his coffee. "You know, I'm sure your brother or sister would be more than happy to come home and look after you while I'm gone. Mandy can stay over too while her mother is away. You don't have to leave your old school."
The concern was touching, but Reese had made up his mind.
"It's not like we can pull out now that the mid school year is about to start back up." It was a lie. He could very well cancel it if he wanted to and just stay here.
He looked up at the clock. They had time before he needed to bring his dad and Mandy's mom to the airport. "And beside, I'd rather not drag Molly or Trent back home from their busy lives. I'm sure I can handle living in a fancy boarding school for a while. And it's not like it's gonna cost you much."
Vas sometimes wondered what his wife would have said if she were alive. He knew that there was something more to what Reese wanted, but it's not like he could force him to stay if he didn't want to.
"I'll be fine, Dad." Reese smiled. He hoped this one wasn't a lie. Considering his nightmares, he's already considered seeing a therapist. But he didn't want to worry his father. His concern touched him, but if Vas knew he wasn't okay, he'd drop everything for him. He'd rather just see his school councillor once he gets there.
"I'll go load our things into the car."

-X-
Vas was always casual with Reese and didn't express his emotions without being extra. He gave him his allowance, hugged him goodbye, and told him to stay safe and contact him if anything happens.
Larissa Roe was far more exaggerated when she was parting with Mandy, barely pulling away when Vas told her they had to go.
But it really was the sort of distraction they needed as they drove to Eastbrick Academy.
They spent about the first 20 minutes discussing their parents reactions and what they would do when they reach Eastbrick.
"I just wish Terrence was here." It wasn't until his name was brought up that their moods dipped and silence enveloped the car. Just the sound of Reese's spotify blasting The Ballad of Mona Lisa echoed in his car.
Mandy tried hard to just browse social media but she just couldn't bear it.
"We need to talk about it at some point, Reese." She was right. They did need to talk about it. "And how we're still going even though we definitely could have opted to not go."
Reese clenched the steering wheel. He wished he could shut his eyes for a sec but he would probably hit something if he did.
He didn't know what to say. Was he going to shout at her? Was he gonna break down and cry? Was he going to make a joke? Was he going to reminisce?
Terrence wasn't dead. Terrence's father wasn't in jail yet. Terrence still hasn't woken up from his coma. Terrence could die if they pull life support. Terrence could have avoided all of this if he didn't suddenly swerve the steering wheel.
"Terrence should have been the one here." Mandy noticed Reese tremble. "I should have been the one who got shot."
Mandy didn't even have time to tell him to pull over. Reese had the sense to stop at a convenience store parking lot.
He felt his breathing get heavier and his eyes water. His whole body was shaking.
"I should be dead."
"You two were at the wrong place at the wrong time. It wasn't your fault."
It wasn't like she was wrong. Reese realized that. He was smart enough to see that logic. So why did he feel such intense survivor's guilt?
"Why do you want to go to Eastbrick?"At the back of Mandy's mind, she already figured why he wanted to stay at Eastbrick Academy. She's known him for years. She knew what kind of person he was. He was kind, maybe a little snarky, but full of heart.
"Terrence's dad used to work there." And this confirmation was enough for Mandy to affirm her theory. That he'll look into Mister Sanders. Try to find him, maybe. And then...
"What will you do when you find the leads you're looking for?" She asked, again already sure of his answer.
Reese stopped shaking. His exhausted expression faded, a fierce anger replacing it.
"Revenge."

-Author's Notes-
Good day Everyone! This chapter, while originally meant to be Chapter 2 has been rebranded as Episode 0 because there's just way too much to move it forward with the actual plot I planned for Reese's beginnings as Thanos Venge.
This chapter is meant to serve as a remake of the third chapter of the original run of Thanos Venge: Wind Up. I wanted to make this much more impactful to Reese's being than simple anger.
I hope you enjoy!

You can read the original version right here

Thanos Venge - Rebirth

"See it's easy to ignore trouble 
When you're living in a bubble"
- Aint it Fun(Paramore)

It's human nature to learn from their mistakes and improve. Become better people. Get farther in life and succeed.
But sometimes people never learn. And unfortunately, those kinds of people are usually lucky enough to get away with whatever they do. 
Art Gallner was one of those people.
No one understood how this 18 year old scum won and got out of the courtroom without the three counts of rape against him. The case was extremely strong and he got off with nothing but a slap on the wrist. It was outrageous. It was unfair.
But Art understood. After all, what case would they have to offer without the key evidence in the way. His family had a way of getting rid of things that shouldn't exist under the sun after all.
Making his way through the angry crowd throwing food at him, he managed to get into the family van.
"The Apartment." He says to his driver. He looks out the window and gives the furious people a smug grin and the finger.
He felt powerful. He felt large.
He felt untouchable.
The phone on his pocket vibrated. His new plaything had finally texted him back.

Veronica Manson:
Omigosh, congratulations! I knew u wer innocent.

Art Galner:
But of course. I'm Art Gallner. I wasn't about to be taken down by some lying bitches.

Veronica Manson.
Mmmm that's sexy.

Art's grin widened into a creepy smile. He felt his crotch tent up his pants and he couldn't keep his excitement at all.
He felt he needed to share that, sending a picture to this naive girl.

Veronica Manson:
<3 omg ur hot and u have tat huge sword on u 2? It feels unfair Im not sending you anything.

Art Gallner licked his lips. His excitement continuing to grow.

Veronica Manson:
Say... Y dont we celebrate your win. Meet me at that alley just behind Eastbrick Live!
I've got a friend inside and we can get a private room.

You'd think, after nearly losing his court case, Art Gallner would be careful not to act on his libido. But this one was being too easy for him and he wasn't passing up that chance.
"Ricky. Change of plans. Drop me off at the alley behind Eastbrick Live."
The driver looked back at the spoiled brat, nodded, and changed his route.
Once they've arrived, Art shoos him away and walks over to find Veronica.
The thing about this place, it was loud and it was very, very busy. If this girl had so much as a working neuron on her brain, maybe she'd have the sense to have a date somewhere public. But where was the fun in that? She probably thought.
Besides, assuming she did have these connections, he had her in a room all to himself.
Art didn't care for the details. He cared about the condoms on his back pocket and his bloated ego.
"Veronica?" He walked around the long alley stretch. He normally wouldn't be caught dead here. Alleyways are for stoners and criminals, after all.
But he turned off his common sense the moment he got aroused.
Maybe she didn't hear me. He rationalized to himself. This is the loudest part of Eastbrick City.
But the longer he walked towards the end of the alley, the faster his arousal start to fade and his sense of caution starting to return.
As he was about to reach the end of the alley, starting to expect no one... or worse, someone else, a backdoor to Eastbrick Live opened. 
It was Veronica. The same foxy young woman he had seen from the few photos she had graced him with.
She looked like the piece of meat he had so wanted to eat for days. Tall, bottle blonde, and curvy. The way she lit up when she saw his face and practically jumped meant he was probably the ditzy type too. Judging by her expensive choice in clothing, she was most likely also after his wallet. He knew how to play with these types.
He slid his hand into his coat pocket, clutching on to the Stun Gun he used to knock his conquests out.
She was throwing herself at him so there really was no need for him to use force. But on the off chance she gets annoying, he had a way to shut her up.
"There you are! Sorry I didn't wait out here. It was kinda stinky." She sticks her tongue out, trying to be cute.
"No worries." He pastes on a smile. "Just got here really."
Veronica turns to a suited man by the door. He nods and lets Art through.
Art was practically pulled in by Veronica, who excitedly led them through the halls into a room. The press on nails digging into his wrists were enough for Art to decide that this was a one man act and prepared the Stun Gun for when they find privacy.
They reach a velvet door. Before they could enter, Veronica places her back against it and smiles at Art. "I think you're gonna love the private party I put together for you."
Oh I'm sure I will. He said to himself.
Veronica slowly opened the door without peeling her eyes away from Art.
The room was dimly lit and decorated with velvety curtains and wine to set the mood.
Is this what this girl spends the money she gets from men on?
"I hope you're prepared for an... Exciting Night" Veronica giggled.
It didn't matter to Art what Veronica planned. One small zap will be enough for Art to enjoy himself.
Veronica turned her back to him as she started walking towards the wine. "Let's celebrate."
"Oh I intend to."
Electricity cackled across the room and a loud thud hit the floor.
But it wasn't Veronica who was sprawled down on the floor.
The door closed behind them. Art was still a little conscious but his body was twitching from the impact where the Stun Gun hit him.
Veronica didn't react, only staring at Art as he tries to regain composure.
Then, a third set of footsteps echoed the room.
The combat boots stopped in front of Art's face. His vision was a little shaky but he was starting to regain his footing.
For all of 5 seconds.
Art couldn't even get his own Stun Gun out before the mystery man kicked it away and kicked his face in.
"What do you want? Money?"
The mystery man laughed. His voice filtered by some sort of voice modulator.
"He thinks he can buy me." Veronica laughed with him.
"What a loser." She said.
He felt the man plant his heavy foot down his back. Veronica finally moved from her spot, taking out what looked like handcuffs from her purse.
Adrenaline started coursing through his body. His mind raced and he started to think that these people were here for his organs.
But his mind was shut down before he could even attempt to overpower the man. The cold steel of a Stun Gun was all too familiar to his neck and a long blast of electricity had finally knocked him cold.

~X~

It wasn't the draft that woke Art Gallner nor was it the loud music that was suddenly playing in the room.
It was the slap across his face.
he was stripped to his boxers and both his hands and feet were handcuffed to the bedpost.
Sitting right next to him was a man, presumably the same man who had knocked him out. his face was hidden in a black leather hoodie and his mouth was covered by some sort of scarf. There was nothing that could give out anything about him.
Veronica was no longer in the room.
"What the fuck do you want from me?!" He struggled from his bindings. "HELP! SOMEONE HELP!"
"No one's gonna hear you and no one's gonna help you either." The man said.
"This is one of Eastbrick Live's most exclusive rooms. These walls are built to secure nothing comes out of that door. And even if somehow your voice exits this room, the noise of the crowds outside would drown you out."
The man leans in to his face. "And besides. Don't you like private rooms? I thought it was your MO to get girls alone and quiet."
"Don't you watch the news? I'm not guilty! Its all bullshit!" Art screamed as the man zapped his chest.
"I'm not a dumbass. I know your family tried to destroy any evidence incriminating you."
Tried? He knows his family DID destroy it. What was he talking about?
"That's... just... a bunch of rumors."
The man tilted his head slightly. Art could feel him give a sadistic smile from beyond that scarf.
"Are you sure?" The man pressed a remote and TVs around the room that he didn't notice before lit up and played videos... of him. These were security footage and hidden recordings of him forcing himself on the women who he raped. Women who had tried to defend himself.
Art felt a lump on his throat and his eyes watering. 
"If that's not enough for you, I've also got the pictures and the data you tried to destroy."
The man tossed out a folder to the floor where numerous self taken images and paperwork that sets timestamps on him that were previously seized by the Gallner Family to try and save him.
"Why are you doing this? Who are you?!" Art tried to sound defiant, but his quivering voice and crying made it all too pathetic.
"Ah. Where are my manners. My name's Thanos Venge." That name... Art didn't believe it. That name was just... It was just a rumor. A story to scare off criminals around Eastbrick. "As to why I'm doing this, I think you'll find that I've been paid quite generously to make you suffer. And I happen to dislike rapists."
"But I'm not--" Another zap to his body cuts him off.
"Are you seriously going to deny how much of a cockroach you are even with all this evidence? Maybe I need to knock some sense into you."
Art yelped, not used to the pain inflicted on him. "Okay! I did it! I raped those girls!"
He sobbed, making a mess of himself as he blubbered on. "But I only did--"
Thanos zapped him again, this time to knock him out.
"Rape is rape." he put away his Stun Gun. "You don't get to justify how vile you are. Cara says Hi."
Thanos walked out the room, finding "Veronica" waiting for him outside.
"Thanks for the help, Erika." The girl, Erika, shrugged. "You know, you don't have to keep wearing that outfit or that wig anymore."
"I dunno. Don't you think blondes have more fun?"
Thanos chuckled at the reference.
"Will that be enough though?" She asked as she slowly removed her press on nails.
"Just open the news when you get home. I think you'll be surprised."

~X~

"Shocking evidence surfaces as a video of Rape Suspect Art Gallner is spread across local digital billboards in Eastbrick City. The video shows Gallner admitting to his crimes as lost evidence is found in the room he was locked in. Police found him and all this evidence in a room in Eastbrick Live. No one can tell how he was lured here and no CCTV footage was found. 
Evidence suggests that this is the work of local vigilante, Thanos Venge, who seems to have left a card with those initials.  People have been asking who this Thanos Venge is, and whether if he is a hero or a threat. This is not the first time his name has popped up in the news. More on this at 9:00 with Maria Samson. This is BBC News."
Reese Morrison silently ate his dinner with his best friend, Mandy Roe, at their dorm's mess hall.
"Can you believe it? Who is this Thanos Venge anyway?" Reese looked tired and just nodded.
"Where have you been anyways? You came home late yesterday."
"Los Angeles." He said sarcastically. Mandy rolled her eyes as Reese smiled.
She'd never have known that Thanos Venge was just sitting across her.

-Authors Notes:
Hello, readers. Welcome to the first official reboot episode of Thanos Venge.
The original story is something that I've been brewing up for over 5 years. I knew how the story was originally going to go but when I took the chance to read the previous stories and its original future, I felt myself cringe. I've changed somewhat as a writer and after a long lapse, I feel as if I should finally give this story new life. Something with a better, more thought out formula that doesn't sound ridiculous.
Note that the upcoming episodes may not follow the storyline you may have read in the past.
I will not take down the old ones either but it will be marked now as Rumors regarding Thanos and Reese in this storyline to account for their existence.
I hope you enjoy this renewed start of Thanos Venge.
- MaxAxil

Read the Old Version here!

Rebranding

I think this is my third time rebranding on this blog.
When I first started in college while I was writing short stories at the same time as my friend, EthelReker, my Username was Strange and Depressed (SaD) because my emo phase had just started to awakened. This then got bumped up to Thanos Venge as I started to get used to the norm of writing mostly because it was my current IGN, was obsessed with Revenge and Stun Guns and I had gotten knee deep into my emo and depressed stage with a deep desire to use my misery to fuel my drive to write.
But while my depression has far from actually vanished, my emo phase is I believe pretty much gone. I'm just a bummed out burn out who wants to try again a little. So in my current transition, I'll use my real IGN, MaxAxil, now and leave it at that.
Hello, adult me.
-MaxAxil

PS:
Where does that leave the namesake series of Thanos Venge? Well, that identity has become its own entity and may see its own rebranding.
Because honestly, as an adult? Thanos Venge sounds extremely silly to read when I went back over it and my old notes to see if I can return to where I was since the last time I tried to do it.

Salvation's Light - Reality // Eyes

"If you insist on asserting your way of living, then I shall do the same!"
- Takaya Sakaki (Persona 3)

Previously: Hallowed Light - Unravelling // Awakened

Christine doesn't even need to take my order the moment I reached the counter. She just hands me a cup and doesn't take my money even.
"It's on the house."
"Are you still trying to--"
She smiles and shakes her head. "I saw you last night getting out of that uber when I was going home from my work. Your friend dropped by earlier and got himself a cup."
That word again. Friend. I didn't like that word and I didn't have any real friends at all.
But apparently Henry is my friend. I don't really comprehend. I know he's the closest thing to a friend but... Not outright one I would say is such.
"Must have been a hell of a night if you decided to get drunk last night."

I don't respond and look at my coffee.
"I guess you're wilder than I thought." She grins. "Next!"
I move away for the next customer and walk back to my apartment.
Friend... That word rattles me again and I find myself unable to shake why I'm not correcting anyone about it.
I can't have friends. Every paycheck I get is from killing people. Any means of weakness such as hesitation will make my job extremely difficult and trust in me would plummet. The moment Henry so much as pisses someone powerful off, he'll be a client's target. Considering how he operates, I wouldn't be surprised if that happens. And unlike a huge conglomerate like the Eden Foundation, assassins have no real excuse to say no to a job like taking on a single person. Even if I say no, someone else will be asked to kill him. And even if I do grow a conscience, taking on others just to protect him is not something I can accomplish forever. I am highly skilled assassin but there will always be someone better than me. And if others hear about such treachery, a target will be painted on my back as well.
My math sums up, right?
So why am I opening my computer and stalking Henry on Facebook? Why am I so curious about why his friendship suddenly matters to me?
I was shown small gestures of kindness and was called a friend and suddenly it matters to me?
No no no. That's not how it works. All we've done together was drink, do each other favors, and the occasional small talk. Why is the word friend suddenly ingrained as important?
I drink my coffee too quick and burn my tongue a little. That thought process didn't take nearly enough time as I thought to cool the coffee down.
I'm going to have to take a few days off.
After that encounter with James Osmond and my sudden memory flashes, I think all I need right now is a break.

//

At around 6:30, a call from Henry rouses me from my stupor.
I had been drawing my memories from what I can recall and pieces that don't make sense without my entirety of my memories keep appearing.
The man, assumed to be my father, baking pie. Judging from the small detail I could see from my memories, it was a pecan pie.
James Osmond wrapping me in his arms from my perspective as a woman I assumed to be my mother hitting him with a chair.
Crayons strewn across the floor and that memory of James putting me in a room.
"Hello?"
Henry was out of breath as if he was running. "Hey! I got the file!"
"Why are you panting? Is someone chasing you?"
"No... I..." He pants again... "I stepped on a dog's tail and... it chased me for a while... I... I don't... want to stop to look... and see if it's still chasing me..."
"...Did you even bother to check if there was barking behind you to see if the dog was still there."
He stops and gasp for more air. I can hear his shoes turn around to check and finally a sigh of relief.
"Okay... I'm here."

"Why didn't you just drive here?"
"It's leg day." He says, still out of breath. "Do you want me to come up or--"
"I'll come down. I need to go buy some food anyway. No, I'm not buying you dinner."
"Lame." I hang up and grab a jacket from my coat rack.
The old lady from across the hall greets me as I walk toward the elevator.
A sudden flash occurs as the elevator goes down.
The image of James Osmond protecting me. It was more vivid now.
Why can't you just eat the fucking vegetable! The woman shouts.
Mom! No! My eyes catch site of James' embrace and the chair hitting him in the back. Blood gushes out of James' head but the embrace continues to protect the memory of me.
The elevator dings and my flash ends. I turn the corner and find Henry there, still wearing my clothes. He raises the file as I approach and smiles.
"I'll tell you, this thing wasn't easy to get. I had to call in a favor from the Utah Police Department down in Terra just to get a hold of this but-"
It was too fast.
I was falling, the file shoved right into my chest. The normally talkative Henry had suddenly gone quiet. His usual, friendly expression was replaced with dead seriousness.
From across the hall, I caught a glimpse of what Henry saw before he pushed me. A figure clad in a black coat and covered with a mask and hat. He was pointing a gun at me.
And Henry realized it too. I didn't have time to react so he did.
He had reached quickly into his holster and fired. I could only see a glimpse of who he had fired at,
Henry's shot forces the man to stumble back and I make brief eye contact with him before he fires back. Everyone in the lobby scrambled as the gunshots echoed across the room.
In the chaos, the man disappeared and I'm left on the ground with Henry standing over me.
"You... okay?" He says.
"Yeah. I'm--" I felt a drop of something wet fall on my face. It smelled metallic and it poured out some more on me. Years in my job has desensitized me and it's unmistakably blood.
"Oh." Henry touched his abdomen where the bullets had hit him. My vest had a growing blotch of blood and more dripped on me and the floor.
He falls to his knees and keels over next to me.
I sit up and move us further to the reception desk to hide. The doorman was quick to call 911.
Henry's breathing slowed and attempts at speaking makes it more painful for him.
"Why?" I say
He closes his eyes and mouths something.
Friend.

//

The police arrived at around 6:43, around 8 minutes after the shooting happened.
Henry Santiago was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
His mother and little brother arrived 20 minutes later to see him.
A detective approached me to gather a statement.
"Don't worry." He says to me. "You were Henry's friend, right? The guy told me about your situation so I'll make sure the police don't harass you." 
Friend... The last thing he said... or mouthed... was that damn word.
"Guy was like family, you know? He's sleazy but he'd look out for you. Considering what happened, it looks like you've got someone after you. Better lay low for a while."
I thank the detective for the advice and go see Henry's body after his family had left.
Henry looked so weird being still and quiet.
"Why me?" I ask his corpse. "Why am I your friend? I'm just a psychotic killer, remember?"
I have to get used to the concept of real tears. They just keep falling off of my face.
This is what I meant about friends being a weakness. They go and get themselves killed. Maybe I didn't do it, but someone wanted him dead. Everyone dies.
But despite all this, I have to make sure Henry's service to me isn't in vain.
I need to compartmentalize my goals and deal with each one at a time.
I am a professional. I must be able to organize and move without fail.
The detective dropped me off at my apartment building. The lobby was sealed off by police tape and lingering cops searched the area.
I walked through the crime scene, avoiding the splotches of Henry's blood on the floor and made my way to the elevator.
There were no flashes, something I was hoping would keep my mind off things.
When that fails, I look over at the file and take in what was compiled for me.
Henry was organized in his own way, highlighting sections of what I would have found useful. James Osmond, 32. A professor and researcher at Terra University. Lives in Terra, Utah with his son, Nick Osmond. Contact details listed below.
Utah is a six hour drive from here. I have to prepare my clothes and rest.
I'll hit the road first thing in the morning.

//
I take a glance at Cloudy Day and contemplate a cup. But considering what happened to Henry, I'd be putting Christine in danger considering the association. If Henry was a friend, someone who was seen flirting with me would be in just as much danger. I can grab a cup later.
The drive was surprisingly met with no surprise attacks on the way.
I've only made a total of 3 stops since I left. One at a Starbucks, One at a diner, and One at a gas station. 
Once I got to Terra City, I quickly checked myself in at a motel. The plan was to give James a call and see where it went from there.
"Hello?" It was his voice. The man at the party. It was definitely him.
"Hi. I'm..." I stammer, unsure what to actually say now. Do I say I'm his brother? Do I say that I have something of his? Do I blackmail him?
"I'm sorry, if this is a telemarketing call, I'm afraid I'll have to--"
"You met me at that party." I suddenly say.
There's silence and I can hear Spongebob Squarepants played in the background.
"Taylor?"
I don't respond to the name. I don't acknowledge it. Even if Taylor exists... I'm still Patrick Walsh.
"I'd like to meet you tomorrow. If that's alright."
I could hear the man stutter a little. "S-Sure! I'll give you my address."
"There's no need." I hang up and throw away the burner phone I used to place the call.

//
I didn't know what to expect when I pulled up to James Osmond's house.
It was a modest home. A two-story home with white picket fence and a small porch. Toys were strewn across the lawn. Probably had a bed made of white roses. The American dream.
It must have been at least 20 minutes before I finally got out and walked up to the door.
I knock a couple of times and I hear footsteps approaching the door.
A little boy with black hair and green eyes peeks from behind the door's window curtain.
"Daddy! There's a stranger at the door!"
There's a hushed conversation and finally, the man I saw at the party comes to the door. He doesn't open it quickly, glancing at me from the window for a second.
When he opens the door, his watery eyes gazes right at me. It looked like he had a lot to say but couldn't, as if the air in his body had been sucked out.
Instead, he lets out a coarse, whimper and pulls me in to a full embrace and he begins to sob.
"Taylor. I missed you so... so much, Buddy."
I stand still, a little overwhelmed about what's happening.
He pulls back for a second and looks at me. "Look at you! So big! So handsome!"

I'm pulled back into an embrace and I awkwardly return it.
The little boy from earlier approaches us and looks at me with cautious eyes. "Daddy, who is he?"
"He's your Uncle Taylor. Taylor, this is Nick. Go on, say Hi."
The little boy... Nick, suddenly hugs me as well. What is with this family and hugs? Ever heard of personal space?
"I'm sure you have a lot of questions." James says. "I'll field them one at a time. Just let me give Nick his lunch."

//

Nick was eating a plate of chicken and mashed potatoes. The boy seemed a little too happy munching on the side vegetables.

James returns with a large box in his hands.

"Just a question first." I say. "What were you doing in Northbrick that night?"
"I was visiting a friend." He says, dropping the box on the coffee table. "Sadly, she passed away." 
Serena.

James opened the box, revealing bunch of assorted memorabilia that trigger a bunch of flashes in my head.

"You are starting to recall your memories, am I correct?”

James’ amicable tone had become emotionless. “Flashes of images that make no sense right now... Unfamiliar emotions flooding in... Have you been experiencing those?”

My eyes widen and suddenly I’m on guard. I have many hidden blades in my body and a loaded gun holstered at my back. If this was a trick, I am prepared to make this a personal job.

He waves his arms, as if reading my mind, to try and calm me.

“This... it’s the Myst Protocool wearing off. It’s giving you your memories back.”

“Myst... Protocool?” Myst... that’s the association that took me in and trained me when I was young. 

James takes out a family photo. A man who looks astonishingly just like me stood next to a woman and had his hand on two boys shoulders. A pre-adolescent me that I can recall from my old pictures in Myst’s files and James, looking as he did in my memories.

“As you may or may not have gathered, we lived a rather miserable life with our mother abusing us. Our father, the one parent that loved us, could not touch her and we had very few options to escape. That is, until I met and befriended the founder of Myst.”

He hands me another picture. This time of him and my mentor, Gantz. The man who had himself erased from society’s memory.

“I became close to them and I was set to enter their science scholarship. And he told me that if I ever needed anything, all I needed was to call. Can you guess what happened next?”

I looked at the picture and flashes in my head intensified.

//

She... she killed Dad.

What? Mom killed... Dad?

Shrill Screaming echoed in my memory.

James took my hand and ran towards a room, all while calling a number.

“Help! Our mother is trying to kill us! He killed our father!”

The memory of James hiding me in a closet became so much clearer. Our mother had approached us with a knife and he had blocked her way. She was going to murder us.

And from here, those men in black arrived, quickly dispatching my mother.

Gantz had arrived and James approached him.

“Please make him forget this... all of this.... our life. He doesn’t deserve this pain.”

“But you realize....” my mentor says. “...everyone that enters the Myst Protocool is to be enhanced and trained as merciless assassins, correct?”

James turned his head to me. “It’s better this way.”

My mentor nods and I see James move away for the men in black to take me away.

//

“You stole my life.” I say, controlling my voice to not alarm James’ son.

James lowers his head. “Yes.”

“You let them turn me into a killer.” I reach for my neck, something seemed stuck on my throat. “You abandoned me.”

“I didnt. I would never.” He said sharply. “I couldnt let you see me until the Myst Protocool had set in. It would compromise your programming. But when I came back during the safe period, you volunteered to transfer. I looked for you. I looked everywhere for you.”

I stand up and open my mouth to argue. For years of my life, I had been empty. Longing for something to mean something to me. My memories were sealed away and family would undo what would become Patrick Walsh. Whoever Taylor Osmond was got locked away.
"I did it to protect you." He says. "You didn't deserve the trauma. You were just a kid."
"It wasn't your decision."  I say behind my grit teeth. "Didn't it ever cross your mind that weaponizing your younger brother is far worse than letting him live his life knowing his family's dark history? I may not have all memories back yet, but you took away my humanity."

I finally let myself cry willingly. My emotions, my memories, my true self. All were supressed and now that I finally start get them back, I thought I’d be happier. Instead, I feel betrayed. I feel lost. Conflicted. 

“I’m gonna go out for a while. I need some time to think. ” I tell him. He doesn’t try to stop me as I walk out and get on my car to drive back to the motel.

//

I've been contemplating how I was going to continue with this revelation. Do I go home? Try to live normally? Stay, deal with my resurfacing humanity? Erase my existence?

When I got back to my room, I found the CEO of the Eden Foundation, Richie Walter,  sitting at my room’s couch and held a Manila envelope.

“What do you want?” I say, coming off a little hostile. “Are you here to kill me for stopping your deal with Serena?”

The man tosses the envelope into the coffee table and images scatter out.

“No. A job is a job. We don’t hold grudges.” He beckons me over to come look at the images.

These were shots of my apartment building at the time Henry was killed. Pictures of Henry's death and pictures of the hooded figure escaping.

“However, we also do not tolerate our own from deviating.” He hands me one picture and I almost drop it when I see who it was. 

Christine. She was at our apartment’s stairwell, taking off the mask and clutching her shoulder from where Henry shot her.
“But this doesn’t make any sense!”

“Christine Mackenzie was our scout, keeping us informed of any anomalies and informing us of movement we can use to further our cause." Walter lights a cigarette, puffing smoke into my room. "She volunteered for our company’s call for trained assassins and trained herself to rise up. It wasn’t until after she killed your friend that we realize what she’s after.”

“And pray tell, what does she want?”

He hands me another image. It was of me killing a corrupt prosecutor in his home. One of the easiest jobs given to me to cripple an unjust case.
She was there. She was his daughter.

From what the CEO tells me, prior to joining them, she had bounced between foster homes and fended for herself in the system. She had lost everything. Just like me...

“Revenge...” I suddenly say. It's ironic, really. She, herself a kid in the system that got abused, ended up working for a company that misuses foster children for their own gain. All just for a chance to kill me. “She’s here isn’t she?”

Walter nods and checks his watch. “If I were you, you ought to run home to your family.”

My memories haven't completely resurfaced yet but what little I have knows that I can't lose them. What little I found... What family I have left.

//

It was just as I thought. Christine was here.
Her pink Mercedes was parked outside my brother's house.
I quickly barged in and found Christine sitting in our couch.

“Christine...!”
"Oh, hey!" She smiles at me, the same flirty smile whenever I came to the cafe. "You sure took your time."
James came in holding a tray of tea and Nick accompanied him with a plate of biscuits. "Taylor. I didn't think you'd be back so soon."
I felt sweat trickle down my temple and I give James a nervous look.
To his credit, he recognized it extremely quickly and put Nick behind him.
"I know why you're here." I say, already positioning myself to fight. I take a quick glance around the room. Christine was seated across the coffee table. If she gets up, I can force her down with that and restrain her.
"What are you talking about?" She stands, feigning confusion. "I came here because I got a--"
"Drop the act Christine Hope, daughter of Prosecutor Reynold Hope!"

She stares at me, seemingly dumbfounded at first, before finally dropping her kind attitude. She lets out a loud and creepy laugh and takes out a gun and pointed it at me.
From behind her, James drops the tray and the cups he had shattered and spilled all the tea he had prepared.
"What do you live for?" Christine asked me, her cold voice echoed in my brother's living room. "Give me the pleasure of taking it away,"
I looked back at my nephew hiding scared behind my brother.
For the first time in my life since I can remember, I was actually scared. Scared about what she'll do. Scared about dying. Scared of losing what I realize finally have.
Because after years of living for nothing, I finally had an answer to that question.
"To be someone."
She chuckles, raising a brow in confusion.
"Someone who mattered." and I wasn't going to let go of what I found. What I finally got back. Not without a fight.
I kick the coffee table forward, toppling her off balance. The pistol bounces off the floor and accidentally fires at a fruit bowl, eliciting a scream out of Nick and prompting my brother to pick him up and run.
I take no time waiting for the girl to catch her second wind and kick her again, knocking her down on the floor before stomping on her stomach.
She coughs and staggers but does not let me make a second attack. She slams a chair at my leg and gets up to counter attack. But I'm faster.
She's flying the moment my fist connects with her face.
From my back, I grabbed my revolver and aim at her.
She got back up, having recovered her own gun and aimed back.
There were no words. No time wasted. Just two successive pulls.
It felt like the seconds were getting slower when we both fired. The bullet inched ever so slowly into my chest and for that brief moment in time, I remembered everything without the static. 
The coloring books Dad used to buy. James' band practicing in the basement. The pecan pie that my Dad baked with me. And the day James hid me in the panic room and blocking the way.
I remember loving how I helped James and Dad tended to the garden. I remember being so picky about my food. That I hated vegetables enough for my Mother to grow violent about it. I remembered being sad about seeing my hamster dying. I remember how much my brother would sing me to sleep.
For this briefest moment in time, I remembered the feeling of being.
Taylor was a person that Patrick Walsh had to protect in the world where killing was the way to live.
No phases, No static. No black and whites and echoed voices.
I was here. Patrick Walsh opened the door. Taylor Osmond was finally free.
My hearing pounded with ringing and I could barely hear her crashing into my brother's door. Funny, it was much louder than when I hit the ground.
"Uncle Taylor!"
My chest was warm. Not just from the pouring blood. But from the hands that caressed my wound.
"Call 911!" Nick's hurried steps were muffled.
"No no no no no no...." James muttered, like he always did whenever he was getting into deep trouble.
My mouth felt warm and sticky. I can't breathe. I can't speak.
I reach my hand out to his face. "I..."
I wasn't empty inside anymore. 

-Author Notes
It's up to you to decide if Taylor dies or not.
After working on this for a while, I'm happy I actually finally finished this. Even if it seems kinda cliche and long at the end.
Thank you for reading.
-ThanosVenge