The silence of the huge mansion was broken by the dull sound of blows. Piteous moans and wheezes filled the spacious study, whose walls were decorated with paintings worth a fortune. On the floor, among the shards of an expensive glass table, lay a fat man in a luxurious suit, clutching his broken nose with his hands. Blood flowed down his face, mixing with sweat and fear.
– Have mercy... I beg you... I'll give you everything, just don't kill me... – The plaintive pleas mixed with the grunts of the fat man, whose face had been turned into a piece of meat, filled the spacious room.
The man in black, standing in front of him, silently wiped the blood from his gloves. His face remained expressionless, as if he were simply carrying out a task. However, his gaze was filled with contempt, disgust, and a thirst for blood. The man in black pierced his victim with his eyes, leaving no hope of survival.
The fat man wheezed, trying to get up on trembling hands: – Who sent you? That bastard, Warren? Or are they his mutts? Do they want to take me out? Please don't do this.… We can make a deal! I'll give you more money! How much did they pay you? Come on, tell me, I'll double that amount!
However, to the fat man's great regret, he was only answered by a short mocking exhale.
– Do you think I care about money? – Asked the man dressed in black, before kicking the fat man in the stomach once again, causing him to vomit.
– To be honest, I don't care about your dirty money. Stick it up your ass!
With that, another kick landed on the fat man's body.
– Besides, I don't work for your competitors.
After each phrase, the man in black would kick the fat businessman in his most vulnerable areas, causing him to feel a wide range of pain.
– T-then why? Why are you doing all this?
– Why? That's a really interesting question...
The man in black didn't respond, but instead pulled down the mask that covered most of his face. He leaned in close and looked the fat man in the eyes, as if asking: "Do you recognize me?"
– Hello, Uncle Kevin...
– Is it really you... Edward... – Kevin trembled. The man he had thought dead for fifteen years was now standing in front of him. Although Edward's childlike features had long since faded, Kevin recognized him immediately.
– I've finally figured it out. Yes, I'm your nephew, and I'm also your brother's son. I'm the son of James Norton, the man you betrayed and killed for your own ambitions! – Despite his almost-shouted outburst, the young man's murderous smile remained intact.
– It's impossible...
Edward rolled his eyes at his relative's words.
– Nothing is impossible in this world... So, after you've discovered my identity, are you still going to ask me to spare your pathetic life? Although, a pig like you is indeed capable of such a thing...
The unconcealed anger that filled Edward's every word terrified the fat man. He realized that his nephew was in a rage. Unable to control his emotions, he continued to beg for mercy, looking even more pathetic and repulsive. Kevin didn't care how he appeared. At that moment, his only desire was to escape.
– After everything you've done to my family, I've sunk to the very bottom... For fifteen years, every day has been a struggle to survive, all for this moment. The moment when you, a pig, will crawl on your knees and beg for forgiveness! Do you really think that will be enough for me to show mercy?
At first, the young man's voice was quiet, but by the end, he had raised his voice to a shout, which frightened Kevin even more. Kevin could not bear the tone, and a wet spot appeared between his legs. However, the fat man knew that this was not the time to worry about his pride. The most important thing was to save his life, and he could always get revenge later.
– E-Edward, please have mercy on me... Your father... I didn't want to kill him, I was forced to!
However, the fat man's words had no effect on Edward. He was disgusted by the falsehoods.
– And yet, I once respected you and thought you were a good person... How wrong people can be...
In a matter of seconds, Edward pulled a long, thin knife from his belt and, slicing through the air, plunged it into his uncle's soft flesh.
– Aaaaaaargh...
The office was filled with an inhuman scream. The fat man was trembling and screaming at the same time, feeling a sharp pain in his shoulder.
– You're squealing like a pig, and that's just a small part of what my parents went through... Get ready, because the next few moments of your pathetic life will be hell. I'll make sure of it...
And that was indeed the case. Edward had no intention of killing his uncle quickly. He wanted to torture him slowly, pushing him to the brink and gradually driving him insane. It was the least Edward could do after years of hatred.
Instead of finishing his uncle off with a single, precise blow, Edward inflicted multiple wounds of varying severity on his body. Sometimes he inflicted small scratches, taunting his uncle, while other times he cut off chunks of skin and flesh. These actions were accompanied by Kevin's inhuman shrieks and Edward's painful memories.
Each knife strike not only brought the fat man closer to death but also brought back the memories that Edward had sealed away for years. Memories of the fateful day when his parents were killed by Kevin's thugs. The more Edward recalled, the stronger his rage became. He no longer resembled an adult, but rather a child unleashing his anger.
Edward had a clear picture of the terrifying night when the tragedy occurred. He was peacefully relaxing with his parents by the fireplace when suddenly, people burst into the house. Little Edward didn't understand what was happening. His parents quickly hid him in a secret place, and he could only hear what was going on in the house. However, even that was enough to terrify the child.
He heard everything that was happening in the house, and it left an indelible mark on Edward's soul. The people who broke into the house were doing truly horrific things. Edward heard the thugs torturing his parents. They were breaking his father's bones, pulling out his fingernails, skinning him alive, and eventually forcing him to watch as they raped his wife, who then suffered the same fate. Edward was terrified and didn't know what to do. At that time, all he could think about was getting out of the hideout and going to Kevin, the only person who could help him, but... The boy's world was completely shattered when, amidst the chaos, he heard his only relative's haughty voice and malicious laughter. At that moment, Edward realized that his uncle was responsible for his parents' deaths. He was left completely alone.
After this incident, Edward lived as a street urchin for a year, wandering the streets in an attempt to survive, until one day he was picked up by a strange man. As it turned out, this man was a hired assassin, and he had picked up Edward only to train him as his successor. However, Edward was not opposed to this. On the contrary, he saw it as an opportunity for revenge. Fueled by his hatred, Edward endured the rigorous training with determination. The anger that was deeply ingrained in his heart helped Edward survive and not break down until he was finally able to become a hired assassin. For years, he did a lot of dirty work while also investigating the death of his parents.
It turned out to be much more complicated than Edward had initially thought. In addition to his uncle, there were many other people involved. Over the years, Edward had brutally eliminated one of the perpetrators of his parents' deaths after another, deliberately avoiding any contact with Kevin. He wanted to save the most intense hatred for the end, wanting to make Kevin suffer. Finally, the moment of revenge had arrived, and Edward had the opportunity to repay the blood debt.
All fifteen years flashed before Edward's eyes. He continued to mutilate his uncle with a knife, but suddenly realized that his uncle was not showing any signs of life. Even his rasping breathing had stopped, and his eyes were dull and lifeless.
– Aaaaaaaaa... – Edward screamed. The revenge he had been living for until now was finally over. Falling to his knees, the man began to cry. He hadn't shed a tear in fifteen years, but Edward was crying now. All the pain that he had accumulated over the years poured out, as if all his wounds had been opened in one moment.
– Mom, Dad... I've avenged you... Now you can finally find peace...
Edward's voice was trembling, and he was shaking all over. Barely able to control his own hands, he brought the knife he had used to stab his uncle to his own throat.
– Your son would like to see you in heaven... Alas, I am not allowed there.
After committing his revenge, Edward had achieved his goal. His life had been destroyed long ago, and the only thing keeping him in this world was his endless hatred for his uncle and those who had destroyed the life of an innocent boy. However, the reason that had kept him alive, like a life support system, had disappeared with Kevin's death. All that remained was an empty void. Edward no longer saw the point in continuing his suffering. With a swift motion, he drew a sharp blade across his throat, inflicting a fatal injury. With each drop of blood that flowed out, Edward's life was leaving him. But in his glassy, lifeless eyes, there was a bright glow of satisfaction, and on his pale lips, a serene smile, just like the one he had worn when he smiled at his parents years ago.