[Anna's POV]
Fifteen years ago
Fireworks cracked open the sky.
"Merry Christmas!"
Everyone screamed and laughed. It was one of those nights that felt too bright to ever end. I couldn't wait to unbox the mountain of gifts Dad bought for me. Though… I still didn't get why he stopped us from celebrating at the Vale mansion like we always did. It was tradition.
But I didn't want anything messing with my Christmas vibe, so I shut my ten‑year‑old self up. Even if I missed playing with Leo—my best friend—and his mean-but-sweet sister, Victoria.
Steve, my older brother, dragged me upstairs and we fired up the latest Land of Gangster: Open Fire (LOG).
I always beat him when we weren't on the same team. But I preferred playing against Leo. Leo made it… fun. He was really good.
Everything was fun until—
BANG.
A gunshot.
I thought it was a firework, but then—
Grrr. Grrr. Grr.
No. That wasn't fireworks.
We bolted downstairs.
"GET INSIDE!" Dad roared.
Steve and I froze; confusion hit us both at the same time.
"Sarah! Take the kids up and lock them in!" he yelled at Mom as he fired at two men.
Mom grabbed us, but before she could turn, more men appeared behind us—broad shoulders, black clothes, and a tattoo of a raven on their necks. They grabbed us, forced us to our knees, guns pressed to our heads.
Dad spun to shoot—and—
BANG.
His right knee exploded.
The scream tore out of all of us.
He lifted his gun and shot two more men through their knees before—
BANG. BANG.
His shoulder. Blood soaked him instantly.
We were begging. Crying. Trembling.
And the man who stepped forward—
The one who shot my dad—
I knew him.
Aaron Vale.
Always kind to me. Always joking that Leo and I would get married someday.
But tonight?
His eyes were wrong.
Cold. Empty. Evil.
"Please don't harm my family," Dad begged, blood sliding down his arm.
"You should've stayed, brother," Aaron murmured, then jerked his chin. "Get the kids."
I spotted Leo trembling beside Victoria, who was clutching her teddy bear so tight it looked painful.
Thunder cracked, the lights died, and the moon became our spotlight.
Aaron shoved a pistol into Leo's shaking hands and ordered, "Bring the older boy."
"No… no, brother, don't," Dad pleaded.
Aaron ignored him.
"Leo. Aim at him and shoot."
"No! Don't make him do it!" I cried.
"Dad… please… I can't," Leo's voice was tiny and broken.
"You're too weak, Leo. Too weak!" Aaron snapped.
Leo flinched, tears running.
"I… I'll do it," a small voice whispered.
Everyone turned.
Victoria.
Head down. Arms around her teddy.
A child volunteering for something she should never even know existed.
BANG.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
When I opened them, smoke curled out of the gun in Leo's hands.
Steve screamed.
He'd been shot in the knee.
"NO!" I tore out of the Raven man's grip and crawled to my brother. His leg was bleeding everywhere. He was crying. I was crying. I wanted it to all be a nightmare so badly.
Aaron sighed.
"Well… I hoped it'd kill him. Guess he's luckier than he looks."
Leo sobbed harder. Even some of the Ravens looked away.
I crawled to Dad. His breath was ragged, his hands trembling as he cupped my cheeks. For a moment, the whole world blurred… bright… unreal.
Then Aaron stepped toward us.
He didn't hesitate.
Didn't blink.
Just pressed the pistol to Dad's forehead—
BANG.
Warm blood splashed across my face.
But I didn't scream.
Didn't run.
Didn't fall apart.
I stood up. Walked right to Aaron.
The world around me was silent except for the echo of the gunshot. Mom's cries felt far away. Steve's screams felt trapped under water.
I looked into Aaron's eyes and said, steady and cold:
"I'll kill you."
He smiled.
"This will make you stronger."
Till today, I still don't
understand why Mom—shaking, crying, broken—looked at me and whispered:
"Never be friends with evil. It always finds its way back home."