"Inmate 76, keep your nose clean out there. Don't even think about stepping out of line, or I'll make sure you regret it." Warden Barnes dug his fingers into my cheek, his eyes cold and menacing.
Not satisfied with just the threat, he grabbed my waist, twisting the flesh until it bruised, a cruel parting gift.
I dared not resist. I could only nod frantically, my head tucked low, like a frightened animal.
My meekness, my lack of defiance, seemed to please him. He threw back his head and laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Well, well. Seems like you've learned your lesson. Some people are just born to be stepped on."
I stared back blankly, a puppet with its strings cut, numb to his taunts.
He grunted in satisfaction and finally led me to the prison gates.
Waiting for me was Ashley, my wife, the woman who had sent me to this hellhole.
Beside her stood Claire, my own sister.
Ashley leaned against her car, waving languidly, as if summoning a dog. Perhaps that's all I was to her: a pathetic, desperate creature, begging for scraps of her affection.
But even a dog knows when it's had enough. After enduring so much pain, I had retreated into myself, my love for her replaced by a cold, hollow void.
I stood frozen, unable to move. The memory of her ending our pregnancy, her words echoing in my ears, "You don't deserve to have children, Leo. The thought of a child carrying your tainted blood makes me sick."
That day, I, who had always faced hardship with stoic resilience, had wept uncontrollably.
She just laughed. "This is what you get for hurting Ethan. Karma's a bitch."
Karma. The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in my heart. I was on the verge of shattering.
Seeing my hesitation, Ashley frowned. "Seems like prison life treated you well. You haven't changed a bit."
Prison life treated me well? The scars carved into my skin with a rusty blade, the wounds that burned with salt and pepper, the nails ripped from my fingers, the electric shocks that left my body convulsing, the lashings that tore my flesh… The electric chair, the needle bed, the bone saw…
I shuddered, my body remembering the torture.
Her voice dripped with contempt. "We're not even home yet, and you're putting on a show? You're as pathetic as ever." Exasperated, she snapped, "Get in the car! Stop embarrassing yourself!"
Before prison, Ashley's taunts, her constant belittling, had filled me with rage and humiliation. Now, I felt nothing.
Prison had broken me, body and soul.
Warden Barnes had whipped me until I couldn't walk, my back a bloody mess. Not content with that, he had poured salt and pepper into the open wounds, relishing my screams. "That's what you get for being so shameless. Think you can get away with anything, huh?"
"You shouldn't even be here! They told me to take good care of you."
At first, I had fought back, clinging to my pride. "I'm not shameless! Ashley is my wife, Claire is my sister!" I had sneered, my lips cracked and bleeding from countless layers of duct tape. "Who the hell are you to judge me? You're nothing but Ethan and his friends' lapdog!"
My defiance had only earned me more torture. Electric shocks, needles, thumb screws, lashings – they were all used on me, leaving my body a canvas of pain. The warden had even branded me with the word "Pathetic" on my back, a permanent reminder of my supposed worthlessness.
In the dead of winter, when the temperature dropped below freezing, he had stripped me naked, forced me to crawl on the floor and bark like a dog, to repeat over and over, "I'm pathetic! I'm shameless! I'm trash!" My voice had become hoarse, a broken whisper.
But the worst was yet to come. He had brought in a group of leering men, their eyes hungry and cruel.
"Here's a little treat for you. He loves it rough. Don't hold back, boys!"
They had laughed, their touch violating and degrading, their words a chorus of insults. I had fought, screamed, but it was no use. In the end, they had discarded me like a broken toy.
I had bled, my soul screaming in agony.
But now, even the memory of that violation couldn't stir any emotion. I was hollow, empty, already dead inside.
Seeing my continued resistance, Ashley lost her patience. She grabbed my arm and dragged me towards the car, ignoring my struggles.
"It's just a car, Leo. Stop acting like a damn virgin." She scoffed. "You used to be all over me."
Her words triggered a cascade of horrifying memories. I curled up in the backseat, my body trembling, cold sweat drenching my forehead.
Ashley, sensing something was wrong, frowned. "Are you… okay?"
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I could only shake my head, the weight of the warden's words pressing down on me.
He was right. I was pathetic, a shameless creature.
I had pursued Ashley relentlessly, knowing she was still in love with Ethan. And she, in her own way, had despised me for it.
I looked at her, my eyes empty, and shook my head again.
I wouldn't beg for her sympathy, wouldn't recount the horrors I had endured.
Once, during a visit, I had tried to tell her. "Ashley, this place is a nightmare. They…"
She had cut me off, her voice sharp with anger. "Stop it, Leo! Stop with the pathetic act! I won't fall for it again!"
"Just stay here and do your time. Stop trying to manipulate me." She had turned to leave, her dismissive words a blow to my already shattered spirit.
"No! Ashley, please! I'm telling the truth!" Desperation clawed at me. I knew that if she left me here, I would be punished, subjected to unimaginable horrors. The memory of the electric shocks, the needles, the whips, sent shivers down my spine.
But her next words drained all the fight out of me.
Without turning back, she said, "Don't disgust me, Leo. I gave you the marriage you wanted. Now stay here and reflect on what you did. Ethan needs me."
Everyone knew about Ashley's devotion to Ethan. I had been the only one foolish enough to believe I could win her heart.
She had rejected our marriage, our love, even called me disgusting.
Hope died that day. I stopped struggling, stopped calling out to her.
The warden, with a satisfied smirk, had gestured to the guards, and they had dragged me back to my cell.
My attempt to escape that hell, to seek comfort from Ashley, had backfired spectacularly.
That night, I was beaten until I lost consciousness. I woke to the icy shock of water being poured over my battered body. My head was held under the filthy water, my lungs burning, fighting for air.
And then, they had destroyed my right hand, the hand that held my dreams, my passion as an artist.
The warden had laughed, his voice laced with cruelty. "Someone hates that hand of yours, Leo. It had to go."
I had screamed, thrashed, but it was useless. My hand, my future, were crushed, just like my spirit.
I knew why Ethan hated my hands. As long as I was around, he would never be the top designer. His only victory had been a stolen one, orchestrated by Ashley.
The car ride was eerily silent. Before prison, I used to fill the silence with chatter, telling Ashley about my day, the latest movies, the new art supplies I'd bought, the people I'd met.
She had always been quiet, even annoyed by my constant chatter. "Leo, do you ever stop talking? Don't you ever get tired?"
I had laughed, my happiness bubbling over. "What can I say? I love you, and I love talking to you."
She had shaken her head, a resigned smile on her lips. "You're unbelievable."
But I had loved those moments, cherished every minute spent with her, even if I was the only one doing the talking.
Now, she looked at me, confusion in her eyes. "You used to be so talkative. Why are you so quiet now?"
I didn't understand. Didn't she hate my endless chatter? Shouldn't my silence please her?
Besides, the warden had made it clear: I was not to touch Ashley, not to speak to her, not to even look at her.
She belonged to Ethan. I was a vile creature, unworthy of even breathing the same air as her.
"Ashley is Ethan's woman. Stay away from her, you piece of trash! Or I'll make you wish you were never born!" He had flipped the switch on the electroshock machine, the current coursing through my body, leaving me trembling and numb.
The warden's cruel face flashed before my eyes. I instinctively curled into a ball, my arms wrapped protectively around myself.
Ashley, growing impatient with my silence, reached out to grab my chin. "Are you blaming me for sending you to prison? It was your own fault, Leo. You brought this upon yourself."
I shook my head, but that only seemed to anger her more. "Then why are you giving me that look? What are you trying to pull?"
Her fury, the barely contained rage in her voice, made me flinch.
I forced a smile, trying to appease her, but it came out twisted and grotesque.
Before she could say anything more, we arrived at the house. A man in a navy blue suit, his features handsome and composed, walked towards the car.
He smiled, but a chill ran down my spine.
"Ethan is my nephew. Who the hell do you think you are, trying to steal his woman? You pathetic excuse for a man!"
"Ethan is upset with you today, Leo. What should we do to make him feel better? The whip? The needle bed?"
"Ethan said he hates the sight of your hands. Let's break them, as a birthday present for him."
The warden's voice, like a demonic whisper, echoed in my ears. I cowered in the backseat, paralyzed by fear.
Ashley opened the car door, her face softening as she saw Ethan.
"It's too hot out here, Ethan. You should be resting."
He smiled at her. "I wanted to welcome you home."
"You shouldn't have bothered."
Ethan's smile faltered. "Even if it wasn't for you, Ashley, I would have come to welcome Leo. It's been a while."
Seeing my reluctance to leave the car, Ashley's eyes flashed with anger. "What are you playing at now?"
I couldn't hear her, my mind trapped in a dark, swirling vortex of memories.
Exasperated, she pulled me out of the car, muttering under her breath, "You're so thin. All skin and bones. Like a skeleton."
I hung my head, the shadows of the past threatening to engulf me.
The relentless torture, the starvation, the constant humiliation, had taken their toll.
Warden Barnes had treated me like an animal, tossing me scraps of rotten food. Sometimes, he would throw frozen meat on the floor, forcing me to eat it raw. I had gagged, my stomach revolting, but the hunger pangs were unbearable.
"Ethan said you should eat like the dog you are, Leo. You're in prison now. Don't expect to be treated like a human." He had grabbed my face, his grip bruising. "Stop dreaming, you pathetic mutt."
In the end, I had learned to eat whatever they gave me, my dignity sacrificed to the gnawing hunger in my gut.
Even then, food was not guaranteed. The other inmates, sensing the warden's animosity towards me, had taken every opportunity to torment me. They would stomp on my food, urinate on it, anything to earn the warden's favor, a few extra scraps of meat.
Days would go by without a single morsel of food, my stomach cramping in protest. The warden's praise, the promise of a bigger portion, fueled their cruelty.
Their torture went beyond starvation. They beat me, threw my blankets in the toilet, pulled my hair at night, anything to make my life a living hell.
How could I not be thin?
Ethan's eyes narrowed as he saw Ashley touch me. I flinched, every cell in my body remembering the pain, the fear.
He smiled, his voice deceptively gentle. "Welcome back, Leo." He put a hand on my shoulder, his grip tight, his eyes cold. "Let's let bygones be bygones. I forgive you."
But his words were a lie. His eyes held the venom of a snake, ready to strike.
I wanted to scream, to run, but I couldn't risk angering him. Every time he was displeased, the warden would find new ways to torture me. He would rip out my nails, stick needles in my fingers, whip me until my flesh was shredded.
The warden had promised: if I ever upset Ethan, I would be dragged back to that hell.
The mere thought of those dark days, of the pain waiting for me, was enough to make me tremble.
Ethan led me into the house, acting the perfect host.
As I stepped inside, I realized how much it had changed. My favorite gray slippers were gone, replaced by a pair of men's navy blue slippers. Ethan handed me a pair of disposable guest slippers.
My prized action figures, displayed on the coffee table, had been replaced by a vase overflowing with colorful flowers. I, who had always suffered from allergies, felt a sneeze building in my throat.
There were a few vinyl records scattered on the couch. Ethan's taste in music.
Everything screamed of a new master, a new life, a life that no longer included me.
Ashley frowned. "Why are you just standing there? There's a couch. Sit down."
I hesitated, unable to obey.
I was too dirty, too broken, to sit on her furniture. It was meant for her and Ethan.
"Leo, why are you sitting on the floor? Do you want people to think I mistreated you?" Her voice was a mixture of anger and exasperation.
"Ashley, it's okay. Maybe Leo's just not used to being out of prison." Ethan's words were soothing, but his eyes were cold and calculating.
Ashley's frown deepened. "What's so unusual about sitting on a couch? As if anyone would dare mistreat my husband."
Ethan's face darkened. He stared at me, his gaze piercing, menacing.
I straightened my back, my heart pounding. My throat, damaged by the drugs the warden had forced down my throat, couldn't form words.
I gestured frantically, trying to convey my message. I wasn't a threat to him. I wouldn't fight for Ashley. Please, just leave me alone.
Seeing my struggles, my desperate attempts to communicate, Ashley's face softened. Her voice was edged with concern.
"Leo, what's wrong? What happened to your voice?"
Ethan, his eyes flickering with guilt, quickly answered. "He got sick in prison, Ashley. A really bad fever. By the time the warden found him, it was too late. It damaged his vocal cords." He squeezed her hand, his voice reassuring. "But I'm sure he'll recover. Don't worry."
Ashley's composure shattered. She slammed her fist on the coffee table, shattering a glass.
"You said your uncle would take care of him! How could this happen?!"
"Why didn't I know about this?!" She yanked her hand away from Ethan, her voice a low growl. "Get out! I don't want to see you right now!"
Seeing my desperate attempts to speak, Ashley rushed to my side. "Leo, what are you trying to say?" Her brow was creased with worry. Realization dawned on her. She pulled out her phone. "Here, type it out. I'm right here."
I stared at her, confused by her anger, her outburst directed at the man she supposedly loved.
Ashley was defending me? Against Ethan?
Ethan, the man who held her heart captive. His influence over her was legendary. She had defied her own family for him. Even on our wedding day, her eyes had followed him, her thoughts elsewhere. And she had sacrificed our child for him.
I took the phone, feeling their eyes on me.
Ethan's gaze was a silent warning, his fingers twitching.
With my injured right hand, I slowly typed out my message.
"Ashley, let's get a divorce. You and Ethan belong together."
"I'm pathetic, disgusting. I don't deserve you."
"Divorce?" Ashley's voice was sharp, her eyes filled with disbelief. She ignored Ethan's triumphant smirk. "Who put you up to this? You think you can just walk away after what you did? You're my husband, Leo, for better or for worse."
Ethan, unable to contain himself any longer, grabbed a shard of broken glass from the floor and sliced his hand. Blood welled up, staining the pristine carpet.
"Ashley, it hurts!" he whimpered.
It was a familiar tactic, the one he had used to send me to prison.
I remembered his words, spoken with a cruel smile. "Don't you get it, Leo? Ashley has always loved me. You're just in the way."
"Ashley and I are meant to be. We're already together. So, do yourself a favor and step aside. Don't humiliate yourself any further."
His words had pierced me, filling me with doubt and despair. I knew about Ashley's concern for Ethan, her constant attentiveness. His declaration had shaken me, but I had loved Ashley too much to give up without a fight.
"I don't believe you. I'm going to talk to Ashley."
Ethan's composure cracked. "Don't you have any pride, Leo? The truth is staring you in the face, and you still want to cling to her?"
I ignored him, my heart pounding as I walked towards the stairs.
And then, it happened. Ethan stumbled, falling backwards down the stairs, a cry escaping his lips. But there was no pain in his eyes, only a strange, triumphant gleam.
I turned to see Ashley standing at the top of the stairs.
"Ashley, don't blame Leo. He just loves you too much. That's why he pushed me." Ethan lay sprawled on the floor, a growing pool of blood staining his white shirt.
"No! Ashley, you have to believe me! I didn't…" Panic surged through me. I had to make her understand.
But Ashley's eyes were cold, her voice filled with venom. "If anything happens to Ethan, I will make you pay." She helped him up, her touch gentle, and they left without another glance.
Ethan, his face twisted in a malicious grin, winked at me as they disappeared down the hall.
I knew it was a setup, a carefully orchestrated act, but no one believed me.
At the hospital, when the news of Ethan's injuries reached Ashley, she had kicked me, her heel digging into my gut. Her guards had restrained me as she called for a doctor, her voice cold and resolute.
"Get rid of it."
I begged her, pleaded with her, my paternal instincts screaming in protest, but it was no use. She had walked into that room, her stomach slightly rounded, and emerged minutes later, her body empty, her face pale but determined.
The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony of losing my child.
She had laughed, her voice devoid of emotion. "You disgusting creature. You don't deserve to be a father."
Seeing my utter devastation, her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "You put Ethan in the hospital. You don't deserve to be happy. This is only fair."
Fair? I had laughed, tears streaming down my face. What a twisted sense of justice.
She had murdered our child, the child we had dreamed of, the child we had whispered names to in the quiet of the night.
Desperate, I had turned to Claire, my sister, my only remaining family. I had poured out my heart to her, but she had met my pain with indifference.
"You have so much blood on your hands, Leo. Losing this child is your punishment."
"You killed Mom and Aaron. You're no brother of mine."
But I hadn't killed them.
It was Aaron's brother, Sean, who had told everyone that I had thrown a tantrum, demanding chestnuts on a stormy night, forcing my mom and Aaron to go out. He had even claimed that Aaron had told him so himself.
Claire had been furious, her finger shaking in my face. "You jinx! If you hadn't been so selfish, they would still be alive!"
Her eyes had been filled with disgust. "Why aren't you the one who died? You killed the two people I loved most. You have their blood on your hands! You're a murderer!"
"Claire, I swear, I didn't…"
I had tried to explain, to make her understand. I had never asked them to buy me anything, especially not on such a terrible night. I had called them, yes, but only to remind them to drive safely.
But my words had fallen on deaf ears. She had seen only my supposed guilt, my desperate attempts to escape responsibility.
"Why can't you just admit what you did, Leo? You disgust me."
She hadn't even come to my wedding.
And when she heard about Ethan's fall, she had been convinced of my guilt. Instead of defending me, she had told Ashley, "Leo is broken, Ashley. He's always been capable of terrible things. Remember what he did to Mom and Aaron?"
"Don't stay with him, Ashley. Our family owes you that much. He's a curse."
And together, they had ensured my condemnation, sending me to a living hell.
Now, Ashley glanced at Ethan's bleeding hand. "You should go get that bandaged."
"Ashley…" Ethan looked at her with pleading eyes, tears welling up. "Back then, I…"
Ashley cut him off, her voice weary. "I'll help you."
Ethan stared at her, a lovesick puppy, then turned to me with a malicious glint in his eyes. "Leo, did you know your sister is getting married?"
His voice dripped with venom. "To Sean."
My blood ran cold.
Sean was the one who had murdered our mother and Aaron.
I had suspected him from the beginning, but I had no proof.
Right before I was sent to prison, Sean had confessed. "I lied, Leo," he had said, his face twisted with hate. "That old hag always favored my brother. She never even noticed me, even though I loved Claire."
"Aaron was a disgusting hypocrite. He pretended to care for me, but he wouldn't give Claire up. He was so selfish."
"So, I sent them both to hell. They were crushed, like bugs. But their eyes, they wouldn't close." He had laughed, a maniacal sound that chilled me to the bone.
I had lunged at him, wanting to kill him, the monster who had taken my mother, my brother-in-law, and my freedom.
But the guards had restrained me, slapping me across the face.
Sean had just laughed harder. "Don't worry, Leo. Ethan and I will make sure you have a memorable stay in prison."
And he had kept his promise, turning my life into a never-ending nightmare.
And now, he was going to marry my sister?
My body trembled with rage.
I knew that Claire wouldn't believe me. My word against Sean's. And I was alone, powerless. I had to find another way.
That night, when Ashley came to me, her touch hesitant, I didn't resist. I let her undress me, revealing the tapestry of scars that covered my body.
My once-smooth skin was a landscape of pain. Whip marks, cigarette burns, cuts, each a memory of a different torment.
But the most horrifying sight was the brand on my back: "Pathetic," seared into my flesh like a cattle brand. Ashley gasped, her hand flying to her mouth.
Her eyes, usually so cold and distant, were filled with a horrified fascination.
"Did they… Did they do this to you?" her voice trembled.
I nodded, taking her phone and typing out my message.
"They whipped me until I bled. They dragged me by the hair, threw me in the toilet, held my head underwater. They burned me with a branding iron…"
Ashley's voice broke. "Your hand…"
"They severed the tendons."
"Stop it!" Ashley cried, burying her face in her hands. "I'm so sorry, Leo. Why didn't you tell me? I would've helped you."
I laughed, a dry, hollow sound. I typed out her past actions, each one a fresh wound.
"You made me give up the design award to Ethan. You said I had plenty, and he needed it. When I refused, you manipulated the judges, stole my victory."
"Ethan fell down the stairs. I didn't push him, but you believed him, not me. You killed our child. How could I trust you?"
Seeing her break down, tears streaming down her face, I felt a surge of vindictive pleasure.
"I did try to tell you, remember? When you visited me, I screamed, begged you to help me. But you told me to stop playing games, called me disgusting…"
Ashley fell to her knees, her sobs wracking her body. "I'm so sorry, Leo. I'll never let anyone hurt you again."
"I'll avenge you, I promise. Anything you want, I'll do it."
"Thank you, Ashley. You're all I have left." I feigned gratitude, my heart a cold, empty space.
"There's something you can do for me. I need your help. I can only trust you now."
She nodded eagerly, desperate to atone for her sins.
I told her about Sean's lies, about the accident, begging her to use her power, her influence, to uncover the truth, to clear my name.
I was just a broken man, fresh out of prison, with no resources, no allies. I needed her help.
In the following days, Ashley became a whirlwind of vengeance. She unleashed her fury on those who had wronged me, mirroring the warden's cruelty, exacting a pound of flesh for every ounce of pain I had suffered.
She told me she had always felt indebted to Ethan because he had saved her during an avalanche. But when I revealed that it was I who had pulled her to safety, producing the trinket we had exchanged that day as proof, her feelings for him had evaporated.
Ethan was sent to the very prison that had broken me, with instructions to give him "special treatment." Word on the street was that he had lost an ear, his leg was mangled, and his mind was unraveling.
Claire's wedding day was approaching, and it was time to deal with Sean.
Ashley, true to her word, had located the driver Sean had bribed years ago. He had been released from prison, and under Ashley's pressure, he had confessed, his words captured on a recording.
On the wedding day, I arrived at the church wearing the same white suit I had worn on the day I was falsely accused.
Claire's face contorted with fury as soon as she saw me. "How dare you show your face here? You pathetic piece of trash! You're nothing but bad luck!"
"You have the audacity to wear that suit? After everything you did? You have no shame!"
Sean, his arm possessively around Claire's waist, gave me a smug look. "Claire, Leo was young and foolish back then. Maybe he didn't understand the gravity of his actions. Now that he's done his time, I'm sure he's a changed man."
His words elicited murmurs of disapproval from the guests. Claire, her face red with anger, raised her hand to strike me.
But Ashley stepped in front of me, blocking her blow.
Claire glared at her. "What has he done to you, Ashley? Why are you defending him? He doesn't deserve it!"
Ashley's voice was calm but firm. "You'll regret treating Leo like this, Claire."
I was numb to Claire's insults, her accusations. But I had to clear my name. I couldn't let their lies define me, couldn't let them bury the truth.
I took out the recorder and pressed play. The driver's voice, clear and steady, filled the church. Claire's face morphed from anger to disbelief, then to shame and horror.
"Leo…" Tears streamed down her face as she slapped herself repeatedly. "I was wrong. I'm so sorry. Punish me however you want."
"Please, let me take care of you now."
I held up my phone, a ghost of a smile on my lips. "Thank you, Claire. It's your wedding day. I should be giving you a gift."
Realization dawned on her, and she turned on Sean, her voice a chilling whisper. "You monster. The wedding is off. You're going to rot in prison with Ethan."
Sean, his face pale with terror, knew exactly what awaited him in that hellhole.
"No! Claire, please! Don't send me back! I love you! I did it all for you!"
Claire laughed, a bitter, mirthless sound. "You murdered our mother, my husband, and you almost destroyed my brother. That's your idea of love?"
She looked at him with disgust. "How unfortunate to be loved by you. You make me sick."
The guards dragged him away, his cries and laughter echoing through the church, a symphony of madness. His love for Claire, his carefully constructed facade, had crumbled, leaving him a broken, pathetic shell. The wedding, his dream, had turned into a nightmare.
Claire forced a smile, but it was more painful than any grimace. "Leo, I'm not getting married. Not to a monster who hurt you and our family. You don't need to give me a gift."
Her voice broke. "I know I can never make up for what I did, Leo. But please, just let me take care of you. Anything you want, I'll do it."
"Please, Leo." She looked at me, her eyes filled with pleading, her pride shattered.
But I couldn't forget the pain, the betrayal, the years stolen from me. Both Ashley and Claire were guilty, their sins etched into my soul.
How could I possibly give them a chance to redeem themselves? They had committed unforgivable acts, and now they wanted a chance to ease their guilt, to find solace in their own remorse.
How naive, how selfish.
I smiled, a cruel, empty smile. I held up my phone. "This gift, Claire, is one I must give you."
I beckoned to them and walked towards the stairs, leading to the rooftop. I knew they would follow, driven by their guilt, their desperate need to atone.
They would agree to anything, even this.
As we reached the rooftop, Claire finally realized what I was about to do.
"Leo, what are you doing? Are you punishing me? Don't do this to yourself!" Tears streamed down her face.
Ashley joined her pleas. "Leo, please! Don't be stupid! This isn't revenge. It's self-destruction!"
I laughed. Self-destruction? I had already died the day they sent me to prison.
This was just a shell, a broken vessel. What was there left to destroy?
My existence was a constant reminder of their sins, their guilt. I wouldn't give them the satisfaction of my forgiveness, the solace of redemption.
With a final smile, I stepped off the edge, their screams ringing in my ears.
"Leo!"
My white suit, a symbol of innocence defiled, bloomed red as I fell.
