ARIEN
(Age Twenty-One)

Asael looked proud as I took another step forward without any support, my knee protested against it but I had enough of leaning on others.

I glanced at the doctor who had been helping all along with walking and my hand. "Will...will the limp go away ever?"

He shook his head and spoke politely, "You have made impressive progress but no matter how many therapies you take, the limp will stay."

I sent a curt nod in his direction before leaning against the wall for a moment.

I was still using crutches but every day for some time, he made me walk around without them. I limp and it's fucking embarrassing but there's nothing I can do.

I tampered down the rage that threatened to bubble up.

"Ready to go?" Asael asked.

I nodded and grabbed my elbow crutch before following him out of there.

Reaching home, I refused to take any help in getting out of the car and did it on my own.

My pace was slow and I hated it, I hated everything, I hated myself for being alive. I should have died that day along with them.

My vision blurred for a moment before I cleared my head and slowly walked inside the house.

Aunty and Uncle refused to let me live alone so ever since that day, I stayed with them and shared a room with Asael.

Entering the living room, I paused. Lying on the floor was my favourite bat along with a red, cricket ball.

"I thought...maybe we could play for a bit..." Asael smiled softly, picking up the bat.

Dad! Mom! I got selected in the ODI team for the series against Australia!

I am going to be a professional cricketer.

I will be the future of England cricket.

All my dreams are coming true.

This is the beginning. Soon, I will be the number-one batter across all formats!

Just wait and see how I will make everyone obsessed with me.

"Arien?"

Everything's over.

Nothing's left.

My family is gone. My dreams shattered.

I am useless.

I should have died.

Why did I live?

"Arien!"

Mom and Sierna were raped in front and I didn't do anything to save them.

I ruined everything.

A hand touched my shoulder and all I could imagine was James touching my sister, a red haze covered my vision and I wrapped my left hand around the person's throat, squeezing it with all the strength my fingers could muster.

I am going to kill them all.

Hands tried to pull me away but I only tightened my hold further causing the person to cough loudly.

A sadistic smile spread over my lips. I am going to kill them all.

"Arien!"

A fist slammed against my jaw causing my fingers to loosen as I stumbled away, the haze clearing.

I panted as my vision cleared and I saw Uncle's red face as he touched his throat, coughing loudly as Aunty checked on him.

Asael stared at me with wide eyes. "What the fuck was that?"

I don't know. I don't know.

I couldn't breathe. Why couldn't I breathe?

I could have hurt him. I could have killed my uncle.

"Arien?" Asael approached me slowly and cautiously.

A sob escaped my mouth as I looked at Uncle. "I am sorry...I am sorry...I...I didn't mean to..."

He came closer to me and pulled me into a hug, rubbing my back. "It's okay. I know you didn't mean it. It's okay, you are okay."

And I cried harder at that.

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(Age Twenty-Two)

The Ragnar was once again in play.

I did the one thing I never thought I would. I started a mafia organisation and I was fucking proud of it.

It was small but it will grow soon.

Money was not a problem. My trust fund was overflowing with so much money that I could stay at home for the rest of my life and still live comfortably.

With Asael as the head of the family, things were much easier for me.

We never told Uncle about our plan but he was not stupid, he was aware of it but never commented on it.

I spent a long time in physical therapy and gym to the point where I can walk without any support, I still limp but I have managed to live with it.

I can use my left hand to do almost everything now, my right hand is still useless but if I need to, I can make it work sometimes.

My weapons were all stacked in the holster around my waist which was covered by a black leather jacket but I won't be needing them tonight.

With time and lots of digging, I found Drogo aka the motherfucker who tried to touch my sister without her permission.

He's my first target.

Not to draw any unnecessary attention, I decided to go from one roof to another instead of using the road even though it was late at night and there was hardly anyone on the road.

My knee hurts from all the jumping and running but I don't give a fuck, not tonight.

I wondered what the fuck he was doing in such a shabby part of London which was a contrast to the posh life he is supposed to be living.

After an hour of searching, I finally spotted him.

He was not alone but with around four of his friends who emerged from a small house which looked to be in a very bad condition.

My eyes narrowed when I noticed the little girl Drogo had in his arms who was wriggling around, trying to break free.

What the actual fuck?

I wasted no time in running down the stairs and rushing out of the building.

I could hear the girl yelling from here, "Leave me alone! Daddy, help!"

He is so fucking dead.

I took long strides towards them as they walked away, their backs to me.

Reaching closer, I grabbed the back of Drogo's neck and jerked him back.

"Who the fuck..." He trailed off when he slowly recognised me.

His friends stopped too and now stared between him and me.

"Put her down," I ordered in a low, cold voice.

The girl couldn't be more than five years old as she blinked at me with big brown eyes.

I glanced at his friends who all looked uncomfortable by my presence. "Leave while you have the chance."

That's it. I didn't bother giving them another warning, I slid my eyes to Drogo. "Put. Her. Down."

He still stared at me in shock as his arms loosened around the girl making her jump away from him and run back in the direction of that house.

When I looked up, his friends were walking away quickly.

"L-look...I...whatever happened--"

I slammed my fist into his nose, a satisfying crunch echoing in the air as he howled and clutched his nose.

I did it again and again and again until he lay on the ground, bleeding all over his face and hardly breathing.

I sent a hard kick to his ribs making him cry out.

A satisfaction like no other consumed me as I took in his bloodied face.

He won't die. Not yet. Not until I torture him and ask him a few questions.

He will beg for death.

"Stop!" He cried. "I am sorry!"

I kicked him in the guts and he coughed up blood, spitting it out on the ground and then he went unconscious.

I spent a lot of time studying human anatomy and how to torture someone without accidentally killing them.

"Excuse me?" A terrified, little voice came from behind.

I whipped around to find that girl standing at a distance, watching me with wide eyes, her two ponytails swaying in the wind.

"Go home," I told her.

"My daddy needs help." She sounded scared. "Please. There are bad guys inside, they are hurting him."

I am not here to be a fucking hero, I am here for myself but the way she stared at me reminded me vaguely of Sierna, of how terrified she looked.

I couldn't say no.

I did a quick work of tying Drogo's wrists and legs with the zip ties that I carried before I gestured for that girl to go ahead.

"This way." She told me as she ran towards her house.

I followed her and sure enough, her father who looked to be a bit older than Asael with the same brown eyes as his daughter was fighting two bulky men.

He was bleeding from a gash on his forehead and was going to lose but I appreciated the effort he put in to fight back, his punches and self-defence looked skilled.

"Please", the girl whispered to me.

"Wait outside," I ordered before walking into the fight.

Five minutes later, those two men lay on top of each other, and both their necks snapped thanks to me.

That guy was panting and ignored me completely as he shouted, "Aubrey!"

On hearing that, Aubrey ran inside, going over to her father and hugging him tightly.

I turned around to leave when I heard him say, "Thank you. I don't know who you are but...thank you."

I looked around his house which indicated they were in a bad financial condition and I turned back to him.

"Where did you learn how to fight like that?" I asked.

Clutching his daughter in his arms, he stood up. "Underground fighting...? I don't do it anymore."

Hmm...he could be of use. I need to expand my organisation.

I cocked my head. "Do you need a job?"

He stared at me suspiciously. "What kind?"

I didn't bother answering that and pulled out the business card and handed it to him. "If you need the job, contact this number. You won't have to worry about money again, that's all I can promise."

He looked at the card, brows furrowing. "Ragnar?" His head snapped up. "Are you an Alderidge?"

I gave him a slow nod. "You are aware of Ragnar?"

"My father worked for it but then it was dissolved. Why is it back?"

I shrugged. "Reasons. That's all I can say for now."

"If I work for you...will my daughter stay safe?"

I glanced at his daughter who had her face buried in his neck and who very much reminded me of Sierna. I nodded. "Yes."

He contemplated for a long moment, eyes flickering between me and the card before his jaw locked tightly. "I'm Elmer. Count me in."