VENGEANCE

4 - FIRST STEP

Sitting on the couch, she analyzed the house she was sitting in. The house was two storey, it wasn't very luxurious but still matching today's vibe, there wasn't a single corner which looked dirty. Except some spots of blood on the white marble.
The boy Eden saved lived nearby. After getting beaten up, he was too scared to walk alone and wasn't ready to let her go. He insisted her to go with him, afraid to be jumped on again... and Eden didn't have any issues as that's what she wanted.

"Thank you so much honey, if you wouldn't have been there... I-I don't know, what they would have done with my boy," an elderly lady in her late forties spoke, tears were threatening to fall, while her voice was already drained out from all the crying. She held Eden's hand and continuously thanked her.
Eden, on the other hand, felt restless. She knew that the main reason for their crying was also her.
"It's not a big deal, I did what anyone would have done," Eden said while trying to sound soft but failed miserably.
"No, nowadays hardly anyone comes forward to help others especially when goons are involved. what you did was really courageous". A man who looked around fifty came out of the room and said. The man was the father of the boy and the lady was the mother, but all this time Eden was waiting for someone else. Eden gave a quick smile to the man and looked around.

'Where is she? If I don't meet her today... all this would go in vain,' Eden thought to herself. It was already getting late and she was scared that they might soon ask her to go and she didn't want that.
"I didn't even ask... about... his name?" Even though Eden knew everything about him, but she still asked, in order to initiate a conversation. Not only his name, she even knew his birthday, his hometown, his high school name and more.
"Cormac... Cormac Winslow," Eden's eyes widened a bit.
'Winslow?... but according to the file his last name is..." Before Eden could even complete her own thought, a girl came running in and entered the room in which the injured guy laid.

Eden followed her every step. Soon behind her the elderly man also went after excusing himself. In the time being, the lady kept on asking Eden some questions. After around 20 minutes. Cormac, his father and the unknown girl came out and sat where Eden was.

"I don't know how to thank you, what you did for my brother means a lot to me and my family," The girl who Eden has been waiting for so long spoke in a soft tone while holding her hands.
"I am Andrea, Cormac's elder sister" The elder girl extended her hand for a shake which Eden accepted and replied with a small smile.
"I am Eden". Both the girls looked at each other. The elder had softness and gratitude in her eyes, while the younger had sharpness and a little... hate?
"I forgot to ask, but what were you doing there?... I mean it's kind of an isolated alley. Only those people take that path whose house is nearby and I have never seen you around" Cormac asked with a hint of curiosity, while the other family members also looked at her waiting for a valid reason.
Eden kept herself composed, she knew this question would be raised. "Well, I don't live nearby. Today was my first day in Uni and after classes, I got bored. So, I decided to explore places and that's when I saw you," Eden replied.
"Which Uni are you studying in?" Andrea asked.
"Valoria Institute" Eden replied looking directly in Andrea's eyes.
"Hey! Even I study in that Uni... Which department are you in?" Cormac asked, feeling a bit at ease with Eden.
"Psychology... What about you?" Once again Eden asked something which she already knew the answer of.
"I am in political honors," Cormac replied with a cute smile on his face. The boy was 2 years younger than Eden, which made him adore Eden as an elder sister.
Eden looked at Andrea and asked, "You also study there?".
"No... but I used to" Andrea replied, "Which department?" Eden inquired, "Law" Andrea softly spoke.

On the other hand, Eden looked at Andrea with wavering emotions. She wanted to ask so many things but knew it wasn't the right time. She relaxed her muscles and passed a smile to the family. The first step of her plan has been successfully planted... 'Bonding'.