Her Villian

TWENTY-FOUR

Jackson

I pace back and forth inside my office. Ever since my encounter with the mist yesterday I have been a nervous wreck.

I do not become a nervous wreck. Ever.

I know what has caused this. Keeping the secret from Amara. Of whom I am, of my original intentions. I feel...guilty. She never deserved any of this, how can I talk down on Cody for lying to her when I am doing the same thing?

Ever since I have been with Amara, I'm starting to feel less...angry? Like, maybe I can move on from the past, maybe there doesn't have to be anymore suffering and death. I am realizing that as I hurt others and cause destruction, I am just proving everyone right. Those kids that thought I had evil within because of my family, the monsters who killed my parents. By me being a menace, I am only proving them right.

"I hate to interrupt; however, I can hear every step you take from downstairs. Will you be sitting still anytime soon perhaps?" Marcus asks as he barges inside my office.

I sigh as I sit in the chair behind my desk. "Brother sit down." I invite.

Marcus looks at me wearily before gently taking a seat in front of my desk.

I raise up on my elbows and gather myself before speaking. "What if all of this ended?"

Marcus furrows his brows in confusion. "What ends?"

"This revenge tour thing we have going. What if it ends?" I ask again.

"Brother, are you going soft?" Marcus asks as he sits up, interested in the conversation now.

"No, I'm just thinking. They called us evil, and by me going out and being evil, aren't we just proving them right?" I ask

Marcus places his hand on his chin and seemingly goes into his own thought process quietly. "I have never thought of it like that."

"I think we were just angry, maybe we weren't able to think rationally at the time and everything just got out of control." I add

Marcus looks at me, and in his eyes, I see something that I have not saw in a long time, vulnerability.

"Jackson, our parents would be extremely proud of who you have become." He says as he stands and walks over to me. "You've made mistakes, but hell, I think I've made a few of those over the years as well. But unlike me you were able to put aside your anger, and to really reflect on your actions...you grew brother."

I look at him and stand. Before I can fully think it through, I wrap my arms around my little brother and hug him tightly, he hesitates before hugging me back.

"They would be immensely proud of you as well, brother." I whispered.

Marcus

What the fuck just happen?

I am walking out of Jacksons office, after a surprisingly emotional moment. I have not seen Jackson be so....vulnerable in years. And we haven't hugged in years either.

It was as if we were kids again, just brothers. I did not realize how much I missed that feeling. No planning the next big crime, or arguing over tactics, just brothers opening up to each other.

I heard what he said about dropping this whole revenge thing. I would have been angry to hear him say those words a few months ago, but now? I am not so sure. I think he had a point. We have all been angry for so long it's gotten exhausting. And with our bloodshed, we are proving them all right. They don't think of us any differently.

"SHIT!" I hear a female's voice ring from a room onto my left.

Raising an eyebrow, I open the door to peek inside. "Hello?"