AC Syndicate: Isolated Files [OS]

Talion Law (re-written)

[Text rewritten for the Codextober 2024 theme 'Revenge' — 10.19]

In the pitch black, a loud voice kept shouting out a name, followed by a few insults. Painful tinnitus made it impossible to distinguish the syllables properly, but the rage with which they were spoken was a good clue to what was going on. Blurred images appeared and then disappeared. Awareness of the body slowly returned to the mind deafened by the high-pitched noise. Then the victim could almost hear his heart beating everywhere, realising that she was alive. Her hair was a mess, covering her face as she leaned forward, soaked with sweat and blood, as was her forehead. It was possible to make out the throbbing with the brief, light shakes of the dangling locks. The tinnitus began to fade, the eyes to stay more open. The vision became a little clearer as the seconds passed. She knew she was in a dark, windowless room, barely lit by candles. Then the brunette realised that she was still alive, and her memory slowly began to recall the situation. This was confirmed when she felt that her fists were tied together and that her ankles were tied to the front legs of the chair.

– Come on, wake up, you bitch!

The young woman felt that her mouth was pasty, and she felt a dryness in her lips. It was blood. Still semi-conscious, she tried to raise her head to see her attacker's face, but the effort was so painful that she gave up immediately. She then wanted to say something, but only mute whispers crossed her lips. It was impossible to express herself, impossible to be understood. Another battle she gave up. Suddenly, an unpleasant sensation in her ribs stung. The pain was so intense that she took a deep breath and bit her lower lip.

– I can hardly believe he won't come for you.

The brunette chuckled moderately, but it wasn't enough to prevent the pain from spiking, so she kept smiling. She wanted to provoke him, and despite her state, she didn't hesitate.

– H-he... might not want to... your scarred face... she could barely mumble.

The hostage-taker had heard her answer perfectly, and his blood boiled. He grabbed her head by the hair and pulled her back. He saw her face coloured by more or less recent bruises, caused by the multiple blows he had dealt her. There were also a few blood streaks, too superficial to be serious. The left eye was closed, still swollen and slightly purplish, while the iris of the right eye was reddened by blood. Seeing her in this state almost made him feel sorry, but he was too angry for that. He rather wanted to kill her, but he preferred to wait for the Frye twin. He desperately wanted him to experience what it had felt like to lose Lewis in the Alhambra fire.

Jacob hadn't been able to kill him that night. No one knew why. Nor did the hostage taker himself. In any case, Maxwell Roth had escaped, but not his faithful friend Lewis, for whom he had grown fond before his meeting with the leader of the Rooks. When he saw his body burning in the flames, he had howled with rage and sadness. That night, he had promised himself he would take revenge. And today, he kept his promise by kidnapping the Fryes' friend, Victoria Reid. Hitting her was a way of venting his anger and following his desires. He didn't care about having a second life. Without Lewis, it would be difficult for him to get back on track. Still thinking about that terrible loss and the provocation of Jacob's partner, he punched her in the stomach. The brunette vainly held back a groan of pain. He released her hair, then turned on his heels. He paced in front of her, nervous about waiting so long. The brunette watched him despite her vision still being blurred in places.

– You're... lucky... to still be alive... thanks to... a burst of... unexplained... generosity... from Jacob... and you... you ruin it by wanting revenge... It's pathetic...

Roth stopped dead in his tracks before moving towards the brunette. He struck her face hard and her head flew to the side. The sharp pain made her moan, but she stifled her complaint. He may have mistreated her as he did, but she wasn't afraid of him. He was just a man who didn't want to take advantage of this second chance, who was looking to the future while enjoying the present. The man he had been in the past had died with Lewis in that fire. He had caused the fire because he was so angry with Jacob. Victoria knew that he had been spared and had seen — unfortunately — how much Maxwell cared for Lewis. She had even warned her mentor about what would happen next. The impetuous brother knew this well, and was still aware of it when he saw the building she was in.