Monsters-Menendez

•20•

Return to Reality
The sound of the limousine's wheels on the driveway of the Menendez mansion sounded like an omen.
The sun sank below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of red and orange, as Lily, Lyle and Erik returned from their vacation. But it wasn't just the landscape that suggested a change; Something had transformed in them, as if the journey had revealed not only the good, but also the bad in their lives.

When the limo stopped, Erik got out first, holding out his arms to breathe in the cool evening air.
"Home at last," he said, but his tone was filled with a tension that betrayed his true state of mind.
Lyle followed, supporting Lily down, his gaze fixed on her, filled with unexpressed emotion.
They entered the villa, a familiar place that now seemed pregnant with secrets.
The walls, once a refuge, now seemed to guard the torments of the past. As they took off their jackets, Lily felt the weight of anxiety build up.
The beauty of the house, with its elegant decorations and memories of happy times, contrasted dramatically with the pain they carried inside.

"Can we talk?" Lyle asked, moving closer to Lily, his voice low and serious, as the shadows of the evening lengthened around them.
"Now?" she replied, trying to stay calm as her heart pounded.
Despite the relief of being back, a new wave of vulnerability hit her.
"I can no longer ignore what happened," Lyle continued, moving closer.
"We have to deal with what affected us." Erik, in the meantime, had moved towards the bar, but his gaze remained on them, attentive.
"If you have something to say, Lily, now is the time," he said, his voice a mix of curiosity and concern.
Lily felt exposed, but she knew it was time to share the secrets she had kept to herself. "We need to be honest with each other," he began, his voice shaking.
"I lived in a world where violence was normal. My parents... they weren't just strict, they were ruthless." Lyle sat down on the couch, pulling Lily next to him.
Erik leaned against the wall, crossing his arms, waiting.
"Every day was a battle," Lily continued, tears threatening to fall.
"Not only physical, but also psychological. My parents made me feel inferior, like I was never enough. I lived in terror, fearing their every word. Not only did they mistreat me, they made me feel like I was invisible."

Lyle squeezed her hand, her warmth conveying support.
"You're not alone in this," he said.
"We too have our past to face." Erik walked over, sitting in a chair in front of them, his gaze serious.
"We need to be open, and not just about you. There is something I have never shared with you."
"Yes?" Lily asked, curiosity overcoming her anxiety.
"We, Lyle and I, were abused too," Erik confessed, his voice low.
"Our father was not just a businessman. It was violent. He used his hands and his words to make us feel insignificant. Every look was a threat." Lyle nodded, his expression serious.
"Every day was a struggle. Not only against him, but also against our mother. She was complicit, she knew what was happening but she chose to look away. He always told us we had to be perfect, but he never protected us. I remember his words: 'If you're not up to it, I'll make your life hell'."
Lily felt a lump in her throat. "I can't believe you went through this," he murmured, his heart pounding. "
And now, after everything we have experienced, how can we build something new?"

"Dealing with our past together," Erik replied.
"We need to be transparent. Only in this way can we get rid of all this."
The atmosphere in the room became heavy, but there was also a sense of liberation. Every confession, every secret revealed, brought them closer together.
In a world where pain and fear seemed to dominate them, they had found an unexpected bond, an alliance of kindred souls.

"So, let's get through this," Lily said, determinedly. "Together."
As they exchanged looks full of understanding, they realized that despite the pain, there was a light shining in their hearts. And that light, though fragile, was what united them.
After a long silence, Erik stepped forward.

"We must also talk about Vieri and Giorgio Verdi. We know they are dangerous and want control. We have to have a plan." "Exactly," Lyle confirmed, thinking.
"We have to get ahead of them. We cannot let their dark intentions ruin what we are trying to build." Lily nodded, determination in her eyes.
"We need to find out what they are planning. We can't trust them. Vieri has always had a way of manipulating people, and Giorgio is no different."
Erik leaned against the table, his gaze intense. "We have to move quickly. Our strength lies in unity. We can take advantage of their weaknesses."

"But we have to be careful," Lyle warned. "We cannot allow our history to repeat itself. We are stronger together, but we must not underestimate our adversaries." The discussion became more animated, every idea that was thrown around was a step towards building their strategy.
But beyond the planning, there was a feeling of new hope.
They were finally united, ready to face the shadows of the past and the challenges of the future.