Together forever and ever

chapter 6: His eye

As I lay there, my mind felt like a rollercoaster, hurtling through different eras with ferocious speed. One moment, I was thrust back into the past, reliving the heart-wrenching moment when I buried my mother's body, feeling the weight of grief crushing me.

Then, just as suddenly, I was pulled into the present, catching tantalizing glimpses of Rachel. Her mouth was moving, her eyes alight with joy, and my heart swelled with longing. But the future beckoned too, an ever-changing landscape of possibility and uncertainty, taunting me with tantalizing glimpses of what might be.

"Brother, are you listening? The hippo was a behemoth of a creature, with skin as rough as sandpaper. And when the zookeeper brought out a watermelon, it devoured the fruit with such ferocity that it was gone in mere seconds!" Racheal exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement.

"That's because they have jaws strong enough to crush bones," I replied, my head throbbing with pain. Despite the discomfort, I sat up on my pillow to listen to my sister's story.

Suddenly, I heard a voice that sent shivers down my spine. "Oh, you're awake," said the man who had shot me. His hair was now a different color, dyed brown, but I recognized his piercing blue-green eyes.

"Jameson," Racheal said, turning to him with a smile. She rushed to hug him, blissfully unaware that he was the one who had almost killed me. Even if she did find out, I couldn't help but wonder if she would still embrace him.

"What a pleasant surprise," Jameson spoke, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he reached out to rub the top of Racheal's head. "Well, Vanitas, it seems you are getting discharged today."

I couldn't help but frown at him. He was a monster, acting as if he hadn't just put me through hell.

"Great," I hissed, the anger bubbling inside of me. The nurses wheeled me out of the hospital, with Jameson and Rachel following close behind. As we stepped outside, the bright sunlight blinded me momentarily. When my eyes adjusted, I saw a sleek black supercar waiting for me, its shiny exterior reflecting my image.

A man with a sharp suit and a smug expression opened the door for me, and I turned to look at Jameson.

"Get in," Jameson spoke, his voice laced with a hint of menace. I stood frozen in fear, but Rachel didn't hesitate, rushing into the car.

As soon as Rachel sat down, her eyes scanned the luxurious interior, "Wow! It's so fancy! Oh my god! There's candy!" she exclaimed.

Meanwhile, I continued staring at Jameson, my heart pounding in my chest. His grin widened, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth. "You know, I love the way you looked at me," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "It's a shame since now it's only half as good since you have one eye. Now get in the fucking car."

I balled up my fist, the urge to strike him overwhelming. But I knew that would only make things worse. I had to bide my time and find a way out of this dangerous situation. With a deep breath, I slid myself into the car, my eyes never leaving Jameson's menacing gaze. I knew that I needed to protect my sister at all costs, and with Jameson around, there was no telling what he was capable of.

As Jameson slid into the seat beside me, the car lurched forward, and I immediately tensed up. To calm my nerves, I watched Rachel reach into a bag of candy and pull out a piece. She popped it into her mouth, and I counted each chew, fixating on the motion of her jaw. It was a habit I'd developed over time, and it always helped me to relax.

"Brother, you look cool, like a pirate," Rachel remarked, her eyes fixated on my eye patch. Despite the situation, I couldn't help but smile at her comment.

"Thanks," I whispered, my gaze flickering over to Jameson. I could see him watching us out of the corner of his eye, his expression unreadable.

As we drove by the window, the sight of the once familiar dirty streets flooded my mind with memories of the past. The same streets where I had walked countless times, the same streets where I had been both the victim and the aggressor. I remembered the times when people had robbed me of my possessions, and the times when I had done the same to others. As we passed by the colossal mansions that marked the entrance to the wealthy side of town, my mind wandered to Rachel.

I had always hoped she would be in this part of town, living the high life of the rich and famous. But as we arrived at the destination, a feeling of unease crept into my stomach.

The car came to a sudden halt in front of the mansion, its imposing black structure towering above us. Jameson stepped out of the car and greeted us with a wide grin. As my sister and I followed him toward the entrance.

As we stepped into the house, my eyes widened. The interior was vast and immaculately clean, with a grand piano and a stunning chandelier that cascaded down from the ceiling. The two long staircases on either side of the room led up to the upper floors, which I could only imagine were equally impressive.

"This is a castle," my sister breathed in awe, and I couldn't disagree. The mansion was fit for royalty, with its grandeur and elegance.

I tried to keep my cool, but deep down, I couldn't help but think of the possibilities. This was a good house, and I was sure it was fully paid for. If anything were to happen to Jameson, my sister could live here in luxury.

"Do we really get to live here?" Racheal's eyes widened with amazement as she gazed around the luxurious villa.

Jameson nodded with a proud smile. "Yes, this is your new home until your brother is fully healed."

Racheal let out a joyful giggle, her excitement palpable. "Well, I hope he never heals!" she exclaimed, spinning around with glee. I clenched my fists involuntarily, feeling a surge of pain in my throat. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. I couldn't let her words affect me.

Jameson noticed my distress and gave me a knowing grin before turning back to Racheal. "We have a pool, feel free to enjoy it," he said, gesturing towards the sparkling blue water.

Racheal's face lit up with delight. "Yay!" she squealed before darting off to explore the villa.

"What is your deal? You shot me, and took me and my sister in..." I cross my arms, anger seeping through my veins. He shrugs, his nonchalant attitude only fueling my frustration.

"I don't fucking know, I just do things," he explains, his deep blue eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. But I know better, no one just does things without a motive.

For now, I should play nice and wait for the perfect moment to take my revenge. "Well, thanks for everything...I'll forever be in your debt," I say through gritted teeth, trying to keep my emotions in check.

He smirks and digs in his pocket. "How about a peace offering?" he says, his hand clenching into a ball. I extend my hand to grab whatever he has, but as it falls into my palm,

I realize it's my own eye. My blue eye, now bloody and mutilated.

I glare up at him, my anger reaching new heights. "What do you say?" he glares back, his smirk growing wider.

I press my teeth together, trying to control the rage that threatens to consume me. "Thank you," I growl, my voice barely above a whisper.

"You're welcome," he smirks, reveling in his victory. But I know that this is far from over.