Chapter 3 A NEW PLAN

Chapter 3: A New Plan

Anna Pov...

I pushed him, not knowing why I did.

"Who the hell are you? What gave you the right to save me from ending my life? And as if that's not enough-you kissed me too?"

My tone said it all. I was angry. Furious.

"I only came to claim what belongs to me. And I want you to come with me," he said, calm and commanding. He wasn't pleading-he was ordering. And I wasn't finding it funny.

"Well, if you're not going to tell me who you are, then get the hell out of here and let me do what I was about to do."

I hissed and turned back to the ocean.

"Don't try to stop me. Living is already a hell of its own."

I tried to jump again, but he pulled me back.

"What do you think you're doing? You're making a grave mistake."

His voice quivered this time. There was something in his tone-a tremor I hadn't heard before. Fear.

I looked into his eyes-those golden brown eyes-and that strange pang of familiarity struck me again. There was something about them I couldn't place. Something I didn't want to remember.

"Wouldn't you rather live and avenge your family?"

His words hit me harder than I expected.

I looked at him, eyes wide in shock.

Yes, I had always wanted to avenge my parents' deaths. But there was fear. Guilt. And then it hit me: how did he know?

I didn't hide it.

"How are you able to-?"

"Able to read your thoughts?" he said, chuckling. My shock deepened.

Now I was sure-he wasn't human. No way.

"That's a question for another day. Just think about what I told you. It would honor your family if you could avenge their deaths. Maybe that's why you didn't die, too."

He smiled, calm and eerie. I stared at him like he held the secret to my ruin.

"I'll be back to claim what's mine. Don't bother hiding-I will find you."

Before I could reply, he vanished. Just like that-gone without a trace.

My tired legs gave way, and I dropped to the ground, his words echoing in my head.

Maybe he was right.

Maybe I was spared for vengeance.

Maybe that's the only way God would forgive me.

And suddenly the plan changed: take revenge on those who destroyed me.

And make them suffer for the pain they caused.

As I thought about it, I could feel rage building up inside me-rage unlike anything I'd ever experienced. And I wondered, where has this fury been all this time?

Maybe it was buried beneath the weight of self-loathing. Maybe I'd been too angry at myself to ever feel anger for anyone else.

Staring into the empty night, I found myself strangely grateful to the one man who, in his own twisted way, gave me the courage to finally face what I'd been avoiding.

Yes-that man. The one who took my family from me.

And that bastard ex-boyfriend who didn't just betray me-he used my pain against me.

I would end them all.

My fists clenched tightly, my body trembling, my eyes burning red with fury.

I was ready to destroy.

I was ready to make them pay.

"Louis Augustine," I whispered, seething, "I'm coming for you."

"And to the man who killed my family without a shred of mercy-I promise, you'll suffer even more."

Drawing on the last strength in my weary body, I pushed myself off the ground and staggered toward the roadside to find a taxi. I needed to get home. And I needed to hear a familiar voice.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Eva-my best friend. She always picked up. Always.

But not this time. The phone rang once. Twice. Three times.

What the hell? Why wasn't she answering?

Then finally-

"Hello, baby girl," she answered cheerfully.

But I didn't smile. I was still pissed that she didn't pick up sooner.

"I'm sorry, baby. I was taking a shower," she added quickly, sensing my silence. Her concern softened my anger.

Why hadn't I thought of her earlier, before I nearly threw my life away?

She would've been crushed if I'd died.

"Are you there?" Her voice snapped me out of my spiral.

"Yeah..."

I was cut off by a sharp, stabbing pain in my side. It hit hard-deep in my stomach. But just as suddenly as it came, it vanished.

"I-"

The pain returned sharper, stronger and this time, it didn't go away.

I collapsed.

My knees gave out, and I hit the ground, clutching my stomach. My body was on fire. My breath came in ragged gasps.

I didn't want to die. Not anymore.

Not now.

I groaned, the pain unbearable, tears springing to my eyes.

"What's wrong with you, Anna? Anna!"

Eva's voice was frantic on the other end. I could feel her panic.

"Bridge..." I managed to whisper.

Then everything went black.