Chapter 6: Time For Revenge.

ANNA'S POV

I burst out of the hospital, rage inside me like a large fire. I didn’t want to talk to anyone—not my mom, not Ethan, nobody. I wanted to be alone, in a quiet space to fight the storm of feelings inside me.

When I got home, I opened the door and slammed it shut hard. My chest was tight with anger as I stomped into the living room. The fury was so strong that it filled my head. I swept everything off the table with one swift move. Books, papers, and stuff spilled everywhere, but I didn’t care. The noise hardly reached my ears.

I had never felt this much anger before. It was like a fire that wanted to eat me alive. My mind was crowded with thoughts of Jack—how he had lied, hurt my family, and left us broken. The betrayal was too much to bear, and it pressed down on me until my legs felt weak.

Hot tears ran down my cheeks. Soon, my sobs were out of control. My body shook, overwhelmed by the hurt. I staggered to the couch, collapsing into it. I curled up, trying to protect my heart from the pain. I wept until I was empty, until weariness dragged me into a troubled slumber.

In dreams, Jack appeared. His actions played over and over in my mind, like a scary film. Each lie, each hurt cut deeper. I imagined confronting him, making him feel the pain he caused. But when I woke, groggy and sore, I realized anger wouldn't fix anything. I needed to take charge and think clearly if I wanted justice.

Morning light seeped through the curtains, pulling me back to reality. My body felt heavy and sore, my sides aching from crying. I slowly got out of bed and walked downstairs, each step reminding me of the burden I carried. Today, I promised myself, it would be when I started strategizing my next move. Jack would pay—one way or another.

I entered the kitchen. My mom was busy. She was setting the table, like always. The sunlight came through the windows. It was bright and warm. Still, I felt distant from it. I didn't know what time it was. I had no idea how long I had slept.

Before I could even speak, Lily saw me. Her eyes sparkled, and she screamed with joy, rushing towards me with her small arms wide open. “Mommy! Mommy!” she yelled, her voice high with excitement. “Grandma told me you were sick. Are you better now?”

I bent down to embrace her, forcing a grin despite not feeling great. “I’m all better now, sweetheart,” I replied gently, holding her tight. “Thanks for checking in.”

I rose up and moved to the table, pulling out a chair to sit. My mom looked at me, worry painted on her face. She stayed quiet at first, but I sensed the questions hovering between us. I wanted to cut her off. “I’m fine, Mom,” I said, my voice stronger than I meant.

She raised an eyebrow, doubt clear in her gaze. I knew she saw through me, but I wasn't ready to share. Trying to shift the topic, I asked, “How’s Dad?”

She hesitated, taking in a deep breath before she spoke. “He’s stable,” she replied, her voice calm and controlled. “Ethan is managing things at the hospital. The doctors believe the surgery will help, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

I nodded, no hunger there even though I hadn’t eaten. The room was silent, heavy. Only utensils made soft sounds against plates. Mom and Lily were eating, but I felt their eyes on me, watching, waiting.

Then, I pushed my chair back. The legs scraped on the floor, loud. Both of them looked up, surprised.

“Anna,” Mom said slowly, “what’s wrong?”

“I need to go,” I said, standing up abruptly.

“Go where?” she asked, worried clear in her voice. “You haven't eaten. You don’t look good.”

“I have somewhere to be. It's important,” I interrupted. My voice was sharper than I meant, but I was too tired to soften it.

She tried to speak again, but I stopped her. I turned and walked to the door. I could feel their eyes on me, Lily's puzzled and Mom’s worried. But I didn’t look back. I couldn’t.

I had things to do, and nothing would stop me.

I inhaled deeply through my nose and into my lungs with the cool air of The Wind. Calm descended upon me but resolve intensified in me than ever before. This was it — the moment when I started to regain my power back. Jack had stolen so much from me, but it wasn’t over. Not yet. The first step in my plan was clear: I had to transform and cease to be who I was but instead become somebody entirely different. Someone powerful. Someone Jack would be wise never to provoke or have any quarrel with.

I suddenly saw myself in front of the mirror. My hair stood all woolly, face drawn from the constant crying, but the eyes were something else entirely. All traces of fear were gone now; the look in them was like that of a hunter finding a prey. My anger rose as I massaged my hair on my head. “This is the beginning,” I muttered to myself.

I thought about Jack and Sarah and the two of them leaving lies and betrayal in their wake as they fed their satisfaction on my misery. I remembered my father how he was lying uncomfortably, connected to some machines in a hospital bed. And then I thought of Lily – kind, frail Lily – she needed a mother who wasn’t afraid of fending off her fears.

I shut my eyes and went in for another inhale and felt the burn of hatred working me up. This was not an act of vengeances for the mere purpose of it . This was about getting back what they had taken from me. It was about causing them to feel the same hurt they have brought to others.

I walked out the door, finally having a clear idea of what I needed to do. The crowds were thick on the streets, but it didn't matter, i felt a certain kind of peace knowing i was going to take back control of my life

Suddenly, I stopped in the corner. Jack was standing there, smirking at me and there was a defiant mocking gleam in his eyes. My head spinning with anger, I remained standing motionless and stared at him. I was willing to attack him, to hurt him back for all the pain that he caused me. But before I could get up, a sudden pain in the head got me, and all became dark.