40 ~ Beginning Of The End

Brinda

“Francesco, are you completely insane? What do you think you’re doing? Are you so desperate to see me gone? The Deadly Nightshade isn't enough for you, is it? I have less than eight months to live already!” I shouted, my voice sharp, the anger surging through every word.

He didn’t flinch. His smirk deepened, but his eyes never left mine, dark and calculating. Slowly, he turned the gun toward the nurse. My pulse thundered in my ears, every breath a struggle as panic clawed at me.

“Francesco, don’t do it. Drop the gun. Think about what you're doing.” My voice was tight, every warning laced with fear. “This is something you do not want to do. Don't regret it. Don’t make it worse.”

“Regret?” He scoffed, his voice cold and mocking. “I don’t know what that is. What is regret? It’s for the weak, the pathetic.” He feigned ignorance, but I saw the darkness behind his eyes.

Those were the last words I heard before the deafening crack of the gun echoed in the air, slicing through everything in its path. My heart stopped. My jaw hung open in shock as the sound reverberated in my skull, but all I could do was stand there, paralyzed.

Then, as if my body moved without my permission, my legs carried me, step by shaky step, toward the lifeless form. My breath came in shallow, ragged bursts, my chest tightening with each inhale. When I finally stood over the body, I froze — unable to touch it, unable to breathe.

Francesco just killed the nurse. 

I cupped my mouth with trembling hands, trying to hold in the cry that wanted to tear free. I was suffocating, drowning in the weight of what had just happened. The silence that followed was unbearable.

Just when I started going low, a hand pulled me to the ground. I raised my head to see that it was Francesco. 

How can he be so cruel? At least, he knew I just woke up from a coma. If it were to be someone else who passed through what I had passed through, then the person might not wake up ever again.

Bullet rushed to my side and patted my back gently. “It's okay,” she whispered. 

Francesco’s smile remained unwavering, a sinister curve on his lips as he crouched beside the nurse’s lifeless body. His voice, smooth yet laced with venom, sent a chill crawling down my spine.

“She’s gone. She deserved that.” His words dripped with cruelty. Then, his gaze flicked up to mine, dark and unrelenting. “And remember — this happened because of you. The more you disobey, the more you’ll suffer.”

A sharp, guttural laugh tore from his throat, the sound echoing off the cold walls. My stomach twisted in horror as he dipped two fingers into the pool of crimson seeping from her body. The thick blood clung to his skin as he lifted it toward his lips.

“Francesco?” My voice barely found strength, barely pushed past the terror gripping my chest.

His tongue flicked out, dragging slowly over his bloodied fingertips. His eyes fluttered shut for a moment, savoring the taste. When he opened them again, they gleamed with something feral.

“Tasty.” He purred, his grin widening, a grotesque display of satisfaction.

Then, he turned those wicked eyes on me, waggling his eyebrows in mock invitation. “Care to join?”

I could barely breathe. My pulse pounded in my ears, my hands trembled at my sides. The air between us was suffocating, thick with death and madness.

“Don't you call me the devil. Do you know how cruel the devil is? Nevermind, you can't know that. Now… I will show you what the real devil looks like.” He chuckled. 

He let out a sigh, stood up and slowly found his way to where I sat on the floor. Going back on his knees, he tilted my head to look him in the eye. 

“The devil will make you see his true side. You have seen nothing until now. I am just opening the gate of hell we promised each other. Let's see who will triumph? The Devil or the Angel?” 

Forget it, there is no need for me to request to leave. I was thinking I could ask seeing how Bullet kept on talking nice things about Francesco but I guess not. 

I will stay and I will make him pay. This time, he will also pay for letting the nurse die. I will burn him down. I used to be his black rose, right? 

Enough! Now… I will be my black rose. I will fight for myself and my life's aim is to end Francesco. I will walk him to the gate of hell where a monster like him deserves. 

This is just the beginning of our end and the promise I made to him the night he killed my mother. 

Days flew by and I was back in action. 

However, my legs were moving faster than I had run in my entire life. My body-hug black suit glistened under the moonlight. My gaze was sharp and piercing, in fact it was unrelenting.

Getting to the bungalow I planned to break into, my breath quickened but it was a risk I was ready to take. 

Mr. Desmond had called and he wanted me to still take the offer but I was not ready to take his offer nor do I want to kill but he showed me a video which served as an evidence of when he gave me money. 

I have to get rid of it. 

I managed to get into the building and I looked around, scattering everytime I found my way. This was the best time I could find since Desmond was in the club already.

My search led me to the room on the right corner of the house and I forced my way in. I opened the drawer, safes and cupboards yet I found nothing till I stumbled on the floor. 

I looked at the floor carefully before I stomped my feet on the area. The sound was different from the other parts — Something was there and I needed to check it out. 

I moved backward and hid behind the wall after I placed a bomb in the area. The explosion rented the house and I knew I had little time left. I locked the door and jumped right into the open floor.

My jaw dropped as I saw millions of dollars but I wasn't here for that. I want the evidence. I need to save myself from the police. Sooner or later, if he hands it over, I will be done for. 

I started searching every nook and cranny of the place and found nothing until I looked closely at the small space between the money. A file was in between them.

I scurried towards it and before I could pick it, there came a loud banging on the door. I grabbed the file and opened it. I saw my name ‘Brinda’ written on it.

Old Mr. Desmond, you didn't know I know where you live, right? Fool! 

I climbed out of the underground room and jumped out of the window. Till death let us see each other again, Mr. Desmond.

As I strutted my way back into Dante's mansion, obviously not after I had changed my outfit and clutched my handbag as if I had just delivered a package to a client anonymously as Francesco ordered me to execute. 

“It feels good to be back after so many years. Look how grown you are, Francesco.” A female's voice came from the left corner of the living room. 

Who is she? Why is she back? What does she want? Francesco never ceases to stop bringing himself trouble. 

“Welcome back, Brinda. Meet my mother.” Francesco's sharp voice was directed to me as soon as he saw me. 

My life is already a mess with Francesco alone. How do I cope with two monsters? How the hell am I sure that she is a nice human? How much more secret does Francesco even have? He told me he lost his mother, right? 

What more can I expect from a ruthless sadistic man like him? 

I guess it's the beginning of the end.