I watched as his life ebbed away, the faint light in his eyes fading. His last words lingered in my mind, "I hope... you live well in this shitty world."
With a sigh, I withdrew my blade from his throat and wiped it clean on his tattered clothing. He had been a thorn in the side of the Aurelia family for far too long, and his death was necessary to protect our interests.
As I turned to leave the abandoned factory, a sense of emptiness washed over me. There was no satisfaction in killing him. He had been nothing more than a nuisance, and his "Journal" Blessing was useless in the grand scheme of things.
Outside, the moon hung low in the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the city. I had a duty to report back to the family about the successful elimination of this troublemaker.
But as I made my way through the darkened streets, something gnawed at the back of my mind.
Kevin's words about the Aurelia family's dark deeds and corruption echoed in my thoughts.
Could there be any truth to his accusations?
I had served the family faithfully for years, unquestioning and loyal.
The Aurelia family's power was unmatched, and their control over the continent was absolute. But his claims had stirred doubt within me.
The director, a mysterious and enigmatic figure, rarely made public appearances. Was she truly the deity-like figure he described, or was there more to her than met the eye?
My loyalty to the family remained unwavering, but I couldn't ignore the nagging curiosity that had taken root in my mind.
Then suddenly.
Tring- Tring- Tring-
My phone rang.
=======
Sia Aulria
Answer the call yes or no
=======
I decided to pick it up.
"Hello mam, I'm talking from the scene and Kevin is dead now, You don't have to worry about anything."
"I see, so he's dead now? Oh, well did anything see you?"
A sweet voice sounded on the other side of the phone, This voice was so sweet that it could easily control you, but there were also sharp edges in that voice, like sword sheth in a scrubber ready to publish.
"No mam, there is no one besides me."
"I see good work then. I'm hanging up." With that, she hung up her phone.
How can I doubt the director? I worked for her for so many years, It's Kevin's fault for trying to confuse me.
Well anyway, that bastard is dead now, nothing matters more.
I also left the saying that. If I turn around I can still see the corps of the betrayer of family.
"You should only change your luck, Kevin."
***
Sia Aurelia, the enigmatic figurehead of the Aurelia family, stood in the luxurious confines of her office, overlooking the sprawling city below.
The phone call had just come in, delivering the news she had both anticipated and dreaded. Kevin Voss was dead, and with his death, a chapter of her life that she had desperately wanted to close had come to an end.
Her face, an immaculate mask of elegance and control, betrayed no hint of emotion. Her raven-black hair cascaded down her shoulders, framing her sculpted features.
Her eyes, a shade of deep emerald green, bore the weight of countless secrets, and in their depths swirled a complex mix of emotions.
Sia had always been a master of concealing her true feelings, a skill honed by years of navigating the treacherous waters of politics, power, and family dynamics.
As the head of the Aurelia family, she had learned to wear her emotions like armour, impenetrable and unyielding.
Kevin's death had been inevitable.
He had become a thorn in her side, a persistent reminder of past mistakes and hidden truths.
He held secrets that could unravel the carefully woven tapestry of the Aurelia family's power and prestige, secrets that Sia had guarded with ruthless determination.
In her mind, she replayed the events that had led to this moment. Kevin's relentless pursuit of the truth, and his dogged determination to expose the dark underbelly of the Aurelia family, had threatened to bring it all crashing down.
He had uncovered the experiments, the manipulation, and the exploitation that had allowed the family to maintain its dominance.
And yet, even in the face of his relentless investigation, Sia couldn't help but admire his tenacity. He had been a thorn, but a resilient one, unyielding in his quest for justice.
As the news of his death settled in, Sia's thoughts turned to the secrets he had held. The files, the documents, the evidence—it was all gone now, lost in the abyss of the past.
She had made sure of that, leaving no trace of her family's transgressions.
But Kevin had been more than a nuisance; he had been a reflection of her guilt and remorse. The experiments, the sacrifices, the lives ruined—all of it weighed heavily on her conscience.
She had inherited the burden of her family's sins, and Kevin had embodied the reckoning she had tried to avoid.
Sia's fingers drummed lightly on the polished mahogany desk, a subtle display of restlessness. She knew that Kevin's death was both a relief and a reminder.
It had freed her from the threat he posed, but it had also underscored the lengths she was willing to go to protect her family's legacy.
She had always believed that the ends justified the means, that the Aurelia family's power and influence were worth any sacrifice. But as she stared out at the city below, a city built on secrets and lies, she couldn't help but wonder if it had all been worth it.
The phone on her desk rang again, snapping her out of her reverie. It was time to move forward, to ensure that Kevin's death had not been in vain.
The Aurelia family's grip on the continent was secure, but there were always new challenges on the horizon.
Sia picked up the phone and answered it with the same sweet yet commanding voice that had become her trademark. "Yes, it's done," she said, her voice betraying nothing of the turmoil within.
As she hung up the phone, Sia Aulria knew that her path was set. She would continue to protect her family's secrets, maintain their dominance, and ensure that the past remained buried.
Kevin's death had been a necessary sacrifice, a reminder of the lengths she would go to protect the Aurelia name.
But as she looked out over the city, a city built on the foundations of deceit and ambition, she couldn't help but wonder if there would ever come a day when the secrets of the past would no longer cast a shadow over her future.
***
In an instant, the world around Kevin blurred into obscurity. The sensation was odd, like being caught in a whirlwind of memories. His consciousness spun in a whirlpool of chaos before gradually settling into a peculiar stillness.
Then, he found himself standing in a place he hadn't seen in years—a park bathed in golden sunlight. The vibrant colours of flowers in full bloom filled the air with a sweet fragrance.
"What... what's happening?" Kevin muttered to himself, disoriented and bewildered. His surroundings felt achingly familiar, like a distant dream.
As he looked down at his hands, he realized they were smaller, less weathered by life's trials. It was as if he had stepped back in time.
"No way... am I a child again?" Kevin's voice quivered with disbelief.
The truth slowly dawned on him. He had regressed to his younger self, back to the days before the brain tumours, before the grudges, and before the dark complexities of his past.
His heart raced as he looked around, taking in the park, the laughter of children playing nearby, and the warmth of the sun on his face. It was a stark contrast to the abandoned factory where he had met his end.
His mind raced with questions. How had this happened? What was the purpose of this regression? And most importantly, how could he prevent the tragedies of his previous life from unfolding once again?
Kevin felt a surge of determination welling up within him. This second chance, this regression, was a gift he couldn't squander.
He had to find a way to change his fate, make different choices, and confront the Aurelia family on his terms.
But for now, he was just a child, and he had to navigate this unfamiliar world carefully. His past experiences and knowledge would be his greatest assets, but he had to be cautious not to reveal too much too soon.