A Twisted Reckoning: The Collapse of Betrayal and the Rise of Justice.
A Few Hours Later
The night was fierce -heavy rain lashed against the windows as thunder roared in anger. Suddenly, a series of knocks pierced the silence.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
~(Silence)
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Anna, drained and reluctant, staggered toward the door.
ANNA:
"Who's there?"
(She peeks through the doorhole, her heart racing.)
Hesitantly, she opened the door.
Maxwell stormed in, his face contorted with fury.
ANNA:
"Maxwell, I need to see a doctor. Please take me to the hospital. Or better yet, let me go find one myself."
Maxwell remained silent, his cold eyes fixed on her.
ANNA:
"You can't ignore me, Maxwell. How long do you plan on treating me like this? Answer me! Maxwell Jonah Abeo, how long? You—you poltroon!"
MAXWELL:
(Freezes, then turns sharply.)
"Excuse me? What did you just call me?"
ANNA:
"You heard me—loud and clear. You're nothing but a coward!"
Without warning, Maxwell's hand cracked across her face, the sound echoing through the room.
MAXWELL:
"How dare you call me a coward! Do you think I, Maxwell Jonah Abeo, son of Bode Francis Abeo, will stand here and take your insults?"
Anna chuckled darkly, her lips bleeding.
ANNA:
"You know, I doubted you back in university. There was always something... off about your perfection."
(She spits blood on the floor.)
"Now I see it clearly—the darkness you tried to hide. You lied to me. You deceived me. You pretended to be the best thing to ever happen to me, but you're nothing but a fraud."
MAXWELL:
(Through clenched teeth.)
"I'm warning you, Mma. Don't provoke me, or—"
ANNA:
"Or what? Kill me? What more could you possibly do? You've already ruined my life, Maxwell. You destroyed everything. I regret the day I met you and curse the day I said, 'I do.' You are the worst mistake of my life!"
Sobbing, she sank to her knees.
MAXWELL:
"You're an ungrateful woman! After everything I've done for you, you dare insult me? Tell me, how many men would tolerate a woman like you? Huh?"
ANNA:
"Of course, you 'tolerated' me because your entire life is a lie! Your wealth—it's not clean, is it? No honest man spends money like you do, lounging in luxury without a care. You're a disgrace to your family name, Maxwell Jonah Abeo."
Rage consumed him. Maxwell lunged, gripping her by the throat.
MAXWELL:
"How dare you speak to me like that! I'll teach you some respect!"
Anna clawed at his hands, struggling for air. Just then, a loud knock echoed from the door.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Panicked, Maxwell dragged Anna, still gasping, into the bathroom. He tied her hands and locked the door before heading to answer.
MAXWELL:
"Who's there?"
(No answer. He opened the door cautiously.)
"Seb—Sebastian! What are you doing here?"
Sebastian stormed in, flanked by two men, Gaston and Hugo.
SEBASTIAN:
"Maxwell, you've become quite the disappointment. After everything the Brotherhood has given you, you choose to defy us?"
MAXWELL:
"Sebastian, that's not true! I've been loyal. I've done everything you asked!"
SEBASTIAN:
"Then explain why you haven't delivered. What changed?"
MAXWELL:
"My... my wife. She's been sick. I just need more time—"
SEBASTIAN:
"More time? Let me guess: you've made enough money for you and your 'pretty wife,' and now you think you can walk away?"
MAXWELL:
"No, Sebastian! It's not like that. Please, understand! The police have heightened security—it's been hard to smuggle the goods. I just need a few more months!"
Sebastian smirked and turned to his men.
SEBASTIAN:
"Gaston. Hugo. What do you think?"
GASTON:
(Chuckles.)
"Quel imbécile."
The three men burst into laughter.
MAXWELL:
"Please, Sebastian. We've been friends—"
SEBASTIAN:
"Friends? That ended the day you betrayed the Brotherhood. We gave you everything. Wealth, power. And all we asked was your loyalty. But you failed—again and again. Now, it's time to pay."
Sebastian nodded to his men. Gaston and Hugo attacked Maxwell, beating him mercilessly. Blood pooled beneath him as he cried out for mercy.
Suddenly, the door burst open.
POLICE OFFICER 1:
"Police! Ne bouge pas! Les mains en l'air!"
The room fell silent as the officers stormed in, weapons drawn.
POLICE OFFICER 2:
"Qui est Sebastian?"
SEBASTIAN:
"Je suis Sebastian."
POLICE OFFICER 1:
"Vous êtes en état d'arrestation. Tout le monde, mains derrière le dos!"
As the officers handcuffed the men, another officer called out.
POLICE OFFICER 4:
"Supérieur! Une femme—elle est enfermée dans la salle de bain!"
The officers rushed to the bathroom and found Anna, barely conscious.
POLICE OFFICER 1:
"Mon Dieu! Elle respire encore. Sortez-la immédiatement!"
Carefully, they carried her out of the room.
POLICE OFFICER 1:
"Ces monstres ne s'en tireront pas. Jamais."
Anna was rushed to the hospital, while Maxwell and the others were taken into custody.