That day, Henry Williams and I, as usual, skipped class to explore the campus. We always enjoyed these "little adventures," the thrill of sneaking around the school, the excitement it brought. Ethan Harris was usually with us too, but he was always much calmer, like an invisible observer, showing no particular emotion. As people often said, Ethan was the best at noticing the most important details from the smallest of clues.
Today's exploration didn't have a specific goal. We weren't aiming to find any forbidden areas or a particular destination. We just wandered around the general building, casually stepping into a storage room. In fact, such storage rooms were not uncommon in the school—some were cluttered, while others were almost empty, as if no one had paid any attention to them. But for us, the ones who often ventured into these "forbidden zones," these places were especially intriguing. We always seemed to find unexpected things.
Henry began rummaging through boxes and cabinets, pulling out a file bag. As he handed it to me, he said casually, "Hey, look at this, James Bennett's ID card."
I froze, and in an instant, all my emotions seemed to freeze. The photocopy of this ID card reflected the name of the person who had once dragged me into the mud—James Bennett. This name was the source of my pain and despair. Not only had he destroyed my talent and dreams back then, but he had also forced me to abandon my initial goals, completely altering the course of my life.
James Bennett, the one who had once smiled warmly, constantly telling me "I believe in you" and offering me countless support, was, in reality, a complete fraud. He was a mentor, but also the mastermind behind my downfall. Every time I thought I was getting close to my dream, he would unhesitatingly push me further into the abyss. Like a harmless sheep, I was led by him, only to end up as the prey in his meticulously crafted trap.
I lowered my head, my fingers trembling slightly as I took the photocopy of the ID card. At that moment, countless scenes from the past flashed through my mind: those were my early days, just stepping out of the naive student life into the stage of society, filled with endless expectations for the future. And James Bennett had been the one who made me believe the world was beautiful. He guided me onto a path I thought was the road to success, but secretly set up countless traps behind my back.
Back then, full of hope, I believed that with his help, I could go further, even surpass everyone one day. But with his fake smiles and carefully crafted words of encouragement, he slowly trapped me. My grades plummeted, my dreams shattered, and my world collapsed. Every move he made was so precise and calm, like it had all been planned from the beginning.
"How did this end up here?" Henry asked, curious.
I didn't answer him, instead, I just stared at the photocopy, a chill spreading through my body. James Bennett's name was clearly visible, even his ID number was right there. In that moment, a thought crossed my mind: this wasn't just James Bennett's ID, it was the key to my revenge.
"I can use this to check everything about him," I thought to myself. "No matter how deeply he hides, or how far he runs, he'll eventually slip up."
I thought about the trust I once gave him, how James Bennett had carefully led me into that glittering trap, pushing me into the depths of despair. I was no longer that young, hopeful genius. I had become an ordinary, aimless person, completely defeated and far from my original dreams.
From that moment on, I began to change completely. Gone were the naivety and weakness of the past; I grew more cautious and cold. I no longer trusted anyone's words, not even the friends I once considered close. And James Bennett became my most despised enemy. I would never forget the moment he pushed me into the abyss, as if a wild beast had pinned me to the ground, letting me struggle in vain.
"Henry, let's go. Keep walking," I said, slipping the ID into my backpack, my voice calm yet resolute. Henry Williams didn't notice my change, continuing with his usual excitement, discussing our exploration plans for the day.
However, deep inside me, a darker force had quietly awakened. This ID card wasn't just a piece of paper—it was the proof of my revenge, the starting point for my path to retribution. I began thinking, if I could find more clues about James Bennett, if I could expose all his crimes, could the people he had hurt ever regain their lost dignity?
I even thought about how it would feel to pull him from his comfortable world, to bring him pain and despair. Remembering the harm he had caused me, I knew I could never go back to that innocent, kind version of myself. All the kindness and tolerance were buried beneath that photocopy, vanished without a trace.
Our footsteps gradually moved from the storage room into the hallway. Henry Williams occasionally said something, but I wasn't really listening. I was lost in my own world, mentally constructing every detail of my revenge. All the pain James Bennett had caused me was slowly transforming into the fuel for my vengeance. I was no longer the weak boy I once was; I was a seeker of retribution, someone who would take control of their own fate.
Ethan Harris, as always, remained silent. He didn't seem to care about our conversation, instead, his calm eyes scanned the surroundings. Perhaps someone like him had long been used to finding subtle clues in every scene. Maybe he had already seen through my change, but didn't say anything. He understood me, knew the inner struggles I faced, and perhaps he knew I had already walked down a road with no turning back.
I knew this road would not be easy. But in that moment, holding the ID card, I understood one thing: my past would no longer bind me. I would find James Bennett, and make him pay for his crimes. No matter how deep he hid, he would never escape my pursuit.
And this… was only the beginning.