I Was the Hero, But She Turned Me Into the Villain-Chapter 11 - 10 : Convergence – Part 4

My heart sank heavily. Something dark stirred in my stomach, a bitter mixture of rage and unbridled hatred began to consume me.

Alice remained motionless for a few moments, breathing heavily and with her head bowed. Then she straightened up, covering her cheek with a trembling hand, not daring to look at him directly.

For a moment, the room seemed to empty of all sound. Even my breathing seemed to falter.

Frederick broke the silence with a low, wet laugh that made me gag. His dark eyes sparkled with delight as they moved from Alice to me, enjoying, feasting on the expression on my face.

—Tsk... so sensitive. —His tongue darted out to wet his cracked lips. Then his gaze slid back to Alice, who was trembling faintly.— Come to my room tonight.

Alice stumbled.

—Don’t look at me like that, —he went on, leaning slightly closer, his voice dropping to a hoarse, disgustingly soft whisper.— I promise that after tonight... you’ll be begging for more.

His hand started to rise, as if to caress her bruised cheek. The faint tremor in his fingers revealed what truly excited him. Alice stepped back, her breathing growing more unsteady.

A loud buzzing filled my ears. My vision clouded over completely.

Something cracked inside me. My entire focus narrowed to that hand reaching out, to that filthy smile spreading on his lips.

Without thinking —without even feeling my own body— I lunged at him. My fist exploded against his jaw with a dull thud.

—Bang!

Frederick toppled backward with a strangled grunt, his ass slamming hard against the floor. A thin line of scarlet began to trickle from his lips. My hand throbbed with a pain so sharp it sent bright sparks across my vision —but I didn’t stop.

—You... you bastard...! —he growled as he staggered up, a wild, crazed look in his eyes.

—YOU’LL PAY FOR THIS!

He charged at me clumsily. I grabbed the tray Alice had left on the side table and smashed it over his head.

—Cric!

Glass shattered. The porcelain plate cracked against his forehead with a muffled crunch, and the metal rim of the tray slammed straight into his nose. Frederick let out a strangled cry as blood poured from his nostrils. Bits of egg, sausage, and a dark torrent of scalding coffee spilled down his face and chest, burning his skin.

—AAAAARGH! —he screamed, clutching at his face, leaving streaks of red and steaming blisters.

I gave him no chance. I threw myself on top of him, gripping his throat and slamming his head into the floor without mercy. My fist came down once, twice, ten times —in a frenzy so complete I almost forgot he was human, deaf even to the popping of my own knuckles. I didn’t care. Each blow only stoked the flames of my fury higher.

—P-please... s-stop... —he sobbed through bubbling blood, his face so swollen it was nearly unrecognizable.

I didn’t listen. I didn’t want to. My fist crashed down again, splattering red droplets that began to stain the carpet.

.

.

.

—What... what is happening here?!

A voice cracked like a whip through the room, tinged with confusion and a rising fury. My hands froze midair, bloodied knuckles trembling above Frederick’s ruined face.

I turned slowly. In the doorway stood a woman with reddish-brown hair, clutching the frame. Her sharp, cunning eyes widened in horror —a horror that, a second later, turned into a cold hatred that slammed into me head-on.

—INSOLENT! —she thundered, her icy voice detonating through the room.

Before I could react, two guards flanking her lunged at me. Their hands clamped down without hesitation, twisting my arms and slamming me to the floor.

My chest heaved violently. Frederick’s hot blood still clung to my fingers, as if determined to remind me of what I’d done.

She strode toward us without hesitation, though the slight stiffness in her steps betrayed her roiling emotions. Her eyes, outwardly calm, carried a hint of sadness —but beneath that lay a spark of hate that made my stomach churn.

She knelt beside Frederick, ignoring me completely, pulling out a handkerchief to gently wipe the blood from his face.

—M-mother... —he whimpered, voice cracking.

I saw her draw a tiny, nearly imperceptible breath before whispering words softer and more dangerous than a shout.

—It’s alright, Freddy... it’s over now.

Her eyes, however, snapped back to me with a cold, almost feral gleam. The very same look that had driven the guards to slam me into the ground.