Chapter 6
She drew a final, ragged breath, preparing to leap from the building's edge, when a sudden, calm voice broke the silence.
"Why would you do that?"
The voice belonged to a shadow-like figure. As he drew closer, the sharp recognition hit her. "It's you," she breathed, a flicker of excitement immediately dying as her eyes dropped back to the distant pavement.
"I'm tired," she muttered, the exhaustion heavy in her tone. "I've given everything; I have nothing left to give."
"You got a second chance at life," Damian replied, his voice cold and steady. He had heard her painful climb, registered the panic in her quickening heartbeat, and could smell the metallic tang of her blood, knowing she'd been shot. He could tell she was utterly broken. "Why do you intend to throw it away?"
she went down on her feet as she finally spoke the source of her despair, her voice stammering: "They killed him. He is dead. I couldn't save him."
"Tell me, my dear, what happened?" Damian asked, his voice remaining unnervingly calm.
She began to narrate the sequence of events, recounting everything to the last devastating detail. Her voice was steady, yet it shook slightly with strain; she had no tears left to cry.
After listening to her confession, Damian offered a chilling observation. "Well, from what you said, your brother wanted you to survive. That's why he didn't hesitate to give his life for you. Killing yourself would make his sacrifice a waste. If you have no purpose left to live, then live for him."
A short, heavy silence followed. She finally broke it, asking, "What do I do now?"
"REVENGE," he replied, the word dropping like a stone. "Forgiveness is what allows evil to thrive. When actions lack consequences, those actions are bound to repeat themselves. The merciful are vile. For every act of mercy you offer, someone else will pay the price. You have witnessed that, haven't you?"
She stared at his face, lost in a consuming thought. If only... If only she hadn't pitied her brothers, if only she had let them pay for their crimes before, things wouldn't have turned out this way, and Nick would still be alive. An intense, consuming rage ignited deep within her soul. She wanted them to pay.
"They would pay," she declared, her voice now cold and utterly empty of warmth. "For everything they did, they must pay."
She knew the rage consuming her demanded action, but to face her brothers and the inevitable retribution if they discovered she was still alive,she needed power. She needed to get stronger.
"Please, I need your help," she pleaded, her voice earnest. "I need the strength to fight them. Could you show me how?"
After a brief pause, Damian spoke, outlining a monumental offer. "I could give you more. The power to punish those who hurt you and those who hurt others. The power to cast judgment on the wicked. An impenetrable skin and strength beyond men."
He stretched out his hand, gently touching her face. "Would you walk this path with me, or do you want revenge against your brothers only?"
The decision was profound, but the answer was inevitable. After a long moment of contemplation, she replied, "I'll walk with you. I'll dedicate my all to your cause. I'll punish all who mean harm to others. Let me serve you, my lord."
Damian leaned in slightly. "Well then. Show me your resolve. I will train you in the art of combat. Your dedication will prove your resolve, and only then will I give you the power you desire."
"I'll give it my best, my lord," she replied, bowing her head in acceptance.
"Well then, come in,let me treat your wounds and get some rest. Tomorrow we begin our training. Let your rage be your fuel," he said, turning and walking toward his abode.
"I will, my lord," she responded, following him inside.
Over the course of two grueling months, Damian trained her relentlessly. He taught her every martial art he knew, every self-taught skill, hand-to-hand combat, and rigorous workout routines.
During the day, they trained in a remote area outside of town. At night, Damian became a vigilante. He hunted down criminals, knocking out thieves and tying them up for the police. Yet, for certain offenses—specifically sex offenders and murderers—his judgment was final and lethal. For some dark reason, he hated them more.
Damian's nocturnal vigilante acts soon became the top news story. The public was gripped, and the police were in a state of crisis, launching an intense manhunt for the "Midnight Vigilante" who had taken justice entirely into his own hands.
At the police station, the workload was staggering, and their collective incompetence was glaringly visible to the public. Not only were they still unable to locate the missing Rashford heir—the eldest daughter—but this terrifying vigilante had plunged the streets into panic.
On one fateful night, Damian had gone out on his usual hunt. He came across a horrifying sight: a man forcing himself upon an unconscious, bleeding woman. Damian immediately sprang into action, bypassing all restraint and going straight for the kill.
Meanwhile, someone had already notified the police. They arrived at the scene with surprising swiftness, deploying a large contingent of officers, K-9 units, and heavy weaponry. Though such a response was excessive for a single assault, the recent acts of the Midnight Vigilante—especially concerning these types of crimes—meant the police came prepared for a confrontation.
"Hands in the air! Don't make this difficult, please!" the lead officer commanded.
Damian stood with his back facing the overwhelming police presence. The path ahead was completely blocked; there was no escape route. He didn't yet possess the power to leap off a thirteen-story building, making it obvious that the only way out was directly through the heavily armed officers.
I can't attack them, he thought desperately. It would be difficult to escape without them getting hurt. I didn't know the police were on this one; I would have stayed away. I can't get arrested here. What do I do?
Just as panic began to rise, a sharp, machine-like voice responded, sounding only in his mind:
[NEW SKILL ACQUIRED: TELEPORTATION]
A smirk spread across his face. "Well, how convenient," he murmured under his breath.
He instantly activated the teleportation skill and vanished.
The policemen were left in absolute shock, witnessing a man disappear into thin air.
"Damn, that bastard! No wonder he always got away," the lead officer cursed. The rest of the police force quickly moved past the spot where Damian had been standing to retrieve the body of the assailant and ensure the safety of the unconscious girl.
The following day, the newspapers and news channels were buzzing with reports of the dramatic encounter between the police and the vigilante. Crucially, they omitted the detail that he had the ability to disappear. It would be impossible to convince the public that all those deaths were being caused by a ghost. Due to the pure black clothing he habitually wore and his stealthy movements, the press quickly nicknamed him "Shadow."
As Damian walked down the street, the news spread like wildfire. People had sharply mixed opinions: some called him a monster, others hailed him as a hero. He listened to the conflicting reactions coming from the crowd but remained utterly indifferent to their judgment.
Suddenly, he noticed someone tracking him from behind. He continued walking gently but steadily, leading the unknown person toward a quiet, deserted street. When he realized they were completely alone, he quickly spun around, ready to defend himself.
But the person immediately dropped to the ground, offering a clear sign of deference.
"My lord, it is I, Alpha," the person said.
"Huh," Damian uttered, his voice betraying visible shock.
He realized he hadn't planned for Alpha's return yet. He had been so consumed by training Amy and maintaining his vigilante activities that he had completely forgotten about Alpha and their plan.
"Come on, walk with me," Damian instructed, quickly regaining his composure. He immediately turned and headed toward his abode.
"So tell me, how did you find me?" Damian asked as they continued their journey down the street.
"It wasn't hard, my lord," Alpha replied, adjusting his pace "I searched the internet for any news, whether mysterious or terrifying. That's when I encountered an article about the Midnight Vigilante."
Mark explained his methods. "I read every article I could find about it, and the details were intriguing. So, I decided to come here myself to investigate. This morning's news proved I was right." He finished with dedication, "I walked these streets since dawn hoping I'd find you, and I would have continued searching all night if I hadn't found you."
"That's interesting. You're smart," Damian replied, nodding subtly. "Now tell me, do you intend to serve my cause, or do you want your revenge only?"
"Both, my lord," Mark responded without hesitation. "I seek the end of all who seek to harm others. I want both."
After a short walk, they arrived at the street where Damian's apartment building stood. He pointed toward it and said, "Meet me at that building by nightfall. I want to see your resolve."
"My resolve?" Mark asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Yes. You will engage me in hand-to-hand combat. Prove your worth," Damian responded firmly.
Mark instantly understood the challenge. This was the moment to show the effectiveness of his training, all the grueling work he had put in over the last three months.
"Yes, my lord. I will show you my resolve."
He bowed respectfully and departed, melting back into the bustle of the city to prepare. Damian walked into the building and started climbing the stairs. When he reached the door, he found Amy waiting for him. She looked at him, fixing him with an intense gaze.
"My lord, I have a request."
Instinctively, Damian knew what she was asking for.
"I see. So, it's time?" Damian asked.
"Yes, my lord. It's time to take back what's mine," she replied, her voice firm.
Damian allowed a slight smirk to cross his face and walked past her. "Do as you please."
"My Lord," she muttered almost immediately, stopping him.
He suddenly halted his steps and asked, without looking back, "When do you intend to leave?"
"At dawn tomorrow," she replied.
"Then we will see at dawn. Don't disappoint me, Amy," he said, and continued walking toward his room.
"I won't, my lord, I swear on my life," she replied, bowing her head in commitment. As Damian climbed the stairs, he pondered the night ahead. For the last two months, I have trained Amy myself. I know how strong she has gotten; I have seen her resolve. But Alpha, on the other hand... I don't know how strong or skilled he has gotten. Well, I would find out tonight, he thought.
It was nightfall, and as expected, Mark (Alpha) arrived. The two headed to the training location—the remote, convenient spot where Damian had been training Amy.
"This place is convenient and far away from people, so no need to hold back. Show me your resolve," Damian said calmly.
"I won't disappoint you, my lord," Mark responded.
Mark immediately charged toward Damian. Every strike was precise, every hit calculated. His agility and reflexes were outstanding.
His skill is top-notch. How did he get this strong in three months? His resolve must be very strong, Damian noted mentally, easily dodging and countering all of Mark's attacks. Damian could see clearly in the darkness, and his heightened senses allowed him to react much faster than an average human and even so,Mark's combat skills were impeccable but.....
"he is not as skilled as Amy, Damian thought. I had trained Amy at my own pace; my heightened senses gave me an advantage over her. I had not put my superhuman physiology into consideration when I trained Amy.
Suddenly, Damian overwhelmed Mark and tossed him away with a swift push.
"I'm impressed," Damian said. "I've seen your resolve, and it was undeniably true. You are remarkable."
Damian walked up to Mark, who was already back on his feet. He reached out and touched his chest, delivering a powerful decree.
"I'll give you your heart's desire. From now onwards, the name you shall respond to is ALPHA, and I'll grant you ten percent of all my abilities."
Almost immediately, a surge of dark energy rushed into Mark. His eyes glowed a furious purple as he screamed, not in pain, but from the sheer magnitude of the transformation. He could feel power like never before: his perception, senses, strength, and skills increased tremendously. There was no machine-like voice in his head, but he instantly knew all the skills he possessed and exactly how to use them, understanding their deadly or delicate applications. It was as if the instructions were engraved directly into his skull; the feeling was beyond fulfilling.
"So tell me, how long would your revenge take?" Damian asked.
"A week, my lord," Mark responded. "I had the plan laid out, but I realized I didn't have enough power to stop them. They were heavily armed, and I was just human. I kept tabs on them but couldn't face them. But now, I'd make them pay."
"I shouldn't keep you here. We will meet in a week, at that building," Damian replied, taking his leave.
"Yes, my lord," Mark said as he immediately used his new ability and vanished while Damian went back home.
At dawn the next day, Amy walked onto the rooftop to meet Damian, who was seated at the building's edge, gazing out at the sprawling city below. She stood behind him.
"My lord, it's time," she announced.
Damian rose and moved closer to her. He placed his hand on her shoulder. "You've shown great resolve, Amy. I'm impressed." He paused briefly, then continued, "I'll give you your heart's desire. From now onwards, the name you shall answer to is BETA, and I'll grant you ten percent of all my abilities."
Instantly, a surge of dark energy rushed into her, and her eyes flared with a profound purple light. Just like Alpha, she received a complete, immediate grasp of her new, immense abilities.
"Is this your true power?" Amy whispered as she fell to her knees, overwhelmed. "It's truly remarkable. This is the power of a god."
"Don't disappoint me, Beta," Damian spoke calmly.
"On my life, I swear I won't fail," Beta responded, rising, her voice now filled with cold certainty.
"Well then, you can go," Damian said, finally looking away.
Beta disappeared almost immediately, leaving the rooftop silent save for the growing city noise below.
At the headquarters of Rashford Empires, Charles was fully settled into his new role, sitting in the CEO's chair with his feet propped carelessly on the massive table. Luke sat opposite him.
"It seems you're enjoying your position as the CEO," Luke observed.
"Yeah, it's great. Do you know the kind of respect this seat holds? This is the biggest company in this country; the amount of power we possess is inconceivable," Charles boasted. He leaned back, his tone turning venomous. "...Your sister wanted to keep it all to herself. This company is worth hundreds of billions—that greedy bitch!"
"It's a good thing we took her out," Luke added smoothly. "Now you're the CEO, and I'm the Financial Manager and Chief Advisor."
"Acting CEO," Charles corrected, slightly annoyed. "Due to the fact that she was declared missing, not dead... But there will be a board of directors meeting next week. If she doesn't show up before then, I would become the official CEO."
"So that makes you the new CEO since she isn't coming back, right?" Luke asked, smiling.
"That's right," Charles answered.
They both burst into intense, celebratory laughter, which was suddenly and violently interrupted by the television screen mounted on the wall.
[BREAKING NEWS: THE MISSING HEIR TO THE RASHFORD EMPIRES HAS BEEN FOUND]
Charles, who saw the headline first, reacted with pure shock. "What the..." He scrambled for the remote and cranked up the volume.
News Caster: "...the missing heir of the Rashford Empires, Amy Rashford, has been found. Authorities said she showed up at the police station this morning after two months. Her whereabouts for the last two months are still unknown, as she hasn't said anything yet. Medical aids are being provided, and we hope to get answers soon. Stay tuned for more updates."
"No... no! This can't be happening!" Charles gasped, sinking into his chair in total, utter shock.
"How is she still alive... why is she still alive?" Luke added, his voice laced with fear.
Charles immediately called the police station to confirm the report. They informed him that Amy had been taken to a hospital for further inspection and treatment. Without delay, both men rushed to the hospital to see for themselves.
When they arrived, they were prevented from seeing Amy. She had already set up rigorous security measures to keep anyone from entering her room. She had also installed cameras outside her hospital bedroom—and even outside the window—ensuring she would know exactly who came and went.
Seeing that they would not be allowed in, her brothers spoke to the doctor, instructing him to keep their visit a secret. They claimed they would return tomorrow, once she was properly rested.
They both canceled their remaining plans for the day and went straight home. The moment they arrived, Charles tore off his suit and began pacing furiously, consumed by panic, while Luke sat down, lost in thought.
After a long time,The silence was cut by Charles, grasping for any sign of reprieve. "Wha... what if she lost her memory? What if she can't remember anything? That must be why she went to the police first. Maybe she has no clue who she was, that's why she never showed up for the past two months. Maybe this might be a coincidence!" His voice was desperate, clinging to a desperate glimpse of hope.
"Wait... that's also possible," Luke added, snapping out of his deep contemplation. "Maybe she had memory loss and she's trying to figure out what happened."
Charles seized the possibility immediately, his panic morphing into calculating resolve. "Yeah... in that case, we can play along." He began outlining the cover story. "We would tell her we were attacked by an unknown intruder who wanted her dead. They attacked us during dinner. Nick got caught in the shooting, and she managed to escape bleeding. We've searched for her everywhere since then, but to no avail."
Luke picked up the thread, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "Then we'll pretend like we care for a while. We'll convince her to give us the company, arguing that she shouldn't get attacked again while holding such power. And when that's done, we would eliminate her, silently.
"We could say she did it to herself," Charles suggested, his confidence returning. "Tell the public it was self-harm, that she did it due to depression and grief over Nick's death. We would pay everyone who needs to be paid to get the story going. It would be easy." He grinned darkly. "We haven't lost yet. It's time for Phase Two. Put on your acting mask, you'll need it."
"I'll grab some wine," Luke said, standing up. "Rashford Empire is ours to rule."
As he turned to get a bottle of wine, he was interrupted by a chillingly familiar voice.
"Who decided that?" a calm whisper cut through the silence.
The lights in the room began to flicker violently. The doors and windows slammed shut instantly.
"Who's there?" Charles demanded, his voice trembling with terror.
"What do you want?" Luke asked, equally terrified.
The flickering stopped, and the lights suddenly went out. Almost immediately, they snapped back on, revealing a figure standing at the doorway, dressed in the darkest black, a hood shadowing its face and a mask covering its mouth.
Charles immediately fell to the ground, his legs paralyzed by fear. Luke, meanwhile, passed out cold.
"Please spare us, we are innocent," Charles pleaded, panicking, trying desperately to move but finding his body completely unresponsive.
"Nothing wrong, you say?" The figure walked toward Charles, bowing its head toward him. "Shall I jog your memory, Charles?"
The voice felt deeply familiar to him.
"Amy!" Charles screamed in shock, a sound that instantly snapped Luke awake from his slumber.
The figure laughed, a cold, mocking sound. She removed her hood and pulled down her mask.
"Long time no see, brother," Amy said, her eyes glowing with purple resolve.
"How can this be? You're supposed to be in the hospital! How are you doing all this? Are you even the real Amy?" Charles stammered, his voice visibly shaking from the floor.
"You are not Amy! What happened to Amy? What did you do to my beloved sister?" Luke demanded, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and feigned distress.
"Beloved?" Amy spat the word out, the sound ringing cold and hateful. An intense rage boiled within her. She moved forward with terrifying speed and responded with a raging voice.
"How dare you, you monsters!"
She strode toward Luke, grabbing him by the face with full force, her hand pressed so tightly that he screamed in pain.
"You kidnapped your sister, tried to have her murdered, and when your plan failed, instead of making amends and changing, you tried to kill her again!" Her voice trembled with pure, uncontrolled rage. "And you killed your own brother without remorse! Even after months, you still haven't changed. The first day your sister showed up, you were already planning another murder. How cruel are you? You will both pay!"
She released Luke's face and stood upright. Charles immediately began to beg for his life from the floor.
"Amy, please let us live! We would change! Please, one last chance, have mercy!"
She looked directly at Charles, her face emotionless. "I once did," she responded, her tone flat, "and it cost me everything." She took a short, chilling pause and continued, "Not again."
She stretched out her arm, igniting a small purple flame, no bigger than a candlelight, in her palm.
"Amy, please don't! Amy!!!" Luke cried out.
The small purple flame exploded, releasing a devastating wave of energy that consumed the entire mansion, leaving absolutely nothing behind.
Amy, now Beta, vanished instantly, reappearing at the hospital to resume her guise, pretending nothing had happened.
Damian, sitting atop his abandoned building, sensed the massive release of energy and smiled faintly.
"You truly are the Queen of Wrath, Beta," he said softly, gazing up at the stars.
The next day, the newspapers and news channels were consumed by reports of the Rashford mansion incident. Since the method was violent and unexplained, they all assumed it was the work of Shadow, the Midnight Vigilante.
The incident added enormous tension to the police department, forcing their hand. They had no choice but to hire an outside expert. The Police Commander gathered the major staff to introduce the new arrival.
"This is Leon Maximoff," the Commander announced. "He is the best detective in the whole country, and we are hiring him to help us solve these cases and, crucially, to find this mysterious vigilante called Shadow." He then ceded the floor to Leon.
"Hello, everyone. I am Leon," the detective began. "I will be taking over the Midnight Vigilante case. I would like to work with all of you to solve this mystery, so please, all your assistance would be greatly appreciated."
The staff immediately stood and applauded. They showed him around the office, leading him to the files that contained all their research and dead ends concerning the Midnight Vigilante.
Meanwhile, Amy (Beta) returned to Rashford Empire, effortlessly reclaiming her rightful seat as the CEO of the company. She also informed the police that her deceased brothers were responsible for her disappearance and the death of her youngest brother, Nick.
The police, logically, assumed that Shadow had somehow gained this knowledge, which was why he had executed them. They couldn't possibly connect Amy to the crime because of her meticulous alibi: the cameras she had installed outside her hospital room doors and windows had captured nothing to suggest she had ever left.
Amy bought the abandoned building she had previously hidden in and immediately began its reconstruction. The building was completed in less than a week. She also purchased a luxurious, private apartment for Damian and gave him a debit card for any expenses.
"You know, Beta, you didn't have to," Damian said, standing with Amy outside the newly constructed building.
"This is nothing, my lord," Amy replied. "I owe you my life—you gave me purpose—and this is nothing in comparison."
As they explored every floor of the building, Amy asked, "My lord, may I ask why you called me Beta? Is there another, or are you the Alpha?"
"Of course, there is Alpha," Damian answered. "He would be here anytime soon, and I intend to make this place our base. Would that be fine by you?"
"Yes, my lord. The building belongs to you, and the decisions are yours to make," Amy responded immediately.
"Well then, do me a favor and make everything available for the base, from computers to gadgets and multiple beds," Damian requested.
"Yes, boss. I would make it available before sundown today," she confirmed, then added softly, "My lord, may I ask something?"
"What is it, Beta?" Damian asked.
"Can I build another base? I want to convert my brothers' former mansion into a permanent base with underground apartments large enough to occupy over five thousand people. And I would also make a satellite available for it," she responded softly.
Damian stopped, his mind reeling as he processed the information. A satellite... an underground apartment that can house five thousand people... how rich is she? How big was her brother's mansion? And a damn satellite—that's worth billions. I need to maintain my composure. My parents were rich, but this is a different level of wealth, he thought.
"My lord, is that too much?" Amy asked, interrupting his racing thoughts.
"No, it's fine. If it's convenient for you, you can proceed," Damian said, maintaining a calm exterior.
"Then I would commence as planned," Amy responded.
Damian retired to his new apartment. It had been a long time since he had slept on a comfortable bed, so he laid down and muttered softly, "No vigilante for today. I need this rest." He passed out almost immediately.
Damian woke up early the next morning. He turned on the TV, hoping to watch a show or something interesting, but was immediately grabbed by the news headline:
[THE MIDNIGHT VIGILANTE STRUCK AGAIN, KILLING THREE KIDNAPPERS AND RESCUING 10 VICTIMS]
He looked around for his phone and called Amy immediately. He was shocked to realize she had nothing to do with it; she had long known he was the Midnight Vigilante, even without him telling her.
Someone was acting as him, and he doesn't know their intent.
"Could it be Alpha? He was supposed to return yesterday, but he didn't show up," he mused to himself.
"My lord," a voice spoke from behind him.
He turned swiftly to see who it was. "Oh, Alpha, you've returned," he spoke softly.
"Yes, my lord. My apologies for startling you. I went to the apartment you said we should meet, but it was completely rebuilt and furnished. I knew you'd already moved out," Alpha explained. "So I searched for who bought it, found some interesting details about her and other things she owned. One of them was this building. I searched all her properties in town. I intended to search her personal apartment last, but I found you here."
Good thing he didn't search her apartment first. It would have been a deadly battle between my two pupils, Damian thought to himself.
"Anyways, about her, I'll fill you in later," Damian said, staring back at the TV. "Are you responsible for the death of those kidnappers last night?"
"No, my lord. I had just arrived. I didn't want to cause any trouble without your permission," Alpha replied almost immediately.
"Then it seems someone is trying to be me," Damian said, a brief smirk forming on his face. "And the question is why."
He stood up, his interest piqued. "Well, it's time to find out who is trying to be me."