A NEW PLAN

Chapter 3: A New Plan

Anna Pov…

I pushed him, not knowing why I did.

“Who the hell are you? What gave you the right to save me from ending my life? And as if that’s not enough—you kissed me too?”

My tone said it all. I was angry. Furious.

“I only came to claim what belongs to me. And I want you to come with me,” he said, calm and commanding. He wasn’t pleading—he was ordering. And I wasn’t finding it funny.

“Well, if you’re not going to tell me who you are, then get the hell out of here and let me do what I was about to do.”

I hissed and turned back to the ocean.

“Don’t try to stop me. Living is already a hell of its own.”

I tried to jump again, but he pulled me back.

“What do you think you’re doing? You’re making a grave mistake.”

His voice quivered this time. There was something in his tone—a tremor I hadn’t heard before. Fear.

I looked into his eyes—those golden brown eyes—and that strange pang of familiarity struck me again. There was something about them I couldn’t place. Something I didn’t want to remember.

“Wouldn’t you rather live and avenge your family?”

His words hit me harder than I expected.

I looked at him, eyes wide in shock.

Yes, I had always wanted to avenge my parents’ deaths. But there was fear. Guilt. And then it hit me: how did he know?

I didn’t hide it.

“How are you able to—?”

“Able to read your thoughts?” he said, chuckling. My shock deepened.

Now I was sure—he wasn’t human. No way.

“That’s a question for another day. Just think about what I told you. It would honor your family if you could avenge their deaths. Maybe that’s why you didn’t die, too.”

He smiled, calm and eerie. I stared at him like he held the secret to my ruin.

“I’ll be back to claim what’s mine. Don’t bother hiding—I will find you.”

Before I could reply, he vanished. Just like that—gone without a trace.

My tired legs gave way, and I dropped to the ground, his words echoing in my head.

Maybe he was right.

Maybe I was spared for vengeance.

Maybe that’s the only way God would forgive me.

And suddenly the plan changed: take revenge on those who destroyed me.

And make them suffer for the pain they caused.

As I thought about it, I could feel rage building up inside me—rage unlike anything I’d ever experienced. And I wondered, where has this fury been all this time?

Maybe it was buried beneath the weight of self-loathing. Maybe I’d been too angry at myself to ever feel anger for anyone else.

Staring into the empty night, I found myself strangely grateful to the one man who, in his own twisted way, gave me the courage to finally face what I’d been avoiding.

Yes—that man. The one who took my family from me.

And that bastard ex-boyfriend who didn’t just betray me—he used my pain against me.

I would end them all.

My fists clenched tightly, my body trembling, my eyes burning red with fury.

I was ready to destroy.

I was ready to make them pay.

“Louis Augustine,” I whispered, seething, “I’m coming for you.”

“And to the man who killed my family without a shred of mercy—I promise, you’ll suffer even more.”

Drawing on the last strength in my weary body, I pushed myself off the ground and staggered toward the roadside to find a taxi. I needed to get home. And I needed to hear a familiar voice.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Eva—my best friend. She always picked up. Always.

But not this time. The phone rang once. Twice. Three times.

What the hell? Why wasn’t she answering?

Then finally—

“Hello, baby girl,” she answered cheerfully.

But I didn’t smile. I was still pissed that she didn’t pick up sooner.

“I’m sorry, baby. I was taking a shower,” she added quickly, sensing my silence. Her concern softened my anger.

Why hadn’t I thought of her earlier, before I nearly threw my life away?

She would’ve been crushed if I’d died.

“Are you there?” Her voice snapped me out of my spiral.

“Yeah…”

I was cut off by a sharp, stabbing pain in my side. It hit hard—deep in my stomach. But just as suddenly as it came, it vanished.

“I—”

The pain returned sharper, stronger and this time, it didn’t go away.

I collapsed.

My knees gave out, and I hit the ground, clutching my stomach. My body was on fire. My breath came in ragged gasps.

I didn’t want to die. Not anymore.

Not now.

I groaned, the pain unbearable, tears springing to my eyes.

“What’s wrong with you, Anna? Anna!”

Eva’s voice was frantic on the other end. I could feel her panic.

“Bridge…” I managed to whisper.

Then everything went black.