Chapter 1

Kieran’s POV

“Fuck… today’s been a damn mess,” I groaned, tossing my apron on the counter. My back ached, my feet were killing me, and I just wanted to disappear into my bed forever.

“Yeah me too,” my female colleague Lucia muttered, tying up her hair with a tired sigh. “Feels like the universe woke up and chose violence today.”

I snorted, even though nothing about today was funny. From that creep on the bus who wouldn’t stop brushing his hands against me this morning, to spilling food on two customers, to the manager docking my pay yeah, perfect fucking day.

“Hey, Eran, what the hell you zoning out for?” Lucia said, snapping me out of it. “Come on, let’s pack up before we miss the last damn bus.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, helping her clean up the counter. My body was running on fumes.

Once we finished, we locked up and stepped out into the cold night. The street was quiet, just few people could be seen. My phone screen lit up as I checked it for the hundredth time still no message.

The last one from Emily read:

Sorry, babe. Can’t celebrate our anniversary today. Really busy, but I’ll call you by 8 p.m.

It was already quarter past nine. No call, not even a fucking text.

I tried calling her again straight to voicemail.

Lucia gave me a look. “Why the long face, bro?”

“Nothing,” I said, forcing a half-assed smile. “Just hoping Darius’s still up and hasn’t locked the damn door. I told him we’d be working late. It’s Saturday usually we’re drowning in customers by now, but today was just… hell.”

Lucia groaned. “You can say that again. I swear if one more person had complained about cold fries, I’m throwing the fryer at ‘em.”

I laughed tiredly. “Honestly? I’d pay to see that.”

We both cracked up as we walked toward the bus stop.

………………………………………………………………….

By the time the bus screeched to a stop in front of my street, it was already close to ten. The air was cold. I tugged my jacket tighter and cursed under my breath. “Figures,” I muttered. “Perfect fucking ending to a perfect day.”

Lucia elbowed me lightly before stepping off. “You good to get home?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said, forcing a smile. “See you on Monday.”

“Try not to trip over your own feet again,” she teased, waving as she walked the other way.

I rolled my eyes. “Ha-ha, hilarious.”

When the bus pulled off, the whole street felt empty. The kind of silence that crawls up your spine. Darius’s house was just a few blocks away, lights still glowing faintly from the windows. Good at least he hadn’t gone to bed yet.

I climbed the steps. The door creaked when I pushed it open. Weird. He never left it unlocked this late.

“Bro?” I called softly, stepping inside. No answer.

His Shirt was on the couch, shoes kicked off near the stairs. Music played faintly from upstairs, like one of those R&B tracks s

he always used when he wanted to “set a mood.”

I frowned. “Darius? You awake?”

Still nothing.

I set my bag down and started walking toward his room. The closer I got, the louder the sounds became and then I froze.

It wasn’t only music i was hearing, there was also some weird sounds

My stomach dropped.

No… no fucking way.

I stood there for a second, praying I was hearing wrong. But the bed creaked again and a loud groan followed right after. What the fuck is this dude up to.

I didn’t even think. My hand shot for the doorknob, and before I knew it.

I swung the door open, only for my breath to vanish at the sight before me. The bed creaked. Wait what's…Emily's. Her moans filled the room, shameless and raw. And the man moving over her was no one else. It was Darius. My bestfriend.

For a second, I thought my chest would burst. My voice cracked when I finally spoke. "Emily… Darius… what the hell is this?" They pulled away from eachother.

Emily didn’t even flinch a single bit. She brushed her hair back with a lazy smirk, sweat were shining on her skin. “You weren’t supposed to find out like this,” she said, voice filled with mock pity. “But maybe it’s better you did. Saves me the trouble of lying.”

“This,” she said coldly, “is me finally enjoying myself. You really thought I’d waste my life on a broke nobody like you?”

Darius chuckled darkly and slid off the bed, grabbing his shirt and pants to put on as he walked towards him. “Don’t look at me like that,” Darius sneered. “What did you expect? You’re dense, Kieran. Always hanging around us like a lost dog. Did you really think you were on my level? Look at you.” He swept his gaze up and down with disgust. “You’re nothing.”

My fists trembled. “I trusted you….. both of you”

Emily’s laugh cut into me deeper than any blade. “You trusted us because you’re pathetic. You can’t even afford rent without him. Do you know what it’s like to date a man who counts coins before buying a meal? Gosh!! So Embarrassing.”

My face burned with anger. “Get out of my way, Darius.”

But Darius only smiled wider, stepping closer, voice dripping with mockery. “Or what? You’ll swing at me? Please. You can’t even swing at life.”

Emily pulled the sheet over herself then stood up, eyes glittering with cruelty. “Listen, Kieran. If you want to stay here, we might let you… but only if you know your place.”

My eyes narrowed. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

Darius laughed. “Beg. Get on your knees. Admit you’re nothing without me. Become our little errand boy, and maybe we’ll let you sleep on the couch while I fuck your girlfriend ermm.. no ex girlfriend on my bed.”

Emily smirked, enjoying every second. “Think of it as charity. You’re broke, homeless, and useless. At least this way, you’d belong to someone.”

Those words hollowed me out, each one a felt like a hard slap on my face. My chest heaved, anger rising at my throat, but their laughter even worsened it. Emily’s soft but cruel giggle. Darius’s low, mocking chuckle.

My chest heaved, rage trembling in every muscle. For some seconds, i just stared at them my pride screamed not to let them win.

Slowly, i forced a smile, though my eyes burned with unshed tears. “You think I’ll beg you? No. One day, you both will be the ones on your knees begging me.” My voice hardened, but i pushed on, my fingers pointing at them. “And when that day comes, I won’t show mercy.”

For a beat, silence. Then Darius threw his head back and laughed, clutching his stomach like it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard.

“You?” Darius wheezed between laughs. “You’re threatening me? The broke rat who sleeps on my couch and eats my food? The guy who couldn’t even keep his girlfriend without me stealing her?” He stepped closer, jabbing a finger into my chest. “You’ll never be anything but a loser. A stray dog who got too close to lions.”

Emily smirked, resting against Darius with a lazy pout. “Beg you? Don’t make me laugh. Look at you, Kieran. You can barely feed yourself two square meals each day. What do you have that anyone would want? Certainly not me.”

My jaw clenched. “Remember what I said,” i muttered, voice low, heavy with a promise i couldn’t yet back up. I turned, refusing to give them the satisfaction of seeing my tears. I walked to towards wardrobe then began packing.

The packing didn't even take three minutes since all i had where little clothes. Once done i turned to leave.

Their laughter followed me to the door, cruel and sharp, cutting into me with every steps i made. My hand was on the knob when Emily’s voice rang out, sweet and mockingly.

“Oh, and Kieran ”

I stopped, my shoulders stiffened.

“Leave the watch,” she said with a smirk. “The one I gave you. It looks better on someone who actually deserves me.”

Darius snorted. “Yeah, rat. Hand it over. She only bought it because you couldn’t afford it yourself.”

I looked down at the silver watch on mu wrist the only gift i’d ever truly cherished. My fists trembled as i unclasped it, every click of the metal a fresh cut to my pride. I set it on the table without a word.

Emily giggled softly. “Good boy.”

I didn’t look back. I walked out quietly.

“Pathetic,” Darius muttered behind me. “Crawl away, rat.”

THE MILLENNIA BAR

The whiskey burned down my throat, but couldn't burn away the echo of Emily's laughter.

I slammed another empty glass onto the counter, slurring, "Another."

The bartender frowned, his arms crossed. "Hey, that's your fifth one tonight. You paying or not?"

I patted my pockets, knowing before my hand even came back empty. No bills or even a single penny.

I lifted my head slowly, eyes glassy. "Guess not."

The bartender muttered a curse and stomped off.

Minutes later, two broad men filled the space beside me, blocking out the light. One of them cracked his knuckles. "Boss says you don't pay, you pay another way."

“You'd have paid with your damn ass, guess you lucky today.“ the second guy responded.

Before I could even lift my hands, a fist drove into my gut.

Pain exploded through me, bending me over the counter. Another blow smashed across my jaw, sending me sprawling to the floor.

Boots landed on my ribs, my arms, my back. But instead of crying, I laughed.

A ragged, broken laugh that spilled blood from my mouth. Every kick just made it louder, harsher.

I laughed until the men hesitated, their boots pausing mid-air. "You think this hurts?" I spat thick blood onto the floor, still grinning. "You think this is pain? I already lost everything tonight."

Another kick knocked the wind from me, but I wheezed out a chuckle.

In the haze of blood and alcohol, my thoughts drifted upward, far away.

Maybe this is it. Maybe I'll finally see them again. Mom. Dad. Maybe I'll finally stop being alone.

I closed my eyes, ready to let the darkness take me.

But the beating stopped. The men stepped back, exchanging uneasy looks.

One of them muttered, "This dude is crazy."

The boss sneered from the corner, cigar glowing in the dim light. "Enough. He's not worth the mess. Toss him out before he bleeds his entire blood on my floor." I turned slightly to see their boss, he gave me a light smirk as he turned and walked away.

Their rough hands dragged me outside and dumped me into the rain.

I lay there on the cold pavement, laughing and coughing until I couldn't tell the difference.

I dragged myself up from the wet pavement with the little strength left in me, every of my ribs were aching badly. My blood mixed with rain as I staggered and limped weakly towards the only thing I still had my car.

A wretched old thing, dented and rusting, but it was the last piece of my parents. The only thing of value they had left me before death stole them away.

I never had the heart to sell it. It was all I had left of family, of home.

I slid into the driver's seat, my chest heaving.

My hands trembled as I gripped the wheel started the engine and began driving. I had no destination, no place, God knows where.

For a while, i stayed silence.

Then the pain came crashing in, the betrayal, the beating, every cruel word Emily and Darius spat at me.

It pressed down on me until it broke me open.

Tears blurred my vision. I choked back sobs, but they only grew louder, spilling out into the empty car.

"Why… why me?" I whispered hoarsely.

"Why did it have to be me?"

The road ahead shimmered, blurred by my tears.

I didn't see the incoming truck ahead until the horn blared loudly.

Blinding headlights. The screech of tires.

And then…

The car turned over, metal shrieking, glass exploding around me.

My parents' car folded in on itself like paper, trapping me inside.

Upside down, I gasped for air. Fuel leaked from the tank, the smell choking me as it dripped toward the fire sparks in the ruined engine.

My seatbelt jammed tight, locking me in.

I yanked at it, clawing, coughing, my panic rising.

"Come on come on," I gasped, pulling until my hands bled.

And then…

The car exploded.