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Home / Imagination Short Story / Beyond Redemption / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of Beyond Redemption: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

12 Chapters

Chapter 1

Aaron's POVThe scarlet admission letter lay on the dining table, its cover stamped in gold with the words Northbridge University.Under the name field, the letters were brutally clear: Landon Hutchinson.And I sat at the far edge of the table, my fingers clenched around a crumpled transcript.That was my transcript.Top GPA in my class. More than enough for direct admission to Northbridge's graduate program."Landon, have some beef."My father broke the dead silence. He picked out the biggest slice of beef and, out of habit, placed it in my older brother Landon Hutchinson's bowl.Then, as if he had suddenly remembered I existed, he picked up a few limp greens and dropped them into mine."Aaron, don't blame us."Your brother's system said that if he doesn't get into Northbridge this year, it'll erase his intelligence. His brain has never worked as well as yours. If he really becomes disabled, his whole life is over."My mother sat at the head of the table, a newspaper in her

Chapter 2

Vivian Harkins placed the gift box on the table and gently pushed it toward Landon Hutchinson.Then she turned around and set both hands on my shoulders."Aaron, everything has an optimal solution."Landon's situation is special. This is a matter of survival. You, on the other hand, are only delaying your enrollment by one year. Between life and time, we can only choose to preserve life. This is the lowest-risk solution."I opened my mouth, and tears fell without warning."But... do you know how many nights I stayed up for that?""I know you feel wronged."Vivian's fingers brushed gently over the corner of my eye, wiping away my tears. The movement was as tender as a lover's, but her words were an executioner's blade. "But you love me so much. We are going to be family. Isn't it only right for you to share the family's risks? Aaron, don't make me think you're selfish."Selfish?I had burned my wrist making her porridge.I had stayed up organizing her teaching materials until

Chapter 3

The celebration banquet was held at the biggest hotel in the city.A bright red banner hung above the stage: Congratulations to Our Beloved Son Landon Hutchinson on His Admission.Landon wore a custom white suit, the pink diamond cuff links glittering at his wrists.He held Vivian's arm and accepted everyone's praise."Mrs. Hutchinson, you're so blessed. Your son is so accomplished. I heard it's direct graduate admission?""Dr. Harkins is young and promising too. To take such good care of her fiance's older brother, what a blessing for both families."I wore an old T-shirt and jeans and stood in the shadows of a corner.Before we left, my father had said my suit was too big and ill-fitting, so he had it altered for my brother as a backup."You won't be going onstage anyway. What does it matter what you wear? Don't steal your brother's spotlight."At that moment, my father pushed through the crowd, grabbed my arm, and dragged me into an even more hidden corner."Aaron, hand ov

Chapter 4

I turned and walked out of the banquet hall. Behind me, the applause and cheers were sealed away by the doors.I felt heat rush from my nose. When I wiped it, my palm came away crimson.Blood dripped onto the carpet and spread quickly.I followed the emergency stairwell to the terrace.My vision began to blur. The city neon stretched into twisted lines.My phone vibrated.It was a message from Vivian Harkins.[Stop throwing a tantrum. After this ends, I'll take you for a late-night meal at that diner you like.][Landon did very well today. You should be happy for him. After all, he's your brother. Once he succeeds, he'll help you too.]I looked at the screen, and a mocking curve tugged at my lips.She remembered that I liked that diner, but she had forgotten that I only liked it because back then, we were poor and it was all we could afford.Now that she had risen in the world, she gave my brother custom suits, diamonds, and my graduate admission.What she gave me was still

Chapter 5

The banquet continued late into the night.Vivian Harkins had drunk quite a bit, her cheeks flushed as she escorted Landon Hutchinson back to the villa.Landon held the enormous bouquet, his face glowing with happiness."Vivian, thank you for today. Without you, I really wouldn't have known what to do."Vivian loosened her tie and waved him off with a smile."We're family. No need to say that."My father looked around."Where's Aaron? That brat still hasn't come back?"My mother frowned."Call him. It's so late, and he's still out wandering around. What kind of behavior is that?"My father pulled out his phone and dialed my number, but no one answered."No answer?"He cursed under his breath."He's spoiled rotten. Ignore him. Let him go hungry once, and he'll know to come back."Vivian glanced at the wall clock. It was one in the morning.Irritation rose faintly in her heart.Aaron Hutchinson could be a little temperamental, but he had never stayed out all night."I'll

Chapter 6

Vivian Harkins's hand shook, and the phone nearly slipped to the floor."What did you say?"A male body? Officer, even scams need to follow basic logic. Aaron Hutchinson sent me a message two hours ago."The policewoman on the other end ignored her sarcasm."The deceased was wearing a white T-shirt and jeans. He was holding a phone with blood on the screen. His last message was sent to a contact saved as Vivian Harkins. The content was, 'I'm leaving.'"Vivian's expression froze.That was the last message she had received from me.She had thought "leaving" meant leaving the hotel."Please come immediately. If you refuse to cooperate, we will compel your attendance."The call ended.The busy tone sounded especially piercing in the silent room.Downstairs, Landon's laughter drifted up."Dad, this cake is so good. You should try some too."Vivian felt dizzy.She gripped the desk, her fingertips touching the cold surface.Impossible.Aaron Hutchinson valued his life so much.

Chapter 7

Third-Person POVImpossible...Vivian Harkins muttered to herself.She suddenly grabbed the male officer's arm."He was always healthy! He hardly even caught colds! How could he suddenly become brain-dead? Did you make a mistake? This must be some fake-death drug! He's acting!"The officer shook off her hand."Acting? Then show me how to act as a corpse."He pointed at the purplish livor mortis that had already appeared on Aaron Hutchinson's neck."These are postmortem changes. He has been dead for at least three hours."Vivian's mind went blank.Three hours ago.She had been at the banquet, watching Landon present that paper and basking in applause.At that same time, Aaron had been alone on the terrace.Bleeding from the nose, feeling his life slip away bit by bit.And she had sent him messages.Telling him he was throwing a tantrum.Telling him he should be happy for his brother.Vivian bent over and retched violently.My mother leaned against the wall, her face gr

Chapter 8

Aaron's POVLandon Hutchinson had become disabled.In the police station morgue, he soiled himself on the floor and grabbed random items to stuff into his mouth.A doctor arrived, examined him, and shook his head."Severe cognitive impairment. His intelligence has regressed to the level of a three-year-old. Irreversible."My mother's hair turned white overnight.When my father woke and saw giggling Landon and cold, lifeless Aaron, he fainted again.This time, it was a stroke. His mouth twisted, his eyes drooped, and half his body was paralyzed.Vivian Harkins gripped the flash drive tightly.The police had returned it to her as a personal belonging.She inserted it into her laptop.When the folder opened, it contained not only the raw data for that paper.There was also a hidden folder.Its name was: Diary for Vivian Harkins.With trembling fingers, she clicked it open.[October 15, 2020. Vivian had a stomachache today. I skipped class to buy medicine for her and got sco

Chapter 9

It had been one week since I "died" on the Billton Hotel terrace.During that week, I was not completely unaware.I had a long, strange dream filled with bizarre lights and shifting shadows. In the dream, the mechanical voice of the system rang out again.[Transaction complete. Host Aaron Hutchinson's original body has perished. Soul-transfer program initiating. Target vessel: Sebastian Whitmore, biology heir rendered brain-dead in a car accident.]When I opened my eyes again, I saw the snow-white ceiling of a top private hospital.A male nurse cried out that it was a miracle, and doctors swarmed in.I lifted my hand and saw long, fair fingers with no burn scars.It took me three days to adapt to this body.Then I drove to Westhaven Memorial Park. It was raining heavily.I stood beneath a cypress tree in the distance, looking through the curtain of rain at the small cluster of people gathered around a newly placed headstone.That was my headstone.The person lying in that ur

Chapter 10

Three years later.Boston, Northbridge University, Biology Department Laboratory Building.Now, I was Sebastian Whitmore.The youngest associate professor in Northbridge University's biology department, and the head of a nationally funded key laboratory.Over these three years, my life had been full and busy. My talent was like a seed buried for years that had finally found suitable soil and grown wildly."Professor Whitmore, the new lab equipment just arrived. It needs your signature."My teaching assistant, Jake, pushed open the lab door. Behind him was a courier in a dusty work uniform.I answered casually, "Leave it there.""Um... it has to be signed for in person."The courier's voice was low, cautious, and hoarse.Even after three years, I recognized that voice instantly.The woman in front of me wore a baseball cap. Her skin had become dark and rough from long exposure to wind and sun.Her back was hunched. There was no trace left of the elegant, confident department

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