Atonement Novel Review の小説・ストーリー

"They're pushing me to my limit." Riley placed her hands on mine, her eyes full of worry. "Athena, are you okay?" she asked softly. I looked up at her, and honestly, right now, different emotions were flowing through me, but the most prominent was anger. I was so pissed that I didn't mind going along with Austin's idea. But death was not an appropriate punishment for Dylan and his buddies. "I'm so pissed. I can barely contain my rage. He really had to do this, but I'm grateful. It only makes my thirst for revenge greater," I answered, squeezing her hand softly.

Damian POV The morning after my first run with Anton's shipment, Mark wakes me up and tells me we're going to watch a deal. "Watch only," he says as we drive through the grey streets. "No talking, no questions, or reaction, you are there to learn, and not to participate." The meeting is in a restaurant that has not opened for the day. The lights are off, the chairs are stacked on tables, and the only illumination comes from a single lamp in the back room where four men sit around a small table.

He drops to the ground, and I see a flash of another body – bloody, human, hands raised, begging for mercy… My hands start to shake, and I grab Christian by the throat, long before he can stand. “Atonement. This will make it right.” “Another death?” he gasps, blinking in disorientation, even though that sizzling, bloody mark on his temple is already healing. “How could that make right any sin? Whatever you’ve done--” “Shut-up! This is not murder. You are already dead, you evil abomination--” “And you’re rambling,” he cuts me off, eyes holding mine. “And still, so very much, hesitating.”

Their faces were pale, as if all the strength had drained from them. Some collapsed to the ground and muttered in despair, "It's over… Everything is over. I've lost everything." There was no longer any doubt about the result of the fight. Ashton had won not only the fight but the entirety of Javonbury. He would claim the enormous wager worth trillions and secure a new stronghold for the Legion. The consequences of this battle might even reshape the balance of power across the entire nation. As he stood in the combat arena, he drew a deep breath. During this fight, he had successfully broken into the divine realm and achieved the goal he had set for himself. He felt an overwhelming rush of tr

"We must finish what we started." ------ The fire in the sanctuary had long been quenched, but its ashes still whispered stories to the wind—stories of sacrifice, betrayal, love, and redemption. Now, with the weight of the past behind them, Isabella and Arthur stood as unwavering beacons of resilience. Back in the village, the church had undergone another transformation. Walls were repainted not just with colour, but with prayers. The pulpit, once defiled by Elder Gideon's corrupted messages, now echoed truth. In every sermon, Arthur’s voice rang clear, anchored in grace and strength.

"Oh, Councilman Reed, you flatter me! Ashton is simply… devoted." *Devoted.* The lie hung in the air, thick and suffocating. Devotion felt like Novah’s tentative smile in the library stacks, the way her eyes widened when she grasped a difficult concept, the scent of vanilla and old paper that clung to her hair. Devotion was the memory of her body pressed against his in the cottage, the fragile hope in her voice when she whispered his name. Not this grotesque pantomime.

I sat there, trying to figure out what to do next. This was not just any ordinary casino, it was a symbol of betrayal, a sign that someone in my crew had gone behind my back to start a business without my knowledge. I watched as people walked in and out of the establishment, laughing and going about their business. The coldness of the night was a reflection of the anger and frustration I felt inside. I was used to having the upper hand, but now I felt like I was losing it. I had always trusted my crew, but now I was questioning everyone's loyalty. This was a clear act of betrayal, and I was determined to get to the bottom of it.

Too many hands. Too much weight. For the first time in years... Mark Romano was forced to one knee. Rain streamed down his face. Blood stained his shirt. Still... He lifted his head. Defiant. Unbroken. The attackers stepped back. A path opened through the crowd. Alessandro Moretti walked forward slowly, applauding. "Magnificent." He stopped in front of Mark. "I've heard stories." He smiled. "They weren't exaggerated." Mark met his eyes without fear. "If you're going to kill me..."

His muddy eyes are sunken, and his skin is pallid and sickly looking. I wait until they’re both undressed before I pounce. Dalton is about to walk towards the bed when I wrap my forearm around his neck and put him in a sleeper hold. His body instantly slumps to the ground, unconscious. Bonnie turns at the sound of his body falling and cries out in rage when she sees Dalton’s prone form. Lips pulled back, her face tightens as she rushes towards him. I don’t know what she thought when she attacked me. I’m over six feet tall, muscular, and in the prime of my life, not some emaciated homeless man desperate for life’s basic needs.

All he got from her was a stare that hinted nothing. They quietly carried on with their dinner until she decided to break the silence. “Atonement.” “What?” “Anyone who violates the rights of others must certainly atone for the damages or harm they did. Killing is a sin. You must atone for your sins.” “I enjoyed killing those people, yes. And perhaps it was my addiction. Addiction is an illness and not a crime.” Did he ever ask to be what he had become? He certainly did not, but couldn’t complain either. Should he be ashamed that he enjoyed every second he spent with his victims? Will shamelessly thought not.