More than a game episode 36

??? More than a game ???

~~~ Beyond jilting ~~~

?? Book thirty six ??

 

 

? Iris’ standpoint ?

Thun-derstruck, I was thun-derstruck. I mean I knew Violet was wicked but I thought she really had changed. I couldn’t believe my eyes or ears, not even when she was right in front of me. Violet had betrayed me, or maybe she never was a friend in the first place. The only thing I could do was stare at her with endless tears running down my cheeks.

“I’m sorry Iris, but being good is so not my thing, especially when I have to live un-der your shadow. Everything and everyone is all about Iris, no one even considers Violet, if she is in pain too. I can’t live that kind of life, never. I’m meant to shine and surpas-s all, not live un-der the shadow of my younger sister.”

I closed my eyes and swallowed the lump in my throat, blinking convulsively. “So you teamed up with him or was never a friend in the first place.” Each words c@m£ out of my mouth with so much pain and difficulty.

“I was, I did want to change with hope that maybe if I was nice enough, the Lloyd wealth would be split equally between us, but that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. Fine, I was going to let that go, but then I couldn’t get over Hans, the way he was allover you and you alone. It was and is still frustrating, too frustrating. So when dad contacted me and made his offer, I saw an opportunity.” A sly sm-irk crawled it way onto herl-ips.

“You think grandpappy is foolish enough to will everything to you if I die? First of all, no one can will it out because the empire is alre-ady mine.” I snapped, feeling anger replace my hurt and shock. She had broken my trust, betrayed my love.

“But of course not,” she chuckled, dramatically swaying her gun, “I don’t want anything to do with your money, instead I want you to sign everything over to grandpappy’s rival, transfer the wealth to him and in that way, we lose everything. Father won’t gain anything, the cops would get him eventually but at least he gets to ruin your family. My own benefit is Hans, he would be so heartbroken by your death and would lean on the nearest shoulder, mine. Since I technically almost look like you and is a good person to them, he wouldn’t suspect a thing. In the end, I still get the wealth throu-gh him.”

“You…y…” There was nothing to be said, she was right. With me out of the way, Hans would fall to her. If he could somehow lean towards her when I left then, he could very well fall in love with her if I die.

Phil!pdropped a file on the table and a pen, Violet point her gun at Dahlia with a scowl. “Now sign it,” she commanded coldly. I was not going to let her win even if I die. If anything should happen to me, it would kill grandpappy and automatically pas-s the wealth to Knight’s father. But since Knight’s father is dead, it means the wealth would be Knight’s. I picked up the pen and opened the file, I was going to sign with my regular signature. What nob©dy except grandpappy knows is that I used an entirely new signature to sign the do¢v-ments, Violet didn’t know that.

I signed the do¢v-ments one after the other, to them they had won but the shock was awaiting them. Once the do¢v-ments is confirmed fake, investigation would begin and somehow link it to Violet, she would be caught one way or the other. “There, done.” I dropped the pen and glared at her. Phil!ptook the file to examine it while Violet waltzed closer to me and sat on the table in front of me.

“There there sister, you don’t nee-d to hate me, I did you a favor,” she mocked, running the gun along my jawline. I suddenly felt something cold press against my right hand, something I had felt countless of time. Violet stylishly pas-sed another gun to me. She re-moved the gun from my head and glanced back at Phil!pwho was carefully studying the do¢v-ments and then at the three men in the room. The one standing over Hans and Dahlia, one at the wall behind me and the one standing at the door.

She didn’t betray me after all.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Hans don’t miss you too much,” she said and cackled, standing up and walking closer to Phili-p. “Is it accurate?” She asked as she picked up his gun from the table.

“She signed everything well, now shoot her and let’s…”

“Psych,” Violet laughed, not waiting to be told what to do, I turned around sharply and gun the guy standing over Hans. Violet sh0t the remaining two since she had two guns and then turned the guns to Phil!plike I did. “Surprise,” she said in a singsong.

“I should have known,” he said with a pathetic chuckle.

“When you called me and tried to br@inwash me again, I saw it as an opportunity to find and kill you myself, smart, isn’t it father?”

“I really thought you were better than this,” he growled. Violet shrugged.

“I am, I psych out you and I am your blood. And because I have your blood running throu-gh my veins, I am cruel enough to do this…” She fired the gun, shooting him right in the che-st. He gro-an ed in pain as he dropped to the floor, his hand on his che-st. “don’t shoot him Iris, I want his blood to be on my head, not yours. I killed our father, not you.” With that she mercilessly rained bullets on him. His th!ghs, knees, hands, stomach and genital. The bullet ran out before she st©pped.

A soft male m0@n made me g@sp. “Hans,” I dropped the gun on the table and hurried to him. I knelt beside him and as-sisted him up, he was gro-an ing in pain. Small trait of blood flowed down his n£¢k from his head, but he was going to be okay. “Hans, can you hear me?” I sobbe-d. Violet c@m£ to us and squ-atted beside me. “Hans?”

He opened his eyes in a squint, adverting his gaze to me and shut it back. “… hind you,” he said inaudibly. I couldn’t hear what he was saying.

“What? Don’t talk Hans, don’t stress your br@in…”

“…hind you,” he struggled out. I didn’t un-derstand, but Violet did, I wish I did. She did the only thing she had enough time to do, she used her b©dy to shield me, shield me from the bullets fired. A high pitched scream left my mouth, I felt both bullets plunge into my sister’s back.

Violet turned swiftly and sh0t the guy right in the head. It was the guy standing at the wall behind me, the one she sh0t the other time. “Violet! No, no no!” I screamed, holding her b©dy to mine. She smiled sadly as she let her gun drop, she wasn’t that bother by the pain, I knew that. “Violet hang on, I’ll get us out of here, I’ll save you and…”

“You can’t,” she g@sped out, followed by a severe cough, a cough that spluttered blood allover my face. “There’s a bomb in the sh!p, I installed it.”

“Why?!”

“I was going to kill him, I wasn’t sure if you would survive, if you would survive and I wanted to die.”

“Huh?” I was confuse, she wanted to die? “How come? Why?” I cried.

“Iris, I like you but not enough to be loyal, I was going to betray you. When he called me…” She coughed again, g@sping for air. I held her hand ti-ght, tears blinding my sight. “I…” She g@sped. “I agreed to help him at first because I really wanted you dead, I wanted Hans for myself and all the money but then changed my mind when I remembered what that monster have done to us. I might have changed my mind but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t betray you again in the future. I know myself Iris, I will end up killing you myself, I am my father’s daughter…”

“I am his daughter as well, I have his blood running throu-gh my veins too but that doesn’t mean I am like him! You shouldn’t have convinced yourself that you are him!!!”

“Iris, I was raised by the man, you weren’t. You might not have been raised with love, but Arlene certainly didn’t raise you to be a killer and a monster. Yes, you have done some couple of bad things yourself, but none like I have. It is better this way, for your sake Iris. This is the best way to pay for all I have done…”

“Oh shut up Violet,” I snapped, “you are going to live and I will make sure of that, now st©p talking so you won’t be stressed out.”

She smiled apathetically and chuckled. “okay, just get Hans and Dahlia to the boat outside, I’ll wait for you.”

“The men outside…”

“Taken care of and the cops are on their way, just get these two out of here,” she exhaled and shut her eyes but was still breathing. “go.”

“Hang in there Violet,” I lowered her gently to the floor and turned, only to see Hans struggling to his feet. I stood up immediately and supported him up. “I’ll carry Dahlia,” I gently placed him on the wall and went over to her. Dahlia m0@n ed softly as I lifted her up, her b©dy temperature was h0t. I piggybacked her and walked over to Hans, let him lean his weight on my shoulders. “Violet?”

“I’m still alive, go.” I nodded, and led them out. We slowly made our way to the boat, one step after the other. I was worried about my sister, she couldn’t die. I knew Violet was saying the truth, she could betray me anytime, but I can help change her.

After helping Hans into the boat, I dropped Dahlia on the seat. “Don’t go back in there,” Hans whispered.

“Hans, that girl in there is my sister, I can’t just leave her!”

“She s£nt you out so she can b!ow up the sh!pwith the remote, you’ll die if you go back in there…”

“No! I’m going back!” I screamed angrily. How could he be so selfish!

I was about jumping back into the back of the ferry when the lower p@rt of the sh!pexploded, causing me to stagger, hitting my head on the boat and falling into the water. My ears rang loudly, my heartbeat the only other sound I could hear. I couldn’t move, couldn’t even try to swim as I sank into the ocean. I cried mentally as I thought of Violet, she was as good as dead, she was gone. The wind got knocked out of me, my lungs ti-ght£ñing from too much intake of water. Before I gave in to the darkness, I felt two hands wra-pped around my w@!st, two hands I was used to.

•••••••••••• Violet ••••••••••••

I shouldn’t die, I shouldn’t have killed myself. But I had to, I loathed Iris as much as I liked her, it was a risky game. There was no way in the entire universe I would ever let go of my greed, especially when she was still alive and gaining so much. I didn’t want to hurt her, I didn’t want her to die because she deserved to live more than I did. Wanna know the truth, I changed my mind at the last minute and turned against my father. I was going to kill them both and get away with it after saving Hans and Dahlia.

It was easy! Iris s£nt me a message on where she was so I hurried there after calling the cops who warned the innocent girl not to dare go in there. I dramatically pla-yed the victim while calling them, it was perfect. I however changed my mind after I saw Iris cried, it wasn’t right. I’m dangerous, I’m a ticking time bomb.
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I felt peace as she left with Hans, I finally did something sincerely selfless and good, something she will forever be proud of. It was foolish, but it was the only thing I could think of. Calculating the time she would get out and hoping I was right, I brou-ght out the remote from my pocket and exhaled. This was it, this was the end of my life and what I felt was peace, total peace.

“Goodbye Iris…” I effortfully pressed the bu-tton, with my last strength I killed myself and embr@ced the darkness. I had only one regret: I wish Iris and I were brou-ght up better. And I had only one wish: that she finds everlasting happiness one way or the other.

? Iris’ standpoint ?

My lim-bs were numb, I couldn’t feel my b©dy. I wanted to move so badly but couldn’t, I wanted to reply who was talking to me, but couldn’t. I was awake, but my eyes were shut. My spirit and soul shedded tears for my lost, but I couldn’t express it.

“…I just hope she can wake up soon, before Hans kills himself with sadness.” The voice belonged to Hailey, she was worried as hell. I wanted to shout that I was alright, but I couldn’t.

“I mean I knew Violet was mean but I never expected her to kill herself so she won’t hurt her sister, that is both crazy and unbelievable. If it wasn’t for her, Iris would be dead.”

“She was the one who literally gave him the idea to kidnap Hans and Dahlia, how is that better? Dahlia have been permanently scarred for life. She jumps at every sound and have endless nightmares, that doesn’t make anything better!” Lee shouted angrily, she had been angry since the incident.

“Lee, Dahlia will heal, I’m sure of that. But do you think Iris ever will? She literally has no one left in her family, except her uncles and aunts who she isn’t even close to. How would she feel when she wakes up to the news that her grandfather is sick? He is old you know. Knight won’t be of much use since he is mourning and isn’t always here…”

“She will learn to get to know them,” Lee cut Hailey off, “Iris would heal in time but I’m afraid Dahlia won’t. Getting kidnapped is not the best experience you know.”

“Is she the first child to be kidnapped? You know mom will be there for her, but we nee-d to be here for Iris. If she wakes up, we don’t nee-d to point Violet’s flaws to her, just appreciate.” Melody said calmly. I expected her to stay with Knight, but she c@m£ here for me. That showed that she cared about me a while lot.

“Lee, learn to forgive the dead, you d…” I heard the door open. “Oh, Hans,” my heartbeat accelerated. It was just a fall, I couldn’t un-derstand why I wasn’t waking up. I had been out for days.

“Have she made any slight movement?” He whispered weakly.

“Er…n…”

“Yes,” Mel cut in sharply, “she moved her f!ngers.”

“Really?” Hans asked with a glimmer of hope. “did she really move her f!ngersLee?”

“Ur…yeah, totally,” Lee lied stammeringly.

“Did you get the doctor?”

“Yea, he said it was a good sign that she would be up soon,”

“We’ll excuse you, Mel let’s go out and talk.” Hailey said with a fake laugh. All I could wait to hear was the door to shut, signifying their exit. Hans chuckled immediately they left.

“They think I’m an idiot,” I heard a chair move, his heavy breath and then felt his hand on mine. “I’m waiting for you Iris, wake up. St©p hindering yourself from returning. I un-derstand how you feel now, you don’t want to wake up to the sad reality of Violet’s dead, you don’t want it to be true. Iris, I know you can hear me so listen, listen and remember that staying like this wouldn’t help. Grandpappy nee-ds you, like now. He is sick and his successor is down, rivals are rising Iris, you nee-d to wake up. St©p feeling sorry for yourself, st©p regretting and wake up.”

He was right, I was hindering myself from reality. Violet was dead, and I knew me being like this isn’t what she wants. I didn’t know what to do but accepting the bitter truth brou-ght me peace, it was the first step to getting better. I don’t know what happened but I felt my hands moved and head turn. I was stirring up. I found myself forcing my eyes open as Hans called out for someone, opening my eyes to behold the wicked world.

The world certainly wasn’t a be-d of roses, some gets to at least sleep on petals, but I sle-pt on thorns on my life. I wasn’t just going to let myself remain slee-ping on thorns, I was going to stand up and make a new be-d for myself. Even if it wasn’t a graceful one, at least it was something.

To be continued.