CHAPTER 35: THE TWINS PLAN & CASSEL’S DECISION

Rosalia — POV

Cassel wore a look of quiet contemplation and resignation as he stared at the three kneeling children.

I knew the scene wasn’t supposed to be funny, but the expression on his face—like he had suddenly found himself in a serious, unsolvable problem—was unexpectedly endearing.

After a short sigh, I heard him say,

"Why do children these days love kneeling so much?"

He didn’t seem to expect an answer; he simply continued,

"All right, stand up now, we’ll take you and your father."

While the children lit up with joy, a woman shouted from the corner,

"You ungrateful wolves! Your uncle and I cared for you after your father fell ill and your mother died, and you still hid things from us? Why didn’t you tell us about your powers?"

After a brief pause, she screamed at the girl,

"Come on, heal your uncle, you filthy brat!"

The girl looked more terrified of the man and his wife than anyone else. She hid behind Cassel’s long legs, trembling and trying to hold back her tears.

"Good, very good. I see you’ve finally found yourselves a nice thick thigh to cling to. And now you’re ignoring your own family, you little rats. We should’ve killed you along with your parents!"

The moment the woman said that, she seemed to realize she had spoken something she shouldn’t have. She clapped a hand over her mouth in horror and quickly tried to change the subject.

"Your uncle and I were the ones who agreed to raise you! Otherwise, you would’ve been sent to an orphanage long ago!"

Only then did the grey-eyed boy shout back, his voice deep with fury—like the sound was tearing itself straight out of his heart.

"We already know you caused our parents’ car accident! We heard you celebrating after it happened, laughing like crazy! Do you think we’re stupid? You refused to send us to the orphanage because of our father’s will—you didn’t even know about it until after the accident!"

His brother, who always seemed calmer, spoke next. Despite his composed tone, his voice carried the same depth of hatred.

"Our plan was to gather evidence of what you did. That’s why we stayed with you despite all the abuse. We swore we wouldn’t let our parents’ killers walk around freely and enjoy a comfortable life. Who would’ve thought the world would turn into this... If our powers weren’t so weak, we would’ve killed you long ago."

His cold, steady voice was more frightening than any scream.

A shiver ran down the woman’s spine.

"You... you monsters... monsters!"

She was terrified. And of course she should be.

She had just realized that the children she’d abused—the ones she assumed were weak and helpless—had been hiding their hatred and planning their revenge all along.

Children not even ten years old... with minds this sharp. Who wouldn’t be afraid?

But instead of fear, I felt something else.

Pity.

Pity for them, for the kind of life that had pushed them to this point.

If none of this had happened—if their uncle hadn’t plotted to kill their father for money—they would’ve been ordinary children living ordinary days. Playing, eating, and sleeping in their parents’ arms.

Again, who wants to be a villain?

Who chooses to live in darkness, gnawed by hatred down to the bone?

If their mother hadn’t been killed and their father hadn’t fallen into a coma, they would have lived a simple family life. They would never have carried the burden of revenge at such a young age.

I gently wrapped my arms around the girl crying behind Cassel.

"It’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t cry. Your uncle will pay for what he did. Don’t cry, all right? Everything will be fine."

Even Henry’s eyes were glistening, and Alex already had a small flame burning in his palm.

"Don’t come near us. Don’t come closer. You’re monsters—monsters!"

"You’re the real monsters," Alex’s voice rang out, cutting through the woman’s shrieks.

"Stop right there."

Cassel was the one who halted the boy.

I understood him. He didn’t want a child to stain his hands with the blood of these shameless wretches.

"Henry, carry the man on your back."

"And you three—hold each other’s hands."

When I heard Cassel’s words, the girl released me and wiped her tears. I smiled at her, saying,

"Come on, let’s get out of here. I know you’re hungry and tired. You did so well. Once we’re out, we’ll eat and rest properly. Your father will be sad if he wakes up and sees you looking like this."

The girl smiled faintly, and the expressions of her brothers softened as well.

Henry lifted the man effortlessly. The man looked extremely frail—clearly, he’d been in a coma for far too long.

Once Henry carried him, I guided the children to hold hands, ending with Alex.

Henry grabbed Alex’s hand last. And Cassel took mine.

Just like that, our line grew longer and harder to move, but walking slowly was better than running miserably for our lives because of zombies.

"We’re leaving now," Henry warned for what felt like the millionth time. "Kids, no matter what happens—no matter what you see or how scared you get—don’t let go of each other’s hands. Understood?"

"Hm!"

"We understand, Uncle. Don’t worry. We won’t let go no matter what."

"Good. Now, shall we go, boss?"

Cassel nodded. "Let’s go."

"Hey! You—are you going to leave us here?! No, no, you can’t leave us! You have to take us with you! I don’t want to die! No! Wait!"

The woman screamed as she lunged forward with all her strength.

I felt Cassel let go of my hand. Then I saw the woman’s body fly backward, slam into the wall, and drop beside the man she had been screaming about.

Everyone else and I were like:"..."

Apparently, Cassel didn’t distinguish between men and women when deciding who deserved to be hit.

This, I thought, is also a kind of equality.

Equality between men and women.

And honestly... I loved it.