VINDICTIVE

It's been almost 12 months.

I've been planning this for over 12 months....

Feels very anti-climactic when i think about it. After strategizing multiple ways of getting revenge, I've ultimately settled on murder.

NO!

Not "revenge"......this is "justice". Yeah! Justice. There's no telling how many lives that bastard has ruined, I'm just a single soul among a sea of other innocent victims. In his eyes, a mere dog he can torture for his satisfaction. 

I's sure the people who have gone through the same suffering I did, because of him—will praise me for my actions. Yes! I'm sure of it.

Thousands of thoughts ran through my mind, trying to justify what I was about to do. I stared at the man walking few meters ahead of me— gripping the most valuable item I had with me—a silver knife.

Memories of the moment he framed me for a thief were still fresh in my mind—they were carved into my brain.

 I never committed a crime! The goddamn lawyer couldn't keep his mouth shut! 

I will get the other fucker too! The pig who accused me for a crime I would never even think about committing! 

My eyes were misty—I couldn't even properly see his now. 10 months in prison was pure torture. I will make those bastards pay for what they did! 

I slowly crept behind him, one step at a time, being as careful as I can to make sure I didn't stand out to the four or so people in the area. 

I gripped the knife under my jacket, rethinking what I'm about to do. 
Just run up to him—slice his throat—flee the crime scene. Those were the only steps. No Matter how simple it sounded, it was still a murder plan—couldn't risk leaving any loose ends. I lowers my cap with a shaking, sweaty hand. getting my nerves to calm down was much harder than I anticipated. 

Is this right?—a thought struck my mind. Is killing him the right thing to do? It is still murder, I am still taking someone else's life, no matter how many ways I try to justify it—the fact that it's a murder still remains. 

But this bastard is the villain right?! He ruined my life, accused me of a crime I never did, made me suffer in a fucking hell-hole for 10 months! He is the goddamn villain in this story! 

I wish the devil and the angel could settle down on one decision. 

What would Hayami say in a moment like this? Her alluring words were always capable of calming me down. But this bastard is the reason I lost her as well!!

She left me as soon as she found out I was a "thief"!
A "criminal" who never committed a crime....

Did she even love me!? I loved her with all my heart—did love me back? She left me for a false accusation, she never believed a single word I said to prove I'm innocent! Did she love me!?

NO! It can't be! Hayami is the best woman in the world! Get your shit together Hitori! 

I wanted to scream out those words!

What should i do? Is it right to kill him? Can I take a human life? Can I commit a crime?

But he ruined my life! He has to pay for it! The times I prayed to god for his pain is countless—he was of no use, there is no god! We have to stick up for ourselves.

Survival of the fittest is the absolute law of this universe. Cruel and unfair—yet unavoidable. 

Yes! I have to kill him! It is the proper thing to do! I have to take revenge! I WILL take revenge!

I will take his life!

I was gradually closing in on him, hands shaking and palms sweating. I gripped my knife as hard as I could—doubting if I would accidently drop the knife or not.

I was few feet behind him.

I pushed my hand forward.

There was no one in the road no—it was haunting. Just me and him.

I tackled him and pushed him against the wall as hard as I could.

The absolute silence was eerie, my mind was blank—the killing instinct was too strong.

With a painful grunt, he was pinned to the wall. I glared straight at his eyes. His cunning face was filled with a pathetic look—filling me with joy!

This isn't right!

The angel in my brain was still conscious. 

What I'm about to do is unforgivable! I'm about to end someone else's life!

I was frozen in place. I couldn't bring myself to lower my knife—I just couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to end someone else's life.

Why am I so pathetic?!

His face was twisted in fright and disbelief—a pleading look in his eyes.

I just can't.....

"P-please......please don't kill me!?" He spoke—words stuttering—begging for his life. "W-what do you want?! Money!? Here take it all.....please.....please spare me"

He threw a thick stuffed wallet on to the ground. Just one glance at it, I could tell it was filled with cash. 

Yes! Money....If i just take the money.....I can live easily, long enough to find another job...

My eyes scanned the wallet. Trying to guess how much money was in it. 

But my eyes were stuck on something else.

I couldn't look away.....it was a family photograph. Beside him was a woman, presumably his wife—his family. 

I felt as if a jolt of electricity hit my heart—I was about to kill him!?

Still keeping my knife on his throat, I picked up the photograph. 

One look at the picture—I was frozen in place—mind filled with rage and disbelief—crippling mental pain. 

It....it....can't be...

The man onto the right was him; I could never forget the bastards face! Beside him was his wife, holding a baby, with a shining smile, a pretty face, a serene appearance.

Hayami!

She....no....it can't be....

I stood there, holding the picture on my hand, shaking.

KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM! 

I yelled out in rage! Ripping my vocal chords to shreds—I screamed as loud as possible—a cry of anger and pain.

Finally the angel has fallen. 

I felt every moment of it.
My knife sliding through his flesh and striking the heart. Soaking his white shirt in a dark crimson colour. Coughing blood onto my face—he fell onto the ground.....lifeless....dead.

It was joyful! 

I did it!

I finished him! 

I killed him! 

A twisted grin of anger, joy and satisfaction pierced through my lips.

One last thing...

I slowly raised my hand, the glistening knife, covered in blood was truly terrifying to look at.

I kept it on my neck—it was the only option for me, a sinner who has lost everything he ever cared about—an unfortunate soul in this unfair world. 

I closed my eyes as tight as I can.

Then the agonizing pain of the knife blade took over my senses as I administered the coup de grâce—falling to my knees.