The Price of Revenge

Chapter 1

My folks, those big-shot CEOs, their company went up in flames. Me and my brother, we hauled ass over there to help.

They got Mom and Dad out okay, but Mikey, my brother, he was messed up bad after the rescue. Only my parents’ fancy-pants medical team could save him, the best in the country.

I begged them to get him surgery, but they just laughed in my face.

“Hospital resources are for real patients, Shawn! Don’t you know it’s practically illegal to hog them?”

“Besides, you being our son is irrelevant. Saving people from fires is your job, what you’re supposed to do!”

Totally screwed, I scrambled, pulled every string I could find, and finally got a world-famous doctor from Switzerland to come take a look at Mikey.

My parents found out, had him intercepted, and sent packing back overseas.

“Dr. Klein is a big name in medicine! If he finds out your brother’s faking this illness for attention, what will people think of us?”

“Guess we’ve been too soft on you two. If your brother keeps pulling stunts like this, he can kiss this family goodbye!”

Then, click, the phone went dead, and all my pleas were shut down.

Mikey didn’t get the treatment he needed. I watched him die in my arms.

While I was dealing with Mikey’s funeral, I saw what our adopted brother posted online:

“Just a little sniffle, and Mom and Dad are putting me up in a luxury suite, stayed with me for three days straight. I’m so lucky!”

Attached was a picture of a bougie hospital room, Mom spoon-feeding him soup, Dad peeling an apple like he was handling a priceless artifact.

Seeing the worry and love in their eyes, I just stared, then hit the “like” button and commented:

“Congrats to the ultimate simp and the trashiest parents ever, hope you three losers stay together forever.”

1

I clutched Mikey’s urn, just wandering the streets in a daze.

This winter wind cut like a knife, stinging my face.

My cell started blaring, Dad calling.

I answered before I could even think.

Before I could get a word out, he was screaming into the phone:

“Shawn, what the hell was that comment you posted under Dylan’s picture?”

“Not enough that you insult us, you had to drag your brother into it too!”

“You know, you’ve embarrassed us to no end.”

“And because of you, your brother is upset, he could barely breathe.”

“Now, you delete that comment and apologize to him.”

His rage was overwhelming.

I had to pull the phone away from my ear. My voice was scratchy when I spoke.

“Apologize? Everything I said was the truth.”

“Did I lie? You ignored your sick son to baby your non-biological son. You two aren’t worth calling parents.”

Then Mom got on the phone, her voice dripping with anger:

“Shawn, is that how you talk to your parents?”

“Ever since you and your brother joined the Fire Department, you’ve lied more and been rebellious.”

“It’s your brother’s fault for being a bad influence, give me the phone, I want to know how he raised you.”

I looked up, fighting back tears, but they still spilled out.

I finally choked out:

“Mikey… he’s dead, okay? You killed him. You’ll never talk to him again.”

“You’re murderers! You’re both going to burn in hell!”

After a pause, Dad grabbed the phone and started roaring again, each word a hammer blow.

I hung up, couldn’t take it anymore, just curled up on the sidewalk and cried.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

The sounds pulled me out of it.

I looked up, saw fireworks exploding in the night sky, lighting everything up, slowly forming Dylan’s face.

Below it, bright as day, read “Happy Birthday, Dylan.”

People were stopping, staring.

“Wow, that kid’s hot, who’s the rich guy? Who would do something like this?”

“That’s the Dylan, from the rich family, I heard he’s the only child, and they spoil him with everything.”

“I heard the family did all the fireworks, every advertisement is a photo of them.”

“If I had parents like that, I would be happy.”

I turned and looked at the LED screen, three familiar faces, all smiling.

Mom and Dad were looking at Dylan, eyes full of love.

Mikey and I hadn’t seen that look in years.

They’d been cold, distant, almost disgusted with us.

I watched the happy family photos, tears blurring my vision.

Then I heard a voice beside me:

“Hey kid, you’ll catch pneumonia sitting out here. Get up.”

“Something happen? You need help?”

I shook my head, stared at the urn in my arms, and whispered:

“My brother’s dead. I don’t have a family anymore.”

He looked at the urn, got a little choked up.

Then, like he had an idea, he turned away fast.

When he came back, he had a thick bag and a cup of coffee.

“It’s cold. Here, drink some coffee and warm up.”

“Kid, whatever it is, you’ll get through it. We gotta keep going.”

He took the urn, carefully put it in the bag, and looped it over my arm.

Then he shoved the coffee in my hand.

Before I could say anything, he was gone.

I stared at the stuff, tears running again.

Strangers were being this nice, but my own parents were total monsters.

2

Before I turned ten, Mom and Dad weren’t like this.

Back then, they loved Mikey and me more than anything.

We wanted something, they’d move heaven and earth to get it.

Our closet was full of new clothes, presents overflowing the room.

Every year, they took us to a different country on vacation.

They dragged us everywhere, and people joked they were obsessed.

They just laughed, said:

“You two are the best gift God ever gave us. Nothing’s more important.”

That stopped the summer I turned ten.

The driver got into a car accident while on the way to pick up my dad.

He went to protect my dad, ending up with multiple injuries and he passed away.

The driver was a widower, and had a son.

After he died, my parents adopted his son, calling him Dylan.

He was skinny, always looked wary.

At first, we thought he was just adjusting, so we tried to be nice.

He started fitting in, being friendly with us.

I thought we’d all be okay.

But things never go the way you want them to. In a month, that new brother changed.

He’d always get hurt, then cry to Mom and Dad, say we were bullying him.

At first, they didn’t believe it, defended us, tried to comfort him.

But then, after a school event, some older kids cornered him. Mikey and I stepped in.

Right as we were helping him up, Mom and Dad showed up.

He ran to them crying, said Mikey and I brought people to beat him up.

The older kids panicked, blamed everything on us.

No matter what we said, Mom and Dad didn’t believe us. They were convinced we did it.

“Dylan is so kind, he listens to what we say, who would bully him besides you two?”

That day, they decided we were bullies, started hating us.

To teach us a lesson, they canceled our vacation, gave all our gifts to Dylan.

Dylan didn’t stop, kept getting worse.

He kept manipulating things, Mom and Dad hated us more and more, they cut off our allowance, canceled everything fun, and we transferred from private school to public.

They gave all their love to Dylan, and endless yelling and insults to us.

I thought about leaving with Mikey, but he wouldn’t go.

He rubbed this old family photo, his eyes gentle.

“Mom and Dad still care, they’re just confused.”

“If we’re good enough, they’ll take us back.”

I knew he still hoped they’d change, he couldn’t let go.

So when my parents’ company caught fire, he risked his life to help.

He ran in, saved Mom and Dad.

But he got burned bad, couldn’t even recognize his face.

Mikey was almost dead, only Mom and Dad’s medical team could save him.

I swallowed my pride, begged them, begged them to save their own son.

But they thought he was faking it, wouldn’t help, and sent the world-famous doctor away, sealing Mikey’s fate.

I’ll never forget his face.

He was lying there, hooked up to tubes.

He opened his eyes, looked at me, said:

“Shawn… don’t hate Mom and Dad… you gotta live… I can’t protect you anymore…”

And then his eyes closed, and were out forever.

Mikey was still defending them, even as he died, telling me not to hate them.

But, he not only killed you, but gave some rando a party.

I won’t forgive them, and I won’t let them be happy.

I’ll never forgive them, and I’ll never let them live happy!

3

When I got home, the lights were blasting.

Mom and Dad threw a huge birthday party for Dylan, people crowding the pool.

Dylan was wearing fancy clothes, looking like a prince, everyone around him.

Mom and Dad were standing back, smiling, looked like some perfect picture.

It made me want to throw up.

I closed my eyes, started heading upstairs.

But to get to the house, I had to get through the crowd.

As soon as I got close, people started looking at me.

Mom and Dad looked annoyed, and someone was pinching their nose, ordering the maid to kick me out.

“T-That is…”

The maid got cut off by Dad’s business partner.

“Oh, I know, looks like you’re getting ready for the show!”

Then he pushed me toward the pool, toward an open space.

He was yelling at other people, including birthday boy Dylan, to come watch.

I got pushed around in the crowd.

The man turned to Dad: “Old man, didn’t you say the butler brothers had a show prepared? Come and check it out.”

Then, he moved Mom and Dad up there.

Butler brothers? This is how they talked about us?

I could believe it.

Dad was trying to hide.

Mom didn’t look happy and that’s when Dylan spoke up.

He moved his lips.

“Mikey helped do the show, I’m happy. Come and watch it with me, Mom.”

He was joking to the men and that’s when the family spoke.

The man gave me a push.

“Why are you standing there? Bring Mikey here to do some tricks.”

I grabbed Mikey’s remains and tossed the drink at them.

“I’m the child, who are you people?!”

“Why can’t you just show me? I’ll do anything!”

The scene went silent.

After that, Dylan started to cry,

People knew about it.

“I was a housekeeper.”

“You can’t work here. It’s my world.”

“You can’t do anything about it, what a shame.”

Those words were heard.

Mom told me that I shouldn’t.

That’s when the scene stopped.

“Don’t talk like that.”

That’s when the women said things.

“This is what happened and how the parents see it.”

“Tell me. Am I your son?”

Dad’s mood changed.

“A housekeeper.”

The guest started talking.

Dylan was on the side.

“This has got to stop.”

The family showed an apology.

“It’s not that serious.”

“Go to your room.”

The family was sad and I felt betrayed.

“Don’t worry.”

Inside, I was upset.

Things were rough, but I pushed through it.

5

The place went back to normal.

That’s when Mom let me go.

“What you did was horrible, don’t get in the way of this.”

“Dylan is kind.”

Dylan came in with cake.

“Here’s some cake.”

I wanted cake so bad.

I didn’t know what was going on.

I didn’t take the cake.

“Take the cake,” Dylan said.

Mom got involved.

“Don’t talk like that.”

That’s when dad gave in.

“You need to talk to your brother and apologize.”

“Clean this up when he gets here.”

The family walked away.

6

I didn’t think he was going to get to Mikey’s room.

That’s when I heard the noises.

When I ran over there I saw him bringing in stuff.

The floor was messed up.

That was a family picture.

My dad gave it to Mikey.

There was only one left.

“Stop!”

I stopped what he was doing.

I blocked him.

“What is going on?!”

Dylan didn’t say anything.

“Mom said I could practice here.”

“Your brothers never are here. So go to the other room.”

“Also, let me clean this.”

He got closer.

“I’m the family’s son, listen to me.”

“Get out of here!”

I gave him a punch.

“I thought there was a reason why you didn’t have a dad.”

“You stole everything!”

“Don’t move!”

Dad showed up.

“Keep moving!”

That’s when Mom showed up.

“I went to do what Mikey told me. Then I got punched in the face.”

He showed them.

The parents were upset.

“He has no reason to talk.”

“Look at this madness.”

“Apologize to Dylan!”

He hit me really hard.

I didn’t say sorry.

“You all need to die. Maybe I’ll show the grave a little bit of honor.”

He hit me in the face.

I didn’t say anything.

“That’s it. I’m throwing his stuff away! What now?”

“It has to pay for this.”

He started throwing things.

No-

I tried to stop them.

Dylan tripped me.

All things were broken.

I tried to get to the stuff.

The family stopped.

My mom didn’t know what was going on.

“I… I can’t breathe.”

He was acting.

That’s when mom knew.

“It was the mango, let’s go to the hospital.”

Dad grabbed him.

7

I called 911.

The doctor was concerned.

“They’re pretty deep, why would you do this?”

I said nothing.

Outside of the room, they were walking him.

They gave him support.

They saw me.

“What are you doing here?! Why did you hurt Dylan.”

I said.

“I don’t know why I hurt him? He can be a dog! I can’t trust him!”

“How can you say that?”

“I found them in Mikey’s room.”

“He shouldn’t have done anything.”

“There’s nobody good here! You’re all dead!”

Dylan was smiling.

My mind was at peace.

I couldn’t do anything.

“You all brought Mikey in here, you all hurt him.”

“You all love the non-biological son, but not the biological son?”

“You’re all beasts!”

I lost it and couldn’t contain myself.

All the people went around and started recording the whole event.

That’s when someone knew what was happening.

“They have all the money, how could they do this?”

I was surprised.

They started recording the pictures on the internet.

Dad looked bad.

Dylan wanted to leave.

That’s when someone yelled.

“You’re crazy. You keep saying that you are the real son! You need to stop!”

That was Dylan’s best friend.

I grabbed the stuff and had them see the proof.

“I have proof.”

“Fake.”

“They’re a family.”

“If you can’t get it, ruin them!”

People didn’t like that.

“This isn’t that bad, what is going on? They need to be stopped!”

“They gave my child medicine and they made him feel better. How can you say something like that?!”

“They need to be in a hospital!”

Everything was starting to hurt and they started to surround me.

I wanted them to stop.

What was going on.

“Who am I!?”

That’s when Dad said something.

“You’re the housekeeper.”

Mom didn’t say anything.

Dad said something.

Some wanted to get to me.

Dylan’s friend grabbed my hair.

I was on the floor, all messed up.

I had blood coming from me.

It was fine, I’ll go and see Mikey.

I heard more footsteps.

“Stop!”

That’s when some people showed up.

“What are you doing to him?!”