Out Of Prison

Chapter 4: Anne's Betrayal

"It's your karma," Van said mockingly as the other prisoners were serving him by massaging and clipping his nails. "Only a crazy woman would date an abuser like you? You are nothing now. You have lost your job, would spend some years here, then might have no future after getting released. If I were her, I will also run away from trash like you."

Trevor couldn't stand the mockery. How ironic to hear that from a crazy recidivist like him! He should look into a mirror.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Are you offended?" Van laughed again at him.

'Don't look for another trouble, Trevor. You just need to ignore it!'

There was such thought in his head, but he could barely hear it. He was truly fed up with this injustice. He was frustrated. He didn't understand why all of this had happened to him.

And now, why should he do this? Why did he have to be with these bastards and obey them as a lackey? Why did he have to massage the feet of murderers, thieves, and drug dealers like them?

He didn't deserve all of this!

"Hey, lower your eyes. You're starting to piss me off!" Van snorted at him. "Are you looking for a fight?"

'Back off, Trevor. Don't look for any more trouble!'

He heard it again but was ignored. His eyes kept staring at the bastard who always looked down on him all along. He couldn't take it anymore.

"It seems he wants to challenge you, Van. I think this guy is going insane after getting sentenced," said another prisoner.

"Yea, Van. Tell him! Teach him a lesson," the other provoked him too.

"It seems you want to die!"

Those were Van's last words before kicking him in the chest. After that, the big man beat him repeatedly with cheers from the other prisoners.

Trevor was actually trying to fight back. He even tried to hit back. However, of course, it was not a fair battle. That bastard was way stronger than him.

It didn't take long until Trevor was no longer aware of his surroundings. He got so many punches, slams, kicks, and even hits by some hard objects. The other prisoners also ganged up on him after that.

Just when Trevor felt his breath fading away with broken ribs and all, a voice suddenly echoed.

"Excuse me... Can you guys leave him for me? I've taken interest in this young man. You wouldn't go against me for it, right?" Suddenly, an old man who had always been quiet and sat on his own side of the cell approached and spoke calmly. Unlike most prisoners, his clothes were neat without a single dirty spot, and his eyes were filled with youthful vigor. Subconsciously, Van and his gang glanced at each other and without saying a word, moved away from Trevor as if they had simultaneously agreed to do so.

And that was the day Trevor's life changed.

***

2 and a half years later

...

"Hello? Anyone home? I'm back!"

Low Town, the slum side of the city.

Standing at the door leading to his house was Trevor, who unlike the Trevor from two years prior, had changed drastically — both physically and in how he carried himself. Calmly, he pushed the already opened door to the single room apartment he shared with his sister.

However, what greeted him wasn't a cold empty room as he expected, but a strong smell that hit him the moment he stepped inside. The room was messy, and looking towards the bed, he found his sister paralyzed and lying still.

"Wha... Diana? Your legs, what happened?"

The grudge within his heart evaporated like hot steam meeting open air as he quickly walked towards the bedside.

"Big bro? When did you return? I thought they said you would stay for three years in prison?"

The moment Diana saw her brother, she couldn't control the tears streaming down her eyes as she spoke with disbelief.

"I..." Trevor couldn't speak. Looking at his sister who was completely different from the energetic and healthy girl he had left behind, Trevor felt a deep pain settle in his chest.

"Forget about why I came back earlier than the main date. Tell me what happened while I was in the cell."

Hearing her brother's words, Diana wanted to speak, but the moment she opened her mouth, she couldn't hold herself together and burst into sobs.

"Two and a half years ago, brother, after you got imprisoned, sister Anne told me you had just travelled. But a month ago, I finally learned the truth of what had happened to you. So I tried confronting that man called Fred to get justice for you, and he told me he was staying at a hotel and that I should come meet him there..."

Hearing those words, Trevor's heart skipped a beat as a cold, chilling fury surfaced in his eyes.

"After getting to the hotel, I met him and he tried making advances on me. Unwilling to be defiled by him, I made a decisive decision and jumped from the hotel window, which was on the second floor. Although I saved my life, the doctor said my legs were shattered and that it was impossible for me to ever recover... I... I..."

Reaching this point in her story, Diana couldn't speak any further and broke down into heavy sobbing.

"Frederick Dunn! It's you again!"

Trevor's killing intent exploded as anger nearly muddled his brain.

Throughout his time in prison, he had been taken in by the old man who was known simply as Old One. The man had accepted Trevor as a student and passed down his entire inheritance to him.

In just two and a half years, Trevor's attainment in medicine, physiognomy, and martial arts had reached near perfection. And before he even left the prison, he had made sure to deal with Van and his boys personally, instilling a deep and lasting fear in everyone who heard of how brutally he had handled them.

Subconsciously, Trevor's thoughts drifted to Anne.

"What about Anne? She said she would take care of you for me. Where is she?"

Trevor already noticed there had been no sign of her since he arrived.

"Anne left without looking back," Diana said, sadness heavy on her face.

"What do you mean? Tell me in detail." Under Trevor's demand, Diana finally spoke.

During the two and a half years he was in prison, Anne, who was supposed to be looking after Diana, had not shown up even once — not during his court trial to testify for him, not for anything at all.

Not only that, but when Diana's legs were broken and she desperately reached out to Anne hoping to access some of her brother's money that Anne had been holding, she was completely ignored. It didn't stop there. Anne had gone as far as sending her younger brother to beat Diana, worsening the state of her legs even further.

"ANNE! Oh, Anne... You... dare!"

At this point Trevor was trembling — not just with rage, but with the weight of everything he had trusted her with. He had believed in her. He had told her to hold on and she had walked away without looking back. And while he was rotting in a cell, enduring everything, surviving everything, she had been out here doing this. To his sister. To Diana and almost made him angry with Diana for not visiting him while in truth she never told her.

The silence that followed felt heavier than any punch Van had ever thrown at him.

"Not only that, brother..." Diana's voice dropped even lower. "Today... she's getting married."

Hearing her words, Trevor paused.

"To whom?"

"Him... Frederick Dunn."