THE MAN THEY TRIED TO ERASE

1

Finn sat in the corner of the cold, sterile room, the white walls reflecting the harsh glow of the neon lights. His body was thin, but the aura he projected far outweighed his frame. He leaned back, hands folded in his lap, lips curling into a thin smile—a smile that was neither friendly nor warm, but full of secrets and simmering revenge.

Softly, he began to hum—not a tune for amusement, but a melody only he could understand: the rhythm of anger stitched into a false calm. Every note, every word he hummed was a reminder—four years ago, his life had been destroyed by the people he loved, by a wife who stabbed him in the back, by a family that laughed at him at his lowest moment.

A nurse passed by, her expression tightening at the sight of Finn.

“Finn…” she said, her voice trembling. “Today… you can leave. The doctor signed the certificate—you’re considered sane.”

Finn stared at her, eyes sharp as blades. He rose slowly, each movement deliberate, despite his frail body. He took the certificate, flipping it over as if reading a script mocking him. His thin smile widened, but his eyes remained cold, piercing.

“Sane?” he murmured, his voice low but tinged with restrained fury. “I was never insane.”

The nurse flinched. The words hit the empty room like an explosion. Finn stood upright, appearing fragile, yet the aura around him was threatening. He fixed the nurse with a sharp stare, and suddenly, the room fell silent.

“Four years you locked me up… four years you threw me into this hell… and now you tell me I’m sane?!” His voice rose, yet remained controlled. Anger boiled beneath the surface, tempered by a terrifying calm—a predator’s patience, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Another nurse stepped in, trying to calm him. “Finn, you’re free now. Please… don’t make trouble…” She paused, seeing the fire in his eyes. Finn exhaled slowly, gripping the certificate, slipping it into his pocket, and that thin smile returned—sharper, colder, more calculated than before.

“All right,” he said quietly. “I’m leaving.”

His steps out of the iron door felt like small explosions. The outside air slapped his face, sunlight too bright, city sounds too loud. The world felt alien, and each step confirmed he was back—but not as the same man. He walked with a cold gaze, and anyone who looked at him instinctively stepped back.

Finn didn’t notice them. He had only one thought: revenge. Everyone who had erased him, humiliated him, framed him—they would regret it.

Outside, the world seemed peaceful, but Finn could feel injustice flowing in the air. He stopped at a small convenience store to buy a bottle of water. As he stepped out, an elderly woman stumbled on the small stairs. His instincts kicked in—Finn caught her before she fell.

The woman gasped, eyes wide. “Oh, young man… you saved me.”

“No problem. Be more careful next time. Were you alone?” Finn asked.

Suddenly, a large man appeared from behind, muscular, tense.

“Hey! What are you doing to Mrs. Ruth?!” he shouted, stepping forward, ready to strike Finn.

Finn looked at him for a moment, unmoving, only assessing. His eyes were cold, sharp. “I… just held her so she wouldn’t fall,” he replied, his voice calm, yet every word sounded like a warning.

Ruth appeared behind him, eyes blazing at her bodyguard. “Henry! Let him go! Finn saved me, and you almost hit him?” Her voice rang with authority.

The bodyguard froze, face red. “But—”

“But nothing! I said so, and you won’t understand until you’re old like me!” Ruth cut him off sharply.

She signaled her bodyguard to return to the car, then turned back to Finn, extending her hand.

“My name’s Ruth. And you are? You’re very handsome.”

Her words and the sly glance that traveled over Finn’s entire body made him realize she was not an ordinary “old woman.”

Ruth was old, but elegant. Her silver-white hair was neatly combed back, her wrinkled skin still well-kept. A cream silk dress with subtle gold patterns and diamond rings on her fingers radiated understated luxury.

“Thank you for the compliment. You’re very attractive too, Ruth,” Finn replied.

She took his hand gently, stroking it lightly. “By the way, where are you headed? Oh, and I have something for you.”

Ruth released his hand and reached into her bag, pulling out her wallet. Finn saw stacks of cash and black cards that spoke of her wealth. She took out a thick wad of money and handed it to Finn with a soft smile.

“Take this. Consider it a token of thanks for your kindness in helping and flattering me,” she said.

Finn froze for a moment. The sum was five thousand dollars—an extravagant reward for a simple act of help.

“Oh… that’s not necessary. I don’t need money—I mean, I do, but this is too much, Ruth. I helped you because, as humans, we should help each other, right?”

In truth, Finn desperately wanted the money. Coming out of the asylum, he had nothing—no assets, no home, no family, nothing to rely on.

Ruth chuckled softly and placed the money firmly in his hand. “Take it, no more excuses. I know you’re handsome, and your frame shows me this money can help you live comfortably for the next few days.”

Finn gave a thin smile, then nodded. “All right, I’ll take it. Thank you, Ruth.”

She leaned in slightly, her blue eyes sharp yet gentle, her smile teasing.

“You must be hungry… and tired. Why not come to my house? I’ll serve you lunch… and we can talk more comfortably.”

Finn studied her for a long moment. Her words were simple, but there was a hint of opportunity and influence behind them. He smiled a thin, calculated smile once more.

“All right,” he replied. "I'll come."

"Good boy."

Ruth’s eyes brightened, unaware of the storm behind that smile. Finn followed her as she motioned for him to the car, bodyguard Henry now reluctantly staying behind. But even as he stepped forward, Finn’s mind raced.