Childhood friends

The neon lights of the city flickered like distant stars against the night sky.

Dion Remington leaned against a graffiti-covered wall,the cool urban breeze ruffling his tousled hair.

His piercing blue eyes scanned the bustling Street below as he waited for his friend. At 17,he exuded an aura of confidence and determination that sets him apart from his peers.

"Late again" Dion muttered to himself, his patience running thin. Just as he was about to give up,he spotted a silhouette bathed in the glow of a nearby street lamp.

Eden Greene, with her Raven black hair cascading over her shoulders an aura of mystery, stepped into a pool of light.

At the same age as Dion, she possessed an undeniable beauty that made heads turn as she passed by. Her emerald green eyes were Windows into a world that only a few could understand.

"Sorry,Dion" Eden said breathlessly as she reached him. "you know how my family is Always keeping me on a tight leash".

Dion chuckled,his frustration instantly melting away. " You are worth the wait, Eden".

Their laughter echoed through the quiet alley, a sound that seemed to defy the harsh reality of their lives. Both had grown up in the shadows of wealthy families, yet their worlds couldn't be more different . Dion's family was known for their ruthless and cutthroat business empire, while Eden's was steeped in a dark ,enigmatic legacy.

As they strolled through the vibrant streets of the city, their conversation flowed effortlessly filled with dreams of escaping their oppressive families and pursuing their own destinies.

" You know " Dion said ,his voice the same as someone who was planning a conspiracy",I have been reading about this ancient artifacts rumored to grant unimaginable power ".

Eden's eyes sparkled with curious ." what kind of artifact are we talking about?.

Dion's eyes sparkled with a hint of determination ." THE HEART OF VENGEANCE".

Eden raised an eyebrow " sounds ominous".

" That is the point " Dion replied . " Legend has it that it grants it's possessor the power to exact revenge on anyone who has wronged them.

Eden's laughter rang out again , a musical symphony amidst the urban cacophony. " Revenge,Dion ? is that what you are after?".

He shrugged a hint of seriousness in his eyes. " Maybe not revenge but justice. Our families have treated us like pawns for far too long.

Eden nodded in agreement, her expression somber. " we deserve better Dion. We deserve a chance to be free. Eden said .

" Let us go home before our parents send out the army to look for us". Dion said humorously with a smile on his face . Then Eden and Dion burst out laughing. Then the both of them went in the opposite direction to their houses.

AT THE REMINGTON MANSION.

At age 17, Dion should have been reveling in the freedom and wealth his family possessed. Instead he was trapped in a cage, his every move monitored by his father,Victor Remington a Ruthless business tycoon.

"Dion" Victor's voice boomed through the grand living room. "I expect nothing less than perfection from you, I do not want you ruining this family's name. Do you understand me?. Also, haven't I warned you stop meeting that brat from the Greene family, the next time I find out that you snuck out to meet her, Dion you will be in big trouble.

" I don't know why you always indulge in useless things,but I should not be suprised since you yourself are useless. Sometimes I just wonder why you were born. you useless and ungrateful child. look at Marcus, see how good he is." Victor berated Dion. Dion knew that his skills were not far off from Marcus' but the Remingtons loved berating him for every little thing.

" Yes Sir " he replied, his voice laced with resignation. He learned a long time ago that defiance only led to more suffering. But deep in his mind he knew that he would continue to meet Eden.

MEANWHILE IN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CITY

Eden's world was a Stark contrast to Dion's opulent surrounding.

Her mother Beatrice Greene a woman of dark secrets was a constant source of anxiety.

" Eden" Beatrice hissed,her voice filled with venom .

"Why can't you just be good enough. Look at your sister,can't you see how perfect she is. Use those eyes of yours or are they as useless as you are ? answer me. Just try to be average at least because we all know that you can be good enough even if you try. Just don't go around ruining this family's name and reputation.

" Yes mother " she said softly, her voice barely audible. Her hands trembled as she tried to hold back tears . She was used to these cruel words but they never hurt any less.

" At least Amelia is better than this useless child" Beatrice said to herself as she went back to her room

As Eden was going back to her room, she bumped into Amelia her elder sister who despised her the way Adolf Hitler despised the Jews.

" an Ugly duckling, that is what you are. I do not even know what Dion sees in you. Everything mother said about you is true, in fact I think she left out some facts about you. You are ugly,useless with those big glasses of yours one would think you work as a secretary and not just any secretary those ugly secretary with the big rimmed glasses. Learn to stay in your place loser, you can never be as perfect as me ,computer nerd." Amelia said spitting each word with venom and hatred. Her hatred for Eden was unexplainable, she had all that Eden couldn't even dream of. Yet she was envious of Eden because of her beautiful she was. Even at 19 years of age , she was not half as beautiful as Eden .

"please just let me go, Amelia." Eden pleaded with.

Amelia . She was afraid of being alone with an angry Amelia. She remembered the last time they were alone,she still had the scar on her back from the last encounter she had with Amelia. She knew how much Amelia hated her because she never hid the hatred.

"Just go loser" I don't know why I even bother with you in the first place." Amelia spat at Eden. " I wonder if anyone would want you when you are not beautiful anymore". Amelia thought in her mind as she walked away.

She then thought of ways to make Eden less beautiful. "If I can make mother hate her more, then maybe she would actually beat her and make her look ugly. After all, she already has one scar,i don't mind adding more to it. Then no one would actually think she is more beautiful than me and I will be the most beautiful around here". She said to herself. Her hatred for Eden was overwhelming, she never treated Eden like a sister instead she treated her like a slave and would insult her at every chance she got.