[Short Story] Answer's Seeker

It all started two years ago. I was a young child in my family, the youngest. My family lived in a village, just a few miles away from the city. My life was a happy one, but all changes when he came... A man, no, a monster that killed my family, and all the good people at the village. I barely managed to escape alive, that is, because he spared me. He told me, while he held my neck, "I will come for you, longing for revenge, and I await that day," he said.

After that, I, as the only survivor was under a severe trauma and brought to a psychiatrist to restore my mentality. The investigators couldn't find any clue about the man. He disappeared, with no trace of proof. To keep the public from panic, they say the village was wiped by a fierce tornado.

Two years later, today morning, I realized it's been a total of 730 days since that attack, or they say, an incident. I still wanted my revenge, and the reason for his massive assassination of my village. While all my friends at my new school considered me the same as them, except I'm poor, they don't know what kind of pain and trauma I have endured. I trained extensively for two years, and swore on my oath that I will kill that man one day.

I knew today wasn't necessary to go to school, since it was the "rest period". A period after the final exam of the semester where students can rest at their home or go to school to just do practically anything, or hanging out if they want.

I came to my school, and I noticed a lot of people are present, something unusual I would say. As usual, before the class, the class captain greeted me.
"Good morning, Asher," He said. And I replied calmly, "good morning to you too, Archo."
I entered the class, but this time, all feels different, as if everyone looked at me. I wonder, what are they thinking, why they all stared at me. One of them, Hark, approached me.
"Do you remember the incident two years ago that you keep telling us about whenever we says the village disappears due to a tornado?" Hark said. I, still feeling uncomfortable, replied, "yes, I remember, all of it." "Well, last night, Lin has been kidnapped, the message at her house says that he is willing to return her, in exchange for the survivor boy, and he wants the boy to be at April's Alley." I lost my emotion control, and left the class running in a blind rage, while all my classmates followed me from behind.

I went back to my small home, and took my crafted blade. My friends looked at me, but silenced. They all know I have a grudge with the kidnapper, and they decided to follow me to April's Alley. At the Alley, the man revealed himself along with Lin. He says, "well, the survivor boy. I wonder how long it took for you to face me, now, show me." Everyone was confused, except me and him. I stared at him, and charged with my blade without hesitation. He took out his blade and clashed with my blade. I screamed, "get Lin out of here! I'll handle him!" Everyone, panic in the situation, decided to take Lin and let me handling the man.

After my friends left, the man then says, "that girl is under my control, and you did the right thing." I realize it was a trap, and I had to warn everyone, but he would never let me leave. I slashed his back as he let himself off guard. He falled to the ground and said, "I'm not done yet!" I started to realize something, his voice. However, I didn't care. I stabbed his right leg, paralyzed him and run after my friends.

As I reached my friends, they were inside cages and yelled, "what's the meaning of this!?" Quickly, I attack Lin from behind and wound her, only to realize her eye pupil is white, opposed to her unique pink pupil. "Hypnosis," I thought to my mind. I thrown some muds on the ground toward her to blind her eyes, and while she's off guard, I incapacitate her by holding her mouth from breathing.

After she's incapacitated, I released everyone from the cages. But then, a knife almost hit me from behind. The man returns and proclaims, "it's over!" Both of us moved quickly to attack, and after a series of clashes, we came into a stalemate. He however, unwilling to gave up, took out his watch. I realize it was for the hypnosis, the same one he used on Lin, and without delay, I throw my blade. The blade impales the watch and destroys it severely, breaking the hypnosis. In addition, it impales his left leg, totally immobilizes him.

I stood up and approached him. I held his neck, like he did to me years ago. I asked him in my rage, "why? Why did you murder the villagers!?" He didn't reply. I repeat it several times, and he finally gave in. He replied, "it's an order from the black marketers, they want me to do that, and later put the blame on the government, but they failed since government makes up excuses decently." I replied, "why would they want to do that!?" He replied, "for one certain reason : power." He then drawn his last breath.

I don't want to just stood and wait, but my friends approached me. Archo says, "tell the government the truth, it's better." I replied, "they won't believe if it's a kid telling them." "But what about a well documented video? Apparently, my father was at the village when he murders everyone. He however, doesn't aware that my father was a reporter and the camera is still intact from the accident, but kept by my mother," Lin said as she cries. Archo approached her and told her to stop crying. Hark replied, "and I have your conversation with him recorded and on my phone, since I know this will be very invaluable." I smiled, happy to know my effort has paid off, my revenge has been exacted, and now, I can return to focus on my studies, to make my parents in the afterlife happy.

The next day, the entire class came to the government's Crime Watchers. Everyone shares their views on the case and bring all the proofs. The watchers present decides to take a look again on the case, and promises us all, especially me and Lin, that all the black marketers will be brought to Justice. However, despite my deeds, I have to stood trial for murdering other human, especially the criminal that can solve the case, but I don't care, as long as my revenge has been brought.