Third pov
Flashback.
“Kill it,” the woman dressed in pink ordered, her voice so cold that it instinctively made the boy, Alexander, flinch.
Alexander shook his head, tears streaming down his face as he cried harder, begging his mother not to make him do it. He couldn’t understand why she would ask him to kill his dog, his only friend, the only one who had always been there for him.
You see, Alexander Knight had always been seen as a cold-hearted, evil child, even when he was young. He had inherited the cold demeanor of his father, Ezra Knight, and was feared by many for the same reasons. Both father and son were calm, collected, and rarely showed any emotion.
That was the reason everyone avoided him. Even his twin, Daniel Knight, had always been scared of him. Maybe that was why Alexander had always bullied his much more outgoing twin, the one everyone loved. Perhaps it was his twisted way of seeking attention. But his brother, Daniel, was so terrified of him, he never played with Alexander. And now… the last thing that didn’t make Alexander feel entirely alone, his dog, his mother, was asking him to kill it.
“M-Mother, please don’t make me do this! Please, I don’t want to kill Max!” Alexander cried, tugging at the hem of his mother’s dress, desperately pleading. But his attempt to change her mind failed. In fact, it only solidified her decision to have the dog killed.
This was the first time she had seen Alexander cry, and she refused to let this dog, this weakness, live any longer. Alexander was her masterpiece; she had meticulously molded him into the perfect heir, and she wasn’t going to let a mere dog ruin her plans.
He was the future don of the Knight empire. He would take countless lives as he grew older, and this would be the first step. If he couldn’t kill a dog, then all her time and effort would be wasted. The dog had to die- no matter what.
Smack!
Alexander’s face snapped to the side, and he blinked in disbelief, raising a trembling hand to touch the cheek his mother had just slapped. It stung. It hurt.
“I won’t repeat myself, Alexander Knight! Kill the damn dog, or you’ll regret it.”
She took a step closer, and instinctively, he stepped back, his heart pounding violently in his chest. He feared his mother and she knew it. That was exactly what she wanted. She wanted to carve fear into him from a young age so that he would never fear anyone but her.
Alexander’s tears fell harder as his fists clenched. He felt suffocated, but despite the fear gripping him, he refused to back down- no, he couldn’t.
He shook his head once more, and that was all it took for his mother to snap. Before he could react, she grabbed him by the collar, yanking him close until their faces were just inches apart.
Her voice was a venomous whisper, each word sending a shiver down his spine.
“Do you think I’m asking, Alexander? No, I’m ordering you to kill that dog. Because if you don’t, I’ll do it myself. And you know it won’t be simple. I’ll make you watch as I skin it alive, make it suffer until its last breath. Is that what you want? Do you want me to be the one to do it?!”
Alexander knew his mother wasn’t joking. How could she be when she placed a gun in his hands, then leaned in close, a sickening smile stretching across her face as she whispered,
“Aim for the head- it’ll be quicker that way, my child.”
That was all she said before stepping back, watching him with a satisfied gleam in her eyes. She couldn’t help but feel a thrill at this moment. A dog’s life was nothing compared to taking a human’s, but this- this was the first time Alexander would take a life. It was almost like watching him take his first steps all over again.
How exciting, she thought, clasping her hands together, eager to watch.
Alexander felt sick to his stomach. He wanted to throw up. He wanted to cry, but he knew it would only make his mother angrier.
He looked around, searching for anyone who would step in and stop her, but the maids only avoided his gaze, pretending to be busy. It wasn’t their business. Even if a child was being forced to kill his dog, it wasn’t their business.
At that moment, when he thought he had no choice but to do it, his father walked in, followed by his right-hand man.
Alexander felt a flicker of hope. Though his father was just as cruel, if not crueler than his mother, he had never paid Alexander any attention. He ignored him, and to Alexander, that was better than the torment his mother inflicted.
But before he could feel relieved, his father merely glanced in his direction, then at the dog on the ground, beaten on his mother’s orders. And without a word, he walked past them as though he had seen nothing at all.
Alexander felt crushed.
His mother scoffed, as if she could read his mind, before clapping her hands together to regain his attention.
“Come on, child! I’m waiting. I don’t have all day. Remember what I taught you- aim the gun, pull the safety off, and Bang!” She gestured with her hand. “Pull the trigger.”
Alexander shut his eyes, his hands trembling as he turned to his dog, his cries echoing through the air.
What was he doing? Was he really going to kill his friend?
He didn’t want to.
“I’m sorry, Max. I’m really sorry,” he choked out, biting his bottom lip as he forced his eyes open, only to meet the barely conscious gaze of his dog. Max stared back at him, tears glistening in his eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he cried harder, his voice breaking as he sniffled through his tears, his hands trembling as he lifted the gun higher.
Aim the gun.
He didn’t want to do it, but he knew this was the only way to end his suffering.
Click.
Pull the safety off.
Alexander watched as his dog blinked up at him, its paw reaching out slowly to tap the ground. Alexander understood immediately what Max was trying to convey
A message. This was something Max always did, his subtle way of offering comfort to Alexander in the darkest of times.
It was his way of telling him that everything would be okay.
Alexander’s heart clenched, something inside him snapped, and in that moment, he narrowed his eyes. Before anyone could even react, he turned to his mother.
Bang!
The trigger was pulled.
___
Alexander pov
“Boss, we’ve arrived,” Adrian said, and I slowly opened my eyes, staring at the towering gate in front of me with a cold expression. Sitting up straight, I reached for my gun.
“Fuck! I can’t believe I’m getting back into action. Can’t remember the last time I held a gun,” Julian grinned, effortlessly twirling his weapon in his hand.
“Boss, how should we handle them?” Adrian asked from the driver’s seat, and I shifted my gaze to him. Without hesitation, I ordered,
“Kill everyone, but leave her for me. She’s mine to take care of.”