Pain is my ever present friend.

Some days it whispers to me. Other days, it roars in my face, slicing its flaming claws down the path he carved into my skin now healed.

Most of the time, I welcome it as it reminds me of the path I am on that I committed to seeing to the end. I would hand over my soul to the devil if it meant I could look into his eyes as my retribution marked his skin and cleaved the screams I was owed for what he did to me.

Today, it is almost unbearable as I crouch in the shadows being drenched by the freezing rain. Pain screams in my head, a growing throb in my body pushing against any qualm I might have at what I am about to do.

The droplets trail down the silver stripes of where his knife dug into my skin two years ago, a path that began at the corner of my brow down to my neck and ended at my navel.

The wind pushes against my soaked coat forcing it to cling to my skin. A chill crawls its fingers up my back leaving goosebumps along its path.

My knuckles turn white around the cold hilt of my blade that I clutch at my side.

My onyx eyes never leave him, not since I began trailing him a few hours ago after connecting with a source who had informed me they had found him in the city two days ago. I’ve been hiding in the shadows of the city as he has met with people in various cafes and restaurants.

I watch from across the street as he drinks at the bar, entirely unaware that I stalked him in the darkness that blankets me.

My lips curl as I watch him enjoying himself and my shoulders tighten the longer I lay in wait as the reasons why I was here refused to be quiet in my mind.

It’s been two years since he kept me trapped in a basement as he tortured me for his own sick enjoyment. I spent weeks enduring the mental and physical pain he inflicted on me before he drugged me and left me unconscious and bleeding in a park. Some kind samaritan found me and I found myself waking in a hospital bed covered in bandages and shaking as the memories assaulted me on an unfailing loop. As soon as I was released from the hospital, I had trouble reintegrating into society. The fear of being found by him again kept me home and the memories of all I endured had the walls caving in on me. After a tear-filled night where I drowned it all in a bottle that I emptied, I realized I would never be safe until he was dead. So I forced myself into a gym to strengthen my body and soon after I learned fighting techniques and how to wield weapons.

I will never be weak or afraid again.

Most would have become shells of themselves after an experience like I had gone through. Instead I made my heart steel and focused entirely on my revenge. It kept me going and the pain that ravaged my body led me to this moment tonight.

He hands a card over to the bartender and stands up. I mirror his movement.

Shoving his arms into his jacket sleeves he then shifts the hood over his face, before heading out in the rain unaware of the shadow behind him.

I steady my breathing as I cling to the darkness, remaining a healthy distance away to not lose him and careful to not step on trash that would crinkle or crunch beneath my feet.

We walked, hunter and prey, down nearly empty streets as the rain poured out in the sky’s anguish.

After thirty minutes of treading through the flooding streets, his path eventually leads us to the marina where he sits down on a bench overlooking the roiling water.

Pausing, I glance around to assess the environment. It was a strange place for him to sit and the first time all day that he was alone.

My brows furrow as I consider this while the waves spray salt in the air.

I will kill him for what he did to me, there wasn’t a doubt in my mind on this. I had never taken a life before, but I refuse to consider any other option. The real question is if now was the best opportunity for this or if I should hold off given how open the space was and because I don’t know if someone is meeting him here. It was possible this was a meet up and if I pressed forward in my plan I could be caught red handed.

Not wanting to hesitate further, I push forward through the downpour and whip my blade through the air to his neck from behind him. A flash of lighting glints off the steel as the raindrops ping against it.

I hold it firm against him. “Don’t move or you’ll regret it.” I whisper into his ear as I feel his breathing increase.

Keeping my blade steady, I pivot around him and the bench, keeping the blade biting his skin.

A saccharine grin pulls my skin taut as I face him.

Finally.

“You.” he whispers as his eyes go wide at the realization of who held his life in their hands.

“Me.”

My heart pounds in tandem with the rainfall and my grin grows wider.

This moment is what I have longed for, dreamed of, and planned for years now. Its finally within my grasp and I won’t waste a moment on a speech or to draw out his pain though he deserves it. I can either claim my revenge now and live with the stain on my shriveled heart or I could walk away forever regretting not taking it and living in constant fear.

A pang grips my stomach as I realize the severity of the decision I have to make right now.

My jaw clenches and I narrow my eyes at him as I make my choice not caring about the consequences.

He dies now.

In one swift movement of my wrist, I swipe my blade across his neck and blood spills out over the hand he rushes to the wound trying to seal it.

Taking a step back, almost tripping over my own feet, I watch as the life slowly leaves him. My heart slowing alongside him.

As his eyes go vacant, laughter bubbles up inside me.

It’s done.