《Rewind: Book 1 - The Third Son》
Chapter 1: A Christmas Eve
(Author''s note: The dialogues in telepathy are italicized.)
Coldor City''s Cinnamall Fine Dining is one of the most renowned restaurants, celebrated for its mesmerizing cuisine and aristocratic atmosphere. Normally, the place would be packed with classy customers. But today, it is reserved just for a family of five. Most of the staff are also absent, leaving only a few to maintain the quiet privacy for their VIP guests. They are seated next to a large transparent glass window, elegantly and warmly decorated in Christmas style, looking out at the busy, crowded street. Outside, people hurry by in the cold winter air, unable to feel the coziness inside the restaurant.
Anna, the youngest daughter, a 16-year-old girl with sapphire blue eyes and wavy blond hair, speaks first after enjoying the view for a while.
"Should we use the whole restaurant for ourselves on a day like this? It''s Christmas Eve, after all."
"Oh? Talking the traditional way now, aren''t we?" Kyle, the second son, nudges his sister to tease her.
"So what?" Anna retorts. "I need to practice my voice too. I can''t sing by telepathy, after all."
Kyle giggles, loosening up in his brand-new police uniform. Across the table, their father Daniel, a true gentleman, smiles broadly. His grayish-blue eyes sparkle. Looking at him, anyone can see where his children''s good looks come from.
"Of course!" Daniel encourages Anna. "My little princess is a rising idol. The Best Young Talent award didn''t come for nothing, right?"
"You can relax and do whatever you want here." Mary, Daniel''s wife and the children''s mother, gently speaks. "I let most of the staff take a week off starting today. They have been working hard all year long already."
"You are right, Mom." Jason, the eldest son, a young man who looks calm and elegant wearing glasses, nods in agreement. "But wait... May and Clara took their vacation too?"
"Yes," Mary answers. "Our housekeepers also need to rest, you know. Or do you think everyone is a workaholic like you, Doctor?"
Feeling a cold breeze from his mother''s brown eyes gazing at him, James clears his throat.
"Well, the hospital is always open, you see."
Mary doesn''t seem happy with that. Her eyes are distant, as if missing someone. Even in her fifties, she remains a beauty, looking like she''s in her thirties. Daniel raises his voice, trying to lift the mood:
"Come on, let''s have a toast. Anna, congrats on your award! Kyle and Jason, good work this year. And Mary, congrats on your thriving business, ma''am!"
"You too, Daddy. Go for your upcoming re-election!" Anna raises her glass of juice cheerfully.
They "Cheers!" together, talking and laughing. What a happy and perfect family.
They are the Lanes, one of the most prestigious families in the nation. Daniel Lanes, the father, is the mayor of Coldor City. Mary Lanes, the mother, is the chairwoman of Cinnamall, a giant chain of shopping malls and restaurants. Jason Lanes, the eldest son, is a surgeon at Coldor General Hospital. Kyle Lanes, the second son, is a police detective, and Anna Lanes, the youngest daughter, is a famous and popular singer.
The night darkens and deepens. The Lanes finish their party and return home in their luxury car. Looking out the car window, Anna suddenly starts another conversation, but not in words this time, but in thoughts:
"There are some people still standing on the street at this hour, handing out leaflets and cleaning the trash. Are they all ''recessives''?"Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
The others are quiet, but it''s just them communicating via telepathy.
"Mostly, honey. Unlike us, they don''t have special abilities. Therefore, their job choices are quite limited," Daniel answers.
"But there are also dominants who do those jobs. Three-quarters of the population is dominant, after all," Mary adds.
"I know. It''s just that... they used to be so above us. I''m still not used to being treated equally or even more highly than them," Anna thinks.
Daniel and Mary quietly exchange a worried look, not knowing how to respond. Roughly 100 years ago, only 25% of the world''s population was born with evolved genes. These genes gave them telepathy and other supernatural powers, as well as greater physical strength and longer lifespans. At first, they had to live in hiding and were hunted by normal people. Humans have the tendency to fear and hate the "different," after all. The evolved were brutally suppressed because, despite having superpowers, they cannot kill other people. Should they attempt to do so, their bodies would suffer paralyzing pain. For a long time, the "normal" people tried to control the evolved ones. Little did they know, Mother Nature flipped her hidden card. The evolved genes were dominant and spread like wildfire across the globe. In just four generations, the evolved population increased to 75% and has remained at that rate. Now, as young Anna knows, the ''normal'' people are actually evolved individuals with super abilities like hers, better known as "the dominants". The remaining folks, referred to as "the recessives," inherit mediocre traits from their ancestors and have less social influence. These people are now considered "the different."
"Great! Amber accepted me! We are now mindmates!" Kyle suddenly bursts out, breaking the quietness in the car.
"What?" Anna exclaims in disbelief. "Another girl?"
"What''s a mindmate?" Peter, their chauffeur, a middle-aged man who is a recessive, joins the conversation as it becomes verbal.
"Someone who accepted the invitation to connect with you on Evo," Daniel explains.
"Evo is a telepathic social network, like Pacebook or Trister, but not on mobile phones or computers, but in our thoughts," Mary quickly clarifies when she sees the confused look on Peter''s face.
"I see." Peter doesn''t totally seem to get it, but he''s obviously not unfamiliar with these privileged, dominant-only things. "No wonder the phones are so outdated now, haha."
His harmless statement startles Daniel, who hurriedly searches for something in his jacket.
"What''s wrong?" Mary asks.
"My phone. I totally forgot about it."
"Relax. Don''t they always contact you via Evo for work?"
"They do. But I should still check, just in case." Daniel sighs. "It ran out of battery."
The car drives towards the premises of the Lanes'' house. The sight of a huge and beautiful villa appears even from afar. The Lanes step out to walk to their home while Peter drives away to start his own vacation.
"Look! The house is all lit up and welcoming. May and Clara are the best!" Anna yells, locking her father''s arm. He laughs loudly, putting his other arm around Mary''s shoulder. Jason and Kyle walk behind, relaxing and unwinding.
When they come to the main gate, the Lanes stop, spotting someone with their back turned to them. That person wears a black hooded jacket and a light military backpack, holding a phone to their ear, looking towards the lit but empty house.
"Who''s there?" Daniel calls out to the stranger.
The stranger turns back, making Daniel and Mary freeze for a moment. A young man in his 20s looks at them, his gray eyes gleam beneath the bushy black hair covering his forehead. As if recognizing them, he lowers the phone in his hand, stops dialing Daniel''s unanswered number. He steps forward, showing a sheepish, wordless joy.
"Hm? Mom, Dad, why did you stop?" Kyle asks, walking from behind Daniel to see clearer. Jason goes with him.
"Is that... him?" Anna looks up at her father, bewildered.
The stranger hesitates when seeing the whole family. He takes a step back, as though pushed by some invisible force. In the cold breeze of the December 24th eve, he looks really pale.
"Yes, that''s your third brother," Daniel says softly, surprised himself.
"Gabriel, you are back?" Mary looks as if she can''t believe her eyes.
Jason and Kyle also stand with their eyes and jaws wide open.
A moment of awkward silence, then the young man, Gabriel Lanes, speaks with a croaky voice and an unnatural smile:
"H... Hi everyone. I''m... home... well... cough!"
All of them are dumbstruck at the appearance of the third son who has been absent for seven years. Now, he has returned.
Chapter 2: The Third Son Returns
(Author''s note: The dialogues in telepathy are italicized.)
Gabriel sits uneasily in the Lanes''¡ªwell, his family''s¡ªliving room. He feels like a stranger, nervously glancing around. Everything seems distant, both the interior and the people.
Mary places a warm cup of tea on the table before Gabriel and sits down, followed by Daniel. They both remain silent, watching him intently.
"Um... May I?" Gabriel asks, reaching for the tea to break the tension. His parents, realizing their overreaction, quickly respond, "Oh yes, of course! It''s yours."
Gabriel''s cold, trembling hands feel better as he holds the cup. He takes a sip and gazes absentmindedly at the door, which makes him choke.
"Cough! Cough!"
The door is slightly ajar, revealing the three Lanes siblings staring in with their laser-like eyes.
"Oh my God, are you okay, Gab?" Mary pats Gabriel''s back in a fluster, while Daniel shoos the siblings away and closes the door.
"How long were you waiting at the gate?" Daniel asks, concern etched on his face.
"Not too long," Gabriel shakes his head firmly. "I just got here."
Right then, his stomach rumbles, betraying him. Mary and Daniel sigh, knowing he had been there for at least three hours.
"I''m sorry," Gabriel says softly, lowering his head.
"No, why are you sorry?" Mary holds his hands. "This is your home."
Gabriel looks at her, feeling even more awkward.
"Why didn''t you inform us in advance?" Daniel asks. "I thought you had one more year."
"I was allowed to come back sooner because of my good record... I have the documents here."
"It''s okay, honey," Mary stops Gabriel as he starts to search for the papers in his backpack, giving Daniel a strict look. "Let''s go rest now. You can stay in the guest room for the time being. Wash up and come eat. I''ll make something for you."
As their mother hurriedly dismisses the awkward midnight reunion, Jason, Kyle, and Anna, still standing in the main hall, exchange their thoughts.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
"So, he really came back, huh?" Kyle looks pensive.
"Time flies so fast. It''s already been seven years," Jason nods.
"But... is that really... him?" Anna, unusually quiet, questions.
"Right, you were just nine when he left," Kyle recalls. "You know, he has been away because..."
"Sh..." Jason nudges Kyle, trying to stop him.
"I remember," Anna continues coldly. "He was sentenced to nine years in jail for murder when he was sixteen. That was seven years ago."
Jason and Kyle stare at her worriedly.
"So... you remember," Jason whispers.
"I have a bad feeling about this," Anna shares her thoughts with her brothers. "Not because he''s a recessive, but because... it''s him."
Gabriel Lanes, the third son of the Lanes family, is an ex-juvenile who has just returned from his sentence. With gray eyes, black hair, and being the only recessive in the family, one might think he is Mary and Daniel''s adopted son. But no, he is their biological son. He inherited the 25% chance of being born with unevolved genes¡ªno telepathy, no superpowers, below-average physical condition, so-so intelligence. However, like other unevolved people, he can kill without the pain-inducing natural barrier. If he had that barrier, he wouldn''t have been charged with murder.
"Yeah... He''s different from us, and now that I''ve seen him again, he''s even more... different," Kyle sighs deeply, sharing his thoughts.
The night is late. Snow started falling heavily outside. In the spacious guest room of the Lanes'' big house on the second floor, Gabriel sits up on his comfy¡ªway too comfy¡ªbed, unable to sleep. He looks blankly out the window. The pale blue light of the cold night shines on his face.
"It smells so nice here," Gabriel thinks to himself. "Do I stink? Should I take another shower?"
He sniffs himself, wondering, then decides to go to the bathroom for the third time. Under the running water, his bare skin is revealed. The skinny but solid body is marked with scars, big and small. On the desk in his room, next to the half-opened backpack, lie some very shady objects: a black badge with a sword in the logo and the word "NET," a short dagger, and a stack of photos¡ªphotos of the Lanes'' other members which look like they were taken in secret. If anyone in the family saw these things right now, he or she would be shocked, thinking about reporting these items'' owner.
Gabriel comes out of the bathroom, shoving his belongings back into the backpack and hiding it deep in the closet. His phone, which looks like an old piece of junk, vibrates with an incoming call. Gabriel grabs it, answering his call. If someone else sees or hears him right now, he or she would freak out.
"What do you want?" he asks the caller in an intimidating voice. "More eliminations?"
The person on the other side says something. Gabriel smirks blandly.
"I ain''t coming back to that slaughterhouse, so don''t bother me anymore."
He hangs up, throws himself on the bed, and tiredly closes his eyes after a long way back home.
Right now, he still has no idea that a very long journey awaits him.
Chapter 3: The First Morning
(Author''s note: The dialogues in telepathy are italicized.)
It''s perfectly normal for May to walk the streets this early in the morning, holding two large bags full of groceries and consumer goods, heading towards her workplace¡ªthe Lanes'' house. As a housekeeper, she is accustomed to being called suddenly to their aid at any time. Today, even though she is on vacation, it''s totally fine. May smiles with a little more effort than usual. It''s fine. It must be an important occasion.
May arrives at the gate. Mary and Anna are waiting there with different expressions on their faces.
"Here you are, my dear!" Mary beams, taking a bag from May. "Did you bring everything I asked?"
"Yes, ma''am." May follows her hurriedly inside. "Is it for someone? A guest?"
After these words, all the following conversation is in telepathy, as May is also a dominant.
"Not a guest, May," Mary answers joyfully. "It''s my third son, Gabriel. He just returned home yesterday and is still sleeping. He must be tired. You will see him soon."
May pauses for a moment, unsure of the news she just received.
"You got it right, sis," Anna comes up beside her, crossing her arms. "Though you have never met him."
"Never met?" May drops the bag in her hand and turns to look at Anna with wide eyes. "I didn''t even know he existed! I have been here for five years and have never heard or seen anything related to him. How come?"
Anna shrugs.
"I know what you are thinking," Mary explains while busily roaming around the kitchen preparing breakfast. "We, uh... have some personal reasons. But now that Gab has come back home, I hope you guys can welcome him, be nice to him, and help him adjust. OK?"
"Yeah, sure!" May agrees.
"I would be more careful around him if I were you, sis," Anna transmits her thoughts to May secretly behind her mother''s back.
"What''s wrong? Is he not your brother?" May wonders.
"He is, but he''s also many other things," Anna gives May a meaningful look. "I''ll tell you more later. But mark my words, you''d better stay away from him, and Clara should, too. You know what my ability is. So trust me."
While May feels her head spin from the sudden influx of information, Jason walks by the hall, one hand fixing his long coat, the other holding his briefcase. The sight of him immediately makes May forget everything else for a moment, and her face turns red.
"Oh, hi May!" Jason greets her politely. "Sorry for troubling you during your vacation."
"Morning, Jay." May smiles at him shyly. "It''s nothing. My mom and I are home bored anyway."
Anna chuckles with a know-it-all look on her face, saying nothing.
"Are you leaving already? What about breakfast?" Mary calls as Jason hastily heads out.
"I''ve got to go, mom. I have an early shift today."
Mary sighs. The next person to come down is Kyle.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"Hey mom, hey May. Anna, sup!"
The young policeman lightheartedly waltzes through the hall. His messy bed hair and minimal outfit don''t hide his handsome features.
"Come now, be more upright. You are a civil servant."
Daniel clears his throat and shows up behind Kyle, looking like a true noble in his black suit, ready to give some public speeches today.
"Don''t be such an old geezer and come here!" Mary waves her husband and son towards the bar table, where the delicious aroma of hot soup is spreading.
The morning gathering is already lively with voices and laughter when Gabriel appears.
He approaches so quietly that no one notices him at first. Then they see him standing by the door, hesitating, as if unsure whether he should interrupt the atmosphere. A faint, silly smile remains on his face.
"Gab, are you up? Come here! Join us!"
Mary encourages him to come closer. Hearing her call, May focuses more on the mysterious young master. His looks make her a little surprised, then confused. He''s not bad looking, but doesn''t look like his family at all. The other Lanes siblings share their father''s brilliant golden hair and blue eyes, while Mary has glossy light brown hair and eyes. But this young man, Gabriel, has pitch black hair and gray eyes. He also wears dark baggy jeans which cover almost all his slender build.
Upon hearing Mary''s beckoning, Gabriel comes in shyly like a teenage boy on his first day at a new school. Seeing him makes May''s heart soften. She doesn''t know what happened between them. This boy looks harmless enough.
"Good morning, Dad, Mom, Kay, An, and..."
Gabriel carefully greets each one. Anna turns away when he calls her name. Daniel and Kyle nod back shortly. Mary smiles gently and introduces:
"This is May, our housekeeper. She and her mother, Clara, are both part of our family."
"Nice to meet you, young master," May comes forward with her professional greeting. "Can I call you Gabriel?"
Gabriel startles a bit, being addressed like that for the first time. He takes her hand clumsily.
"Just Gab is ok. Nice to meet you, too, Ms. May."
"Oh no, please just call me May."
May immediately notices Gabriel''s unusually rough, calloused hands, but she doesn''t let it show. It''s her job to respect the Lanes'' privacy.
Suddenly, Anna stands up and walks out, just leaving a thought to others who can receive it:
"I''m going. Bye!"
"An! Say bye to your brother properly!"
Mary calls after Anna, but she doesn''t listen.
Gabriel catches a cold breeze when his younger sister walks by, not even looking at him. The atmosphere starts becoming awkward.
A brief silence, then Kyle prepares to slip away next.
"R... right! I should get going, too! I forgot to do some documentation work."
Kyle pats Gabriel''s shoulder, smiles fleetingly, then vanishes in the air with his teleportation.
Gabriel smiles awkwardly, feeling so embarrassed now.
"Those kids are really... Don''t worry, honey. They just need a little time to warm up to you."
Mary leads him to the table, seated next to Daniel, kindly reassuring him.
"That''s right. They haven''t seen you for so long. Of course they would feel strange. You can take a rest these days, or walk around the neighborhood for some fresh air. May and Clara will help with anything you need."
Daniel tells him warmly. May nods her head eagerly. Seeing their thoughtfulness, Gabriel smiles weakly.
"I get it. Thank you."
After a few more exchanges, Daniel and Mary leave together to attend a public event in the city. The house becomes quiet and empty, with only May and Gabriel left.
"Do you want something to drink?" May asks to break the ice.
"It''s ok, thanks... May." Gabriel responds, eating his soup which has gone cold. "This is delicious! My mom''s cooking is still top-notch. Did you have some?"
May looks at him, a little surprised.
"We usually don''t eat with the house''s owner''s family. We are here to serve whatever you need."
"Is that so?" Gabriel looks even more surprised than her. "Back then, we didn''t have housekeepers, so I didn''t know."
"Well, now you do." May smiles at him kindly. "So tell me whatever you need."
"Thank you. Then..." Gabriel speaks softly. "Can you sit here and eat with me? It''s kind of... hard to eat alone, you know."
May ponders for a short while, then brings a new plate to sit next to him.
"Alright. Let''s eat together."
In the spacious dining room, they start talking comfortably with each other.
"My mom is also a housekeeper here. Her name is Clara. She can''t hear or speak, and she''s a recessive."
May talks about her mother, who is off from work today since they are still on vacation.
"Really? I can''t wait to meet her," Gabriel replies. "I''m a recessive, too."
"So you are! I had a guess, since you only use your voice. But... are you really?"
May is surprised again.
"I know, right? I''m not like my family at all," Gabriel says, smiling sadly.
"That''s not what I mean..." May quickly explains. "I don''t mean it in a bad way, OK?"
"Yeah, that''s OK! Haha," Gabriel laughs. Their voices fill the big house, making it feel less lonely.
Chapter 4: A Friend
(Author''s note: The dialogues in telepathy are italicized.)
Gabriel is walking somewhere. It''s the New Year vacation, but his family members all seem busy. No one''s home during the day. Their evening encounters are usually brief and scattered, as each person follows their own schedule. Gabriel wonders if they avoid him on purpose, but he tries not to question it too much. Already feeling like a guilty intruder, he can only wait patiently.
Staying at home started to feel boring, so Gabriel took himself out. He is about to turn into an alley when a chill runs down his spine. Gabriel hides behind a wall and looks back at the road. He spots a black shadow following him. His facial expression doesn''t change, but a frozen gaze escapes his eyes, sharp enough to cut through anything nearby. He reaches behind him, gripping the handle of the dagger he carries in a hidden sheath.
Gabriel stands still like a predator waiting for its prey. But the black shadow is no amateur either. It hesitates for a moment, then retreats. Gabriel runs after it, but it has already vanished.
"What? Someone was tagging you?" a young man asks Gabriel while sitting across from him at a quiet, remote coffee shop. This white-haired, punk-looking man is the one Gabriel is meeting today.
Gabriel sips his black coffee, looking outside cautiously. "A sharp one, I''d say."
"Looks like you''re still very popular, young master," the guy grins mockingly. "Why are you seeing me now? I thought you said, ''I ain''t coming back to that slaughterhouse, so don''t bother me anymore.''" He mimics Gabriel''s words from their phone call the other night, teasingly.
"Fine. I''m bored now, OK?" Gabriel yells, embarrassed. "My mom said I could go meet some friends. But here I am with only you. I''m so pathetic."
The young man''s blazing amber eyes soften as he looks at Gabriel. He is Nathan Reed, who has known Gabriel since their time in juvie, through the training program, working together, and now. The seven years that remain a mystery to even Gabriel''s family, Nathan knows it all.
"So how has it been with your fam?" Nathan asks.
"Well, it''s alright, I guess," Gabriel replies mechanically, then sighs. "Actually, I''m not sure. I thought I could... get closer to them while hiding my secrets, but it''s harder than I thought."The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"What? Have they been mean to you?" Nathan shows anger. "Those hypocritical aristocrats!"
"Come on, man! They are my family!" Gabriel reminds him strictly.
"Sorry, man, my bad," Nathan clears his throat. "But they''re all living that high-end life thanks to you, while you suffered all these years alone. How can they act as if it was nothing?"
Gabriel is silent. His eyes darken like the coffee in his hand.
"You''ve got to make them regret it!" Nathan adds. The two of them look like a pair of thugs plotting a nefarious scheme.
"Drink your milkshake, dude!" Gabriel shuts him up.
Nathan sits back and gulps down his sweetened beverage, looking impatient. "You won''t come back to the gang anymore? Really?"
Gabriel shakes his head. "I won''t. I waited each day to be released from it."
Nathan sucks from the straw in his glass, upset. "Then take some insider updates. The notorious serial killer all over the news lately is still at large. The cops haven''t found anything other than the corpses. You and your fam better be careful."
"I saw the news," Gabriel nods, whispering to Nathan. "He can kill, and he''s so skilled that others can''t find him. Is he not one from that slaughterhouse?"
"No way!" Nathan chuckles. "They might be maniacs, but they have principles. Besides, you know that old man. He would keep them all in check."
"Is that so?" Gabriel looks strangely cold for a moment. "Do you think... that could be me?"
Nathan gulps heavily, staring at Gabriel warily. "Your joke is not funny, man."
Gabriel sighs, puts down his glass, and stands up. "You should worry for yourself. Your mother and siblings are all recessives. And you can''t defend them properly because you have the killing barrier."
"Oh my, young master Lanes is worrying about me? I''m so happy!" Nathan teases.
"Shut up!" Gabriel retorts while leaving the coffee shop.
Watching Gabriel from behind, Nathan remembers the other day when they were still working together. Between moving around the country for months, they would come back here from time to time. Like everyone else, Nathan would spend his precious days off going home doing what he wanted. But Gabriel would just stay at the dorm like a moody mold.
"Just go meet them already!" Nathan repeated for the hundredth time when he was about to leave the room. "We are not in jail anymore!"
Gabriel, just turned 21 that year, was lying on the bunk bed like a tired old man. "I saw them yesterday."
"You just hid somewhere peeking from afar again, right?" Nathan was frustrated. "Go say hi or something!"
"But... They were having dinner. They looked so classy and happy..." Gabriel spoke monotonously, his eyes distant.
In a luxurious, brilliant restaurant, the Lanes were talking and laughing cheerfully. They exuded a noble, superior air that was so bright it hurt the eyes. Gabriel looked back at himself, wearing his best outfit, but still felt out of place. After pondering there forever, he turned back and ran away.
Looking at Gabriel''s pathetic appearance, Nathan sighed, leaving him alone.
Now, he did meet his family. But Nathan still feels that suffocating, uncomfortable sensation when looking at Gabriel, which makes him wonder, "If you''ve been struggling this much, why bother coming home?"
Chapter 5: Family Dinner
(Author''s note: The dialogues in telepathy are italicized.)
It''s a chilly, rain-soaked day, typical for January in Coldor City. May rushes inside, closing the door behind her and setting aside her dripping umbrella. She and her mother, Clara, have resumed their duties as housekeepers for the Lanes, and May has just returned from her usual shopping trip. As she enters the kitchen, the aroma of cooking and the sound of laughter pique her curiosity. She finds Clara with Gabriel, the Lanes'' third son.
Seeing them together, May can hardly believe they only met today. Both being recessives must have created an instant connection. Remarkably, they are using sign language! Clara, being deaf and mute, usually communicates with the Lanes through telepathy, as they transmit their thoughts to her mind and read hers in return. Though not common, this can be achieved at a close distance with eye or skin contact, when the recessive fully trusts and opens up to them. May also uses telepathy with her mom for convenience. Witnessing the use of the old, forgotten sign language feels both strange and amusing to her.
"What are you doing?" May asks, using both telepathy and her voice.
"Hi May!" Gabriel responds with a smile. He is wearing an apron. "I''m trying to make a dish. Clara has been a great help."
"I didn''t do much. He''s so skilled with the knife. I never thought I''d use sign language in this house. Can you believe it?" Clara signs gracefully, her eyes sparkling with joy.
"Are you enjoying it, Mom?" May asks, joining in with hand gestures.
"You have no idea, lassie!" Clara rolls her eyes. "Telepathy is fine, but there are thoughts and feelings I would like to keep private. This way, my privacy is totally respected. It''s wonderful!"
"Really? Why didn''t you tell me sooner?" May asks, flustered. "I could have changed how I communicate with you."
"But the other Lanes couldn''t. I didn''t want to trouble them with my trivial preference." Clara shrugs as she puts away the items May bought.
May looks at Gabriel, still puzzled. "Did you learn sign language before?"
"Yes, as part of my training program." Gabriel nods.
May is about to ask more about this training program when Clara''s enthusiasm interrupts her. "Our third young master is as kind and gentle as his mother. I could talk with him all day!"
"Please, just call me Gab," Gabriel says shyly.
"Okay, my dear Gab! Haha!" Clara giggles, patting his back as if joking with her own son. May''s jaw feels like it''s dropping at that sight. Have they seriously become that close in less than a day?
Little do May and Clara know, this cozy atmosphere won''t last long. In the evening, Mary, Daniel, Jason, Kyle, and Anna return home one by one. It''s the weekend, so they are having dinner together as promised. Gabriel has been eagerly anticipating this meal, as it''s his first family dinner in a long time. The dining room is large and ornate, with complex dining etiquette, but Gabriel tries his best to adapt. This is his chance to reconnect with his family.
As Gabriel waits nervously in the dining room, his parents and siblings enter, dressed casually. The room becomes lively with chatter. Gabriel, at his parents'' signal, sits next to Daniel, who is at the head of the table. Jason is on his right, Mary across from him, Anna next to Mary, and Kyle at the end. May and Clara bring in the food on a trolley like professional waitresses.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"That smells wonderful!" Anna compliments.
"What do we have today, May?" Kyle asks eagerly.
May smilingly glances at Gabriel as she places the first dish in front of everyone. "Try it and guess!"
They chuckle and take their first bites. A long pause follows, during which Gabriel feels like he can hear his own heartbeat.
"I know this taste," Mary says first, looking at Gabriel with nostalgia and tears in her eyes. "Did you make this, Gab?"
"Yes, I did," Gabriel replies, a bit surprised by her reaction. "Is it... okay?"
He looks at everyone else nervously. It''s just a simple rolled omelet he used to make for them at their old, small house, but it already feels like forever since those days. He''s not sure if it''s still up to their taste.
"What are you saying?" Kyle responds strongly. "It''s delicious!"
"Thanks, Gab!" Jason smiles gently. "I''ll eat a lot!"
"Isn''t this An''s favorite?" Daniel asks, waving at his youngest daughter. "You used to cry for Gab''s signature omelet all the time, remember?"
For a brief moment, it feels like they are transported back to cherished memories. Gabriel''s goal is to break through the emotional barriers, especially with Anna, who has been the most resistant. He hopes to improve their relationship with the dish she liked the most as a child.
But when Gabriel looks at Anna, his heart drops. She gazes coldly at the cute-looking plate before her, then pushes it away with a grim expression. "No, it isn''t. Not anymore."
The room falls silent.
"Hey! What''s wrong, honey?" Mary asks, touching Anna''s shoulder.
"I''m not feeling well. I''m going upstairs," Anna says, standing up and leaving. The others look at Gabriel awkwardly. The rest of the dinner is quiet and strained. Gabriel barely notices what he''s eating, chewing tastelessly. The family feels bad for him but they leave him alone out of consideration.
"What? Gab committed murder?" Clara nearly drops the plate she is washing.
"Yes, that''s why he was in juvie and jail for the last seven years," May replies telepathically, looking around the kitchen as if worried someone might overhear.
"Oh my! That boy is so sweet... You really can''t judge a book by its cover," Clara thinks, clearly disappointed.
"No wonder there''s not a single photo of him in this house. They never mentioned him. For a dignified family like that to have a criminal son, they must be ashamed."
"Mom! Don''t be so harsh. We don''t know what happened," May reminds her softly.
"You saw how An reacted. She wouldn''t behave like that for nothing. You should keep your distance from him," Clara warns. "It''s the innocent-looking ones that are the most dangerous!"
Late into the night, Anna tosses and turns, breathing heavily with her eyes tightly closed. She has been having frequent nightmares¡ªthe same ones that haunted her years ago¡ªnow returning with Gabriel, her third brother.
In that dreadful dream, Anna finds herself as her frail, powerless nine-year-old self once more. She is back in the old, dimly lit alleyway, where shadows stretch long and menacing. Her small frame trembles uncontrollably as a steel-like arm grips her neck. Anna tries to scream for help, but her choked, suffocated throat can''t produce a sound.
"S... stay back! I said stay back!"
Unexpectedly, the large man holding Anna is just as terrified as she is. He points the gun in his hand at the dark, looming figure before them, screaming. The figure stands still for a moment, then slowly collapses, becoming a motionless body. His soulless eyes are wide open, blood flowing from his carotid artery and pooling on the ground. The sight and stench make Anna nauseous and dizzy. In her blurry vision, a sixteen-year-old Gabriel stands over the fallen man, looking down at him. His chest heaves, his hands stained with red. He looks up at the man behind Anna, his eyes wild and haunted, with no trace of the kind, gentle brother he once was.
"Don''t come any closer!" The man grabs Anna so tightly it hurts her, pointing the gun at her head, wheezing menacingly. "Or I''ll kill her!"
Gabriel remains unfazed. He tilts his head as if calculating something, then charges forward like a flash. The kitchen knife in his hand glistens in the dim streetlight.
A thunderclap rumbles through the night, jolting Anna awake from her nightmare. She screams in horror as Mary comes running from her room, hugging her shaking daughter in her arms.
"What''s wrong, honey? Is it that nightmare again?"
Anna weeps silently on her mother''s shoulder, her telepathic thoughts shaky and unsteady.
"He was smiling," Anna shudders, remembering her brother''s chilling sneer. "Gabriel, he was enjoying it!"
Chapter 6: Seven Years Ago
(Author''s note: The dialogues in telepathy are italicized.)
It had been an incredibly challenging period for the judicial officers of the new government. Following the victorious revolution of the dominants, numerous issues demanded immediate attention. They had to address the charges against political criminals from the previous regime, establish a new legal system to reflect the new ideology, and manage ongoing conflicts instigated by extremist recessives. Additionally, the crime rate among the now-free and uncontrollable dominants, who possessed various superpowers, had surged. Amidst this chaos, the case of a teenager accused of killing two men seemed insignificant. However, this boy was the third son of Daniel Lanes, a prominent politician who had heroically fought for a better world. As a leading figure in the new government and a representative of evolved individuals who opposed old-world crimes like violence and murder, Daniel faced a dilemma when his own son was accused of such crimes. The public followed the case with great interest.
The courtroom was packed. Daniel and Mary sat uneasily in the front row, having left their other children at home to shield them from the ordeal of Gabriel''s final judgment. Gabriel, seated in the defendant''s position, looked weary and anxious in his brown detention uniform. He kept his head down, avoiding his mother''s sobbing in his father''s arms and the prying eyes of strangers.
"To confirm, the defense requests a sentence reduction on the grounds of self-defense, correct?" the judge, a venerable-looking middle-aged man, asked Gabriel''s lawyer.
"Yes, sir," the lawyer, a man in his 30s, replied, standing next to Gabriel. "My client was protecting his younger sister from hostile individuals seeking revenge on their father, Mr. Daniel Lanes, for opposing the old authorities. We ask for consideration of the Lanes'' contributions to the revolution and the new system, as well as Mr. Gabriel Lanes'' honesty and remorse."
Mary and Daniel held hands tightly, their eyes sparkling with hope.
"Prosecutor, do you have anything to add?" the judge asked, turning to the other side. A strict-looking man in a red gown stood up, speaking firmly.
"Yes, Your Honor. I have obtained footage from the sole witness, Ms. Anna Lanes. Allow me to play it."
The room buzzed with whispers. The judge restored order with his gavel. "You may proceed."
The prosecutor turned on a large screen, showing a pale, timid little girl. Her sapphire blue eyes darted around nervously, her hands clasped tightly. From the camera''s perspective, the prosecutor''s voice was gentle and reassuring.
"It''s okay, Anna. You are safe now. No one can harm you anymore."
"I... I don''t want to go to court," Anna mumbled.
"Don''t worry. You don''t have to," the prosecutor said. "Just tell me what happened."
Anna nodded weakly. "There were two men chasing us. They tried to hurt us, so Gab... I mean, Gabriel fought back... and killed them... accidentally."
Her voice grew smaller, but the prosecutor pressed on. "How did he fight them? Your brother is just a teenager. How could he defeat two strong adults?"
"He... he brought a knife," Anna stammered. "A kitchen knife... from our house. He used it to... to slash them. It was so fast... I couldn''t see anything." She started trembling.
"Alright, this is the last question. Was he trying to protect you? Did he show concern for your safety, or fear of losing you?" the prosecutor asked.
Anna paused, then burst into tears, surprising everyone. "No, he wasn''t! He didn''t hesitate to charge at the man holding me hostage. His feelings rushed through me, and it was so... so horrible I couldn''t stand it!"
The footage ended with Anna nearly fainting from stress, and others rushed to care for her.
The courtroom erupted in commotion. The viewers grew suspicious of the Lanes'' third boy. Mary yelled while Daniel tried to calm her.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"I object! The unclear memory of a traumatized nine-year-old can''t be evidence!"
The prosecutor responded firmly, "Ms. Anna Lanes may be traumatized, but her memory is not unclear. Mrs. Lanes, you know your daughter is the most vivid living recorder, with her special ability, ''absolute empathy''!"
Mary froze, unable to argue.
"Everyone," the prosecutor explained, "absolute empathy is the ability to share the exact thoughts, feelings, and emotions of another person upon contact. Ms. Anna Lanes is one of the rare individuals with this ability. Her testimonies are not to be taken lightly, Your Honor."
He looked back at the judge, his eyes serious. The judge frowned in deep thought, then addressed Gabriel directly.
"Defendant, please respond honestly. Do you admit that your sister''s statements are true?"
Gabriel''s lawyer whispered advice to him, "Admit it!"
Gabriel stood slowly, looking at his desperate parents, then at the judge. "No, that''s not true," he denied. "An had it wrong. Let me see her. Mom, dad, where is she?"
The judge sighed in disappointment. Gabriel''s lawyer squeezed his forehead in frustration. The prosecutor raised his voice.
"Defendant! Ms. Anna''s testimonies were confirmed by our lie detector specialists. Your Honor, please consider the weight of this case seriously. Due to his unsettling mental state, the defendant caused his sister severe trauma and refused to admit his wrongdoing. This should be an example of the new law''s intolerance towards barbaric crimes like murder!"
The judge signaled for silence with his gavel. After some discussion, he pronounced, "The court hereby sentences Mr. Gabriel Lanes. He is still a minor, and his actions stemmed from self-defense. However, it was intentional killing, and there were signs of excessive self-defense. Therefore, he shall be sentenced to nine years in juvenile detention, followed by prison."
With that, the court concluded. The judicial officers hurriedly moved on to other cases, leaving Gabriel and his parents in bewilderment. Gabriel, hands cuffed, was being pulled away. He tried to look back at Mary and Daniel with pleading eyes, but they could only stand there, speechless.
Some time later, in the visiting room of the juvenile detention center, Gabriel saw his mother. They sat in a quiet, guarded place. Mary noticed that the boy in front of her had changed. He looked calmer and more composed, his eyes no longer confused, just sad.
"How is An? Is she okay?" Gabriel asked softly.
"She is recovering," Mary answered, relieved that her gentle son was still there. "With therapy, her condition has improved."
Gabriel nodded understandingly.
"What about you, Gab? Are you alright?" Mary asked, holding his hands tightly and looking at him attentively. "An kept having nightmares, saying how scared she was of you back then. I still find it hard to understand."
Gabriel saw a glimpse of doubt in her eyes. "Did you... did you do something... you shouldn''t have?" she asked hesitantly. "Oh no, what am I saying?" she quickly turned away, confused. "I must be out of my mind."
Mary thought Gabriel would be angry or hurt. He should have been, since even his mother didn''t trust him. But to her surprise, Gabriel''s hands and voice started shaking as he spoke. "I did kill them. That''s horrible. It... it''s me who traumatized An. I was scared and not in my right mind. I... I''m sorry!"
Tears flowed from his eyes. At that point, after all the guilt he felt and the questions people had thrown at him, even he couldn''t trust himself anymore.
Mary felt like crying. She embraced him tightly. "Oh, my poor boy..."
Meanwhile, in a private but spacious and well-appointed office, Daniel was meeting with someone else. The other man, seated behind a nameplate at a large desk, looked like a powerful politician. He gazed at Daniel with concern.
"It''s unfortunate that your son''s case turned out this way, but you know what you need to do, don''t you?"
"Yes, sir," Daniel nodded respectfully, his face tense. "I cannot let my family matters affect our work."
"Right. We are trying to build a new world, better than the one those old recessives ruined," the elder man said. "What would people say if we are strict with other offenders but give special treatment to someone just because of his father''s title?"
"I understand, sir," Daniel responded.
"This is for your sake too, Daniel. You need to maintain your public image," the man spoke softly.
After a brief silence, the man inquired, "Now, let me ask you again. Are you sure about this?"
Daniel stood up, facing him with determination. "I am. Please accept my request. Sign Gabriel up for the NET training program and reduce his sentence as the offer stated."
They looked at each other quietly before the other man sighed. "Alright, if that''s what you want. Now, take this document and go see Anthony. Say hi to him for me."
"Thank you, sir," Daniel said, taking a paper from the elder man and hurrying out of the room.
The document bore a logo with the image of a sword at the center of a scale, and the name: NET - National Execution Taskforce.
Chapter 7: A Rainy Night
(Author''s note: The dialogues in telepathy are italicized.)
Anna dozes off on her way home from the show. She remains the brilliant idol she has always been, pouring her heart and soul into every performance. However, offstage, fatigue has caught up with her. She closes her eyes, feeling tired and dispirited.
"An... Anna!" The manager''s voice jolts her awake.
Anna sits up and sighs deeply. "Are we at my house?"
"Yes. You worked hard today," Rachel, Anna''s manager, a woman in her thirties, says gently. "Go in and get some rest."
"Okay. Thanks, Rach." Anna bids her goodbye and steps out of the van. She looks reluctantly at the large house before entering.
"I''m home," Anna calls out to her parents, who are having tea in the living room. She glances around, searching for someone.
"Gab went out," Mary says, reading Anna''s thoughts. "He''s eating at a friend''s house today."
"Really?" Anna''s fatigue vanishes instantly, replaced by joy. She leaps onto the sofa, stretching and relaxing.
Mary and Daniel exchange a knowing look.
"You''re that happy when he''s not here?" Daniel asks telepathically, his face stern.
"Please, Dad. My head hurts. Just speak normally," Anna yawns.
"Fine. Answer my question," Daniel repeats aloud.
"Do you even need to ask?" Anna sits up and shrugs nonchalantly. "You know why I''m like this."
"But he''s your brother!" Mary protests. "He''s family!"
May is about to bring in more drinks and snacks when she senses the tension rising and quietly retreats.
"So what?" Anna responds grumpily. "I can''t stand it anymore. When will he leave? Don''t tell me he''s staying with us from now on."
"An!" Mary looks at her in disbelief.
"What? Are you serious?" Anna stands up, yelling. "Have you forgotten what he did?"
"He served his sentence!" Daniel also stands up. "It''s all in the past now. You should move on too!"
"No, I can''t!" Anna''s voice trembles as she fights back tears. "Do you know how those flashbacks tormented me? And now, just when I thought it was getting better, they''re back! Because of him!"
Daniel and Mary are taken aback by Anna''s strong reaction.
"I know that when others believed me as a witness, you didn''t." She smiles bitterly. A tear escapes from her eye. "You don''t want to admit that your sweet little Gab is a psycho. But he is!"
"An, stop it!" Mary tries to hold her back, but Anna continues.
"Please, Mom, Dad, can''t we just send him away and return to our normal lives? I don''t understand why we have to endure this awkwardness. Why did he come back here anyway? No one welcomes him. Jay and Kay have been avoiding him, right?"
Anna turns to her two brothers, who have just returned from work and are standing there, confused.
"What... What are you talking about?" Kyle doesn''t want to get involved.
"Calm down, An. Don''t be like that." Jason tries to cool the atmosphere.
"I''m not finished!" Anna persists. "I felt your emotions the other day, Mom. You''re afraid of Gabriel too, because of your ''clairvoyance''!"
"And you, Dad," she looks directly at Daniel, "you feel relieved when he''s not around. I don''t need my ability to know that. Don''t act so high and mighty! Sure, I''m a brat, but at least I''m honest, unlike you hypocrites..."If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
"Enough! I said enough!" Daniel screams, slapping his daughter. His face turns red with anger. He immediately regrets it, but it''s too late. Anna grabs her coat and storms out of the house. The room falls silent after she leaves.
"Let her be!" Daniel says stubbornly. "She''s been too spoiled!"
___
Gabriel returns shortly after dinner. He finds his parents sitting at the tea table and his brothers at the high table having dessert. May and Clara have just gotten off work.
"Evening, everyone." Gabriel smiles as he comes in.
"Did you have a good time, honey?" Mary asks, seeing her son in a better mood than usual.
"Yes, Mom." Gabriel has a silly smile on his face. "Nathan''s family is funny just like him. Their jokes made me laugh so hard."
Noticing the unusually gloomy atmosphere, Gabriel asks, "Where''s An? Is she not home yet?"
Everyone falls silent. Daniel sighs deeply and leaves the room. Jason and Kyle look away, avoiding the subject. Mary answers dejectedly, "She ran away from home after having a fight with your father."
"What?" Gabriel is stunned. "But why?"
"Don''t worry," Mary tells him. "It happens sometimes. She''s at that age."
"She must be staying at a friend''s home, or at her manager''s, like the last few times." Kyle shrugs.
"She''ll come back after cooling her head," Jason adds.
"Is... that so?" Gabriel''s bewildered by his family''s composure. They are used to Anna''s rebellious phase, but he''s not. In his mind, she''s still the little girl who was targeted by extremists seven years ago. Nathan''s warning about a serial killer roaming freely also worries him.
A while later, Gabriel leaves in a hurry.
"Where are you going?" Mary calls after him.
"I''m just checking to make sure she''s somewhere safe," Gabriel replies worriedly. "It''s dangerous outside these days!"
With that, he disappears like a breeze.
"Uh... does he even know where to find her?" Kyle asks, glancing at his watch. "I can''t take him. I''ve got to go now."
"I sent him Rachel''s contact," Jason responds, checking his phone. "She''ll know where An is."
A thunderclap rumbles, and it starts raining heavily.
"Seriously, she hasn''t been gone for that long," Kyle mutters. "But now he''s making me nervous."
___
Anna exits a convenience store in the suburbs, holding a bag filled with beer cans and snacks. She has been wandering aimlessly when the rain catches her. Usually, Anna would go to Rachel or her friends to talk and unwind together. But today, she just wants to be alone, so she deliberately comes to this quiet place. It''s not easy talking about a third brother who is an ex-convict when you are a public figure.
Anna adjusts her face mask and clutches her umbrella, trying to avoid recognition. Sometimes, being a celebrity is hard. She walks into a quiet, narrow alley. Normally, she wouldn''t mind these paths, but tonight, this alley makes her uneasy. The streetlight above flickers erratically. In the cold rain, she hears footsteps approaching from behind. She quickens her pace, resisting the urge to look back, but the footsteps persist. Anna takes a deep breath, gripping a beer can tightly, and turns to confront the follower.
"What do you want?" She yells, trying to sound tough.
"Huh... What?" The man looks at her blankly, fingers pressed to his temple, indicating he''s having a telepathic call with someone else.
When Anna doesn''t respond, he shrugs and walks past her, resuming his call. She sighs in relief.
Anna sits down on a public bench, feeling pathetic. What''s the point of having "absolute empathy"? What''s the point of being an idol who brings joy and happiness to others? She can''t even understand her own family and can''t get along with them.
"I turned off my phone and my Evo account so no one can call me. But will they even bother looking for me? Probably not, huh." Anna thinks to herself, chuckling bitterly. Her mood is particularly low, and the downpour isn''t helping.
"An? Is that you?"
A familiar voice calls out to her. Anna looks up in surprise. Through the rain, Gabriel is running towards her, a worried look on his face. Strangely, Anna doesn''t find it unexpected. Deep down, she knew that even if no one else would come for her, Gabriel would. It had always been that way, until that irreversible incident seven years ago created a rift between them.
"What are you doing here?" Gabriel asks, standing before Anna in his raincoat. "Have you eaten yet?"
"You... How do you know I''m here?" Anna questions, trying to act tough.
"I met your manager, Rachel. She helped me list the places you could be," Gabriel replies. "I checked some of your friends'' houses, but you weren''t there. Then Dad called me, saying you just made a transaction in this area. So here I am."
"Right, my card is on his account," Anna says gloomily. "But does he even care?"
"He''s really worried about you!" Gabriel crouches and looks at her with gentle eyes. "Everyone''s worried. Come on, let''s go home!"
Anna suddenly feels her eyes stinging. "What''s with this rain," she grumpily comments, fighting back tears. "It''s getting into my eyes."
___
About an hour later, in a dark and deserted alley of the suburbs, not far from where Anna was earlier, a woman''s weak, terrified cry for help is drowned out by the relentless rain.
"Please... someone help!"
The woman crawls on the ground as a tall, thin man stands over her, wearing a black hooded raincoat. Thunder crashes, illuminating the scene for an instant. The rain intensifies, pouring down in torrents. The man turns slightly, revealing only the blood-dripping kitchen knife in his pale, slender hand.