THE GREATEST REVENGER SYSTEM

Something To Bring The Devils Down

Penelope was sprawled across the mattress like she owned the place, dressed in one of Evan’s shirts, her hair cascading over her shoulders. Her eyes flicked to Thenma as he entered, her expression momentarily startled before it shifted into her usual look of disdain.

"Oh, I didn't see ya there," she drawled, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "What are you doing here, Thenma? Did you finally grow a spine, or are you here to get humiliated again?"

Thenma stepped further into the room, his jaw tight. "I’m here for Evan. Where is he?"

Penelope scoffed, sitting up slightly. "He’s not here, obviously. He’s out at some fancy party with his dad, like you know, he's not an ordinary person with ordinary daily things to do; wake up, survive, then sleep." Penelope still bragging about Evan, forgetting about the evil side of him. No wonder, since they were shared the same devil so they were a perfect match. "What’s the matter, Thenma? Did you really think you could come here and challenge him or something? Look at you—still trying to act tough when everyone knows you're a loser."

Thenma’s eyes darkened, but he stayed calm. "This isn’t about acting tough, Penelope. This is about getting what I deserve to get."

"And can you tell me what is that...?"

"Apology...not for me, but for Adeline."

Penelope looked indifferent, her eyes glancing elegantly and dismissively toward the floor.

"Oh, are you talking about that bitch—who nearly broke my nose?" Penelope remarked. "Why should I apologize when she's the one at fault? She came uninvited, causing chaos, and almost ruined this goddess's face with her crude punch. Ah, perhaps that's what happens when you grow up without a mother to teach you etiquette and femininity."

"Shut your mouth!"

Thenma stepped forward, gripping Penelope's jaw, his gaze fierce with blazing anger.

"Do you want to kill me here now?" Penelope shifted her arrogant expression to one of feigned innocence and fear. "You're scaring me, Thenma. Please, don't hurt your soft-hearted Penelope~"

Thenma could have done something as drastic as killing Penelope if he wanted-his anger toward her was not easily forgiven. But he refused to let Penelope, Evan, and the others receive a punishment as simple as death. Roughly, he released her. Penelope laughed, believing he let her go because he still hadn't gotten over her.

Penelope chuckled, swinging her legs off the bed and standing up. She sauntered toward him, shortened their distance again, her hips swaying, her eyes scanning him up and down. "You really think a few muscles and a new outfit change who you are? You’re still beneath us, Thenma. You’ll always be beneath us."

"That’s where you’re wrong," Thenma said coolly, pulling the USB drive from his pocket. He held it up, letting it glint in the soft light of the room. "Because I have something you don’t. Something that will destroy you and Evan."

Penelope’s smirk faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. "What is that? A pathetic attempt to scare me? It won’t work."

"This," Thenma said, waving the USB, "is the footage from Verona Lounge. The real footage. Not the one the club gave to the police, but the one that shows everything that happened that night."

Penelope’s face a bit bland as the weight of his words sank in. Her eyes darted to the USB, then back to Thenma. "Are you trying to scared me, scumbag?"

"I only have time for something meaningful for me, I ain't got no time to play like you always do, Goddess."

Penelope's smile fades, as she felt Thenma really didn't play a game with her right now.

"Are you serious?" Her voice lose it's confidence, walked slowly to see the small thing on Thenma's palm. "Nah. You're just bluffing. The cameras didn't work in VIP's areas."

"Wrong," Thenma said with a smug grin. "The cameras were working just fine. The club just likes to pretend they weren’t, when it benefits them. But I got the footage, Penelope. Every second of it."

Her mouth opened in shock, and for the first time, Thenma saw real fear in her eyes. "No, you can’t… You can’t do this, Thenma. If that footage gets out—"

"Then the world will see who you really are," he finished for her. "The golden Aphrodite of the school, caught in the act of destroying someone’s life. This is not an ordinary juvenile crime anymore, Penelope, this is a crime.bDo you think Evan’s money can fix that? Do you think your looks will save you when everyone sees what a monster you are?"

Penelope took a step back, her hands shaking. "What Can I do to get the deal?"

"What?" Thenma sounded mocking Penelope words, but the fear in Penelope's eyes were true.

"Please… Thenma, please. Don’t do this. I’m begging you. You don’t understand what this will do to me."

"I understand perfectly," Thenma said coldly. "And I don’t care. The only thing I want from you is to go to Adeline, get on your knees, and beg for her forgiveness. Publicly. Or I’ll make sure everyone sees the real you."

Penelope’s breath hitched as panic overtook her. She grabbed Thenma’s arm, her nails digging into his skin. "You can’t… You can’t ruin me like this."

Thenma yanked his arm away, his expression hardening. "Then watch me."

With that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving Penelope trembling in fear. As the door clicked shut behind him, he could hear her frantic breaths.

Penelope collapsed onto the edge of the bed, her hands trembling as they pressed against her forehead. Her perfect, manicured nails dug into her scalp as panic surged through her. The weight of Thenma’s words crushed her chest, making it hard to breathe. The footage. He had it. Everything she had done, all her carefully crafted lies, could unravel in an instant.

Tears burned in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Not yet. Not over him.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!” she spat, standing abruptly and pacing around the room, her heart pounding as fear threatened to suffocate her. "That filthy scum… Who the hell does he think he is?!”

She punched the wall in frustration, the sharp pain doing nothing to ease the panic in her chest. “He can't… He won’t destroy me! No one can ruin me! I’m Penelope Eldridge, for god’s sake!"

But as the minutes passed, and her sobs subsided into tired whimpers, an idea began to creep into her mind. Slowly, Penelope’s tears dried, her panic simmering into something else—something darker. Her breathing steadied, her posture stiffened.

Her fingers uncurled, and she wiped her face with the back of her hand. Slowly, a twisted smile curled at the edge of her lips. She sat up, her eyes narrowing with a dangerous gleam.

“Thenma… that pathetic loser,” she hissed. “He actually thinks he can win? That he can bring me to my knees?" Her voice regained its icy arrogance. "He has no idea who he’s dealing with.”

Penelope stood, walking to the mirror. She stared at her reflection, her eyes red and swollen from crying. For a brief moment, she hated the image of herself. Vulnerable. Weak. But as she stood there, her expression hardened. "I won't be humiliated by someone like him," she whispered fiercely. “He thinks I’ll beg? Look what I can do, Thenma... I won't lose, I won't fall. And if I fall, you'll fall with me." Penelope looked at her phone on the table and smiled like a cunning fox.

***

Thenma pushed open the door to the apartment, his heart racing with excitement. Today had been a success—he had gathered enough evidence to bring Evan, Penelope, and the rest of their cruel circle to justice. He imagined Adeline's face lighting up when he told her the news. She deserved to know that soon, they would get their revenge. Soon, those who had ruined her life would face consequences.

"Adeline!" he called out, his voice echoing through the apartment. He expected to see her sitting in the living room, maybe watching TV or reading a book, but there was nothing. The apartment was dark, cold, and unsettlingly quiet.

A knot of unease began to form in his chest. "Adeline?" he called again, his voice faltering as he flicked on the light.

The living room was dimly lit by the soft glow of a single lamp in the corner, casting shadows across the furniture. Thenma’s eyes darted around, searching for his sister, until they landed on the sofa.

There, lying motionless on the large couch, was Adeline.

"Adeline!" Thenma’s heart dropped to his stomach as he rushed toward her. She was pale, her body limp. He froze when he saw the empty bottle of tranquilizers on the floor beside her.

"No, no, no," he whispered in a panic, dropping to his knees beside her. "Adeline, please… please wake up!"

His hands shook as he gently shook her, but there was no response. Tears welled up in his eyes, fear gripping him like a vice. How could he have let this happen? He had been so consumed with his quest for revenge that he hadn’t noticed how deep Adeline had fallen into her own despair.

"Adeline… please…" His voice cracked, the sobs he had been holding back finally escaping. "I’m so sorry. I should’ve been here for you. I… I was too busy with everything else, I—"

He fumbled for his phone, dialing emergency services with trembling fingers. His mind was racing, filled with a sickening mix of guilt and panic.

"I'm sorry, Adeline... I'm sorry. Please, wake up; open your eyes. Don't leave me, Adeline, I'm sorry ~"

For the first time since his transformation, Thenma felt powerless. All the revenge in the world didn’t matter if he couldn’t save the person he loved most.