RAVEN.
Chapter 26: Sorry Felipe... Goodbye

Chapter 26: Sorry Felipe... Goodbye

"Who the hell are you?"

The nurse got to her feet and removed her hair net, letting her blonde hair fall to her shoulders. "You might not know me, but I know you, and I’m Sasha. I did what you couldn’t do. I ended Lara’s life."

"Why would you do that?" Raven asked, still shaken that Lara was no more.

"Because she deserved it." Sasha said defensively, "Lara didn’t deserve to live."

"Do you think that after your mom exposed Gomez University ten years ago, they stopped giving out scholarships?" Sasha asked rhetorically, "No! They denied the allegations and gave out free scholarships to everyone! My now crippled sister, alongside other female victims, was endlessly tormented and assaulted by Lara, her brother and their friends. When I saw the news about what you did, I was really happy! You disguised yourself and went into the enemy’s territory to destroy them from within. I thought to myself that you had rare courage and that you were doing something that I myself couldn’t do. But you couldn’t finish the job. Turns out I had more courage than you."

And then, with that, Sasha spun on her heels and walked away, leaving Raven with her thoughts.

Raven wasn’t aware that Lara and her friends continued their tormenting after she left town. But finding out now made her think how morally rotten she was.

Truly, Lara was so vile. Enjoying people’s suffering! Rotten to the core, with no human sympathy for others! All she cared about was herself, her ego, and her family.

Raven had given her a chance to change, but instead, she had attacked her, nearly killing her.

Perhaps Sasha has just done the world a favour. People like Lara aren’t worthy to be called human. They should be wiped from the face of the earth!

Still overwhelmed, Raven headed home to the penthouse she shared with Adam but made sure no one recognised her as the criminal.

***

Adam was scooping a spoonful of cereal into his mouth as he watched the news. He nearly poured the cereal all over the tiled floor when Lara’s news came on.

"... that Lara Brant has officially been declared dead." The female news announcer said, ’It is suspected that the dangerous fugitive, Raven Moon, had visited her at the hospital and had turned off the life support system, tragically ending her life. The search for Raven Moon has reached fever pitch and Larry Hopkins is offering the sum of 20 million dollars to the person who captures this..."

Adam couldn’t wait to hear the rest; he dropped the cereal on the table and jumped to his feet, hearing Raven come in.

"You killed her???" He asked her wide-eyed, "I thought you said you wanted to check on her condition!"

"I didn’t kill her, okay?" Raven defended herself.

"Then I’m guessing a ghost did?" Adam asked sarcastically.

"It was this girl," Raven said coming to sit on the couch in the living room. Adam joined her. "She told me her name was Sasha and that her crippled sister, alongside other female victims, was once preyed on by Lara."

"So, it wasn’t you?"

"No! Why would you think I’d do that?"

"Uh... because you wanted to at first?"

"I know. I know I initially wanted to end Lara’s life but... I couldn’t bear to hurt Felipe anymore." Raven said slowly.

"You really liked him, didn’t you," Adam asked, his voice thick with suppressed emotion.

Raven looked at him and nodded. "Aside from you, he was the only man that treated me like a human. But... love isn’t what I live for. Not after all I’ve been through."

Adam felt shut out again.

How could she not see his feelings for her? Even a blind person could see it.

"Well, Felipe isn’t the man you should be worrying about. Larry Hopkins has put a bounty on your head, it wouldn’t be easy for you to go out on the street anymore. Everyone wants to make easy cash... and wait, isn’t he next on the list?"

"Yes, he is." Raven said, "And besides, who said I can’t go out? Have you forgotten that I’m the master of disguises? Even Larry himself can’t even recognize me."

***

Felipe had woken up, and the news of his wife had been disclosed to him. He didn’t expect himself to be sad but here he was, heartbroken, gently crying.

On his lap was little Lucy, and she was eating pizza as she watched TV, completely unaware of her mom’s death.

On the chair across the room were Felipe’s parents, who had just flown over to Chicago from the other side of the country. They had come to console and be good parents to their son.

The room was silent with tension and neither Felipe’s parents dared speak.

Just then, a knock was heard followed by the voice, "Pizza delivery."

And then the door opened, and a guy wearing a pizza uniform and a helmet came in carrying a box of pizza.

Lucy’s face lit up seeing the pizza box.

"Uh... we didn’t order any pizza," Felipe said in a croaky voice.

The pizza delivery guy stared at Felipe for a moment before saying, "I dunno, we got paid to deliver here. Maybe it was a well-wisher or something."

Felipe’s mom stood up, took the pizza box from the guy and thanked him. The pizza delivery guy made to the door and paused, staring back at Felipe, he said, "Get well soon. You’re a really great person."

And then he left through the door, leaving the adults in the room puzzled.

Felipe’s mom opened the box and saw an envelope on top of the pizza written To Felipe.

"It’s for you."

Felipe stared at the letter in confusion and took it from his mom.

He opened it and then began to read the tiny handwritten letter.

Dear Felipe, first of all, I would begin by saying I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all the mental, emotional and physical struggles I put you through. I want you to know that I had no intention of doing anything that would potentially bring any kind of harm to you, even though I sound contradictory.

I know this letter might sound silly but I just wanted you to know how I felt. I’m sorry Lara passed. I know you must hate me by now but I did what I had to. Your wife caused much more damage to me and my family. She made me question my existence. She made me feel as though I wasn’t worth living. I would have committed suicide if not for a close friend.

If I had ignored her and let her live lavishly, I don’t think I could live with myself. I’m sorry. Death was the only way she could pay for the damage she caused to me and other fellow girls. I’m not asking you to forgive me. No. Don’t. Hate me.

Hate me for your daughter’s sake. Live for your daughter. She’s a gem. Don’t raise her the way her mom was brought up. Don’t lie to her about her mom. Don’t put too much pressure on her. Tell her the truth. Make her have a clear picture of the life her mom has lived. Shower her with love and watch her grow into the most wonderful woman you’ve ever seen.

And I’m sure you’ll find true love. Even though you felt that what we had wasn’t real to me, it was. I stopped myself for falling for you but I didn’t deserve you. The world doesn’t deserve you. Live your best life, Felipe. I hope this doesn’t mean you won’t give love a chance again.

I’ve returned all the money I took from your company and both you and your wife. They don’t belong to me in the first place. It’s yours.

Written with love, Raven. My real name is Raven, not Lily. I wish I had heard you call my name the way you call me Lily.

Kisses.

Goodbye Felipe.

Tears streamed down Felipe’s eyes as he read the letter.

"Sweetie, what’s wrong?" Felipe’s mom asked noticing the tears.

Felipe’s phone on the counter rang. His dad picked up this call.

"This is his father speaking."

There was a pause before he shouted in excitement "Really?he company’s fund is back? All of them? Of course I’ll tell him..."

Felipe didn’t wait to hear the rest, he threw his legs off the bed and ran after the delivery guy, now sure that the delivery guy was Raven.

He ran out of the hospital as he looked to his left and right. He stood there, hoping to catch sight of her but he didn’t.

After a while, he became convinced that she was long gone, then he turned back and went back inside.

At the other end of the road, out of sight, Raven stood watching Felipe head back in through her helmet, tears gushing down.

She resisted the urge to run after him and give him a hug. But she knew she knew things were much better this way.

"Goodbye Felipe."

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