The Betrayal Ch. 07 - END

The next thing I remember is being awakened by a blinding white light. I immediately realized that it was familiar and that it was not the first time I had been awakened by that light. I sat up, groggy, and saw my father and another man in a white coat standing in front of me. Something was unusual and, in my dazed state, I didn't know what. After a minute it dawned on me: the world was no longer gigantic around me! Those two men were no longer colossal titans, but were of regular size, even I was a little taller than them. The nightmare was over!
My father helped me up and handed me some clothes. However, I could barely move. I was still full of bruises and wounds and almost every muscle and bone in my body ached. My dad had to help me get dressed and then, with his arm on my shoulder, he led me, barely holding me, to the car, after saying goodbye to the official who had restored me to my normal size. After so many weeks it seemed incredible to me to see my father from above, not to see him as a huge giant.
My dad drove home, all the time talking lovingly to me, comforting me and telling me that everything was now settled and that all would be ok from now on. I could only respond with slight nods, trying to smile weakly, but I was infinitely grateful for his love and support. When we arrived at my father's house, he again had to help me to the bed. Once there I collapsed completely on it and, unable to articulate a word, I fainted again, completely broken physically and morally.
For several days I was unable to move from the bed, feverish and semi-conscious. Images of what I had experienced in the past weeks came over and over again in my head, filling me with an indescribable terror. According to what I was told later, I was constantly screaming and delirious. My dad was by my side the whole time, feeding me, healing my wounds, soothing me and hugging me. I don't know what would have become of me without him.
At last the fever subsided, I got better and, little by little, the terrible memories receded to the side of my mind, which calmed down. I was never a weak person and, as soon as I was able, I fought with all my strength against those traumas. I had to move on, especially now that I had regained my size and dignity. So, after a week or so, one morning I was able to get up and sit down at the breakfast table. My father was very happy to see me, served me something to eat and asked me:
-How are you, Arthur?
- Much better, Dad, thanks -I wanted to smile at him, but at that moment I still couldn't, so I added: -I'm sorry, Dad. You can't imagine what I've been through...
-No, son -he cut me off, putting his hand on mine-. I'm the one who has to apologize to you a thousand times. Forgive me for not having been able to take care of you properly, for not having believed you when you told me what your brother was about to do, for having let me convince myself that you were dead, believing the story that Axel and Justin told me... -his voice broke.
-It's ok, Dad, it's all right -I replied, squeezing his hand-. How could you imagine Axel being able to behave like that? I love you, Dad, and I'm infinitely grateful for what you've done for me.
He escort bursa smiled with infinite relief, and, to my mute question, answered:
-Your brother had already gone back to college when you were brought in -his expression became hard-. That same day I called him and told him that, if he wanted to continue his studies, he would have to find his own way. He wasn't going to get another penny from me. And, of course, that I never wanted to see him again...
-Oh, Dad! I'm so sorry -I could only say.
-You don't know what it's like for a father to have to disown his son like that. You can't even imagine. But there are some things that are unforgivable. How could I even look into the face of someone who has deliberately sent my son to almost certain death, even though he is my son too...?
His voice broke again and this time he couldn't help but burst into tears. I got up and hugged him, comforting him as best I could. At last he calmed down and then he told me:
-I also spoke to Justin's parents. You can imagine their horror when they found out what their son had done. I think he's been kicked out of the house too. We'll see how that bum manages to get by without his parents' help. He's lucky that I didn't go and give him what he deserved...
"Well yes," I thought to myself, "little punishment for that devil. Maybe I'll take care of him someday". I hugged my father again, grateful to have him. I felt his strength and warmth in my body and couldn't help but remember the days when he was so big to me that I fit in his huge hand. I shuddered and, as I evoked the incredible feeling of warmth and security that gigantic hand wrapped around me, I felt a certain sense of... nostalgia? It was clear that I would have a hard time forgetting all that.
A couple of days later, as soon as I felt up to it, I went to my company to talk to my former boss. We had always gotten along well and I was one of his most valued employees. He received me with great kindness and, although he didn't say anything, I saw that he was looking at my scars with curiosity when I sat down in front of him.
-What happened, Arthur? When I received your email, I was completely baffled. All the more so when you recommended Connor for your position. I didn't give it to him, by the way. You know I've never been very fond of him, not many people here are.
I explained to him what had happened, although I left out a lot of details, especially about my brother and the last few weeks. He was completely horrified and when I finished, he exclaimed:
-That scoundrel Connor! Well, now you'll see what I'm going to do...
He called my former colleague and asked him to come to the office. When Connor walked in, his shock was such that he looked like he was seeing a ghost. He looked at me in terror.
-Arthur, you're here... but how...? -was all he could articulate. It was clear that he had long since given me up for dead or gone forever. My boss spoke:
-It seems you had quite a bit to do with Arthur's resignation, didn't you?
-I... I... -he stammered-. Don't... I... you... don't listen to him. Whatever he told you is a lie!
It was bursa yabancı escort so obvious that he was lying that my boss could not entertain the slightest doubt. If he'd had time to prepare, Connor would probably have been able to come up with a coherent story, he was pretty smart. But we had caught him totally off guard. My boss concluded:
-Get out of here immediately and get your stuff! Whatever action Arthur wants to take against you, you're not coming back here. You're fired! And I'm going to see to it personally that you don't find a job in any of the important companies in the city.
-But Sir, I...
-Get out, I said!
Connor walked out with his head down. I felt no pity for him. I talked to my boss about my return to work for a while longer and, after saying goodbye, I went to look for my former colleague. I found him, dejected, picking up the things on his desk. As soon as he saw me, he started babbling again:
-Arthur... I... I wanted to tell you that...
I cut him short:
-Connor, I'm not at all interested in anything you have to tell me, just as I'm not interested in anything about your miserable life. I just want to know one thing: where is Finn?
-I don't... I don't know.
I approached him in an intimidating attitude. The truth is that, at that moment, Connor was much stronger and healthier than me, so he could have beaten me without any effort, but guilt is a bad companion, so he stepped back and shrunk, while he said to me:
-I don't know, I swear! Listen, when your father went home and Finn had to run away, he changed. He was never the same again. He felt tremendously guilty, I don't think he realized until then the magnitude of what he had done to you. He took his guilt out on me and of course, our relationship didn't last long. He left my house and I never heard from him again. It's the truth! You have to believe me!
I believed him. It made a lot of sense. Throwing him a last contemptuous glance, I walked away. I would have to find Finn by other means. My father told me I could count on all the money I needed, so I hired the best detective agency in town. It didn't take them long to find my ex-boyfriend. He had sold my apartment and bought a villa on the suburbia, I guess he was trying to go unnoticed. Once located, my dad put me in touch with a couple of huge, muscular hitmen to help me with the dirty work. Through his work, my father had been in contact more than once with shady people and knew how to advise me on what to do.
So, one morning, when Finn came out of his house, the two hitmen were waiting for him. They accosted him, put him in the trunk of a van and took him to one of the warehouses my dad owned. There they tied him to a chair, with a hood covering his head. When I arrived, I was a bit stunned by the scene. It seemed unreal, straight out of a cop movie. I was not at all pleased with myself for having a kidnapping executed, but it was the only way to carry out my plans. I approached Finn, flanked by the two huge hitmen, and removed his hood. He was as shocked to see me as Connor had been.
-Arthur! -he exclaimed-. You're alive!
-Yes, bursa escort I'm alive -I said bitterly-, and no thanks to you, you miserable traitor.
-Listen, Arthur -he said, hurriedly-. I don't know what came over me... I swear I never meant to hurt you... It was all Connor's fault, I swear...
-You're as bad a liar as you are a boyfriend. It was your idea to get me into the downsizing program. You told me so yourself.
-Well... yes... but really... -he didn't know how to justify it. Like Connor, he had been caught completely off guard. He finally lowered his head, dejected, and continued in a muffled voice: -I don't know what came over me, honey. I guess ambition blinded me. I'm really sorry...
-Your poor apologies are of little use to me now. I'll tell you what's going to happen. These two gentlemen are going to take care of you. They'll start by pulling out your fingernails one by one, then they'll cut off your fingers, also one by one (does this ring a bell?), then your ears, then I don't know... maybe they'll skin you alive... in any case they'll kill you in the slowest and most painful way possible...
-No! Please, Arthur! Forgive me! Please! You're not a murderer, you're not like that! -Finn began to cry and plead. I made a move to leave, as he continued to scream, begging me to save him. Then I went back and put a piece of paper next to his face.
-Ok. I'll give you a choice. The only way I will spare you is if you sign this and abide by what it says.
He looked at it and immediately recognized it. His face went completely livid. It was the form that had to be signed to voluntarily enter the Little Expenses program.
-Only if you sign it and agree to become my pet forever will you get out of here alive.
-No -he said in a muffled voice-. You can't do this to me, Arthur, please, I beg you...
-Suit yourself -I said, and signaled to one of the hitmen, who approached him with a knife in his hand. Finn reacted immediately:
-No! No, please! I'll do it, Arthur, I'll sign! I'll sign!
Smiling with satisfaction, I had him untied. I led him to the car and, accompanied at all times by one of the hitmen, we drove to the reduction center. Since I was not sure that Finn would comply, I had made sure that the corrupt official who had participated in the plot was on duty. If Finn repented and fought, I would bribe the official and we would force his hand. However, it took none of that. It seemed that, deep in his heart, Finn felt he deserved it. Completely broken and, I guess, also overwhelmed with guilt, he signed everything and let himself be led like a lamb to the shrinking booth...
So, I am now here, walking out of the reduction center, with my cheating, backstabbing, insect-sized ex-boyfriend in a cage in my hand, ready to meet my new home in the suburbs, courtesy of my - now - pet. What Finn doesn't know is that at no time did I have any real intention of torturing or killing him. I am not a murderer or a monster, as he and his accomplices were. If he had been strong and stood his ground, I would have let him go.
Nor does he know that I have no intention of keeping him shrunken for life. I know that a few months at that size, with the helplessness and insignificance which I know, from my own experience, is to a man's mind, will be punishment enough for him. Then I will return him to his size and let him get on with his life. Although... who knows? Maybe I like having a human pet too much and I'll keep him forever...
THE END