บท 104: Can we forgive her?

Adam and April decided they wanted to meet Crystal, Crystal was still wearing her scarf and veil. Adam ordered one of the guards to pull off her headscarf and veil. They is so much feelings stuffed in his chest and he wanted to let it all out but what he was not prepared at all when he looked at her face. It was filled with scars, new ones mixed with olds, some even appears freshly made.

April let out a surprised gasped. A woman's face in her asset and to destroy it to such extent, one must really hate oneself. It is obvious the wounds were all self inflicted. April just walked out of the room without looking back but before she left she said, "You have my pity." She then turned towards Adam and spoke gently, 'I'll wait outside. You two must have things to sort out." She tiptoed to kiss his lips and left them. Adam just gave her an adoring smile before he looked at the woman across him with deep hatred.

"April may have let it slide but I am not as kind as her, I witnessed something so tormenting to my soul, each time they hurt her, I could feel something sharp stabbing my flesh and a piece of my meat was yank out forcefully. It is good that you hate yourself and may have repent but you will still have to pay for what you made April went through." Adam said and he left as well.

April was surprised that Adam didn't linger longer in the room with Crystal. He told her that they have nothing to talk because she was his past and he doesn't want to dwell in the past. Jade who was waiting for the two of them, asked, "What is your decision?"

"She hates herself, she had even destroyed her face, she has nobody and is pitiful, I just don't feel like anything else matters. I vote to drop it." April said.

Jade, and Chris was stunned by April's word. Their little sister is being so magnanimous. They stared at her in disbelief. "Don't get me wrong, I hated what she did but she had already punished herself, at least I'm lucky, I had you guys, I was once on the same road of destruction until I met Adam. With my current situation, I have you guys and Adam still wants me. Aren't I lucky?" April said.

Everyone was quiet trying to digest April's words. Even Adam was taken aback by April's words and realised that April is right. As long as a person realised their mistake and vow to do good, shouldn't they forgive and give them a second chance? But Chris was a little irreconcile, he still haven't settle the score with Crystal regarding Jen's brother, Ken's kidnapping plus the rape. That woman is just too evil. At least April never really crossed the line.

"April, you never did much evil, we have evil thoughts, we did carry out some of it but we weren't evil to this extent. I can't accept your reasoning. I want to punish the pair, not to the point of death but I want them to feel despair." Chris said.

Adam and Jade agreed with Chris and Derek's vote will go to Jade. Whatever wifey decide, hubby obeys. Personally, he wanted to torture this woman too.

"Since the pair seems to be in love, we need to test their love, I want Tom to feel the despair I felt, watching my woman suffer yet helpless, and frantic, wanting to get there on time. As for Crystal, I wants her to suffer what you went through. Next time, she won't even think of such punishment to others. A tooth for a tooth, a nail for a nail." said Adam.

Chris called Jen for a quick discussion, Jen agreed as well, she wants Tom to feel despair like she did when her brother was kidnapped. Chris informed the rest regarding Jen's decision. The punishment was set and to be carried out within two days, because they need to get Tom involved.

At last, April relented with everyone else decision. Crystal was transported to an underground torture chamber owned by the Lee underground organisation. Tom who was improving in the hospital was expected to be discharged in a few days. Crystal was brought to meet Tom first before she was transported to the dungeon.

Tom had a real shock when he saw her. He cried and was glad she was safe. He did not care about her face. She informed him, that she had wronged April and has to pay for it. Tom understood. She apologies for getting him into her mess. She made him do things that he should not. He blamed himself for being weak and did not even try to convince her to do otherwise when she plotted against others. Hence, he should also take some responsibility instead of allowing her to shoulder all responsibilities.

He had his choices and chances but he decided to follow her orders because he wanted her to be happy despite he knew what he did were wrong. He told her that she should stop hating herself, they should face whatever punishment they are about to receive and after that start anew. Crystal could not promise him that, she did not know if she would ever forgive herself. Now, she wants to focus on Heather. After that, she is not sure where her path would take her. Her face is all ruined and she felt he deserves a better woman.

Tom convinced her that she is all he wanted, she could have a hideous face and he could not care less. He will wait for her patiently once she is done with her revenge.

Tom watched her being taken away from him and could not help but cried. He then witnessed Crystal being violated on a 60 inch TV screen. He felt like throwing up and he never felt so despair in life. He wanted to protest but he remembered Adam's words when he found out Crystal had taken April. He would make Crystal pay back double if she caused April to be hurt. He remembered as well Jen's despair when he told her he had kidnapped Ken. This is the meaning of despair. Damn. He cried helplessly, he wanted to strangle every single person responsible for this feeling and was reminded he and Crystal had caused this first to many people and now is retribution. Payback time.