Their Queen's Back - Chapter 42: Chapter 42

At Skye's words, Sophia's tears kept streaming down no matter how hard she wiped them away, her voice choked with sobs to the point she could barely speak.
Big sis, that's not what I meant... I... I...
Sophia harbored a deep wound in her heart—something she could neither let go of nor come to terms with.
The slightest trigger would send her spiraling out of control, just like today, turning her into someone she barely recognized—a state she desperately wished to avoid.
Skye gently stroked Sophia's hair, forcing down the guilt and murderous rage in her eyes. Her voice remained as tender as ever.
"It's alright, it's alright. Your big sister is here for you," Skye softly reassured her.
Hearing this, Sophia threw herself into Skye's arms, unable to hold back any longer. She burst into loud sobs, as if she needed to let out everything she'd been holding inside.
Watching her, Skye felt her heart wrench—a metallic taste of blood rising in her throat. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard.
After crying her fill, Sophia sniffled and looked down at her tear-stained clothes. Embarrassment flickered in her eyes as she awkwardly reached out to wipe the damp spots.
Skye gently took Sophia's hand. "Sophia," she said softly, "whatever's on your mind, just tell me."
Sophia froze, her eyes dropping. She knew that after everything that had happened, there was no hiding it—her sister would find out sooner or later.
Sophia nervously twisted her fingers, her almond-shaped eyes blazing with hatred and loathing. "Big sis, I feel so filthy... so filthy. When I was twenty, Dad called me home for dinner. Jessica framed me, said I stole her things. Dad slapped me and scolded me for being 'incorrigible.' I ran out of the house, and then a group of people kidnapped me. They... they dragged me to a warehouse—"
The further she spoke, the more her voice grew choked with sobs. Her fingers clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white, betraying the anguish she'd kept locked inside.
Skye didn't interrupt her. She knew Sophia needed to voice those unbearable truths little by little—only by confronting them could she break free from that cycle of self-destructive madness.
Sophia continued, her voice trembling, "They tortured me for what felt like an eternity. I don't even remember how long it was. Sis, do you believe me? I'm still innocent—just... tainted, that's all."
Those monsters used all sorts of tools of torture on her, violating every inch of her body. Her fingers dug into her palms as she tried to endure it.
She couldn't recall how she survived—just the endless cycle of breaking down, screaming, begging until hope died, and teetering on the edge of despair.
"They used all kinds of tools on me," she whispered, shame twisting her words. "I'm just a girl. I'd never suffered such humiliation before."
Right before she blacked out, all she wanted was to die—to disappear completely, leaving nothing behind.
But even then, she still clung to hope for Skye. She couldn't believe her sister would abandon her so cruelly.
So after every attempt to end her life, she dragged herself to the hospital to have her wounds treated, torturing herself over and over again.
You could say she pushed herself to the brink, shedding layers of herself each time.
By day, she acted like nothing had happened; by night, she danced on the razor's edge of sanity.
Eventually, she realized she couldn't go on like this, so she decided to bury those memories deep inside, locking them away forever.
Even if Skye hadn't seen the camera footage, she would have believed her sister without a shred of doubt.
Skye looked at her and said softly, "Of course I believe you, Sophia. I know my Sophia would never lie."
Sophia's eyes shimmered with bitter hope. "Sis, I don't know what to do. I'm sick—there's this other self inside me that I can't control. She goes mad. She hurts people."
As she spoke, her gaze dropped to Skye's arm. The black fabric hid everything, but she remembered all too clearly—the teeth marks she'd left on her sister.
"I want to see a doctor, but I'm scared... and I can't afford it."
Skye clenched her fists at those words. "Sophia," she said firmly, "let me show you how it's done. Come with me."
With that, Skye took Sophia's hand and led her out of the hospital room. Still dazed, Sophia followed her without a word.
Skye opened the passenger door and helped Sophia in. Phone in hand, she walked around the front of the car to the driver's side, the breeze lifting her skirt—she looked every inch the ice queen.
Skye ordered coldly, "Lauren, round up every last one of those bastards and take them to the warehouse. They'll pay in blood for what they've done. Make sure Rowan has the tools ready."
Lauren replied crisply, "Understood."
Sophia looked confusedly at the road as they drove farther from the city. "Sis, where are we going?"
Skye shot her a glance, her eyes sharp as daggers. "I'm taking you to settle the score. You in?"
That piercing gaze didn't frighten Sophia; instead, it filled her with awe. In Skye's eyes, she saw a strength she could hardly imagine—her anchor, her safe harbor.
That strength became Sophia's confidence and sense of security.
Sophia's breath hitched. She clenched her fists and answered firmly, "I'm in!"
A surge of pent-up rage and hatred flooded through her, consuming her entire being.
The moment Sophia saw the all-too-familiar warehouse, her heart lurched. Her face went ashen, and her hands clenched into trembling fists.
"Sophia, let's go."
Sophia gave a resolute nod, steeling herself with the thought: "Only by confronting this can I break free from the shadows."
Lauren and Rowan had been standing by for quite some time. The moment they saw Skye approaching, they snapped to attention, ready for orders.
Skye ordered, "Open the door, Rowan."
Rowan swung the warehouse door open. Sophia's eyes widened in horror at the familiar faces, and she recoiled in terror—only for Skye to grip her shoulder, holding her firmly in place.
Her face drained of all color, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.
"Sis... y-you know everything now?!" Sophia stammered, her voice trembling with panic.
Sophia's mind raced. "She investigated everything... Those photos and videos—did Skye see them all too?"
Rowan heaved a burlap sack onto the ground with a thud, spilling out an array of sinister torture implements and sadistic toys—all specially designed for male victims.
"This..." Sophia thought, her heart racing as she started to suspect what was about to happen.
Skye firmly turned Sophia's face toward her, forcing her to meet her gaze as she spoke in an icy tone.
"Sophia, stop running away. Remember what I told you? Only by facing the darkness can you conquer it. What you went through—to most people, it's nothing but a scratch. If you let it matter too much, it'll cling to you for the rest of your life, dragging you into a swamp of self-doubt. Don't give it that power."
Sophia's heart hammered in her chest, every fiber of her being electrified by Skye's words. She could feel the adrenaline surging through her—her blood boiling, her whole body brimming with strength and courage.
The fear in her eyes melted away, replaced by a steely resolve and a cold, murderous glint.
"Got it, sis. I know what to do," Sophia said, her voice steady and resolute.
Skye set the old camera and photos aside, then pulled out a brand new camera—ready to capture everything.
Skye looked Sophia in the eye and said, "Sophia, make them pay a hundred times over for every wound they gave you."
She patted Sophia on the shoulder, a glacial smile on her lips. "Just leave them breathing."
She didn't want her sister to be a good girl or some innocent angel. She wanted to forge her into a demon—only with a beast's fangs could she tear through the world unharmed.
The warehouse door slammed shut. Just like years ago, fear hung thick in the air—only this time, the hunters had become the hunted.
Lauren and Rowan stood guard at the entrance, while Skye leaned against the car with languid arrogance. She lit a cigarette, her gaze chillingly deep.
Skye glanced at Lauren and asked, "Lauren, is everything in place?"
Lauren nodded crisply. "All set, Ms. Sky."
After all, these people were bound to end up in prison sooner or later—now they're all wanted criminals.
She had already called the police, and they found all the evidence they needed.
She was just a helpless woman who happened to encounter some bad men, so she did the sensible thing and called for help.
As for those seven or eight criminals? They merely "escaped" from one defenseless woman, that's all.
Dawn broke.