Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 1112

"Kearney," he said, his voice a whisper laced with urgency, "it's a secret about our big brother, Sean. You're dying to know, aren't you? Give me your hand first, and I'll spill the beans."

Phenix, however, sensed Kearney's approach and seemed to panic a bit. "Stay back! Don't come any closer!"

Kearney hastily retreated a few steps, his voice trembling slightly as he said, "Okay, okay, I won't come any closer. Just tell me, what is this secret?"

Phenix was palpably agitated. She wanted to know everything there was about Sean. The world was devoid of him now, and any tidbit about Sean seemed like a salve to her wounded soul.

Kearney's voice took on a conspiratorial tone. "This secret isn't just about Sean. It's about you, me... We're not orphans. Our dads were comrades-in-arms with Reggie, taking on the world side by side. But then, one by one, they were taken out by someone close to us. Don't you want to know who our enemy is? Someone lurking amongst us."

A flicker of life sparked in Phenix's eyes. "Who is it?" she asked, a hint of vitality returning to her voice.

"It's someone close, right here amongst us. Don't you want revenge, Phenix? We could've had normal lives, grown up in loving homes. But that person destroyed everything, leading Sean down the path that turned him into a fugitive, then a mercenary, before his untimely death. Everything was orchestrated by that person. Don't you want to avenge our parents, to avenge Sean?"

Kearney's words struck a chord in Phenix, igniting a fiery vengeance within her. The gruesome image of Sean's death haunted her. Yes, she thirsted for revenge, wanted those responsible to pay dearly. But her adversaries were terrorists, most dead by now. Who was left to confront? She felt aimless, with nothing to anchor her to life, wishing only to join Sean in the afterlife.

"Tell me, who killed Sean, who killed our parents?" Phenix demanded, energy coursing through her.