"I don't wanna go," he sobbed. He didn't understand anything apart from the fact that his grandfather had just killed his father.

He didn't want to leave his parents, he didn't wanna live with a man who had killed his father.

"Honey, do you remember last week when you and dad were helping me in the garden, there was a rock which we couldn't move so your dad had to bring the big hammer to break it into pieces?" When Andrew nodded, Lisa remarked, "He did that because only the hammer could break the rock and nothing else."

"Now I want you to listen to me very carefully Andrew and I want you to always remember this." She pulled him closer. "Your grandfather is the rock, and I want you to become the hammer because only then will you be able to break him into tiny pieces and live your life the way you want to."

"Your mom couldn't be the hammer, she couldn't break him but I want you to become one. I want you to live your life the way you want and not how he wants," she added. "Did you understand?"

When Andrew nodded, she hugged him tightly. "Never trust anyone but yourself. And always remember that mom and dad love you, we love you with all our heart and soul."

p Just then someone started banging the door.

Lisa quickly pulled away and asked Andrew to hide inside the cupboard.

Before shutting the door, she cupped his cheeks and kissed him all over his face. "D-Don't come out, okay? Don't peep no matter what you hear."historical

"Mom, don't go—" Andrew grabbed her hand tightly. He knew this would be the last time he would be seeing her, he didn't want to let her go.

Lisa kissed the back of his hand and sobbed. Everything had happened so quickly that her mind had become numb. She didn't know what she was doing. She had already lost Frederick, she didn't want to lose her son too. She wanted him to live, with or without them.

"I love you my baby, I love you so much," she muttered in between his sobs. "We are not going anywhere—" She placed her hand on his chest. "Your dad and I will always be in there."

When someone kicked the door open with a loud 'BANG', Lisa quickly shut the cupboard door.

"So you think hiding him inside the cupboard will help?" Javier chuckled. "When did you become so naive Lisa?"

He sighed and helplessly shook his head. "Maybe if you were this naive before, this day would have never come."

"Javier, you are still very pathetic," Lisa mockingly scoffed at him. "The fact that you are still alive and healthy but dad is trying so hard to snatch my son away to make him his successor proves your place and standard in his eyes."

When he frowned, she stated, "You are nothing but a loser. You were a coward before and you will always remain one for the rest of your life."

"You—" Javier threw a tight slap right across her face. "Bitch, what do you think of yourself? Dad is going to kill you."

"And do you think I care?" Lisa smirked. "He already killed my husband and he will take Andrew with him no matter what happens. What is the point of me living alone anyway? It will be better if I just die, at least I will get a chance to be with my husband."

When he did not say anything, she scoffed at him. "You don't have anything Javier, literally nothing. Both your kids hate you. At least I can die in peace knowing that I had a loving husband and son who will always love me."

"Enough—" Javier yelled and grabbed her hair before dragging him out of the room. But he stopped when Semion entered the room.

"Let her go." When he let go of her hair, Semion extended his hand towards Lisa. "Come here honey, give your dad a hug."

Lisa wiped her tears with the back of her hand and walked towards him.

When he hugged her, he kissed the top of her head and whispered, "Don't worry, I'll take good care of your son. But I hope he will not betray me like you did."

....

[Inside the cupboard]

Andrew covered his mouth with his hand when he saw his mother collapse on the ground just like his father. He wanted to rush out but he wanted to follow his mother's last instruction.

He had ended up losing both his parents in the same evening. And the most traumatising part was, he had witnessed their death with his own eyes.

Just then, Semion opened the cupboard door and smiled at him.

"There, there—" He sighed and gently caressed Andrew's face. "Don't be scared. So what you lost your parents, you still have your grandpa, don't you?"

He then extended his hand towards him. "Come with me, okay?"

...

[PRESENT]

Andrew closed his eyes and tightened his grip on the railing he was holding.

'Your grandfather is the rock, and I want you to become the hammer'

For seventeen years, his mothers last words echoed in his ears. He would never forget it.

She wanted her to become a hammer and he did exactly what she wanted.

He became a hammer and crushed the rock into small tiny pieces and he would continue crushing it until it diminished completely.

He would make sure that the rock will not have the ability or power to take away anything else from him after taking away his parents.

The horrific incident that had happened seventeen years ago still haunted him. And everytime he looked at Semion, his blood boiled in anger and grudge.

If Andrew wanted, he could have killed the old man a long time ago. But he didn't wish to give him an easy death. People like Semion did not deserve a quick death.

He wanted to see the same helplessness and fear in Semion's eyes, that he had seen in his parents eyes that night. He wanted him to suffer ten folds more than his parents. He wanted him to beg and crawl for death.

....