Kenith—no, Riley—sat in the darkness of his father’s office, the faint blue glow from the screen reflecting in his eyes as the memories flooded back. Every moment, every decision, every victory as Riley came rushing in like a tidal wave, overwhelming his mind. He was Riley again. An adult, a famous soccer star, a man who had lived a life filled with success and adoration. Yet, here he was, still trapped in the 12-year-old body of Kenith.
His hands gripped the edge of the desk as the realization hit him. His dad—Jeff, who was once his younger brother—had taken everything from him. Jeff had stolen his life, swapped their fates, and made him into his own son. Riley’s blood boiled as the pieces of the past clicked into place. His dad’s love, the caring fatherly attention—it had all been tainted by the betrayal underneath.
But there was more. As the memories and emotions settled, Riley—now with the memories of both lives—felt an unexpected mix of emotions. Yes, he was angry, furious even, but he also remembered the happiness of being Kenith. The friends, the soccer team, the love from his mom and dad—it was real, wasn’t it? Despite the twisted circumstances, he had built a good life as Kenith, and that conflicted with the rage bubbling inside him.
He stood up slowly, moving away from the desk, his heart racing with adrenaline. The memory retriever had given him clarity—he was Riley, but now he also carried the life of Kenith. Both identities were a part of him, and he wasn’t going to simply let the betrayal go. No. He would get revenge on Jeff, the man who had taken Riley’s life from him. But he was smart enough to play the long game. He wouldn’t rush into it. He would take his time, plan his moves, and make Jeff suffer when the time was right.
Riley—or Kenith, as he would pretend to be—crept back upstairs, slipping into the shared bedroom he had with Sam. His twin brother lay asleep, his breathing steady, completely unaware of the turmoil inside his twin. Riley looked at Sam, the boy who was still so innocent, so pure. He still loved Sam. He couldn’t deny that. Sam had been his brother in this new life, and that bond wouldn’t be broken, no matter what had been done to him.
But now, he had a secret—a dangerous secret—and Sam couldn’t know.
As he climbed into bed, Riley’s mind buzzed with plans for revenge. He would bide his time. He would continue living as Kenith, pretending that everything was normal. He’d excel in school, keep playing soccer, and be the son Jeff expected him to be. But all the while, he would be plotting. Jeff wouldn’t see it coming.
The smile that crept across Riley’s face was cold, calculating. He had years to figure out how to make Jeff pay, to slowly unravel his father’s carefully crafted life. He would strike when the time was perfect, and by then, Jeff would never know what hit him.
Riley lay back, closing his eyes, feeling the familiar comfort of being Kenith. For now, he would embrace this life while quietly, patiently planning his revenge. And as sleep began to pull him under, a single thought echoed in his mind:
I’m coming for you, Jeff.
And with that, Riley drifted into sleep, his mind filled with dark, twisted plans for the future.