Sorry for the late reply. I pretty much forgotten about this thread. My bad!
There are three main characters in my current work (set in 2016). Krista (14), Dov (28), Freyja(14, by appearance). Krista is the only one who suffered a significant betrayal. Many plot spoilers and random scribbles below.
Character: Krista Gallant
First betrayal?
When the 12-year-old Krista entrusted her older brother, Gur (then 18), to the adult world (the IDFâs Paratroopers), and Gur was later killed in battle. Krista and Gur were exceptionally close, even by Israeli standards.
The characterâs reaction?
Krista declared war on the treasonous adult world (at least, the adult world outside her home), and her nature changed completely. Krista now presents herself as an insufferable over-educated adolescent brat, who enjoys using her model-like aesthetics and sexualised wit to unnerve and torment any adult she encounters. But those who know Krista understand the âtrueâ Krista (the gentle, wise, nurturing girl, devoted to her family and their adoptive country) still exists. Sheâs just hiding behind a shield to protect her wounded heart from future pain.
Krista also broke her fatherâs (Wolffâs) nose when she learnt of Gurâs death. Her mother (Polanski) remained outside Kristaâs room that day because she âlacked the strength to break their daughterâs heartâ. Krista now views her parents as close friends, not family, as she is determined to be seen / treated as an adultâŚTheir little girl died with Gur ~ KristaâŚBut sometimes she forgets this charade, like when she hugs her parents constrictor style, and always calls her father âWolfie.â And on occasion Krista seeks consultation from a life-sized ornate Steiff teddy bear. The last gift she received from Gur.
The Incident?
Gur and his team took part in the 2014 Gaza war, and their patrol was wiped out in an ambush while searching for cross-border tunnels.
Has the character moved on?
Nope.
Krista is set on joining the IAF as a combat pilot to settle the score (with interest).
Krista is also prone to experiencing nightmares about Gurâs death. She doesnât know the details of the ambush, so her mind conjures the worst possible scenarios.
Oh, none of Kristaâs housemates (an ageing band of career mercenaries) have confirmed, but all suspect, that Krista stole Gurâs name plaque from their memorial wall and hid the stone slate in her room.
Has the betrayer met justice?
Maybe.
Dov, a combat veteran from Australiaâs Commandos, tells Krista in a private (secret) discussion that, yes, she lost a close brother in the ambush, but the Army also lost twelve brave, talented soldiers. In Dovâs experience, military commanders do not forget or forgive such slights. Dov suggests the âthugsâ who killed Gur have, most likely, already been visited by the IDFâs ghost warriorsâŚor a flock of armed dronesâŚA fatal encounter either way.
How did the character break away from the relationship?
N/A
Does the character get revenge, or move on with their life?
This is the reason why Kristaâs parents asked her to help Dov mentor and look after Freyja. They want Krista to abandon her desire for revenge, and enjoy a new life travelling the world with close friends (Dov and Freyja). Dov will also guide Krista in this direction by enlisting himself and Freyja as Kristaâs bodyguards. If Krista wants Dov and Freyja to explore other countries, she must lead them.
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Decided to attempt the questions for the main character of my first novel (set in 1998-1991). Note: most of this is character background, and occurs before the feature story.
Character: Ashley Azaria (16-17 in the novel)
Acts of Betrayal?
While growing up in Soviet Russia, Ashley had a few friends at high school but she was mostly isolated / outcast either due to her being a full albino or a Ukrainian Jew. Ashleyâs friends turned out to be informants for the numerous bullies, and joined in their mockery of her. The teachers, for their part, didnât know how to handle an albino student, and so focused on the more familiar students and ignored Ashleyâs plight. Only Ashleyâs little brother, Uric, remained loyal; always helping Ashley with her school work and studying to discover more about Ashleyâs albinism.
Act of Revenge?
No. Ashley did not want to risk further conflict / harm, or endanger Uric.
Moment of Betrayal?
Ashley never spoke about the day her friends turned against her. However, that afternoon Uric found Ashley curled up on her bed shivering and crying, and unable to speak. Uric wrapped around Ashley with a gentle hug and called her âmy DoveââŚUric enjoyed studying birds, and the Dove was his favouriteâŚSoon âDoveâ became their familyâs nickname for Ashley.
Did the character move on?
Ashley was forced to. Her family tried to flee Russia when the Berlin Wall fell. But their parents had to send the siblings away before they were arrestedâŚAshley inherited her iron-willed tenacity and distrust of authorities from her parentsâŚAshley soon realised Uric was in danger by being near her (thanks to Ashleyâs unique appearance) so she ran from her brother while he was asleep. Ashley considered this her first, unforgivable, act of betrayal. But the painfully loyal Uric viewed their separation as temporary because Ashley did not say goodbye. So there was no betrayal.
Act of Justice?
Unknown. Ashley never discovered what happened to the bullies or her treasonous âfriendsâ at school.
Break away?
See above, perhaps.
Revenge or a new life?
The best revenge is outstanding success. ~ unknown quote.
The novelâs beginning finds a homeless, penniless Ashley being smuggled with a group of young girls through Eastern Europe by Mafia traffickers. The novelâs last chapter finds Ashley in Israel, being recruited as a personal aide and new housemate by Karen; a billionaire heiress and owner of a small yet formidable mercenary army. The mercenariesâ number* including Ashleyâs new boyfriend / guardian, Zorik. A seven-foot-four slab of battle-hardened muscle, and one of the most dangerous warriors the IDF producedâŚ
I think Ashley did okay.
*The original group of mercenaries also include Kristaâs future parents.
Scenario: Betrayerâs reunion.
There is a less than zero chance of any former bullies or their informants being recruited by Karen, or being permitted in Karenâs presence, so letâs say Ashley meets one of them on the street.
Upon realising the bullyâs identity, Ashley would walk up to them, standing almost nose to nose, formally and calmly introduce herself, state the bullyâs full name and everything Ashley recalls about them (doubtless gaining her companionsâ attention), and give the bully one chance to apologise for all the harm they caused before they leave Israel, never to return.
If the bully attempted to argue, or return to their old abusive tirades, Ashley would wait for them to finish, unfazed, then repeat her demand. Except this time Ashleyâs last sentence would be punctuated with a mercenaryâs suppressed bullet snapping over the bullyâs head, creasing their hair.
Ashley would offer the cowering bully a faint smile, turn around, walk away and forget everything about them.
In my world, you no longer exist ~ The Duellists (paraphrased).