‘It’s criminal.’
‘Yeah, and I entered a life of crime to escape the bureaucracy.’
‘Tell me about it.’ The second replied only to be halted by his peer, made anxious by a noise behind them. ‘What is it?’
‘I thought I heard something.’
‘Go check it out.’ One advised the other, who then pulled out his firearm and headed back into the corridor.
All clear minus a seagull climbing through a window. He sniggered to himself, re-holstering his gun. Turning back toward the staircase. The mask of Hades, an inch from the man’s face, breathed a distorted growl.
‘What the...’ the man murmured to himself as Hades gripped hold of his head with both hands. Thrusting it viciously into the wooden panel of a door adjacent.
Hearing the bang, the staircase guard looked towards it while keeping resolute at his station.
‘Smith? Smithy?’ He called out to no avail. ‘Smithy I’m warning you. If you’re fucking with me.’ He warned, making his way to the door.
The corridor was again empty with Smithy nowhere in sight. ‘Have you gone for a piss?’ The guard yelled out, irritated by his colleague’s conduct.
Hearing the sound of a small, high-pitch charge nearby. He lifted and pointed his gun towards multiple potential origins. ‘Alright mate, either you’re Smithy. Some geezer who’s about to get shot, or both. Come out with your hands above your head.’ The guard warned.
Hades did as instructed. Raising his hands above his head. Though with a literal twist. Out of sight, the charged mitt made its way closer and closer to the guard’s locale, as Hades, hung upside down from the ceiling’s plumbing. Lowering his inverted body down and straight. A silent assassin, moving without sound.
He wrapped his tasered palms around the guard’s jawline. A move reminiscent of a Venus fly trap.
The guard felt himself deactivating, his head swallowed whole by an unknowable energy.
As he collapsed to the ground. Hades somersaulted down to the floor. Picking up the guard’s pistol as he made his way up the last staircase.
Reaching the beginnings of the tenth-floor corridor. Hades ceased his stride completely. Looking down the passage to see a patiently stationed Goldmolar awaiting him. Either a smile or grimace on his face, it was hard to make from the distance. The two of them stood either end of the hallway.
Hades’s face absent of emotion minus the default scowl, stood full of morality and defiance. Opposed and countered by Molar’s sadistic and callous ethos.
Hades for all his presence and developing strength, again felt nullified by Molar’s indifferent persona. The fighter was entirely immune to Hades’s purpose and effect. Together it seemed like they vied for the role of the city’s ultimate punisher. Kingsland’s supreme consequence.
‘Indy Vinyar.’ Molar greeted, wasting little time in the reveal, ‘who would have thought?’
‘Where’s my brother?’
‘Frank? Currently flying away in the sky, gone forever. John? Soon in the ground. One brother leaving the Melancholia with a bag of gold. The other, in a bag.’ Molar stated.
‘It’s not going to play out that way.’ Hades replied with a firm, growling timbre. Molar wanted to keep the pre-exchange light.
‘As you can see, I made a point of removing the fire extinguishers.’
Hades raised the gun he had kept to his side, releasing the safety as its barrel pointed toward the Irishman.
‘What’s this?’ Molar questioned, ‘I thought you were a hero?’
‘I keep telling you people. I’m not a hero.’ Hades replied, dropping the gun to walk forth and meet his enemy in a more egotistical form of contest. Goldmolar smiled at the picture.
‘Good boy.’ He muttered under his breath as he, in turn, made his way to meet the vigilante.
Respecting the occasion, they both calmly took a stance, awaiting each other’s readiness. Both were direct obstacles, polar opposites of one another. And neither thought anything but a primitive scrap could solve such a predicament.
Molar, for the first time in a long time, looked focused ahead of a physical confrontation. He looked to the vigilante who was now raising and tightening his fists.
‘Fearful, Indy?’ He asked. Hades, now ready, looked at his foe.
‘I’m always fearful, Gordon.’ He replied, irked by Molar’s asinine ways. It was time to end this and Hades commenced the hostile transaction with an immediate and subtle right jab. Molar caught it and twisted Hades around before throwing the vigilante’s body over his own. Hades picked himself up as Molar stood by patient, allowing his opponent to take a stance once more.
Hades again rushed Molar with a front kick only to be sidestepped and tripped to the ground. This time, feeling less then merciful, Molar sent a fist drilling down. With his reflexes attuned, Hades shifted his head an inch to the side, dodging the blunt knuckles which collided with the hard surface of the floor. Rolling away to the side and back to his feet.
Molar ventured forward with a right jab. Hades in turn blocked and caught it, twisting Molar’s arm behind his back. Locked up, Molar threw a desperate elbow with his spare arm that caught Hades’s jaw, causing him to release his hold.
Each frustrated, the both of them dived towards each other. Catching one another’s arms, locking into each other’s legs. Fastened in a grapple, Hades plunged his head down, colliding his mask into Molar’s nose and mouth. Molar tumbled backwards, dazed by the strike. Blood poured from his nostril, blending with the blood from his cut lip. He slid his forefinger along his gums, finding a third cut. His golden tooth now veiled in blood, he gave a chilling smirk.
‘...my man.’ he whispered, a recognition of Indy’s growing capacity.
He sprinted toward Hades, this time with unprecedented ferocity. Throwing a series of relentless hooking swings that his opponent struggled to parry. With Hades distracted by the continuous lateral strikes. Molar threw an uppercut the vigilante could only marginally impede. The partial hit winding him slightly.
Seeing the vigilante a point down. Molar leapt up off the ground and threw a trademark Superman punch that decisively dropped Hades. Who wheeled backwards along the hallway floor. Feeling accomplished, Molar walked away from his beaten opponent.
‘I’ll take this win.’ He stated, ripping a rusted pipe off a nearby wall, ‘And then, I’ll take that mask.’ He prescribed, heading over to end it.
Hades slowly picked himself up but knew he was no match for an armed Molar. He lifted his open hand up toward the approaching thug. Who smiled believing the gesture to be one of surrender.
In a freakish second where Molar struggled to comprehend the science. He felt a strange magnetic pull. Watching on as the metal pipe darted out of his grasp and into Hades’ black glove. Now with the upper hand, a wrathful Hades whipped the blunt metal across Molar’s jaw. Sending the fighter and the blood from his cut mouth splattering.
Throwing the pipe aside. An exasperated and enraged Hades proceeded to catch the stunned Irishman off guard. Sending a series of volatile kicks and punches toward the prize-fighter. The latter now half-beaten, struggled but somehow managed to stay on both feet.
Ready to deliver the killer blow. Hades threw a final merciless hook, only for the more experienced warrior to catch it and catapult the masked man into a nearby window. Smashing into its glass.
As fragments of broken glass dropped down to the ground, both inside and ten floors down outside. Hades gripped hold of the window’s metal frame. A shard of glass descended from the top of the frame and nicked the side of his head. Ripping straight through the outer-fabric of his mask. The tables turned once again, Molar gripped hold of Hades’s throat with one hand. The body with the other, and attempted to heave the vigilante out of the window.
Holding on, Hades scrambled for a piece of broken glass. Finding a shard with a sharp end. He desperately swiped at Molar’s face, catching and lacerating his neck. Molar felt his skin and windpipe sever.
Severely injured, he released Hades and with both hands tightly collared his throat, struggling to breathe.
The vigilante moved away from the window and semi-circled the now powerless Molar. Who leaned against the same window now in unbearable pain.
Even in devastating plight, Molar’s eyes displayed only aggression. Hades reminded himself of the evil the man was capable of administering. And how at ease his nemesis was in taunting those that fell to his whims. Big Red included.
He remembered the murderer’s speech from the first time they met, a fitting phrase for the moment.
‘I’m curious. What do you think happens after you lose this fight?’ He put to Molar, who in turn scowled back at him.
With little delay as they stared at one another. Hades leapt forward and flung his legs up to almost head-height. Drop-kicking Molar in the chest, sending him somersaulting back out of the window.
Hearing Molar’s body collide with the concrete ground floor. Hades took a much needed, exhaustive time-out as the adrenaline-rush subsided. He looked down the corridor toward what was most likely to be Frank’s office. With his biggest obstacle now out the window, he climbed up and hobbled to meet his brother.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Upon reaching the office, empty and seemingly abandoned, Hades scanned the environment. Noticing a fire exit door semi-blocked behind a tall file cabinet. Hades with only minor strength left, gripped hold and shifted it aside.
A small staircase leading to the rooftop. He rode its steps, his limbs aching from battle. He wheezed softly as he reached the last step on to the gravel surface of the Melancholia roof.
In eery yet peaceful isolation. Frank stood near the edge of the building, awaiting his helicopter pickup. He stared down at the broad and deep river basin that ran along the side of the building. The water now deep from the incoming tide.
Lost in a monologue, he considered the chaotic winter. He had bested Red, Levy, Heracles and Razz. He had exploited John, Molar, even Hades to some extent. He had championed every champion the city had to its name. But here he was, alone and un-acclaimed. Unrecognised. The pickup he was waiting for, had not arrived.
Hearing someone emerge behind him, he looked back expecting to see his Irish pit-bull. But instead Kingsland demon looked towards him. Not since the vigilante’s debut night, had Frank in-person laid eyes on Hades. And for all his composure and implied nonchalance. The image of the masked man still threw him slightly. Unable to keep hold of his emotions, he began to snigger before falling into a small giggle. Hades watched on taking a few short steps forward.
‘Frank’ Hades reverberated. The resonance of the mask compiled with Indy’s sincerity behind it, caused Frank to shake his head.
‘Indy, I’m never going to believe it’s you beneath that damn thing.’ He noted.
Hades halted and removed the mask, displaying a disheartened carbon-copy of Frank’s face.
‘This needs to end Frank. Whatever this is, we need to stop it, together.’ Indy insisted. Frank met his brother’s look with equal earnestness before looking away with a languished expression.
‘That’s the problem Indy. You think people are the way they are by choice.’
‘Frank look at me.’ Indy called out, locking eyes. ‘You have a choice, Molar and Razz are malicious people, I know deep down you’re not. You’re not like them, and you don’t have to pay the same as they do, come with me.’ Indy pleaded, extending his hand. Frank almost crumbled at the gesture. Knowing that Indy nor his more theatrical, dual persona comprehended the threats that would await all of them soon. Frank could only appreciate the concern on his brother’s face. The twin still cared.
Unbeknownst to both of them, across the vast river basin on an almost-as-tall building. A balaclava-disguised man unpacked a rifle with a makeshift scope. Efficient in assembly, and strict in the process. He wasted little time in getting both the sniper and himself into position. With the barrel of the gun pointed towards the two brothers. Through the scope, the unknown shooter rested his crosshairs upon Hades.
‘Target sighted, request confirmation.’ He notified someone through his headset with a muffled voice.
‘Hold.’ a voice replied.
‘I’ve made mistakes Indy.’ Frank announced to his brother, a slight whimper in his prosody.
‘So have I, that’s why we need to turn ourselves in. That or we leave Kingsland, we leave together.’ Indy insisted, only for his reflection to frustratingly shake his head once more.
‘I can’t do that. I’m two steps from hell, they won’t let me.’ Frank explained.
‘Who’s they?’ Indy probed, moving closer to the centre of the rooftop. Frank laughed at the ignorance, realising just how in danger the pair of them were.
‘Jesus, you have no idea, do you? You’re an unwelcome person here Indy, persona non grata. When you face the harsh truth, you’ll realise that I’m the only friend you have.’ Frank claimed. Accepting that revelations were due. He prepared to lecture his twin on the secrets of their family. Only for the fire exit door to kick open and Felix to materialise with a gun in hand, pointed decisively at Frank.
‘Felix? What are you doing?! Put it down.’ Indy yelled. Felix cried a heart-breaking tear, the pistol shaking within his trembling grasp.
‘You…’ He cried in Frank’s direction.
‘Felix, Felix, look at me’ Indy begged, continuing to be dismissed by the grieved old timer. Seeing Felix’s clear and understandable pain. Indy slowly moved between the gun and Frank’s position, hoping to make his presence known.
‘He killed my boy.’
‘Felix, look at me. It was Molar, and he’s done. Okay, he’s done, but-.’
‘You think you’re so smart Frank.’ Felix cried, ignoring Indy. ‘A big-time gangster with the Reign’s backing, well look at you now, a cat trapped in a tree.’ He bemoaned, his grip on the gun still shaking.
‘Piss off you relic. You’re just as bad as the rest of them.’ Frank yelled behind Indy, his contempt for the man ever clear.
‘Frank shut up! Felix look at me, put the gun down.’ Indy begged.
‘Be advised, we have a third player, Felix Remus, armed.’ The sniper informed.
‘Hold.’ The line replied.
‘They cut off his hand Indy. They cut off his damn hand. My boy. He never hurt anyone. He had all the charms of a hoodlum, none of the hatred, and they rolled him in a fucking rug.’ Felix continued, tears sliding across his cheeks.
‘Felix I know. And I’m sorry, but he wouldn’t want this. You’re a good man. You deserve peace, not violence.’ Indy consoled, lifting his hand out for the gun. Felix’s anguish began to boil into animosity.
‘You think because of your father’s backing. You’re safe to hurt my family.’ Felix called out to Frank, pulling back the hammer on his gun.
‘Felix...’ Indy replied before pausing, confused by the statement. ‘What do you mean his father’s backing?’ He enquired, checking back to Frank.
The sniper studied the mouths of the three. Deep in the examination. He remained poised to fire as a small puddle of blood began to dribble from his shoulder.
‘Be advised, Remus is communicating to them both.’ The sniper announced, seemingly anxious.
‘Take the shot.’ the voice ordered back, reluctant in his speech.
‘What’s he talking about Frank?’ Indy questioned, leaving Frank to conclude that the game was up. The pickup was never going to arrive, and his unpayable debt would soon be called. He began to weep slightly as he looked at his clueless brother.
‘They played me Indy. They played me. I didn’t want this. I just wanted to be something more you know. And they told me I was next in line. I just wanted your respect, I wanted theirs.’
‘Who played you? Whose they?’ Indy asked.
‘The old man and Joh-’ Frank shuddered and collapsed as a bullet flew through the left side of his torso and out of the right. The thunderous sound of the shot stemming from a distance.
Its whipping sound caused Felix to flinch and pull his own trigger. The unintentional bullet pierced Indy’s side, throwing him down onto one knee.
Hurt but focused, Indy turned to clock Frank’s body hanging and slowly sliding off the Melancholia’s edge. He dived from his static position to recover his unconscious brother. Grabbing his ankle and gripping it with all his remaining strength.
Unable to support both their weight all the while sliding on the rooftop’s loose gravel. Indy felt both their bodies topple over the edge and off the ten-story building. Frank fell limp and motionless as Indy spun and thrashed in the air, crashing into the dark water of the river basin.
✽
Inside the emergency room of the Kingsland City hospital. Eva held George close while the pair of them waited for Grace to finish her medical examination.
At the entrance to the ward, Eva watched as several police officers moved through the waiting area. Towards a doctor who nodded to them with approval.
Handing her nephew a toy as she alone walked down the corridor to see the officers enter Grace’s room. Through a small window, she looked on as the officers opened a file. Revealing a recent mugshot of John. Followed by a conversation muted by walls designed for privacy.
Grace gradually broke down as the police continued to divulge information. Shaking her head several times. She pushed the file away from her, retreating to her bed. Leaving the police dishevelled and impatient.
Making their exit, they dismissed her hindrance as support for John. The primary suspect in Detective Marler’s murder.
‘Stupid girl.’ The first officer moaned quietly with only Eva overhearing.
‘She’s a Vinyar, what do you expect?’ the second replied.
‘We’ll find him.’ They mandated as they made their exit.
Seeing Grace alone and devastated. Eva wondered for a moment if her big sister was right in warning her of Indy and his siblings. After all, where was he now? She had dialled five times to no avail. He was absent, like so often in the past. And she was here, where she belonged, by her sister’s side. She waved to George and summoned him to his mother’s room. Herself staying in position as George walked by her and into the room. Grace, ever happy to see her little man, lifted him up off the ground, laying him down next to her for a cuddle.
Persona Non Grata Page 27
