by Harper W.
“I will bring him to you, Mr Fersko!” one man cheered from the ground floor. Luca smiled. “Me too!” another one. Luca’s day was made. “Wonderful!” he said before dismissing them, “so get out and bring him to me.”
The crew moved out of the hall, like a swarm of flies while Luca smiled looking at them.
Chapter 4 : You Failed Me
Luca was standing like a little puppy outside the school. His boys were standing by the car parked away from the school.
Ron stood across Luca, waiting for his signal. Suddenly, he saw Luca’s eyes grow wide with anger. He knew Luca had seen the boy, and he was right. “There he is.” Luca said, making sure only Ron could hear him. Ron looked in the direction of Luca’s finger and saw a handsome boy with blue eyes. “He is the one.” Luca said coming by Ron’s side.
Ron looked at the boy’s face and felt a little strange. A sense of familiarity overwhelmed his brain, but he could not identify the boy. And suddenly, it hit him, “Holy shit! Its Matt!” But how could it be, his mind wondered. The Matt he knew and beat was fat like a bull, while this kid was slim and muscular. “It has been over 5 years.” Ron thought and decide to confirm it himself.
Leaving Luca behind, Ron quietly walked to the boy who did not realize that Ron was standing behind him reading him from every inch of his body. But eventually, the boy caught wind of somebody present behind him, and as he turned back, his eyes stretched out with surprise, “You!” he cried looking at Ron.
“Fat Matt?” Ron said confirming to himself. The boy responded to the name by gaping and reading Ron from up to down. “What the hell are you doing here?” Suddenly, he was all friendly. “Did you move here too?”
“Answer me.” Ron asked instead of giving any answers, “How did you lose all the weight?”
To Ron’s surprise, Matt chuckled, “My Mom helped me. After my father died, she didn’t want to live there anymore and so we came here.” Matt really liked seeing someone from his past, “My mom’s family lives here.” he was starting to get all friendly with Ron, “and she focused on getting me in shape. So I guess thanks to my mom and her diet and workout plans.” Matt laughed.
Matt was expecting Ron to tell his side of story, but Matt pointed to Luca who stood behind him by the street, “You know that boy?”
Matt chuckled, and Ron could see that same old smirk on his face that he saw when that fat kid used to bully other kids, like Sam, “Luca? Yeah. He thinks he is a bully. Harasses little kids.” Suddenly, Matt remembered something and the smile disappeared from his face “just like I used to..” he then looked at Ron, “Hey how is your brother?” Ron just stared at him.
“Matt!” Ron placed his hand on his shoulder. “Yeah.” Ron asked excitedly.
— “I am here to beat you up.” said Ron.
Matt’s face turned pale as the recollection of Matt’s beatings relived as a fresh memory in his brain. “Its nothing personal, you see.” Ron told him justifying himself, “I work for his Uncle now, and he is upset because of you.”
Matt looked at Luca who stood there with a grin.
“Come on Matt.” Ron said punching him one more time, “You are better than this.”
Ron laid holding his stomach in the ground, grunting in pain. “Last time, there was blood all over your face, and you still tried to fight me.” Ron pulled him up.
“I am sorry!” Matt cried in pain. “But I have changed. I swear!”
“I don’t give a shit.” Matt delivered another punch, this time on his face. Mat flipped and fell on his face “This, for me is just a job.”
Ron bent down over Matt to pull him up, and as he saw his face, it was covered with blood. But that wasn’t what made Ron scream with horror.
It was Sam, and not Matt in Ron’s hand. Covered in blood and wearing a police uniform, he opened his eyes and looked straight into Ron’s, “Why Ron?”
“Sammy!” Ron said looking at his brother.
“Why didn’t you save me?” Sam said, almost out of life. Suddenly his body felt heavier and Ron tried to not let him fall down. “I was waiting.. and you…”
Sam grabbed Ron’s collar with his shaking hands, “you never came.”
“I died, and you never came.” Sam whispered pulling Ron’s ears to his face. “You failed on your promise… you failed me, Ron.”
Ron looked one more time in his friend’s eyes and it was his grown up face now,
— “You failed me!” Sam said as he closed his eyes.
“Sammy” Ron broke down. “I am sorry! I am so sorry!” he laid his head gently on the ground and looked at him.
“I am sorry brother. Please forgive me.” Ron said looking at his brother.
But to his horror, Sam, opened his eyes wide, and a grim smile came on his face.
“Sammy!” Ron jumped back in fright.
Covered in sweat, Ron woke up in his rickety bed. “SAMMY!” he was still crying his friend’s name.
Looking around, he realized that it was only a dream. Depressed, he held his head with both his hands, “Oh Sammy!”
He stayed like that for several minutes before getting out of the bed. First, he went to the bathroom to take a piss and then came back and sat down in his bed again. He looked around and found himself in a cheap motel room. He disliked the decor and design, but he knew he didn’t plan to stay here for long.
Ron reached under his bed and his hand came out with a newspaper. The front page had the picture of a bloody bathroom with a dead-body inside a bathtub, covered with blood soaked shower curtain. ‘Another Cop Brutally Murdered’ read the headline.
It was the only picture Ron had of Sam, but he didn’t want to keep this one. However, he read the whole news again.
‘Officer Sam Daniels was found dead in his bathtub, along with his father Veteran Chris Daniels and their dog Peppers in their home. The victims had multiple bullet wounds, shot from close distance. The police are not revealing much about the incident, but this was the second assassination of a police officer after Deputy Jerry Pleamons. The killings and several other incidents in the town point towards the intrusion of a crime syndicate in the town of Springfield. Could it be possible that the neighbouring towns like Riversville are trying to expand their territiry? The Police chief refused to comment on it, but the trail of evidence suggests otherwise.’
Ron folded the newspaper back and put it under the bed. With a heavy breath, he laid down in his bed again, “This town.” saying to himself as he closed his eyes.
Chapter 5 : Payback
Ron woke up with a loud noise that came from downstairs. Quickly he got out from his bed and slipped his hand under his pillow. As he stood up, his hand was holding a gun. Slowly he walked towards the door and tried to listen for the noise. But there was no noise. He waited patiently there, holding his breath — still nothing.
Changing his position, he slowly moved the the window and looked around. In the dark, he saw two cars parked in the street. He instantly recognized the cars, “They are here.” he said to himself.
He put on his clothes in haste and tucked another gun under his jacket before going to the door. After listening for anything, he slowly opened his door, careful enough not to make a sound.
Very carefully he peeked his head out in the corridor and looked around. Not a soul or shadow. With brisk steps, he reached the stairs and opened the door. Two pairs of hasty footsteps were heard coming his way from downstairs. Like a rabbit, he climbed the stairs and waited for the footsteps to arrive. The two men were from his crew. Both of them opened the door and entered the corridor. Ron could see them taking out their guns.
After waiting for a while, for somebody else to come, Ron went back and peeked through the half opened door. The two men were planning to kick the door of his room open. One of them covered the door, while the other one kicked it. It took him three kicks to get inside. As soon as they went inside, Ron ran into his room and hammered the butt of his gun in the back of one guy’s head. He instantly collap
sed on the floor, making the other one turn back in surprise.
Ron was ready for him and so he grabbed his gun first, followed by pulling his gun to his face. The guy was now shivering with fear. “I didn’t know my crew would turn on me so fast.” Ron confessed to himself making him listen. “Give me the keys to your car.” he said. The guy moved his hand to his pockets, “Uh uh..! Slowly..” Ron reminded him. The guy followed Ron’s instruction and handed him the keys to his car. “What should I do to you now?” Ron asked, to which the guy had no answer.
“Tell that asshole, I am coming!” Ron said before punching him into the dark corners of his mind.
Luca was sitting in his room with a shotgun in his hands. The boys looked at him from a distance. “Go check again.” Luca ordered, “I bet those assholes would be snoozing.” he clearly was paranoid.
The boys without any intent, followed Luca’s order and opened the door. “Not you both, assholes!” Luca cried, “Just one of you.” The boys looked at him and nod. “GO!” Luca yelled.
One of them walked outside of the room looking around. Armed men stood guard all over the building. He could not spot even a single man lazying around and so he went back. Luca was eagerly waiting.
“So, did you find anyone, sleeping?” he asked and the boy nodded in a no.
“Good! For a change, all of them are working.”
A loud crash rocked the neighbourhood while Luca talked. He stood up and ran to the window, but suddenly stopped. “Check what it is.” he said to the boys standing away from the window. The boys complied and looked outside. Seeing the boys standing safe and sound, he got inspired and joined them. Outside he saw a car crashed into a pole across the road. Suddenly, something else caught his attention, “What are all of them doing there?” he yelled at almost all of the crew checking up on the car.
The guys in the street saw that there was a person lying over the wheel inside the car.
“I think its Charlie.” one of them said, “he went missing from last night.” another one added when suddenly the car exploded with flames and a loud bang, deafening everybody. Several guys took the brunt of standing close the the cars.
“FUCK!” Luca cried. “Prepare the car.” he ordered the boys, “We are leaving.” The boys escorted Luca and soon he was leaving the safe house in his car. The crew members were still recovering from the explosion, helping each other.
“Did you see that?” a frantic Luca was yelling at his boys, “that asshole is killing his own men.” He leaned back into his seat thinking something. “Take me to that hotel.” he ordered. The boys took a turn into the main street.
Luca entered his hotel suit with the boys and relaxed. “You two stay sharp.” he said while going into his room, “I need some rest.”
The boys stayed in the hall, while Luca fell into the bed. “Fucking asshole!” Luca cursed Ron closing his eyes.
— Click! the sound of the door locking from inside woke him up.
“What?” he said getting up. “Hello Luca.” Ron said locking the room from inside.
Luca’s blood stopped in his veins as he saw Ron standing in front of him.
“BOYS!” he cried with his lungs when Ron punched him in the face. With blood spitting out of his mouth, Luca fell off the bed.
As Ron picked him up and threw him into the wall, he heard the boys trying to break open the door. But Ron knew that these were expensive doors that were reinforced, and so it was going to take those two bulls some time to come through. This window was ample for Ron.
“Why are you doing this Ron?” Luca asked crashing on the floor.
“There is no use playing dumb you motherfucker!” Ron kicked Luca in the face, “I know you got him killed. But do you know why I am so pissed at you?” Ron asked Luca grabbing his face in his hand.
Luca could see in Ron’s eyes that he was eager to answer his question. “He was my brother you asshole!” Ron said slamming his face down into the floor.
One after another, Ron landed some furious punches on Luca’s face. Now the guy was not even making any sound to express his pain. There were a few whimpers that came from closed mouth.
The door meanwhile was about to break.
But Ron was not stopping. He kicked, punched and slammed Luca until his heart whimpering stopped too. “What? You are done, are you, asshole?” Ron checked on him. Luca was still alive. “Good! Remember when your Uncle made me beat that kid who kicked your ass in school?” Ron reminded Luca of Matt. “He turned his life around. Unlike you, you scum!” another kick made Luca spit some of his teeth out. With teeth Luca coughed a spurt of blood on the carpet.
Ron stood up and pulled out his gun, aiming at Luca’s face, “Remember the day we first met in that basketball court?” Ron said.
Luca could see Ron through his half opened eyes. His whole body was shivering with fear and regret. “I wanted to do this, since that day.” Ron pulled the trigger. His bullet went straight through Luca’s head.
CRASH! The door broke and one of the boys fell into the room, while the other one walked in. They both froze as they saw Luca’s dead body lying before a gun totting Ron. They both stared at Ron, standing in his way. “I have no beef with you boys.” Ron said, as his anger was wearing off. But the boys were not moving from their position. For them, it was not about Luca. For them, it was a personal score that they had to settle with Ron. And Ron could read their faces.
“Alright then.” Ron dropped his gun on the floor. and took off his jacket. He planted his feet firmly in the floor as he stood before the boys. Staring in their eyes, he said —
“Bring it on, boys!”
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
Chapter 1 : An Old Score
The door broke open and Ron saw a big boned man coming down on the floor with it. Another one just like him entered the room in a hurry and stopped as he saw Ron.
For a moment Ron could not recognize them due the rush of raging adrenaline in his body, but as the boys stood back up on their feet, he remembered who they were. For some time the time stood still in that room. No person or thing moved, even the air went missing for those mysterious seconds. But soon it all came back and people got the hold of their senses.
The boys took a step forward, just one, that too to make sure if Luca was still alive. Ron was still standing right there with a gun in his hands, and blood on his fists. He wasn’t tired, as Luca didn’t resist at all. For Ron, it was like drowning a kitten. All he needed to do was hold his arms straight and bear the tiny scratches. But now, the situation has changed. The boys were standing before him. — “I have no beef with you boys.” Ron said. He was thinking that the boys will let him go because he set them free from Luca. For Ron, this was a service that he did for both of them, but little did he know that he was not ready to call it a night.
Ron took a deep breath, just to feel refreshed and looked at the boys as if asking, “What?” But the boys did not say or move. They were resolute and steady like two big rocks. Instead of moving, both of them assumed positions blocking Ron’s path out of the room. In that moment, Ron respected their unflinching loyalty. — “Alright then,” he said as let go of the gun on the ground. Everybody knew that the boys didn’t carry guns. They preferred knives. And Ron, was not scared of any knife.
Planting his feet firmly in the ground, Ron could feel the carpet underneath his shoes. The boys saw him getting ready and they both took of their jackets. There was no reason for them to fight Ron anymore, but Ron knew that besides loyalty, this mattered to the boys because for them, it was personal.
“Aarrrgghh!” First One ran to Ron with heavy steps that leave a small tremor across the room. Ron felt as if it was a train coming right at him, but it wasn’t the first time he was facing somebody as big and angry like them. He quickly took two steps further to mess up with his enemy’s approach and throw him off balance. The strategy worked and Ron delivered a quick jab in his throat. As the first one grabbed his throat and fell back, the second one came char
ging at Ron. But he was ready and ducked his swing just in time. His next punch was so strong that it almost cracked the second one’s ribs. — “Ugh!” a muffled cry came out of his mouth as he crashed into the wall.
The first one, who was still recovering from the attack on his neck, got a kick in his guts and then an uppercut in the face, making his shirt get in touch with the carpet. This was done within 2 seconds and then Ron jumped at the second one who was still against the wall. He landed several punched in the side of his face like a gattling gun.
“I didn’t want to do this.” he said while punching, and got lost in it, so much so that he could not see the first one coming behind him and grabbing him by his neck.
Lifted like a baby, Ron could see the boy pulling his head back and he knew what was going to happen next. So, he rolled his tongue inside his mouth to protect it from his own teeth. A cannon like headbutt came crashing on Ron’s face that made him blackout for some time. But it was not the end of it, as two more made Ron see some stars in the dark. The next thing Ron knew was being dragged on the floor, as the first one held his leg making the second one jump over him. Ron’s lungs were crushed under the weight of that elephant of a man. While he struggled for a breath, a barrage of punched made his face bloody. The second one, decided to catch some air as his brother did his job.
“Always save your head first kid. It is the most important part.” Mr Black’s word echoed in Ron’s head and quickly, he brought both his hands that he used to cup his head from all around. He decided to hold his breath during this beatdown.
Being younger, turned out to be an advantage for Ron. Besides the boys were never good with the stamina. They were raw power! Soon, the boy sitting over started panting. His punches lost their rhythm and his arms and shoulders felt heavy. Ron knew what was happening and he could not afford to lose this window. Ron put all the air he had left in his crushed lungs behind that one punch that hit the boy’s chest like a harpoon.
