MAXIMUS SURVEYED EVANGELINE’S LIVING ROOM, OR WHAT WAS LEFT OF IT ANYWAY, AND TRIED TO GAUGE IN EXACTLY WHAT HAD HAPPENED. IT WAS THE DAY AFTER SHE HAD BEEN ABDUCTED, AND HIS PEOPLE HAD TURNED THE PLACE UPSIDE DOWN FOR CLUES SINCE HE ARRIVED HERE EARLY IN THE MORNING.
HE GOT HER MESSAGE, BUT TOO LATE.
THE FORENSICS TEAM HAD FOUND REMNANTS OF THE BOMB THAT HAD BEEN USED TO BREAK IN, AND ALSO EVANGELINE’S LICENSED PISTOL. HOWEVER, THERE WAS ONE THING HE COULDN’T FIGURE OUT, THE WINDOW OF THE LIVING ROOM WAS CRACKED, AND SOME OF THE SHARDS WERE ON THE INSIDE. ONE OF HIS DETECTIVES HAD FOUND EVA’S HAIR ON THE COUCH, WHERE SHE HAD PROBABLY FALLEN WHEN THE BLAST TOOK PLACE, AND THE KIDNAPPERS HAD SURELY TAKEN HER FROM THAT SPOT ITSELF, THEN WHO OR WHAT BROKE THE WINDOW? IF IT WAS DUE TO THE BLAST, ALL THE SHARDS SHOULD HAVE FALLEN ON THE OUTSIDE,BESIDES, IT WAS UNLIKELY THAT THE WINDOW BROKE BECAUSE OF THE BLAST, BECAUSE THE OTHER ONE IN THE SAME ROOM WAS STILL INTACT.
DEEP IN THOUGHT,HE WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE APARTMENT, WHEN HIS PHONE BUZZED IN HIS POCKET,
“MURDOCH” HE ANSWERED IT.
“MAX, IT’S ME, WHERE ARE YA’?” A FAMILIAR VOICE SPOKE FROM THE OTHER SIDE.
“WHA- RAIZO? IS THIS YOU? WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?” MAX REPLIED, NOW HEADING DOWN THE HALLWAY.
“I’M AT MY APARTMENT, LISTEN, I’LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING, JUST MEET ME AS SOON AS YOU CAN AT THE PRECINCT ALRIGHT?” RAIZO SOUNDED FLUSTERED,
“YEAH SURE, LET’S DO IT NOW,” MAX SAID.
“FINE, MEET YOU IN FIVE.”
MAXIMUS WONDERED HOW HE WAS GOING TO BREAK THE NEWS OF ROWENA AND EVA’S ABDUCTION TO HIM, IT WAS GONNA BE HARD.
*********__________*********
“ROWENA’S TAKEN TOO?”, RAIZO ASKED, HE HADN’T KNOWN ‘BOUT HER.
“YEAH, SHE WAS, JUST BEFORE EVANGELINE. BUT WAIT, YOU KNEW ABOUT EVA?” MAX WAS CONFUSED.
“YEAH, ‘TIS A LONG STORY, I’LL TELL YOU LATER, INCLUDING MY KIDNAPPING THING, BUT FOR NOW THE CASE IS CLOSED. LET’S FOCUS ON EVA AND ROWENA.” RAIZO SAID.
“YEP. WE DON’T HAVE ANY LEADS RIGHT NOW, BUT I GUESS WE’LL BE ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING IN AN HOUR OR SO, BY SUNDOWN.” MAX RAN HIS HAND THROUGH HIS HAIR.
RAIZO LEANED IN ON THE TABLE,
“LISTEN TO ME, I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO SOUND WEIRD, BUT, I THINK THE FBI WAS INVOLVED IN ALL OF THIS.”
“WHA- HOW? HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?”
“JUST TRUST ME ON THIS ONE MAX, PLEASE, THE SOURCE OF MY INFORMATION IS, WELL, I JUST KNOW ALL RIGHT” RAIZO TRIED TO EXPLAIN.
“LISTEN BUD, EVER SINCE YOUR BACK FROM WHEREVER IT WAS YOU HAD DISAPPEARED TO, YOU KNOW A FEW THINGS THAT YOU WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO KNOW, SOME QUITE DRASTIC.YOU SAY THE FBI WAS INVOLVED, IT’S LIKE YOU WERE THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE!” MAX EXCLAIMED
“YOU THINK I WOULD TELL YOU THIS IF I WASN’T SURE ABOUT IT? I AM WELL AWARE OF THE GRAVITY OF ACCUSING THE FBI OF A CRIME, AND I WOULDN’T HAVE TOLD YOU IF I WASN’T SURE ABOUT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. ALL I WANT YOU-----“ RAIZO WAS CUT SHORT BY A DEPUTY,
“I’M SORRY SIR, BUT THIS IS URGENT, A BODY’S BEEN SPOTTED ON THE CHRYSLER, IN A VERY---WELL, BAD CONDITION.PROBABLE HOMICIDE.”
“ON?......THE CHRYSLER?” MAX RAISED HIS EYEBROWS,
“YES SIR, HANGING, FROM ONE OF THE EAGLE HEADS.” THE DEPUTY REPLIED, TRYING TO KEEP HIS FACE CALM.
“OKAY LET’S GO THEN. RAIZO YOU COME WITH ME TOO AND STICK TO ME,WON’T BE TOO GOOD IF YOU DISAPPEARED AGAIN.” MAX GOT UP AND STARTED TOWARDS THE EXIT.
“FINE.” RAIZO SAID AND FOLLOWED HIM OUT.
A HUGE CROWD WAS GATHERED BELOW THE CHRYSLER BUILDING, MANY OF THE PEOPLE POINTING UP AND SOME EVEN TRYING TO CAPTURE VIDEOS.
THE DEPUTY BEHIND THEM, MURDOCH AND RAIZO PROCEEDED TOWARDS THE LINE OF CONTROL. ONE OF THE STATIONED OFFICERS CAME FORWARD AS SOON AS HE SAW THEM,
“A TEAM IS ON THE ROOFTOP SIR, WE SHOULD GET THE BODY DOWN SOON ENOUGH.” THE OFFICER SAID.
“ANYONE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE VIC?” MAX ASKED
“YES SIR, THAT’S ONE MR.WOLFE, HE HAS A LAWFIRM UP ON THE 15TH FLOOR. ASSISTANT SAYS HE HADN’T ANSWERED CALLS FROM LAST NIGHT AND THEN WHEN SHE CAME IN TODAY MORNING HE WASN’T IN THE OFFICE EITHER.” THE COP INFORMED.
“GROVER, GET HOLD OF THE ASSISTANT AND ANY OTHER CLOSE RELATIVES, THE WIFE OR SO, AND BRING ‘EM AT THE PRECINCT.” MAX ORDERED THE DEPUTY.
“RIGHT AWAY SIR,” SAYING WHICH THE DEPUTY WENT TOWARDS AN AMBULANCE, NEAR WHICH A LADY WAS SOBBING.
“YOU SEE THIS RAIZO?” MAX SAID, “THIS IS THE KINDA’ SHIT WE’VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS, AND THE STUFF GETS MORE GROSS AND COMPLICATED AS TIME PASSES. LET’S GET UP THERE.”
THE TEAM SENT AHEAD OF THEM HAD MANAGED TO GET THE BODY FROM IT’S ORIGINAL STATE BY THE TIME THEY REACHED THE TOP. RAIZO FELT A STRANGE SENSE OF DEJA VU, THAT EAGLE HEAD BEING THE SAME ONE HE HAD SEEN RAVEN SITTING ATOP. THE SUN HAD STARTED TO SET, AND THAT PUT AN EERIE GLOW ON WOLFE’S BODY, HIS CLOTHES SPLATTERED WITH BLOOD, PROBABLY FROM HIS THROAT WHERE THE NOOSE HAD BEEN TIED, TIGHTLY, AND THE MULTIPLE WOUNDS. THE TEAM HAD A HARD TIME UNTYING IT.
“IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE A HATE CRIME SIR,” A FORENSICS OFFICER SAID AS HE WALKED UP TO MURDOCH,
“THIS LOOKS LIKE THE WORK OF A MANIAC, HE HAS BEEN GUTTED FIRST....AND TH- THEN SEWN BACK.”
RAIZO COULDN’T BARE THE SITE OF IT WHEN THE VICTIMS'S SHIRT WAS OPENED UP, HE COULD BARELY STAND STRAIGHT, BUT NOR COULD HE TAKE HIS EYES OFF OF THE DEAD GUY.
“TAKE HIM TO AUTOPSY, GET ME THE TIME SLOT OF THE CRIME.” MAX SAID.
“WHO WOULD HAVE DONE SUCH A THING?” RAIZO SAID, BARELY ABLE TO VOICE HIMSELF.
“YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE ONES BEFORE, AN ENTIRE FAMILY, IN A FAR WORSE CONDITION THAN THIS DUDE HERE... IT’S LIKE THE WORLD’S FALLING APART.” MAX SAID.
“WORLDS, MAYBE.” RAIZO MUTTERED INAUDIBLY.
AFTER MURDOCH FINISHED GAHTERING REPORTS FROM A COUPLE OTHER OFFICERS, THEY LEFT THE SCENE FOR THE PRECINCT. THEY TRAVELLED WITHOUT SPEAKING TO THE OTHER, RAIZO ABASHED BY THE BRUTALITY AND COMPLEXITY OF THE SITUATION, AND MAX FRUSTRATED THAT IT WAS THE 4TH MURDER UNDER HIS WATCH.
“YOU KNOW THE WORST THING ABOUT THIS...” MAX SAID AS HE DROVE,BREAKING THE SILENCE, “WE STILL HAVEN’T GOT A SINGLE CLUE WHY THIS IS HAPPENING OR WHO IS DOING IT......ALL WE HAVE IS A FRIGGIN PSYCHO LOCKED UP.”
“WHO?” RAIZO ASKED..
“A GUY CALLED JACK, TOTAL NUTCASE.” HE REPLIED
JUST THEN, RAIZO’S PHONE VIBRATED IN HIS POCKET, THE NUMBER SEEMED FAMILIAR,
“HELLO?”
“AM I SPEAKING TO MR.RAIZO NECROSE?” A GUY SAID FROM THE OTHER SIDE IN A VERY...VERY CHEEKY VOICE, AND A DARKER UNDERTONE
“YES YOU ARE, WHO’S THIS AGAIN?”
“OH DON’T WORRY ABOUT THAT MR.NECROSE, AND DON’T WORRY ABOUT YOUR GUURRLFRIEND EITHER...” THE CHEEKY GUY SAID AND THEN WHISPERED, “SHE’S IN SAFE HANDS.”
“YOU SON OF A BITCH, WHO ARE YA?” RAIZO SHOUTED IN HIS PHONE
“OUUH A WELL WISHER, NOT THAT I BELIEVE IN WISHING WELLS BUT, IT DOESN’T HARM TO TOSS A COIN NOW AND THEN DOES IT? OH ANYWAYS, I’LL CALL YOU BACK AGAIN WITH A...WELL....A BIT MORE INFORMATION AS TO WHERE YOU GOTTA PICK HER UP, THEN TAKE YOUR LADY HOME! SIMPLE RAAIGHT!....TADA!” THE GUY LAUGHED AND THEN HUNG UP.
“WHO WAS IT?” MURDOCH ASKED.
“I THINK IT WAS THE BASTARD WHO TOOK EVANGELINE” RAIZO SAID THROUGH GRITTED TEETH, “HERE, DOES THIS NUMBER SEEM FAMILIAR TO YOU?” HE SHOWED MAX THE NUMBER ON HIS PHONE.
MAX’S FACE TURNED WHITE,
“THAT’S OFFICER HAN’S CELL FROM THE PRECINCT.” HE SAID, HIS VOICE BARELY AUDIBLE, AND THEN REVVED UP THE CAR...NOT BOTHERING TO EVEN LOOK FOR RED LIGHTS.
*****************__________________*****************
CHAINED UNDER THE GOD’S SEARING STARE,
LIKE VERMIN HE LAY, DEFEATED IN HIS LAIR....
A VOW OF VENGEANCE, GIVEN EONS BACK,
HE SWORE TO RISE, AS HE MUSTERED THE POWER HE LACKED...
TO STRIP THE KINGS OF THEIR THRONES SO HIGH,
AND THE GODS OF THEIR POWERS, ONCE THEIR END IS NIGH..
HE NOW HAS THE STRENGTH, THE POWER TO BE FREE
AND ALL WHO SERVE HIM, SHALL RICHES SEE...
UNDER THE PENANCE OF TREASON, HUMANITY SHALL WRITHE,
NONE CAN STOP HIM, NOT EVEN THE BEARER OF THE SCYTHE...
A GAMBLE OF THE FATES HOWEVER, MIGHT STAND A CHANCE,
AND SAVE THE PLANES MAYBE, FROM AN ETERNAL TRANCE.
FOR NOT A GOD IS HE, NEITHER A MORTAL BEING,
UNDER THE EYES OF DARKNESS, AN EVIL UNSEEN..
THE DOWNFALL OF SEPTENTRION, THE FEAR OF LIGHT,
THE HEIR TO THE DARK, AND ETERNAL NIGHT.
.
OFFICER HAN PLAYED WITH THE KEYS TO THE HOLDING CELL ON HIS FINGER, AS HE SAT ON HIS DESK AT THE PRECINCT. HIS MIND FULL OF ANTICIPATION AS HE WAS GOING BACK HOME TO BEIJING THAT NIGHT.
ONE OF THE TWO OFFICERS ON DUTY ALONG WITH HIM WALKED TOWARDS WHERE HE WAS SITTING,
“TOO HAPPY TO WORK HAN?” OFFICER FERNOT SAID.
“YOU KIDDIN ME FERRY? I’M DONE WITH ALL THE STUFF I COULD CLEAR UP WITH BEFORE I LEAVE. IT’S YOU WHO NEEDS TO WORK. AREN’T YOU SUPPOSED TO GAURD THAT CRACKPOT?” HAN REPLIED WITH A HINT OF SARCASM.
“I’VE KEPT THE NEW LAD ON DUTY,” FERNOT REPLIED, JERKING A THUMB ,
“AFTER ALL, GAURDING A WHIZZY ISN’T OUR JOB MAN, WE SHOULDA’ BEEN ON THE FIELD RIGHT NOW. MURDOCH UNDERESTIMATES ME SOMETIMES.”
“HEY COME ON MAN, FIZZ OUT A BIT WILL YA’?” HAN SAID PUNCHING HIM PLAYFULLY.
“HEY TRUMAN!” FERNOT CALLED OUT TO THE NEW OFFICER GAURDING THE CELL, “WHAT’S WITH ALL THE RACKET?”,HE SAID AS THEY STARTED TO HEAR LOUD NOISES FROM INSIDE THE HOLDING CELL.
“DUNNO SIR, SHOULD I CHECK IT OUT?” HE ASKED.
“YEAH...... HERE , TAKE A LOOK, AND TELL THAT FAGGOT TO KEEP HIS FUCKIN’ MOUTH SHUT.” FERNOT SHOUTED, TAKING THE KEYS FROM HAN AND THROWING THEM TO TRUMAN.
TRUMAN UNBUCKLED HIS BATON FROM HIS BELT WITH ONE HAND AS HE OPENED THE CELL DOOR WITH THE OTHER.
WHEN HE OPENED THE DOOR HOWEVER, HE WAS LEFT SHELL SHOCKED-----THE WHITE WALLS OF THE HOLDING CELL WERE PAINTED BIZZARELY, WITH SOMETHING THAT WAS PROBABLY BLOOD, THOUGH HE COULDN’T SEE JACK.
HE STARTED TO PROCEED INWARDS, TAKING IN THE GROSSNESS OF HIS SURROUNDINGS AND FEELING QUEASY DUE TO THE STRONG ROTTING SMELL, ONLY TO REALIZE HIS MISTAKE TOO LATE----- A BLOODIED AND DECOMPOSING FACE SUDDENLY JUMPED IN FRONT OF HIM FROM BEHIND THE DOOR TO THE CELL.
“SURPRISE...” JACK WHISPERED TO HIM SOFTLY.
*********____________*********
JACK HAD FERNOT’S THROAT IN AN INHUMANLY TIGHT GRIP OF HIS HAND WITHIN SECONDS, EVEN BEFORE HE COULD REACH FOR HIS GUN, AND CRUSHED IT LIKE A TOY, DROPPING THE LIMP BODY WITH BLOOD SPILLING ALL OVER THE PLACE, WHILE TRUMAN’S DEAD EYES WATCHED ON WITHOUT SEEING AS HE LAY BY THE CELL DOOR.
OFFICER HAN HAD ALREADY GOT HIS GUN OUT AND STARTED PUMPING JACK’S BODY WITH BULLETS- TWO TO THE HEAD, THREE TO THE CHEST.......AND THEN HE PAUSED, WAITING FOR HIM TO DROP DOWN DEAD, BUT JACK STOOD THERE UNSHAMEDLY, A DEATHLY GRIN NOW SPREADING ACROSS HIS MISSHAPEN FACE.
HIS HANDS QUIVERING, HAN KEPT ON SHOOTING, BUT JACK JUST REFUSED TO DROP DEAD EVEN THOUGH BLOOD STARTED SEEPING THROUGH THE BULLET WOUNDS AND GORE SPURTED OUT FROM WHERE THE BULLETS HAD HIT HIS HEAD.
“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU!” HAN SHOUTED, FACE CONTORTED WITH MIXED EMOTIONS OF SHOCK, AGONY, ANGER AND ANGST, WHILE THE GUN IN HIS HAND STILL TRIED TO CONJURE A BULLET THAT WOULD PUT AN END TO THE ABOMINATION THAT NOW STOOD DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF IT.
“THE DETAILS ARE SKETCHY” JACK REPLIED AS HE BROKE HAN’S ARMED HAND AND RIPPED HIS HEAD OFF PARTIALLY BEFORE LEAVING HIM ON THE DESK.
______________********************_______________
WHEN MURDOCH AND RAIZO CAME INSIDE, THEY FOUND THE PRECINCT IN SHAMBLES. BLOOD WAS SPILT ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND DEAD BODIES OF BRAVE OFFICERS LAY HAPHAZARDLY ON THE FLOOR AND THE DESK.
“I NEVER LIKED THE INTERIORS ANYWAY MAXY.” JACK SAID CHEEKILY, AS HE SAT NEAR HAN’S BODY ON THE DESK, “SO I TOOK THE LIBERTY OF CHANGING IT. YOU DON’T MIND DO YA’?”
“YOU FUCKIN’ SON OF A BITCH” MURDOCH TOOK HIS GUN OUT AND STARTED SHOOTING AS JACK PROCEEDED TO STAND UP.
THE BULLETS HIT HIM HARD AND PROBABLY PUNCTURED MORE THAN HALF OF HIS VITAL ORGANS, HOWEVER, HE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF HAVING REGISTERED THE FACT THAT HE WAS BEING SHOT AT.
“YOU THINK THESE PLUMPIES DIN’T TRY THAT?” JACK SAID AS HE WALKED CASUALLY TOWARDS THEM ONCE MURDOCH STOPPED SHOOTING.
AT THAT TIME, RAIZO FELT THE SAME TUGGING SENSATION IN HIS GUT AS HE HAD EXPERIENCED IN RAPHAELA’S HOUSE WHEN HE FELT A SURGE OF ENERGY COURSING THROUGH HIM, HOWEVER THIS TIME, HE FELT HE COULD USE IT SOMEHOW. THE FEELING RESEMBLED TO ONE THAT AN ATHLETE HAS BEFORE THE START OF A RACE ON THE RACE TRACK, LIMBS COURSING WITH ENERGY READY TO SPRING INTO MOTION AS SOON AS THEY HEAR A GUNSHOT.
“THAT ONE LITERALLY EMPTIED ALL HIS STOCK INTO ME!” JACK CONTINUED AS HE POINTED AT HAN AND LAUGHED.
MURDOCH AND RAIZO BOTH WERE EQUALLY DUMBSTRUCK, OUTRAGED AND SIMULTANEOUSLY AFRAID THAT NATURE COULD CONJURE UP AN ABOMINATION SUCH THAT STOOD BEFORE THEM. MURDOCH HELD HIS GUN UPRIGHT, ALTHOUGH HE WASN’T TOO CERTAIN OF PULLING THE TRIGGER AS BEFORE.
“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH EVA?” RAIZO ASKED, HIS VOICE SLIGHTLY SHAKY, DUE TO FEAR, AS WELL AS THE NOVEL FEELING HE WAS NOW EXPERIENCING.
JACK MADE A DRAMATICAL THINKING GESTURE, “I THINK SHE IS DYING RIGHT NOW, THOUGH I WOULDN’T BE TOO SURE. WHAT SAY YOU MURDOCH? SHE BE DEAD OR NOT DEAD?”
“I’M NOT IN A MOOD TO JOKE JACK.” RAIZO SURPRISED MURDOCH WITH THE BRUTAL AND DARK UNDERTONE TO HIS VOICE.
“FINE. LET’S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.” JACK SAID, HIS BUSTED FACE GROWING SERIOUS, “YOU'RE GIRLFRIEND IS PROBABLY DEAD BY NOW. SHE WAS ONTO US ACCIDENTALLY AND THEN COULDN'T KEEP HER FUCKING NOSE OUT OF OUR BUSINESS. SECONDLY,YOU’RE WORLD IS GOING DOWN, AND IT’S GOING DOWN HARD. YOU CAN’T PREVENT THE CASUALTIES, HOWEVER, YOU CAN SAVE YOURSELF SOME TROUBLE ONCE THE NEW KINGDOM COMES, BY WORKING FOR US....”
MURDOCH REALIZED THAT TWO MORE PEOPLE WERE NOW STANDING IN HIS OFFICE, ONE DIRECTLY BEHIND THEM, AND ONE TO THEIR RIGHT, NEAR THE GLASS WALL OVERLOOKING THE STREET BELOW. BUT WHERE THEY HAD WALKED IN FROM, HE HAD NO IDEA.
“SERVING US...” THE MAN BEHIND THEM SAID.
“AND OBEYING US..” THE THIRD MAN ENDED.
“WHO ARE THESE IDIOTS?!” MURDOCH LASHED OUT AT JACK, “I SHOULD HAVE PUT YOU DOWN LONG BACK, ALTHOUGH, I THINK I WILL NOW.” HE RAISED HIS GUN AGAIN IN A FAST FLUID MOTION, AND SHOT THE MAN STANDING DIRECTLY BEHIND HIM RIGHT IN HIS HEAD. THE MAN’S HEAD JERKED BACK DUE TO THE FORCE OF THE BULLET, HOWEVER, HE STILL KEPT STANDING, SMILING VICIOUSLY NOW, AS HE LOOKED AT MURDOCH, A CERTAIN KIND OF DECOMPOSITION BEGINNING FROM THE BULLET HOLE AND SPREADING ACROSS HIS FACE.
“YOU DON’T LEARN DO YOU?!” JACK EXCLAIMED, AND DARTED TOWARDS A SHELL SHOCKED MAX, SNATCHING THE GUN FROM HIS HAND.
“HE MIGHT NOT, BUT I DEFINITELY DO.” HE HEARD RAIZO SAY, MAKING HIM STOP SUDDENLY AS HE WAS PROCEEDING TO GRAB MURDOCH'S THROAT.
WHEN HE LOOKED AT HIS LONG TIME FRIEND, MURDOCH NO LONGER BELIEVED IN REALITY.
GREYISH BLACK WAFTS OF SMOKE WERE RISING FROM WHERE RAIZO STOOD, ENCIRCLING HIM IN A SPIRAL PATTERN.
SLOWLY,RAIZO LOOKED UP, HIS EYES NOW RESEMBLING JET BLACK ORBS, BRIMMING WITH THE EVIL OF HELL ITSELF.
MURDOCH WAS ROOTED TO HIS SPOT, UNABLE TO MOVE DUE TO THE SHOCK OF THE EVENTS UNFOLDING IN FRONT OF HIS EYES, WHILE JACK TURNED TOWARDS RAIZO, HIS EXPRESSION A MIX OF NERVOUSNESS AND AWE.THERE WAS A METAPHYSICAL VIBRATION THAT NOW SHOOK THE ENTIRE OFFICE SILENTLY, AND MADE MAX'S EARS POP. HE FELT AN UNNATURAL FORCE PULLING HIM TOWARDS RAIZO, AND HE KNEW THE OTHERS FELT IT TOO FOR THEIR FACES NO LONGER SMIRKED WITH INVINCIBILITY, BUT WERE MARRED WITH THE FEAR OF PUNISHMENT.
“TRY PRAYING TO GOD BROTHER,” RAIZO SAID,HIS VOICE HEAVY WITH THE LUST OF A KILL, AND A DARK AURA ENCIRCLING HIS HANDS AS HE RAISED THEM SLIGHTLY “FOR THE DEVIL AIN’T HELPING YOU HERE.”
THE LAST THING MURDOCH REMEMBERED WAS A SILENT DARKNESS HITTING HIM IN THE FACE WITH THE FORCE OF A SOFT PILLOW, AND THE SOUND OF SOMEONE CRASHING INTO THE GLASS AND FALLING ON THE STREET BELOW. IF JACK AND THE OTHER GUYS HAD SHOUTED, THE SOUND HADN’T FALLEN ON HIS EARS.
***********___________________************
WHEN HE FELT THAT FINAL TUG, HE KNEW WHAT HE HAD TO DO AND IF HE HAD WAITED ANY LONGER, THE POWER HE WIELDED WOULD’VE IMPLODED IN ON HIMSELF. HE THOUGHT IT WOULD EVENTUALLY SUBSIDE AFTER HE LET IT ALL OUT, MAKING THE THREE MONSTERS THE CENTRE OF HIS FOCUS (AND TRYING HIS BEST NOT TO HARM MAX), INSTEAD WHEN HE DID, HE FELT THE LIFE FORCES OF TWO OF THE MONSTERS POUR INTO HIM, MAKING UP FOR THE ENERGY HE’D LOST AND CONTINUALLY INCREASING HIS DIFFICULTY IN REIGNING IT ALL IN.
THE DARKNESS HE HAD LET OUT IN THE PRECINCT WAS LIKE A VACUUM, SUCKING IN ALL THE LIGHT THAT DARED TO FALL IN, AND DESPITE OF IT, HE COULD SEE HIS SURROUNDINGS CLEAR AS DAY. IN FACT, HIS VISION FELT LIKE A FEW THOUSAND EXTRA MEGAPIXELS HAD BEEN ADDED TO HIS EYES, AND HE HAS A TERRIBLE TIME ADJUSTING TO ALL THE ADDITIONAL ULTRA SHARP DETAILS.
HE COULD FEEL MAX’S LIFE FORCE PULSATING INSIDE OF HIS UNCONSCIOUS BODY, AND SEE THAT ONE OF THE THREE FREAKS HAD BEEN CHARRED BEYOND RECOGNITION DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING FORCE THAT HE HAD LET OUT. THE BROKEN GLASS SHARDS SHONE IN THE DARKNESS, AND HE FELT JACK’S SPIRIT, STILL LIVING AND INTACT, FROM SOMEWHERE DOWN ON THE STREET.
HE KNEW WHAT HE HAD TO DO. BEFORE THAT FIEND CAUSED ANY MORE CASUALTIES, HE WAS GOING TO PUT AN END TO HIS TIME ON THIS PLANE.
STILL STRUGGLING WITH AN OVERDOSE OF STRENGTH,VITALITY AND COGNITION, RAIZO SPRINTED TOWARDS THE BROKEN WINDOW.
******************_________________*********************
THE LATE EVENING BEING A PEAK TIME FOR ALL THINGS GOOD IN NEW TUDOR, THE STREETS WERE BUSTLING WITH A NIGH UNSTOPPABLE CROWD. THE TRAFFIC AT IT’S PEAK TOO, TAXIS AND CARS HONKED UNSHAMEDLY AS THEY MADE THEIR WAY THROUGH THE THOROUGHFARE, CAUSING A GENERAL DIN AND CACOPHANY ALL OVER THE STREET ON WHICH THE NEW TUDOR CITY PRECINCT WAS LOCATED.
HE KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING TO GO DOWN IN THE PRECINCT, FOR THE ENTIRE BUILDING EMANATED A HUSHED SILENCE AMIDST THE CONTAGIOUS DIN, AND HE COULD FEEL IT EVEN THOUGH HE WAS A BLOCK FROM IT. WITH HIS BLACK TRENCH COAT WRAPPED TIGHTLY AROUND HIM AND A STEADY PACE, HE MADE HIS WAY THROUGH THE CROWD, KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR ANY SUDDEN CHANGES IN THE SURROUNDINGS.
HE WAS ABOUT 50 FEET AWAY WHEN HE FIRST FELT IT, A METAPHYSICAL VIBRATION THAT PRESAGED THE RISE OF A NEW FORCE IN AN OTHERWISE STAGNANT PLANE, FELT ONLY BY THOSE WHO PREVIOUSLY HAD BEEN IN THE PRESENCE OF IT. AND IN HIS CASE, IT HAD BEEN SO MANY TIMES THAT HE’D LOST COUNT.
HE KNEW NO ONE ELSE WOULD’VE NOTICED IT, SO HE DIDN’T LOOK AROUND BUT FOCUSED ENTIRELY ON THE ACTION THAT WOULD NOW UNFOLD IN FRONT OF HIM.
A BODY SMASHED OUT FROM THE WINDOW, AND FELL ON ONE OF THE CARS PARKED BELOW, RUINING IT, WITH SHARDS OF GLASS AND OFFICE FURNITURE FALLING AND CRASHING ALL OVER THE STREET. THE PEDESTRIANS IN THE RANGE OF THE GLASS AND DEBRIS TOOK COVER, WHILE THE OTHERS STOPPED IN THEIR TRACKS, WATCHING, STUNNED.
IN A FEW MILLISECONDS, ANOTHER ONE FELL SMASHING ANOTHER WINDOW. SOME OF THE PEOPLE THEN STARTED TO RUN, TRYING TO MAKE AS MUCH DISTANCE AS THEY COULD BETWEEN THE SCENE AND THEMSELVES, WHILE OTHERS STILL STOOD PERPLEXED, WONDERING WHETHER TO HELP THE TWO GUYS OR NO.
BUT BEFORE THEY COULD DECIDE COMPLETELY, ONE OF THE TWO GUYS, WHO HAD FALLEN LATER, STARTED TO STAND UP SLOWLY, GETTING AWAY FROM THE CAR HE HAD FALLEN ON, AND TRIED TO REGAIN HIS,WELL, COMPOSURE, WHILE HIS MISSHAPEN FACE AND BODY RIDDLED WITH BULLET HOLES AND HUMAN INNARDS ALIKE INCITED GASPS AND SHRIEKS OF DISGUST FROM THE CROWD NOW GATHERED AROUND THE AREA.
A MIDDLE AGED GUY STEPPED FORWARD, OFFERING HIM A HAND IN ORDER TO HELP HIM, NOT KNOWING THAT IT COULD BE THE LAST ONE HE’D EVER OFFER TO ANYONE.
HE DIED ON THE SPOT WHEN THE GUY TWISTED IT WITH ONE OF HIS HANDS AND THEN THRUST HIS OTHER INSIDE HIS ABDOMEN, RIPPING IT APART AND SHEDDING BLOOD ALL OVER THE STREET.
HE KNEW HE COULD’VE INTERVENED AND SAVED HIM, BUT AT THAT TIME, HIS CONCERN WAS SOMETHING ELSE, AND ANY ACTION HE WOULD TAKE AT THAT MOMENT COULD MAKE THINGS DICY, SO HE STOOD STILL, HIDDEN BEHIND THE HORRIFIED CROWD.
ANOTHER PERSON THEN CRASHED DOWN ON THE STREET FROM ONE OF THE BROKEN WINDOW,THE CROWD GASPING AND BACKING OUT.
COALISH BLACK FUMES WERE RISING FROM AROUND HIM AS HE STOOD UP SLOWLY, HIS EYES ALIGHT WITH THE UTTER ABSENCE OF LIGHT IN THEM, AS IF ON CUE, THE STRRET LIGHTS STARTED TO DIM, THE STREET GRADUALLY GROWING DARKER AS HE ROSE TO FULL HEIGHT.
WITHIN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, HE MOVED TOWARDS WHERE THE OTHER GUY WAS STANDING, LOOKING STRAIGHT INTO HIS EYES. HIS MOVEMENT COULD NOT BE DESCRIBED AS WALKING OR RUNNING OR ANYTHING HUMAN, IT WAS MORE LIKE HE GLIDED, THE BLACK SMOKE SLIGHTLY OBSCURING HIS BODY ALL THE WHILE.
“WHATEVER YOU DO RAIZO,” THE GROSS EXCUSE FOR A HIUMAN SAID, “YOU CANNOT STOP US. ALL THOSE YOU KILL, WILL BE SPAWNED AGAIN, AND REVENGE SHALL BE OURS, FOR BY THEN, YOUR WORLD WILL ALREADY BE AT IT’S KNEES BEGGING FOR MERCY.” HE CHORTLED IN HIS EAR, OR TRIED TO.
“I ASK YOU FOR THE LAST TIME JACK,” RAIZO SAID, HIS TONE SHADOWED WITH THE MENACE HIS AURA PORTRAYED “WHERE IS SHE?”
“SHE’S WIPING THE HALLS OF SEPTENTRION.” HE SAID, AND HAD A LAST LAUGH.
RAIZO CAUGHT HOLD OF JACK’S HEAD, AND RAISED HIM UP, THEN SLAMMING HIM HEADFIRST ONTO THE ASPHALT , HIS BODY DISINTEGRATING INTO A PILE OF ROTTING FLESH, BLOOD AND COARSE ASH.
RAIZO DIDN’T FEEL AN ENERGY INPUT THIS TIME, AND THUS, DROPPED DOWN UNCONSCIOUS ON THE TARMAC.
THE COPS HAD STARTED TO ARRIVE BY THEN. AND HE COULDN’T RISK RAIZO BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY, SO HE SHOVED HIS WAY THROUGH THE CROWD AND REACHED HIM AS FAST AS HE COULD, PICKING AND PROPPING HIM UP ON ONE SHOULDER AND DRAGGING HIM AWAY FROM THE SCENE.