Chapter One – The Eye of The City

John inhaled the smoke of the cigarette very slowly, letting the drug fill his lungs and numb his mind. Rings of smoke formed in front of his eyes, blurring his sight of the city, shading his world.

When he woke up that morning, he didn't feel light and easy like he normally would after a night with Avery, or any other girl he cared enough to learn her name. Instead, he felt apprehensive and anxious. He could not let go of the information he had received last night. Jack's words echoed in his ears: Souriano is not in the city anymore, boy. Now, what'ya gonna do? Haha!

John smashed the cigarette on the window sill, annoyed. He wanted to punch Sullivan until his idiotic face was covered in blood and his mouth was begging him to stop. Unfortunately, Avery was right: he would have to be calm and patient if he wanted to get to Souriano. He had waited all these years; a couple more months would be nothing.

He heard water running in the only bathroom in the apartment and he knew Avery was up. She always took a shower after she got up; sometimes John accompanied her. This morning, he wanted to be left alone.

The smoke dissipated in front of his eyes and Liberty City came to life. The big sky-scrapers ahead of him stood up so defying against the loneliness of the seas that surrounded the island, almost mocking the simplicity of the island. The sunlight shined down on the glass windows, creating sparkling spots all over the surfaces, warning the whole world that they were there. And it wasn't just in the day that the city shined; it was at night that it truly gained life and awoke to the needs of the inhabitants. The first night he went out and crossed the Burlesque in his black PMP, he was able to observe all those huge interactive boards all over the façades of the buildings, and immediately fell in love with the city. It was an enormous contrast with the gray streets of his old town that he used to run around. The landscape could have changed, but his habits remained the same.

Smoke filled his lungs again, and his head spun. The warm morning breeze caressed his face, messing his hair, closing his eyes. He could almost feel its warm hands rubbing his cheeks, the wind whispering in his ears. John took that moment to relax, and the tension built in his body seemed to have been lifted for a second. When he opened his eyes again, Liberty City welcomed him, and the weight did not come back. John breathed out in relief.

Avery had turned off the shower, and minutes later she was walking into the living room with her hair wet and different clothes from yesterday. John let his gaze cover her whole body as she walked to the kitchen to make her breakfast.

"You want some?" she offered him some milk.

"Pour me some coffee" he muttered in response.

John's eyes moved away from Avery, back to Liberty City outside his window.

"Still thinking about that?"

John smoked once, twice, before answering.

"Not right now" was all he could come up with.

"I thought I'd gotten your mind out of it last night."

He turned his head around and noticed the playful smile on her face. A hot cup of coffee was waiting for him on the counter.

John finished up the cigarette and followed Avery into the kitchen.

"Is this decaf?" he asked, grabbing the mug.

"No."

"Hum."

Shrugging, John took a sip. The bitter taste of coffee met with the smoke and John felt like puking. Still, he took another sip, and another.

"What are your plans for the day?" Avery asked, leaning against the counter, holding her own mug.

"Dunno. Sullivan told me to hang by the phone."

"What does he want?"

"I don't know; more jobs, I think."

"That man's full of shit."

"You finally get my point."

"Still", she added, "I don't think you should give up. You've come this far; don't do something stupid now."

John shrugged again. There weren't many options left for him at the moment; sticking to Sullivan seemed to be the most promising way. And he knew that already.

"I need you to drive me to Hatton Gardens at two" Avery said after awhile.

"Why?"

"Got a date."

"At noon on a Wednesday?"

"Yeah. The guy's a lawyer; his schedule's always full."

"Since when do you go out with lawyers?"

Avery raised an eyebrow to him over her mug.

"Since when do you care so much about who I go out with?"

John rolled his eyes.

"Come on, Avery, you know it's nothing like that."

"I know" she replied. "So, can you drive me or not?"

"Don't you think it's weird another guy driving you to your date?"

"You don't have to walk in with me; just park at the corner."

John didn't answer; he just drank his coffee again.

"I'm just thinking you might need the car; otherwise I would drive myself."

"It's fine. Don't worry about it."

John was used to Avery going out with other guys. He never met them, but she always let him know when she had a date. Normally, they happened during night time, and rarely she came back home (when she did, it indicated that her date hadn't gone so well). John believed she had clearly in her head that any kind of relationship would get in the way of his only objective, and she had made the commitment of helping him throughout his journey. Of course she was free to walk away at any time, but Avery was loyal. Since the first time he met her, he knew she was worth his trust.

"Where did you meet this guy?" John asked, walking out of the kitchen.

"Internet."

He sat on the couch in the living room and stared at the blank TV screen. Avery followed him and sat on the chair next to him.

"And what are you going to do all day long? Sit around and wait for Sullivan to call you?"

"Ain't got better plans."

Since John engaged on his hunt for Lou Souriano, the man who had killed his sister almost six years ago in Monaco, he had left behind every form of normal life he knew. Of course his life hadn't been normal so far; since he was just a boy, John had had contact with the criminal side of countries like Italy, France and Germany. He grew up watching men rob and kill, and before he'd hit adulthood, he had already learned how to shoot a Magnum. Caught in the middle of all that, the only thing that kept John from falling into the dark world of criminality was his younger sister, Rebekka. After her death, John gave up a simple, normal life, and gave himself away entirely to the task of finding the man who pulled the trigger on her. He didn't have hobbies or interests; when he found himself alone, there were only three things he could do: smoke, work out or drive around.

After he drove Avery off in Hatton Gardens at a fancy restaurant that was consistent with what she had said before about going out with a lawyer, John chose the last option; taking the Union Drive Highway, he outlined Algonquin island a couple of times. Around three pm, he crossed Hickey Bridge, going west, entering Leftwood in Alderney. Turning right, he started going north, entering West Dyke, the highest piece of land in Liberty City. At some point, he drove off the street, taking a side road that lead to a quiet spot just above the beach. John parked the black PMP under some trees, reclined the seat and sat back, with a cigarette between his lips. The radio was tuned to Liberty Rock and The Who was on, mixing very well with his moment. Beyond the horizon line, the sky expanded into eternity, and seagulls flew above the water in groups, searching for food. There weren't too many people at the beach that hour, but it was understandable. Liberty City had never been quite the touristic spot when it came to beaches and summer. The terrain of the island and the climate made the beaches pretty poor, nothing compared to the beaches of Vice City and Los Santos, in San Andreas. The only people who visited the beaches north of West Dyke were the rich people that lived in the area, and they weren't that many.

John stared at the car ceiling and smoked. In that fancy restaurant in Hatton Gardens, Avery was probably having a good time by now, with her lawyer and his expensive food. Sometimes, when John was alone and thoughtful, he thought about Avery and the role she played in his life. Until now, he hadn't quite found out yet.

They met six and a half years ago, somewhere north of Italy. Both had been hired by the same person, some old guy with a couple of illegal business spread around the city, to investigate the life of the owner of the main chain of casinos in that same city, in order to acquire valuable information for his opponent. John was admired by her efficiency and intelligence; Avery was attracted to his quiet, almost cold, personality. After the job was done, they stayed in touch. When Souriano and his brothers killed Rebekka, Avery was with John, and she was the first to know about it, after himself. Remembering those times, it was possible that, if it weren't for

Avery, John could have easily lost his mind. She was the one who helped him go through that awful period that followed Rebekka's death. When he announced his plans of killing the Souriano brother responsible for his disgrace, she just said "I'm coming with you." And she had stayed by his side since then.

John inhaled the smoke again and sighed. So many years had passed, and when finally thought he was getting close to his target, Sullivan told him he wasn't even there anymore. John was starting to feel like a idiot running around, seeking endlessly a man that had no idea of his existence, but still managed to escape every time John got too close.

He and Avery had spent more than a whole year in Europe trying to find Souriano, when one of the people he used to work with told them he had shipped off to the U.S. Feeling less confident, they gathered some money and flew off to America as well, believing that Souriano was hiding in a small town close to the Canadian border. When they finally got to the town, Souriano had already crossed the border, disappearing in Canada for almost a year. John and Avery, unable to cross over to the other side, decided to settle down somewhere near Buffalo, in New York. For several months, they tried to get information on Souriano again, without being able to enter the country. When John was about to give up, Avery came up with a brilliant plan that put them back on the track. A name, a few phone calls, and, three months later, they were moving into Liberty City, assured that Souriano was there. John didn't know what to believe anymore.

The Who on the radio was replaced by some annoying commercials that made John change stations, listening to some jazz now. Even though he had never really appreciated the style, it seemed to be the only good thing on at the moment.

John closed his eyes and just listened to the music, the cigarette just hanging from the corner of his mouth. He started feeling sleepy, and, reclining the seat even more, he got prepared for a nap. That was when he cell phone rang.

Clearly annoyed because he already knew who it was, John reached out for it on the passenger's seat, huffing, and flipped it open.

Unknown Caller flashed on the screen. John pressed the green button.

"Hello."

"Mr. Myers."

The voice on the other end of the line was nothing like Sullivan or anyone he knew. It carried a very specific accent that John couldn't identify immediately, and it belonged to a man not much older than himself. The voice was low and serious, but not intimidating.

"Who is this?" he asked.

"It's Niko Bellic. I wanted to meet you for a little talk, Mr. Myers. Are you busy?"

"Right now?"

John raised his watch in front of his eyes. Almost three and a half.

"Yes" Bellic answered.

"What is this about?"

"It's a delicate issue, Mr. Myers. If you don't mind, I would like to discuss it in private with you. Can you meet me in Berchem in thirty minutes?"

Berchem? It wasn't so far from where he was.

"How did you get my number?"

"I got it with Jack Sullivan. I believe you've been working with him lately?"

Holding himself not to throw the cell phone out the window, John bit his lips. Sullivan was supposed to keep quiet about him; yet, he was handing out his number to strangers.

"Yes" John answered, feeling a slight headache on the back of his head.

"Good. So, can I see in Berchem, in thirty minutes?"

"Where, in Berchem?"

"There is a coffee shop near Vitullo Avenue. A discreet place where we can meet."

"Alright."

"See you thirty minutes, Mr. Myers."

And, without waiting for an answer, Niko hung up the phone.

John threw it on the passenger's seat again and rubbed his eyes. He swore to himself that he was going to kill Sullivan as soon as he got his hands on him again. He was supposed to keep things low about John, but the idiot was parading him like a fucking piece of diamond. John wanted some serious explanations from his behalf.

Sighing, John lifted the seat, turned down the radio and threw the cigarette out the window. Not happy at all, but still intrigued with that unknown caller that had identified himself as Niko Bellic, he pulled out to the street and got on his way to Berchem.