The apartment room shook as the door slammed open. Grin made his way in the premises groggily. His eyes heavy from exhaustion and blood trickled past his hand and to the floor as he reached for the TV remote.
"In recent news, a series of bombs were set off in central Manchester causing widespread damage in the city," The TV buzzed to life. Static crawled its way down the screen disorienting the pictures shown in the screen. "Police reports stated that…"
Grin couldn't care less at what the TV droned on. The bustling static and disoriented sounds echoed throughout the room. Turning the volume up to its highest, Grin proceeded with his task at hand. That of which required no intrusions from potential eavesdroppers. Paranoid or not, one can never be too careful.
Struggling with each step and slackened effort, Grin began to strip and make his way to the bathroom. The floor was scattered with his belongings and stained the rugs with blood and dirt. The mask was the only thing he kept on in the end.
Digging through the cabinets, Grin took out his emergency First Aid kit. Bandages, syringes, medicine and tools littered the sink in preparation. With a clean wet rag he cleaned the fresh and dried blood as well as the dirt and other substances on his body.
As soon as he finished, Grin stood in front of the mirror and assessed his current status.
"… There were no definite fatalities but casualties mounted to over 200 injuries amongst the populous. Witnesses had…"
Grin winced as he looked at his scarred pale-white skin. His recent exploit left him battered and bruised with a set of new scars to add in to the rest along with a broken arm. They continued to bleed profusely and trickled down the floor despite the efforts of his makeshift bandages. After turning on the water for the bathtub, Grin made his way out of the bathroom in haste.
"…Existential damage around the area cost the government millions and crippled the city's bustling economy for…"
Taking the iron from the laundry room it was then heated up in an open fire of the stove. Placing himself in the bathtub half full of water, Grin began taking out the shrapnel and the bullets that riddled in his body. Old bandages were removed and thrown into the corner and the blood poured out and made the job a tad more difficult. All the while Grin did not wince nor dawdled throughout the bloody ordeal.
"…suspects from the Right-wing paramilitary group The "Alianza Bravo Pueblo" were still in custody due to lack of any known evidence in the bombing in Venezuela… "
If I were to die, I wouldn't want it to be from blood loss. Grin thought. Especially not in this piece of shit apartment in a dirty bathroom.
His hands started to lose its grip. His head was beginning to feel light. Too much blood was seeping down the drain already.
Let's get this over with. Grin hardly felt pain from the tools and the medication he injected onto himself.
The bullets dug in deep in him. It took more effort than usual in disgorging due to the added mess. He counted 5 bullets before proceeding with the stiches. 7 more rounds and this job would have beaten his record in Berlin when he hopped over the Wall the other way.
The job was botched from the very start. Grin was sent to eliminate some gangster heads that were meeting up in a construction site. He was going to shoot one guy in the group and start a gunfight amongst them and pick off the stragglers. There would have been no surviving witnesses after the smoke cleared and Grin could have left the vicinity Scott free.
One of the bosses thought the same however and set up their own merry band of gunmen hiding nearby. Some were unfortunate enough to be at the same building as he was. Grin was pulled into a shootout after being discovered and then all hell broke loose. Everyone started shooting each other and blowing each other up in smithereens after a brief car chase.
Either way, the job was done, everyone was dead and he'll get paid by the end of the day. That was all it was to him. But that didn't stop the injuries that it brought with it.
After Grin finished stitching and cleaning the wounds he made his way to the room outside and took the iron from the stove. The iron glowed with a hellish red hue and stabbed like a devil as it burned all the injuries clean and to a further close.
"…the notable casualties in general from the explosion were none other than the noble family Patriarch of the Lovelace family, Diego Lovelace…"
Thank God for antiseptics and fucked up nerve endings. Grin slowly made his way to the bed and leaned back for a brief respite. He took off his mask and inhaled in the cool fresh air with his own breath.
The pain soon inevitably crawled back in his system and was faced without any resistance. He wanted to feel SOMETHING out of this. A burning sensation erupted from his recent patchwork. Old wounds bit hard under his skin. His limbs were going crazy and thrashed about the bed.
"…In other news, Jose Lucientes was found dead in the outskirts of Calabozo in the nearby river…"
Grin took in the seizures and the pain as long as he could before frantically reached out for his mask. It was a welcome sight as he breathed into its noxious fumes. The pain subsided thereafter and left him lying on his bed exhausted.
Left alone in his thoughts, he reflected. In truth, he hated his life. He hated what he had to become and was nothing more than a murderer. A freak. He hated his state of purgatory and wished, no, wanted to end it all.
"…Police and paramedics rush to the scene and moved the body from onlookers due to the brutality of the scene…"
That ain't the only brutality happening today. Grin thought as he grabbed his revolver from the corner table. He played his daily game of roulette hoping that he'd get a bite.
"Let the games begin," The revolver was loaded with 5 bullets this time. Grin spun it fast and pointed it to his face. The hammer was primed and he stared indifferently to its barrel. "Hope I win this time." His finger lingered to the trigger.
Grin's cellphone rang without warning and surprised him. His finger pulled the trigger but instead of it shooting him in the face, the bullet grazed past his brow and imbedded itself to the wall behind him.
"FUCK! That hurts!" Grin's ears were ringing by the blast. Blood trickled by the side of his head and partially covered his eye. He wiped it off with his hand and surveyed the damage. The wound might require some stiches. "Damn. Got so close."
"What?!" Grin begrudgingly answered his anonymous caller.
"Hello again fellow compatriot." An ominous character spoke through the phone in a low tone. "Would you care to come out to a night as young as this? Care to spare-"
"The fuck you want Lotton?" Grin interrupted. He could not deal with a monologue with a bad mood.
"….."
Grin suspects that he caught the man off guard. As much as he annoys Grin, he finds some humor breaking the man's persona as an action star.
"We, the Trio, wish to invite you to a night out. For dinner, if you will at the Gold Dragon at the Triad's District. " Lotton continued in his usual theatrical manner. "Just for kicks. That is all."
"Hmmm. Why not?" Grin thought that some fresh air would do him good. Dinner with some 'friends' also wouldn't hurt.
Getting to his feet, Grin got himself stitched up; casted his arm and then prepared for the big night.
It didn't take long for Grin to find the venue. The building wasn't that hard to find either once you were in that part of town. People would consider it as the Main Establishment of the area due to its well-deserved grandeur. Grin's only regret was not wearing a more suitable attire for the occasion.
The aptly named Gold Dragon was an impressive building. The structure even seemed to glow in opulence. It wasn't simple or grand, but it was quite fancy. Stone dragons covered the archways and crimson walls with ornate figures added to the heavy Easters Chinese theme. Grin wondered if there were more places like this in the city.
When he was allowed in he was welcomed warmly by a woman and was led past the halls and into the restaurant section. Grin wished he had dressed better-to-better fit in the scene's high standards. There were gambling dens with men in lavish suits and women in skimpy outfits. Grin guessed that the establishment included a brothel on the upper floors.
The woman showed him through a large doorway and once opened, he was introduced to a grand dining hall. Sweetness and flavor filled the air as mouthwatering dishes surrounded him. Grin took his time observing the rest with slight awe before a he was called by a loud Asian voice from a few tables away.
"Oy! We over here!" Shenhua waved ecstatically
"Must you…make such a…scene?" Sawyer nudged at her overbearing compatriot. Shenhua in the other hand wasn't seem to be paying attention.
"I believe that's the painkillers work." Lotton pointed out. "She took in a lot before we left. This whole place could be burning and she STILL wouldn't notice."
"Oh, silly me. I just get exited we get to meet your new boyfriend that's all." Shenhua giggled. "One you haven't chopped up yet of course."
"He's not my…boyfriend." Sawyer snapped. "He's just a…an old…friend. And you
two…have met…him before. Remember?"
The trio shivered at the painful memory. Lotton and Shenhua's disastrous first encounter with the Reaper occurred a few days ago and was still fresh in their minds.
They all recalled its very eventful and violent conclusion. Shenhua ended up spraining her leg and reopening some wounds, Lotton got a few broken teeth and a black eye, Grin received several bruises and Sawyer got a terrible hangover the next day.
Sawyer suggested reintroducing the 3 to each other ever since that night as to get along. Starting again from scratch as she puts it. In the end it became a last minute gig that had her drag the two to reconsider.
"Yeah. Sure. Whatever you say, Wednesday Addams." Shenhua teased. "But I know a blush when I see one."
Sawyer immediately turned away from the teasing woman and fumed behind the menu as Grin approached. Lotton stood from his seat and offered one to Grin who accepted it with a nod.
"Nice place." Grin said.
"I know right?" Shenhua said with a proud smile. "Mr. Chang love to show everyone how powerful Triads is. They also serve the best duck and trout in whole city. We go here many times cause it so nice."
The place looks more like a Chow Yun Fat action movie. Grin chuckled at the absurdity. He did find some similarities with Mr. Chang.
"Looks expensive. What's your angle?" Grin asked amusingly. "Eat and run?""
"Triad members…get discount." Sawyer answered with a smirk. Her eyes motioned to Shenhua. "What happened…to you?"
"This?" Grin motioned to his bandaged arm and to his banged up appearance. "Another day in the office."
"Must been tough job." Shenghua said. She pointed a chopstick to Grin. "Would have nothing to do with big fire downtown, no? Heard that there was big fight and booms there few hours' back. Looked like Saigon at Tet."
"If I say yes. Would you get that," Grin pointed at the chopsticks. "Out of my face. Might poke my eye out."
"Oooooh! Interesting." Shenhua gave a seductive smile. "I like this one, Sawyer. He got right attitude."
"You have a different mask…Grin." Sawyer quickly changed the subject. "Looks new. Something happened…to the old one?"
"This?" Grin pointed to his mask. It had the similar intricate design of a skull but looked newer and without signs of any wear and tear. Its gas tank was not in the mask like the previous one. Instead, it had a tube that made its way to Grin's front pocket.
"Made it so I can. Eat in public. Without removing it." Grin pulled down the Jaw area of the mask and exposed the front part of his mouth. "Won't scare people. Much. Won't lose anyone's appetites. Or yours."
"Kind of want to know what you look like behind mask." Shenhua said in a ditsy manner. "Can't be that ugly no? Maybe you be like prince charming in suit of shining armor."
"No." Sawyer and Grin said at the same time.
"Well then my fellow compatriot. I do believe that you can finally use that for good use." Lotton announced as their orders were being served. "Bon Appetite."
The food was excellent with a ton of mouthwatering meals to choose from. They ate well and the air of the place did its job well for keeping its denizens interested.
"I heard that you got into fight with Mr. Chang." Shenhua said in midst of the meal. "Not that many has balls to do that you know."
"There was no fight." Grin coolly corrected. "Just a standoff. A disagreement. It ended well"
"You should still…watch your…back." Sawyer warned. "Chang isn't someone…to fuck with."
"I wouldn't worry much about that. I've dealt with men like-" Grin was cut off when a man rudely bumped into his chair. American by the looks of it.
"Oh. Sorry about that." The man said with a Southern drawl as he wobbled past the tables. Grin looked at the drunk with annoyance. He watched the man bumped at a few waiters before made his way to the nearby bar where two other men were seated.
Grin grimaced at the sight of the men's Hawaiian flower shirts. He never liked nor understood why people still wear those gay outfits, especially by those brawny men the drunken man was with. It was like dogs wearing getups. Grin was starting to lose interest but a glimpse of something caught his attention. One of the men had a particular tattoo on his arm. A tattoo of a Grey Fox.
What the fuck are they doing in Roanapur? Grin thought calmly but with alarm.
His eye kept his eye on them keenly as he watched the men from afar. Curiously, he wondered if they were in the area in official business. If so, then Grin expected that something big was about to happen in the restaurant soon.
Grin read their lips as they talked while feigning interest with his own companions. A few minutes had passed and he deciphered no hint of any professional motive. Grin confirmed that the men were only out to enjoy themselves in the town.
Grin gave himself a sigh in relief. Despite the assurance that neither he nor anyone in his group were in any danger, he can't seem to shape the feeling that something big will. He is familiar with Grey Fox and their exploits. He knows that they wouldn't just stick by and relax in the background without some ulterior motive.
Grin recalled his previous clashes with Grey Fox in East Europe. Each engagement proved to be near lethal that pure luck simply spared him. They make the BlackWatch look like boy scouts based on how they commit to their operations.
Specializing from Counter insurgency, Recon, Assassination to terrorism tactics, Grey Fox accomplishes various missions with renowned success. Operating in the shadows while causing Havoc and Mayhem in their wake, they would only then disappear in the shadows once the smoke clears.
And now they were in Roanapur.
Grin weighed in his options of how to react. He could just let them be but their presence in the city is still dangerous. Bad for business if it decides to escalate. What's more, Grin is also a wanted man in the States. If they were there for him, it would be problematic.
Whether or not they are in the city for him, Grin still has to make sure. He needed to get answers from them but not in the way that he'd be discovered and wont result with him killing him. Never was Grin faced with a dilemma that cannot be simply solved with killing.
Grin had his own limits and one of them was fucking with a US contracted group that Grey Fox signed up for. It was that ticket that made them neigh invincible. He had to approach the situation with caution and figure out how to get information without getting caught.
If the latter were to happen however, Grin had the means and the funds to get out of the country fast.
"You alright?" Sawyer asked Grin. "You were…kind of a…blank."
"Never better." Grin lied before opening a conversation regarding his first meeting with the Lagoon company.
The other two thought were immediately interested and listened with intent as Grin told them of their adventure on a cruise ship.
Sawyer, however, kept her gaze at him. She noticed that something was amiss with Grin. She saw in him a small glimpse of fear but nonetheless kept that to herself.
"Hate to cut this story short." Grin abruptly stood. He saw that the men from the Grey Fox unit paid the bill and were leaving. "But I need the Bathroom. Where?"
"On the left, next to the aquariums. But wait. You haven't said who won between you and that Lagoon Slut." Shenhua pleaded to deaf ears.
"Well Shenhua. When you have to go, you have to go." Lotton said.
"Meh. It not every day I hear of story of Two-hands getting butt whooped." Shenhua pouted.
"I must admit that it was quite the story. Wouldn't you say so too Sawyer?" Lotton asked.
Sawyer said nothing and remained silent over something. Lotton knew better than to intrude her when she's brooding.
"Well, that was a fine run wouldn't you say boys?" Forbes asked his companions as the 3 of them walked the desolate streets.
"What's the name of this here city again Cap?" Jacobs asked as he hung like a wet blanket on Brown. The young drunk was headstrong, risky and has a weakness for the strong shots. Brown on the other hand was more by the book and professional. Forbes sees a little bit of himself on both of them.
"Roanapur or as I would like to call it, the world's shithole." Brown replied. "And don't call me by my rank out here. Don't forget, we're just typical tourists enjoying the sights."
"Yeah. Yup. Roger Wilco." Jacobs nonchalantly pushed himself off of Brown and patted himself off some dust. He then abruptly pukes at a nearby garbage bin.
"You done?" Forbes asked as he lit himself a smoke.
"Yeah." Jacobs spat before walking on. "What I don't get is why the top heads can't bring us over to some scenic nowhere that smells like piss?"
"That's just you numb nuts." Forbes joked. "The place ain't pretty but it's good enough before we get shipped off to another mission. How bout we enjoy more of the city's delights?"
"Never thought you'd be into poontang sir?" Brown asked skeptically.
"Nah. I might not be tight around the waste but I sure ain't gonna catch anything here. Not in my day and age."
"A girl does sound like a good idea right about now." Jacob said with his head above the clouds. "Didn't get a chance of meeting anyone back in Venezuela. We DID cause quite a ruckus back there."
Jacobs unexpectedly felt a choking pain coming from his neck and was jammed to an alley wall. It was only then did he realize that Forbes was the one pinning him tight.
"Bran, I thought I told you that we shouldn't be talking like that out here." Forbes calmly spoke in a near hushed tone. "I thought that you had enough brains left to remember that."
"C'mon now sir." Jacobs brushed off the grip and was free. "Who'd be listening to us out here?"
"How bout that guy behind us?" Brown casually answered. "I've been eying him since we went around the last block."
"Act normally. No sudden moves" Forbes asked without looking back from Jacobs.
"Brown, status."
"Medium build with a heavy coat, slight on his step, face is obscure. It's hard to tell what he is."
Forbes deduced the 3 of them had the advantage of numbers and surprise if they played their cards right against this stranger. Brown thought the same and slowly reached for his gun. Jacobs moved closer and took a peak at the looming figure.
The figure was walking closer to their hiding place in the alley and everyone was tense in the upcoming fight. They were shocked to see the figure suddenly slump over and fell to the floor of the street just a foot away from them.
"That was anticlimactic. It's just a fucking drunk hobo." Jacobs investigated the unconscious stranger. "You guys should relax more. You're too fucking paranoid."
"Hmmmm." Forbes grumbled as he hid his gun in his jacket and lit himself a new cigarette. "I'm getting too old for this shit. Let's head on back home."
Brown stayed and looked at the sleeping vagrant while the other two made their way back. He thought as he turned about and followed the others that maybe the Captain was right. Maybe he was starting to get too old and too paranoid for his age.
However, he couldn't shake the feeling of danger coming from the man snoring on the street behind him. Brown's instincts proved true when he felt a shock of pain behind his head and fell unconscious to the ground.
Forbes heard the commotion behind him. He turned to see Brown lying lifeless on the ground and the supposed drunk vagrant was charging towards them. Before Forbes could raise his weapon, the stranger grabbed him by the neck and slammed him to the wall.
Jacobs tried to pull the man off of Forbes but was hit with the backhand and fell on his knees to the floor. Before he could pull himself together and get into the fight, he heard a hammer of a gun clicking behind his head.
Shuddering in terror Jacobs came close to peeing his pants. Dying wasn't an option for him. Not just yet. He would gladly die for his country like a patriot but not in the prospect of dying in the alleys like a stray dog.
"Stay calm." The man behind him growled. "Won't be killing you. Yet. Got some questions. Nod if you understand. Lie. Then you're dead. Along with your friends."
Jacobs nodded. He had no other choice than to cooperate.
"Name and rank."
"B-Brandon Jacobs." Jacobs stuttered. "Sergeant Major Jacobs of the Grey Fox unit."
"Purpose?"
"I-I'm sorry man, that stuff's classified." Jacobs hesitated. He knew that he'd get the boot in the unit if he disclosed that information. Getting shot was also how they deal with disclosing information.
A shot rang out that caused him to dunk his head to the ground. He thought for the moment that the stranger had done the job but he didn't. He turned and saw that the stranger was wearing a gasmask and the gun was shot to the air.
Jacobs laughed at the fact that he was still alive but the man thought different and closed Jacob's mouth and plunged the gun to his eye. The hot metal from the gun burned into his skin and screamed in pain. There was nothing in Grin's plan saying that he can't rough the men up a bit.
"Not for me. I won't ask again. Be a smart ass. I'll burn your other eye. Good luck shooting with those. Cowboy."
"Okay, just s-stop with the burning." Jacobs cried. "We were here incognito after a job in Venezuela. We were here for a few weeks and won't do anything else except if we need to get out quick. That's all I know so please let me go!"
"That it?" Grin felt much more relieved at the information. He went and took a cigarette from the man's front pocked and lit himself up one. "Here's the deal. Jacobs. You got mugged tonight. That's all what happened. Tell your superiors this or not. Couldn't care less. It's your ass they'll burn either way. If you tell. They still burn you. And they die."
Jacobs struggled to see what was going on and caressed his burning eye. What little he did see was the stranger walking away from the scene. His first intention was to shoot the bastard but was unable to do so. He was mentally incapacitated by the ordeal.
The man played his cards well and Jacobs can't do anything about it. An added insult to injury was that the same guy stole all their winnings. All he could do now was to drag his colleagues back to the house and not say a word about the night.
Dinner lasted for another hour and was followed by fine drinks and a trip to the gambling dens. The four merry killers were satisfied of the evening and made their way out of the restaurant as the dusk began to rise.
"Thanks for buying, Grin." Shenhua said . "You didn't have to though, but thanks anyway."
"Don't worry about it. Came across a great deal recently." Grin smirked in his mask.
"So, off to home then my ladies?" Lotton asked as he opened the door of his car in his usual theatrical manner. Shenhua accepted it in kind and made her way in.
"Can't. Got to go…to work. Lots…to pick up." Sawyer replied.
"I'll take you." Grin proposed. "We'll take my bike."
Sawyer nodded and parted ways from the other two. Grin tossed to her his helmet. The vehicle impressed her when Grin showed it. It was a dark grey Kawasaki motorcycle that looked quite brand new.
Sawyer held on tight behind Grin as they rode past the city. She took the helmet's visor off and felt the wind fly past her. Never would she have guessed that a simple ride through the sky lighted streets would be so enjoyable. Her fun took an abrupt end when they stopped next to sullen building that was her abattoir.
"Thanks." Sawyer said as she disembarked and returned the helmet.
"Don't mention it." Grin shrugged. "The least I could do."
"Yeah. Before…you leave though. What…happened earlier?"
"Where?"
"Back during…dinner. You didn't go…to where you said…you will go." Sawyer looked at him with piercing eyes. "Something…happened while you…were gone. You came back…smelling like…gunpowder. What did…you do…Victor? Don't…lie."
"You can always tell. When something's amiss. Fred-Fred." Grin turned off the engine. From a cheerful mood, his eye swiftly turned serious. "Met some…familiar faces. Back in the restaurant. Dangerous folk. From dangerous factions. They left. I followed. I settled it. There and then. They wont trouble me. Anymore."
Grin felt as though he didn't need to tell Sawyer about Grey Fox. He didn't see the importance of it on her.
"You shouldn't…take these things…so lightly." Sawyer said. "Especially the one…about Chang. You're making…too many… enemies here. It's gonna…get you killed."
"I've dealt with this before." Grin said. "I can handle these things. Myself. I had before. I ain't afraid of dying"
"Me too. But that's…not what I…meant." Sawyer said. "You are too…desperate TO get…killed. I bet you…tried killing yourself...countless of times on the…side when nothing's…happening. Out of spite."
"Where d'you get. That idea?" Grin asked.
"I've been through…that" Sawyer showed the gashes under her wrists. "I know a…thing or two about…scars myself. You use a gun…with yours."
"Impressive." Grin said blankly. "This the part. Where you convince me to do. Otherwise? What made YOU stop. Meeting death?"
"I found people...who helped me." Sawyer said as she approached Grin. "People who…cared for me. Made me…feel complete. Saved me…from myself. Helped me realize…that the world isn't as…dark as it is."
"You gave me…a new life…Victor." Sawyer said. Their faces were only inches apart. "Let me have…this chance to…save you this…time. You don't…have to face all these…on your own."
Sawyer lightly kissed Grin on his mask. Exactly where his lips would be. Grin was taken aback and was surprised. A part of him was surprised, confounded and confused by the wisdom of the words. A part of him wondered what or why she did that. A part of him wished that he could have felt that kiss himself.
"You are not alone." Sawyer said. "You don't need to be…afraid anymore."
Grin's gaze was set on the tiny ghost girl who walked away into her dark abode. Disappearing behind the heavy bolt doors of the abattoir, it closed shut. Once again Grin stood alone beneath the dark shadows of the city with a lot in his mind.