"The ecstasy of opening night"
Time is passing slowly when one is sitting on the desk of his employer hoping for the impossible. After about an hour he finally appeared. Derval Karney. The local "royalty". Quite ironically his home was the very incarnation of lawful and just place compared to what it really was. This huge masterpiece of architecture was taller than the all other buildings and even the near watchtowers looked pitiful. Happily married he owned many shops in the lower parts of the city from where his fortune came or at least that was the matter during daytime. His most profitable "employees" as he liked to call them visited only at nighttime and for no longer than a couple of minutes in his huge office with a guard behind every corner.
Today was rather unexpected visitation as one of them was sitting on his desk at the middle of the day.
– To what do I owe your visit at this time? Correct me if I'm wrong but we haven't seen each other for far too long. A month? – his gaze was focused with a glimmer of disapproval and surely worse thoughts.
– The matter is… my wife… She passed away. - without even listening the final words Derval opened a drawer and wrote something on a piece of paper. He put it in a letter and then pushed it to the visitor.
– This is your payment for the month so far as usual. I'll close my eyes for the past few weeks but if you don't want any more members of your family to meet this faith you won't repeat that mistake ever again. - shaky the man reached for the object but instead he pushed it back.
– Mr. Karney, sir. I'm here today to give my resignation. – at first he did not even react. Instead he put his legs on the desk and layed back in his big, leather armchair.
– Do you remember how I got you here Dorian? Do you remember how desperate you were? Do you remember my help? – his voice was low and calm but dreadful. – Back then we were not as big and powerful as we are now, but that's no excuse to leave when you no longer need me. I OWN YOU. - this shout of his was so unexpected that some of his men trembled. This served as a reminder what a man he was. Unyielding brute with the force and means to do as he says.
– You remember what got you here don't you? Do you know why I made you one of my men so lightly?- he knocked on the wood a couple of times in a familiar melody. It was because you caught the only one who managed to do what you ask for now.- this time he stood over the table almost bending it under the weight of his massive hands. That's why my friend we learn from history and don't make such mistakes. Now… - he pushed the letter once again. It's time for you to go. I'll be expecting you. Tonight.
~
– Come ooon dad! He will be leaving soon. Hurry! – said the little girl as she ran through the crowd. Just like her mother- impatient and vivid she was. It took some time to find it but they were finally here. Quite surprised he recognized the remains of the once great theatre that was here… now burned to the ground and at the front of it next to a wagon a man with a leather hat was selling all kinds of toys and little devices. His entire body was unnaturally slim and his clothes were tattered. As the two approached the man lifted his head to them and revealed the red mask and goggles covering his face.
– You there. What you have to sale? – at first he looked confused but then after a brief cough he waved at his stand.
– Wont you even show me the courtesy of introducing yourself? – at that the man just stared at him for a moment then lowered his head mimicking a bow and coughed once more.
– Dear boy… - he looked like he needed a break.
– I'm afraid I ventured too far from my regular route. The weather here is only cutting my time short… On my age… The only thing that will cut it even shorter is not earning enough for food… - suddenly Julien reached for something on the stand but the seller stopped her hand and moved it aside.
– I'm sorry darling but you don't have enough for this one. – the little girl almost turned to cry but her father hugged her and turned to him:
– There is no price too high for me. Now give it here. – the inscrutable gaze of the seller stayed on the father for a few moments but soon after he picked the toy and called the girl to come closer.
– Do you see this my dear? - her attention was fixed on the little music box with engraved roses on it. – This is a very special music box. I find it best to use them when traveling in a carriage or a wagon. It will perform three different songs and at midnight, but only at midnight it will perform another special one! You must be very gentle with it. – slowly he taught her how to change the songs and how to spin the little lever. Soon the little girl was happy bet her father did not look any better. He had a work to do.
~
The time has come. The night was just starting and all who worked for Karney flocked around his office in anticipation. Some were sitting clustered while others preferred to stay alone in the shadows of the curved and muddy streets. The night air was cool and a smell of rain could be sensed. The landscape of the city looked as usual but the watchtower was not lit up this time. The guards never really stayed in it and they also forgot to keep it lit at times so it was nothing all too special. The surrounding on the street however looked different. Many of the "employees" had their guns and blades in them even now. A couple were missing too.
– I've missed quite some for these few weeks it seems. – he said aloud when few of them turned to him.
– They say that a madman is crawling on these streets these days. Waiting in the dark for anyone w ho crosses his path. – the man who said this was one of the oldest around. Jack was his name.
– Nonsence. Who can possibly just start killing people and stay unnoticed by us? – this time Jack came closer so no one else could hear.
– A mad man Dorian. Every four days we find dead people all around the place. One of ours… Or more precisely... Four of ours… every time. Sam, Daniel, Rina, Catherine were the first to go… Few days ago Zack, Lily, Ben and Billy… - seeing that his comrade is uneasy he just waved him to stop.
– Which night is it since the last death. – Jack looked around and hissed:
– The fourth. But not just the fourth night, it's also the fourth time this will be happening. I can feel something big coming towards us. Someone terrible…
~
Finally. The doors of the mansion opened. At first all went for the office but it was locked. Strange smell came from inside. Instead the dining hall was wide open and the table was served. Next to the door a steward was expecting their entry. At the distant corner of the room Karney could be seen sitting in a big armchair facing the fireplace with his wife and two children laying around on the near furniture. At the door a steward with an eye-patch that was covering most of his head was putting a rose to the collar of each guest with the words:
– Now you may proceed and take your place on the table as the host prepares. – nimble and quick he was doing his job without even slowing a single guest. Soon everyone was on the table and after turning on the music the servant left through the entrance door closing it behind.
All guests waited in anticipation but the host did not show any intent of moving any time soon. After a few more minutes one woman and two men stood off their chairs to check on the host and almost inaudible ticking sound appeared. Unsure they approached the armchair but still nothing happened. Moments after they turned their backs a violent explosion blasted the chair of the lady causing a storm of flying wooden pieces and killing all around it in the process. Before anyone could even realize what was happening the still flying pieces of furniture exploded causing two more outbursts. The blasts were shredding everything in their reach while sending away bombs from the near furniture and spreading the carnage all over the place.
Falling glass chandeliers, wooden planks from the table, glasses from the windows, even huge stone ornaments were falling from the ceiling crushing everyone unfortunate enough to stand under. People were screaming in a terrible cacophony. Barely alive Dorian slowly rose from the rubble finding that the explosions still kept going but he couldn't hear them. Grabbing Jack he rushed for the windows as many others did. On the way out he saw all kinds of horrific deaths. People torn apart from the explosions, ravaged by glasses, impaled by wooden and metal shrapnels and in the end of the room still intact was sitting Dervan Karney with his family and each one of them with a gunshot wound just resting as they were left by the one who did it.
The two of them just barely got out in the rain when one of theirs who was running for the street suddenly froze in place. Slowly turning around he opened his mouth for a scream but nothing followed as a huge gape in his neck was bursting out blood instead.
Dorian turned to see what was there he witnessed a familiar silhouette. A slim figure was moving all around the cracked roof shooting at them on the run. Every shot he made was the death of someone below. It was all so unreal until the sense of sound started to return.
– Dance for me! – he was shouting and laughing hysterically.
Someone on the ground screamed:
– A grenade!... – too late. Without wasting any more time Dorian shot at him a few times but with no luck. He took Jack who was shaking and started pulling him to the nearest street but just after they passed the corner Jack pulled over and refused to move.
– Come on! He is still there! Hurry! – The old man just waved him to go and pulled his guns. Seconds passed but Dorian did not leave and his old comrade grew furious at the sight of that. By revealing the hole in his chest he tried to speak but blood choked him and so he turned back aiming for his murderer who was spinning and posing for every shot in some strange semblance of a dance. Instantly turning around the young man ran for his home while a hail of gunshots kept thundering in the night.
– Almost there. – he was talking to himself while desperately running to the house.
When he finally reached the place he noticed something carved on the wooden door "Prepare… for your finale" but moved straight in for his daughter. In no time he put her in the first carriage he saw and climbed on top hitting the whip as hard as he could. Speeding towards the entrance of the city after a slight shine in the night he felt something pierce his shoulder throwing him off in the mud. " That's it. I'm done." – he thought and looked the horses who kept going. Something buzzed around him and blew off the rose from his pocket. There was a piece of paper wrapped around the rose "I will touch your heart – the Virtuoso". No word could explain the fear Dorian Jones felt while anticipating the death of his own child as the carriage advanced. In time fear grew stronger and stronger but nothing happened. After a shine in the distance appeared he tried to protect himself but his hand - pierced and thrown aside unable to move. Knowing what followed he stood strong with tears in his eyes awaiting and a red flash from the distance was soon to follow.
– Thank you. – after a moment he fell still holding the rose in hand. The night quieted and the cool slowly falling drops shining on the light of the street lamps rinsed any trace of what happened this night. Only the sounds of the town clock announcing the struck of midnight could b e heard. One, two, three and after a brief moment of silence a deep heavy blast echoed from the city outskirts.
