In South Paris, Olivia was still trying to comprehend what exactly she had just witnessed. Never before had she known of the public executions her city has held and apparently is still holding.
"Now you know the truth." Caleb said.
"Mind telling me what just happened."
"Since Will IV came to power, he became increasingly paranoid and started holding executions of his public enemies." Caleb said. "At first it was just part of the Napoleonic Campaign that took place throughout Europe, but he felt that the citizens of his country were going to revolt against them, which eventually they did."
"Go on." Olivia said.
"The cities broke away from the rest of the country while Will IV ordered his Parisian Army to lay waste to the remaining cities." Caleb said. "With the army led by Admiral Lionel Philippe, the most ruthless commander of any nation's armed forces, the task was done with little difficulty. All remaining prisoners were brought into the city square and were to take part in executions directed by Philippe himself and Hannibal Dunbar while the citizens watched."
"Just one more question." Olivia said. "Again, what is reformatting?"
"Again, you don't want to know." Caleb said. "Danny told me and now I'm telling you that you don't want to know."
"Okay." Olivia said confused. "Just one more question: What will you do when the Grand Leader is dead?"
"Oh, I got myself some big plans for that." Caleb said with an evil grin. Olivia just walked away with a worried look on her face. "Where are you going?"
"Back to the inn." Olivia said. "This is all too much to take in."
"I understand." Caleb said. "You need respite; you have yet to be desensitized to the horrors of this city and its people."
Meanwhile, at Will's manor, the Grand Leader was sitting on his easy chair being interviewed by numerous members of the press. Everyone was talking all at once and it was too much for the frail man to comprehend.
"Grand Leader Dunbar. Will you be in good enough health to attend the Victory Day parade?"
"Grand Leader. What are your comments on the alleged Grand Army-led execution this morning?"
"Grand Leader. With the ongoing feud with your eldest son, do you hope to appoint a new successor?"
"I...I…can't…I…don't…" Will said struggling to speak.
"That's enough! All of you!" Theo said pushing back the reporters. "My father is not in good enough health to be answering questions."
"But Sir, if we could just get…"
But they couldn't finish; they had just been blown to pieces by Hannibal, who was now turning off his cane-railgun.
"Glad that's fucking over." Hannibal said as Theo, Will V and Jonah just stared at him wide-eyed with their mouths hanging out. "Come on, brother. Let's get you to your bedchamber."
"I…don't...I…can't…" Will said repeating the same stuff.
"Theo, is Dad going to die?" Jonah said about to cry.
"What, the pale skin and the cancer didn't throw you off?" Will asked.
"Will, shut the fuck up! You aren't helping!" Theo shouted. He then turned to Jonah. "Jonah, all I know is that whatever fate has in store for him, we just have to accept it."
"Okay." Jonah sniffled.
"You're strong, Jonah." Theo said hugging his younger sibling. "Don't ever let anything bring you down."
"Okay."
Theo then walked up to his older sibling and glared at him.
"Take a mental note." He said. "It'll help next time you decide to take out your insecurities on the rest of the family."
Theo walked away.
"Not my fault he hates me!" Will shouted back.
Later that evening, the whole family, minus Will IV, were sitting at the dinner table waiting for the family patriarch to arrive.
"What's keeping him?" Will asked,
"Will, hush!" Hannibal said. "You know you father and his constant obsession of making sure he's prepared. He's probably in the midst of quadruple-checking himself."
Just then, Alan the head butler came into the room.
"Sir, children, Miss Garrett." He said. "You might want to speak to the master right now."
Upstairs in Will's bedchamber, the rest of the family was huddled around the bed, where Will IV was lying in a near-frozen state.
"E…Ethan." He said his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm af…af…afraid my time has c…co…me."
"What?" Theo said. "Father, no."
"Theo." He said. "Make me proud, my son. Just as you always have."
"Jo...Jonah." He said. Jonah came over to him. "May Father smile upon you as you led our forces to victory, Admiral."
"Admiral?" Will asked.
"Did…Did you really th…think I…I was g…g…going t..to let Phili…ppe con…continue to run our f…forces at th…the way he's going? The forces are to be l…led by…by some…one y…y…young; someone like J…Jonah. My first act up…upon my death is to re…retire him."
"Father, let me just say I'm honored."
"Will…Will…"
"Yes?" Will said eagerly.
"You're the worst son any father could ask for and it should've been you instead of me."
He then took one last gasp and went limp. The doctor came and felt his heartbeat.
"He's dead." The doctor said.
Theo just broke down crying and hugged his wife who returned the hug. Hannibal closed his dead brother's eyelids and kissed his forehead.
"Goodnight, my brother." He whispered.
Will just went over and hugged his uncle, crying.
"Get off of me, you faggot!" Hannibal said pushing his nephew off. Hannibal, instead, went to comfort his younger nephew, Jonah, who was taking it worse than everyone else.
"Whatever." Will said. "At least nothing stands in my way between me and my goal."
"Is that all you care about?" Theo asked. "Him dying so you can be leader?"
"Believe me, that's not what I meant."
"So what do we do now?" Theo asked. "For Victory Day, I mean."
"The plans will not change." Will said. "We'll hold the parade after my inauguration on the same day. In the meantime, we have a funeral to prepare for."
The next morning, Olivia woke up from her bed at the inn getting ready for the day. She brushed her hair, got dressed, headed downstairs and headed out the door. As she was walking out of the underpass, she ran into Isaac.
"There you are." He said. "Come on!"
"What is it?"
"The regime's about to make an announcement." Isaac said. "Caleb told me to find you and meet him at the tower when I did."
"What tower?" Olivia asked.
"I'll lead you there, now let's go!" Isaac shouted dragging Olivia with him.
After a lengthy walk, the tower, as it turned out, was a tall, iron lattice tower that overlooked the rest of the city and even towered over The Wall. Olivia and Isaac made their way to the top and met Caleb.
"So what's going…?"
"Shh." Caleb said.
Just then, a fanfare was heard followed a voice over the loudspeakers in the northern city.
"Citizens of North Paris." The voice said. "Today I come with grim tidings. The regime, today, has announced the greatest tragedy that has bestowed our city since the death of our Eternal Patriarch: Last night, Grand Leader William Dunbar IV, son of Eternal Patriarch William Dunbar III, died in his bedchamber after succumbing to the disease that has plagued him for nearly four years. We as the inner circle are most saddened and distraught by this unfortunate turn of events. His funeral procession will be held tonight in Zanbato Square followed by the inauguration of the new leader tomorrow morning. That is all. Long Live The Regime."
"Will IV is dead?" Olivia said.
"Surprised aren't you?" Caleb said smiling.
"I don't understand." Isaac said. "How did you know that was going to be announced?"
"I have my sources." Caleb said. "Now to prepare for the funeral."
"What do you mean prepare?" Olivia asked.
"You'll see." Caleb said. "In the meantime, you should return to the city. Will's probably looking for you."
"Of course." Olivia said. "Anything to console him in the time he needs it most."
As the sun was setting, everyone was gathered around for the funeral procession of their former leader. Soldiers were slowly marching along the main road with their rifles on their shoulders followed by a band playing a somber tone. Behind them were a series of cars that spanned across the roads many lanes. In the center of the cars was a massive wooden platform with a glass sarcophagus in the center being carried by numerous soldiers. Inside was the body of the deceased leader, ready to be taken to his final resting place at his father's mausoleum. Standing on each side of the platform were Will V, Olivia, Theo and Jonah on one side and Hannibal, Mackie and Philippe on the other. Jonah glanced over at the former admiral and tried to say something, but Philippe just scowled at him and Jonah turned back around.
Everyone who was watching the procession could only cry and mourn the loss of their beloved leader (lest they be subject to public execution, of course). As they were crying, they didn't notice the figure that was sneaking around ready to carry out his plan. When he got to a safe place, he pulled out a communicator.
"Ready, Isaac?" He whispered.
"Prince Caleb, are you sure we should…?"
"Don't fucking argue with me!" The figure, Caleb, said. "Just do it!"
Isaac, who was back in South Paris, just did as he was told and pulled out a small remote-like device. Isaac then pressed one of the buttons.
Suddenly, a series of explosions went off along the sides of the road, no doubt injuring and killing many instantly. Everyone else just screamed and panicked as they ran off, scrambling in different directions. The cars surrounding the platform just sped away trying to get to safety. Will, Theo, Jonah, Hannibal, Philippe and Olivia were left in the confusing holding up the platform as Mackie jumped in one of the cars.
"Where are you going?" Will asked.
"Hey, I'm just a businessman; I didn't sign up for this." Mackie said. "Good luck you guys." The car then sped off.
"Coward." Theo said.
"Alright, show yourself!" One of the officers holding up the platform asked before he felt a sharp object pierce through his body as fast as a bullet.
"Take aim, men!" Jonah shouted as soldiers drew their riles and began shooting through the smoke left from the explosions, but in vain.
"Admiral, what do we do?" Jonah asked.
"Why are you asking me?" Philippe shouted. "You're the admiral now!"
Just then, Caleb jumped out from the smoke and landed on top of the former admiral.
"Caleb?" Olivia said.
"Please..." Philippe begged. "Anyone but me, I'm only a retired officer."
But Caleb said nothing as he snapped his victim neck, killing him in an instant.
"Kill him!" Will shouted. Caleb just pulled out another knife and ran across the one side of the platform, cutting deeply into the flesh of those holding it up, including Hannibal. With no support from that side, the platform collapsed and the sarcophagus fell out and broke.
"We have to get to hiding." Theo said as he and Will hid behind a large statue. "Jonah, come with us!"
Jonah just nodded as he ran over toward his brothers. Through the smoke, Caleb saw his next target, pulled out three knives with one hand and took aim. He then threw the knives toward the three brothers: One missed completely, the other grazed Will's left arm. Will just clutched his arm in pain and he ducked down.
"Are you okay, brother?" Theo asked.
"I'll be fine." Will said. "Hurry, Jonah!"
But Jonah was too late. At the moment he ran up to his brothers, the third knife hit its target. The knife pierced through him at lightning speed, leaving a huge, bloody wound.
"Jonah!" Theo shouted.
Jonah fell to the ground, but gut back up and staggered around. Just then another series of knives tore through his body as quick as a flash. Jonah just screamed in pain as he fell and tried to crawl away. But it was of no use, he has succumbed to his wounds and collapsed with one last breath. Theo just ran over and picked up his brother's body.
"Jonah, wake up!" He shouted. "Fuck, man, don't you give up on me! Stay with me!"
No response.
"Sure, pay attention to him!" Will shouted sarcastically. "His troubles are over, but in case you haven't noticed, my arm's bleeding like shit."
Theo didn't listen. He just held his brother's corpse and cried. He then looked up and saw Caleb in front of him holding a knife, but he put it away when he saw Theo's face.
"Don't worry." Caleb said. "You're worth nothing to me."
Seeing this, Will just pulled a gun from his jacket and pointed at him, but he had disappeared before Will could take aim.
When the smoke cleared and the chaos settled, Theo was still crying over his dead brother and Will ran over to his injured uncle and helped him up.
"Let go of me!" Hannibal shouted as his stomach was bleeding heavily.
"I'm calling a medic." Will said. "I'm not letting you die."
"You fucking sadist." Hannibal muttered under his breath.
"Call me what you want, you're still family." Will said wrapping his uncle's wounds. "Hey, where did Olivia go?"
What Will didn't notice was that throughout the chaos, Olivia managed to sneak away and make her way over The Wall to South Paris. She knew what Caleb had done and she had to confront him about it.
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