2025-01-12 14:55:52Hector gasped awake in fear and sprang out of the bed on command. He had some terrible dreams. In his dream, his wife and daughter were dead and he had seen some strange figure. He pressed his chest as he continued to gulp in the air.
Hector couldn't see a thing, it was dark, but Hector knew it was always dark when he woke up in the bunker where the soldiers slept. He expected Aaron to smack the back of his head to wake him up, but the hit never came. The lights flickered on and Hector shielded his eyes from the bright light. He fluttered his eyelids severally to get used to the light. This wasn't the bunker. The bunker didn't have gold plated walls and a king-sized bed with a large curved TV mounted to the wall. "It wasn't a dream, Hector," Hector turned quickly while shoving his hand behind his pants to grab his gun, but nothing was there. He stared at the figure, it was the strange man he had dreamed about. Suddenly, the reality of everything crashed on him. He hadn't been dreaming, he was truly…alone. Hector staggered till he hit the wall, and pressed his hand against it as he sank to the white floor. Hector did something he hadn't done in so many years, he cried. The strange man watched as Hector unraveled. He waited till Hector's sobs turned to sniffles. "Hector, I'm sorry you lost your family," the strange man said, never leaving his spot across the room. Hector wiped the snort from his face and stared at the man. "You don't even know them, how can you be sorry?" Hector felt angry. He didn't know who this man was or why he was following him, but he was tired of running. "I don't, but I know what it feels to lose someone you love," the strange man sounded sad. Hector realized that he had been rude as well. For all he knew, this man had warned him about the attackers and saved his life. Then, it dawned on Hector, that this man had disappeared as well. Hector's eyes widened as the cab scene came back to mind. "Who are you?" Hector asked again as he slowly ascended to his feet. "I told you, I'm—" "No, what are you? You were in that room when those men came in. I didn't see you run out but you were also in the cab…" "You guessed it right the first time in the cab. I'm a ghost," the man said. Hector cackled hard, he didn't think he would be able to laugh like this knowing his wife and child were dead. The thought of that again made him stop laughing. There was nothing funny anymore. "Ghosts don't exist," Hector said sternly. The strange man sighed, shook his head and vanished. He reappeared directly behind Hector, merged between the wall and Hector's back. "Says whom?" Hector jumped back in fear. "What the fuck? What the fuck!?" Hector's eyes were saucer sizes. This went against everything he believed in. He believed in facts, things you could shoot at. Ghosts were…unreal. "I would love to waste the whole day trying to convince you, but there are more pressing issues, Hector." The strange man fully emerged from the wall. Hector noticed that he wasn't walking, he was…gliding. His feet didn't touch the ground. Hector gulped and looked back up. "What issues?" He chose his words carefully. "It's about the men who killed your wife and kid…" the strange man started. Hector's face hardened and his eyes darkened with anger and irritation. Why was he talking about them? "What about them?" Hector said through gritted teeth, controlling his spiraling temper. "They killed me as well." Hector cocked his brow, confused. "How?" "Do you remember a secret operation you handled over a year ago coded as Python X in Vietnam?" The man asked. Hector squinted and thought. "Yes," Hector nodded. "Do you remember how your superior warned you about going for the mission because of the risks, but you were stubborn about it?" The man asked again. Hector was surprised, these pieces of information were privy to only him and maybe the Commander. His face fully contorted into confusion but he nodded affirmatively. "You upset a supply chain in Vietnam," the man said. "A supply chain? Of what?" Hector asked. "Drugs. When you raided that warehouse and set those drugs on fire, you severed the major supply of powerful businessmen in the country which caused them to lose money…lots of money." "How much?" "Hundreds of billions of dollars." "Shit." "Those men sent their goons after your wife and kid as some form of retaliation for messing with their business and causing them to lose that much money," the strange man said. "Why didn't they just come for me!?" Hector bellowed. "They want you to suffer before killing you. It's what they do." It didn't make sense to Hector. Who were those men who had come to kill him in that room then? "Those men that attacked me…" "You're now a loose cannon and they don't want you coming back for them." They were damn right, Hector was fueled with rage. They had killed his family and had tried to take him too because he did his job. But something dots weren't connecting. "What happened to you?" Hector asked. "I went after these men as well, but I wasn't as careful. They planted a bomb under and…" "Sorry," Hector felt sympathy. There was silence again before Hector said the one thing he had been thinking for a long time. "I want to make these men pay for what they did to my wife and daughter…to me. I want them to suffer what I have suffered," Hector looked at the ghost. "That's why I'm here," the man said. "Why are you here?" Hector wanted clarity. "I want to give you a chance to play God…the devil's way." Hector didn't know when he smiled.
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
A chance to play God: The Devil's way Chapter 5: A life changing plan
"Where is this place?" Hector asked as he moved toward the large window. The room was larger than an average-sized room, it could fit about five king-sized beds and there would be space left for twenty people to march around. "It is…was my house," the strange man said. "It's beautiful," Hector took in the sight as he stood by the window. He was staring at the nightlife wherever he was. The city seemed to never sleep, various buildings had their lights on. It made the scenery look like a vast sky with small flashy stars. "Yeah, I could stare at that window all night," the man sighed, dismayed. Hector looked at his faint reflection at the window, he couldn't see the strange man's reflection. "I don't even know what your name is," Hector continued to stare at the window even though he couldn't see him. "Henry Alvarez," the strange man, now Henry, said. "¿Como estas?" Hector said. Henry snorted. "Not everyone named Alvarez speaks Spanish, you bigot." Hector chuckled and looked a
A chance to play God: The Devil's way Chapter 6: A ghost's threat
Hector lowered the gun and put his hands up to show that he wasn't a threat. "Who are you and what the hell are you doing in my father's house??" Cassie demanded. "I'm a friend of your father, Cassie," Hector said. "How do you know my name?" Cassie questioned. "Like I said, I'm a friend of your father's," Hector stuck to his defense. "He's dead, you're a little too late for a reunion," Cassie responded. She was truly Henry's daughter, she had his smart mouth and wicked sense of humor. "I'll explain everything to you in the morning, you need to get some rest," Hector glanced at her once more before he attempted to walk out. "Don't tell me what I need!" Cassie whipped her hair at him and walked out first. *** Hector had fallen asleep somewhere between 4 am and 4:30 am. He was not ready to attend to the chiming doorbell at 7:30 am. He groaned into the pillow and tried to smother himself. "It's Josh. Wake up," Henry called from the corner of the room. Hector groaned again befor
A chance to play God: The Devil's way Chapter 7: Evil plan against the Devils
He watched the way her slender hips swayed each time she swung her golf club. He noticed that it was a bit too short for her and concluded that she wouldn't be able to get any ball in the hole. After five minutes of watching her, she didn't prove him wrong. The file on her husband had informed him that she was in her early fifties, but she didn't look a day over 29 years. The skirt hugged her taut frame perfectly and each swing caused her skirt to move dangerously revealing more than enough to entice interested men. Every time she managed to hit the golf ball squarely, she would bounce excitedly and her chest would wobble. But Hector wasn't one of those men who was interested in seeing what was underneath the branded clothes, he had a purpose. He grimaced as she bent again to take a swing. It would be miss after miss, he was sure of that. He smiled at the barman who looked more interested in watching her. He pulled out a few notes from his new wallet and shoved them into his whi
A chance to play God: The Devil's way Chapter 8: A statement against the Devils
The streets looked less busy tonight and it looked even more beautiful. His eyes licked up every detail as he drove past a familiar building. No matter how many times he saw it, he couldn't get over how mesmerizing it looked. “That's weird, I've never seen that before,” Hector said to himself. The familiar surroundings slowly bled into places he hadn't seen. Hector scampered through the backseat and peeped through the other window, he was right, they had entered a place he didn't know. “Where are we going?” Hector asked the driver he had employed a few days ago. The driver remained silent. “I'm talking to you,” Hector leaned forward and tapped the driver's shoulder. The driver slammed on the brakes and Hector's face smashed into the leather seats. The backdoor suddenly opened and a group of four men — two on each side of the door — squished Hector in. A grunt of agony filled the car as Hector's elbow connected with one of their faces. The others held him down and landed blows to h
A chance to play God: The Devil's way Chapter 9: A dreaded dinner
Hector had grown to like the burning feeling of whiskey as it slid down his throat. He enjoyed it. On some days when he was feeling more brazen, he took shots of Vodka. But tonight? He wanted to be alert so he was currently cradling a glass of Coke and rum. He was at the bar again, waiting for Mrs Georgina. He flicked his wrist and stared at his new golden wristwatch: 8:46pm — she was forty-six minutes late. He took the last sip of his drink, paid the barman and turned to leave. A hand caressed his chest. “Impatient, are we?” Georgina whispered in his ears. From this distance, Hector could scent the heavy perfume she wore. “Well, I'm not used to being stood up,” Hector replied as he sat down. His eyes scurried around the bar: it was almost empty save for the lonely man who had been drinking since he got here and the arguing couple a few feet from him. “Sulking isn't a good look on you,” Georgina snapped her fingers at the barman who brought a bottle glazed with matte black. “I h
A chance to play God: The Devil's way Chapter 10: Revelation
An awkward drive later, Hector led Georgina into his vast home. “What did you say you do again?” Georgina asked. She was curious. Someone like Hector would have come across her radar once or twice considering the amount of money he had. “Look who's asking personal questions,” Hector smiled as he wrapped his hands around her waist. The more he touched Georgina, the more he felt Christen was frowning down at him. He was dishonoring her memory. “Do you live alone?” Georgina wrapped her manicured nails around his waist. "Yes, the life of a bachelor,” Hector smiled. Tonight was perfect. He was sure Cassie wasn't coming to the house tonight because she was out of the country for a meeting. “Must be very lonely,” she leaned in. She looked at his lips. “Yea,” he drawled. Hector's stomach burned and he felt his tongue go sour when Georgina pressed her lips against his. He closed his eyes and tried hard to think about anything else than how awful she tasted like what she had been drinki
A chance to play God: The Devil's way Chapter 1: Bloody welcome
He was going home.He couldn’t believe it. He stared up at the beautiful night sky, whose darkness was tinged in a beautiful pattern by the grey clouds that lingered on in the sky. He held his heavy glass of beer, sat on the stairs and just smiled to himself as he thought about his wife and daughter. He caressed his locket, images of his beautiful wife and daughter flashing in his mind. The last time he had seen his baby girl was five years ago, just before he received a letter from his commander, summoning him to the military base. It was a special mission that had dragged him away from his wife, one that was only supposed to last a year in a foreign country but had run through five years due to the complications from the terrorists.No, he couldn’t remember it just like it was yesterday because it wasn’t. He had written countless letters to his wife every day for his first year because he didn’t know which year he was going to die. Luckily, he had left her with the password to a
A chance to play God: The Devil's way Chapter 2: A bloody end
Hector had seen blood before, he had seen it a lot during the war. But none had hurt him as badly as this. He stood rooted to his spot, goosebumps littering his forearms. He pressed the telephone tightly against his face, his heart racing with anxiety. If he gripped it any tighter, it would snap in two.The desperation in his wife's voice had opened a door he thought would never exist again after the war — trauma. Hector listened to the static noise over the line, praying to hear her voice again. His glazed eyes fell into the pool of blood for the second time and his heart stopped. Whose blood was it?A distorted voice, clearly enhanced, filled his ears through the phone."I'll only say this once. Fifty million dollars. 10 hours, that's all you have before we kill your wife and daughter. The blood in that room, it's a reminder of what you will see—""Where are they?" Hector's voice was still, a deep rumble to mask the fear coursing through his veins."—10 hours, we will call you when
Latest Chapter
Chapter 10: Revelation
An awkward drive later, Hector led Georgina into his vast home. “What did you say you do again?” Georgina asked. She was curious. Someone like Hector would have come across her radar once or twice considering the amount of money he had. “Look who's asking personal questions,” Hector smiled as he wrapped his hands around her waist. The more he touched Georgina, the more he felt Christen was frowning down at him. He was dishonoring her memory. “Do you live alone?” Georgina wrapped her manicured nails around his waist. "Yes, the life of a bachelor,” Hector smiled. Tonight was perfect. He was sure Cassie wasn't coming to the house tonight because she was out of the country for a meeting. “Must be very lonely,” she leaned in. She looked at his lips. “Yea,” he drawled. Hector's stomach burned and he felt his tongue go sour when Georgina pressed her lips against his. He closed his eyes and tried hard to think about anything else than how awful she tasted like what she had been drinki
Chapter 9: A dreaded dinner
Hector had grown to like the burning feeling of whiskey as it slid down his throat. He enjoyed it. On some days when he was feeling more brazen, he took shots of Vodka. But tonight? He wanted to be alert so he was currently cradling a glass of Coke and rum. He was at the bar again, waiting for Mrs Georgina. He flicked his wrist and stared at his new golden wristwatch: 8:46pm — she was forty-six minutes late. He took the last sip of his drink, paid the barman and turned to leave. A hand caressed his chest. “Impatient, are we?” Georgina whispered in his ears. From this distance, Hector could scent the heavy perfume she wore. “Well, I'm not used to being stood up,” Hector replied as he sat down. His eyes scurried around the bar: it was almost empty save for the lonely man who had been drinking since he got here and the arguing couple a few feet from him. “Sulking isn't a good look on you,” Georgina snapped her fingers at the barman who brought a bottle glazed with matte black. “I h
Chapter 8: A statement against the Devils
The streets looked less busy tonight and it looked even more beautiful. His eyes licked up every detail as he drove past a familiar building. No matter how many times he saw it, he couldn't get over how mesmerizing it looked. “That's weird, I've never seen that before,” Hector said to himself. The familiar surroundings slowly bled into places he hadn't seen. Hector scampered through the backseat and peeped through the other window, he was right, they had entered a place he didn't know. “Where are we going?” Hector asked the driver he had employed a few days ago. The driver remained silent. “I'm talking to you,” Hector leaned forward and tapped the driver's shoulder. The driver slammed on the brakes and Hector's face smashed into the leather seats. The backdoor suddenly opened and a group of four men — two on each side of the door — squished Hector in. A grunt of agony filled the car as Hector's elbow connected with one of their faces. The others held him down and landed blows to h
Chapter 7: Evil plan against the Devils
He watched the way her slender hips swayed each time she swung her golf club. He noticed that it was a bit too short for her and concluded that she wouldn't be able to get any ball in the hole. After five minutes of watching her, she didn't prove him wrong. The file on her husband had informed him that she was in her early fifties, but she didn't look a day over 29 years. The skirt hugged her taut frame perfectly and each swing caused her skirt to move dangerously revealing more than enough to entice interested men. Every time she managed to hit the golf ball squarely, she would bounce excitedly and her chest would wobble. But Hector wasn't one of those men who was interested in seeing what was underneath the branded clothes, he had a purpose. He grimaced as she bent again to take a swing. It would be miss after miss, he was sure of that. He smiled at the barman who looked more interested in watching her. He pulled out a few notes from his new wallet and shoved them into his whi
Chapter 6: A ghost's threat
Hector lowered the gun and put his hands up to show that he wasn't a threat. "Who are you and what the hell are you doing in my father's house??" Cassie demanded. "I'm a friend of your father, Cassie," Hector said. "How do you know my name?" Cassie questioned. "Like I said, I'm a friend of your father's," Hector stuck to his defense. "He's dead, you're a little too late for a reunion," Cassie responded. She was truly Henry's daughter, she had his smart mouth and wicked sense of humor. "I'll explain everything to you in the morning, you need to get some rest," Hector glanced at her once more before he attempted to walk out. "Don't tell me what I need!" Cassie whipped her hair at him and walked out first. *** Hector had fallen asleep somewhere between 4 am and 4:30 am. He was not ready to attend to the chiming doorbell at 7:30 am. He groaned into the pillow and tried to smother himself. "It's Josh. Wake up," Henry called from the corner of the room. Hector groaned again befor
Chapter 5: A life changing plan
"Where is this place?" Hector asked as he moved toward the large window. The room was larger than an average-sized room, it could fit about five king-sized beds and there would be space left for twenty people to march around. "It is…was my house," the strange man said. "It's beautiful," Hector took in the sight as he stood by the window. He was staring at the nightlife wherever he was. The city seemed to never sleep, various buildings had their lights on. It made the scenery look like a vast sky with small flashy stars. "Yeah, I could stare at that window all night," the man sighed, dismayed. Hector looked at his faint reflection at the window, he couldn't see the strange man's reflection. "I don't even know what your name is," Hector continued to stare at the window even though he couldn't see him. "Henry Alvarez," the strange man, now Henry, said. "¿Como estas?" Hector said. Henry snorted. "Not everyone named Alvarez speaks Spanish, you bigot." Hector chuckled and looked a
Chapter 4: A chance at something more than revenge
Hector gasped awake in fear and sprang out of the bed on command. He had some terrible dreams. In his dream, his wife and daughter were dead and he had seen some strange figure. He pressed his chest as he continued to gulp in the air. Hector couldn't see a thing, it was dark, but Hector knew it was always dark when he woke up in the bunker where the soldiers slept. He expected Aaron to smack the back of his head to wake him up, but the hit never came. The lights flickered on and Hector shielded his eyes from the bright light. He fluttered his eyelids severally to get used to the light. This wasn't the bunker. The bunker didn't have gold plated walls and a king-sized bed with a large curved TV mounted to the wall. "It wasn't a dream, Hector," Hector turned quickly while shoving his hand behind his pants to grab his gun, but nothing was there. He stared at the figure, it was the strange man he had dreamed about. Suddenly, the reality of everything crashed on him. He hadn't been dre
Chapter 3: What danger unveils
Hector swirled the brown liquid in his small glass cup. He stared at the content with hazy eyes and watched as a trail of water slid down the small glass and hit the table.The image of his wife and child submerged in their pool of blood with their throats gaping flashed through his mind. Hector winced and shook his head. He downed the liquid in a quick flash and slammed the glass on the mahogany counter."Another," he hiccuped to the barman. Against his better judgment, he poured another round. Hector downed it again and relished in the burning sensation as it slid down his throat. He needed something to distract him. He needed something physical to hurt him."Another," Hector called out weakly fully intoxicated. Hector didn't want to feel anymore, he didn't want that heaviness and sadness that hovered over him after he had found their bodies. Hector wished he had died during one of the missions, that way, he would be saved from such sadness. "Hey, Jack, that's enough now, you can't
Chapter 2: A bloody end
Hector had seen blood before, he had seen it a lot during the war. But none had hurt him as badly as this. He stood rooted to his spot, goosebumps littering his forearms. He pressed the telephone tightly against his face, his heart racing with anxiety. If he gripped it any tighter, it would snap in two.The desperation in his wife's voice had opened a door he thought would never exist again after the war — trauma. Hector listened to the static noise over the line, praying to hear her voice again. His glazed eyes fell into the pool of blood for the second time and his heart stopped. Whose blood was it?A distorted voice, clearly enhanced, filled his ears through the phone."I'll only say this once. Fifty million dollars. 10 hours, that's all you have before we kill your wife and daughter. The blood in that room, it's a reminder of what you will see—""Where are they?" Hector's voice was still, a deep rumble to mask the fear coursing through his veins."—10 hours, we will call you when
