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2024-10-29 19:42:56“How many minutes left?” Ben questioned, “Just five boss, we’ll be there in five.” answered the diver. Shipment had just docked in Korea, they were down the south coast to pick up the payment.
Reuben seemed tensed and Ben noticed. “ feel something isn’t right, like why the south? We never made payments there.” Reuben retorted, letting his worries get to his head. But Ben thought, why the south, it could be an ambush?Recently, the Koreans have tried to take them out of the market by buying shipment twice more than others and reselling with a different label. Be cautious! A stern warning ringed in his head.Taking caution they corked their mini guns, and stashed right in the middle of the waist and the hips gripped by their trousers. Breath in, breath out, there they were Lin and Wu, the Tang brothers of the Tang dynasty. They were their buyers from the beginning and invested a fortune in this business.“There, five million in cash,” handing two black, leather briefcases, “the rest 15 million will be sent as soon as we land in Korea” retorted Wu. But something was off, Li was too glued to the right briefcase, his hand was pocketed like he was holding something.What’s that blinking thing, wait is that a… “Bomb!”, Reuben screamed. Ben immediately threw the briefcase and just then Li pressed the detonator. Boom! An explosion followed throwing everyone close as far as 5 meters from where they were.“Aaaah! Shit this Koreans trying to kill us…Damn!” Reuben screeched. Ben sensed something was off, what in the world! Reuben was bleeding, a stray glass had pierced his chest.Cross fires were exchanged as Ben tried to drag Reuben into the car. “Kill them and burn the car.”, the Tang brothers ordered, as they drove off in a Black, German made Bentley.They were outnumbered, five to one, Ben knew one misstep game over, his six feet under. First was saving his brother, he was bleeding, and a lot. “Where are the keys?” He cursed searching his dead driver, slaughtered by a stray glass through his neck. “Cling! Here they are,” the keys were on the torso of the driver, opening the door Ben pushed the driver out and just then a grenade fell two feet close.“Grenade!” Reuben cried out, out of instinct Ben threw the drivers’ body on the grenade and then, splat! The corpse was sent flying across with it’s insides blown out. Vroom! “Yes!” Ben sighed glad the engine started and foot on the gas and hand on the gear Ben drove for dear life.“Stay down! Reuben, they’re shooting like maniacs.” Ben authoritatively commanded Reuben whose white shirt was soaking with blood. “Shoot them!” Henchmen shouted at each other shooting stray bullets right through Ben’s car. Flee now or die trying, like some psychopath race driver, Ben drove maniacally through the commotion and into the oblique.After around a km, they lost the commotion and chaos. “No! Hold on brother!” Ben cried as he saw his brother fighting for his life, hurry Ben or his dead, this daunted him. Five minutes later, Ben screeched as he drove recklessly into the hospital.Onto a stretcher, a dripper in his arm, the nurses and doctors rushed Reuben to the intensive care unit. And tick tock, the race was on to save his life. “Sorry sir you have to stay out.” The head nurse retorted kindly, Ben who seemed frightened, afraid, will he die?. Why didn’t you listen, he told you, he dies it is all you, you hear, you killed Reuben! This guilt gnawed his consciousness.He broke down in tears, it’s true, his ignorance brought this to him, it’s all Ben. Fingers crossed Ben prayed and just then the doctor came out his gloves soaked in blood. “You are lucky you brought him on time, a minute late he would have been a dead man.” The doctor thanked Ben.Hugging the doctor, kneeling down, Ben broke down in tears of joy, he will make it, he consoled himself. After an hour, his brother was stable, relieved of the daunting guilt, Ben sought for a breather. What better palace than the top, the soothing breeze the beautiful view, it’s all he needed.Up the roof, Ben was letting his thoughts out, smoking his cigarette with gladness. But what was that, was he going to jump? Ben neared and saw a male like figure nearing the edge of the building.“Hey you, what are you doing?” Ben asked as he neared and the man neared the edge. “Hey stop, No don’t do it, hey, no! Don’t ju…
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Head of The Table Not yet dead
Drippers, white walls, a holter machine, a stretcher? Am I in the afterlife? Brian was still unconscious, was the after life hospital like? Whether you are drunk or high, when has the after life resembled a hospital? Even if Jesus never said how the after life was like, how just how? Brian wake up you aren’t dead! It’s true, not an illusion nor a lie, Brian survived.Wait I am not dead? Brian still was in disbelief. How can I survive a fatal fall, how? This was pondering his consciousness. But just think, 40 floor building fall and you are still breathing? Not even science can explain such an incident unless…Brian was lucky, his body didn’t hit the solid ground. Instead it torpedoed right in to the truck that brought in mattresses for the wards. Fortunate you say, but not that much, he tricked death not pain . Brian didn’t land body first on the mattress direct. No he didn’t! The truck was covered by a 10 cm thick aluminum cover.So yes, he had to break through the aluminum befor
Head of The Table The Tang Dynasty
Who in the world is born a billionaire? Well Ben wasn’t infact, before being a wealthy and filthy rich man he is now, he was nothing but a low life peasant being choked by the daily increased budget. He had the idea, he had the strategies but he lacked the core element money, capital. Ben needed money for his dream to be a reality. So wondering where the Tang family came in in this mix-up? Well they were the number 2 richest family in Korea at the time. And were willing to finance any business that brought profit and had less taxation rates. “Drug smuggling? Mhhh! Never invested in such a venture before.” Mr. Tang sounded amazed, he was instantly admired by Ben’s imagination. “And are you certain that you will prosper in this?, because I don’t invest in illusions.” Tang questioned, he maintained eye contact with him. If he fledges he isn’t confident. Ben knew this psychology and straight in Tang’s eyes, he nodded confidently. Mr. Tang admired this quality “Hope we will enjoy this
Head of The Table Second attempt
They had one shot, just one clear but they missed it, now the Tang brothers had to fly blind till they got rid of the problem, Ben! What a piece of work. The bomb didn’t kill him, what possibly can? This question haunted the Tang brothers, but then a phone came in. “Mr. Wu it’s for you…said it’s from the inside.” The servant uttered. He looked please, amidst the bad news Wu actually smiled, is that a grin? Li noticed. What possibly can make Wu smile at this tensed moment? What! Li was still in question.“Give me something good?” Wu said. Good news! Oh no, he had no idea. “I’m sorry, the brother survived, the brother isn’t dead! Blue lake hospital, third floor, ward 4, finish the job before he finishes you.” the deep voice on the other side concluded cutting the line. Talk of good news! What irony.“Down the south coast, blue lake hospital, third floor ward 4, finish the man you find, payment when done.” Wu retorted over the phone. He looked glad somehow. He just sent one henchman
Head of The Table Close call
Ever heard of someone who tricked death? Well, Reuben did, not once but twice this being the second time. It’s now two minutes past and nothing, Reuben just lay there, the hostile monitor was flat, no pulse. One more minute and the doctor declared the patient deceased.How! The doctor was dumb founded, but he wasn’t the only one, the nurses and even Ben were astonished. The hostle monitor recorded a pulse, but unless it’s broken, but it’s new that means…Yes it’s true you may not believe it but the 5 voltage shock did the trick. It boosted the heart pumping system and circulated the magnesium fast enough to neutralize the poison’s effects. The nervous system was gaining stability reversing the effects of the poison. Suddenly, a breath came out, he was alive, Reuben was alive. If Jesus was the only who resurrected, maybe Reuben was the second. But it wasn’t past three minutes for someone to be declared dead, so Reuben tricked death, who knew? Ben was now glad twice, he saw his b
Head of The Table Not a bad idea
Know the meaning of insanity? Well, Ben wants to have an absolute nobody with no skills, no survival tactics, a person who pisses his pants when they hear a gunshot, like Brian to be the temporary Reuben. This is meanwhile the actual Reuben is healing. That idea is the definition of insanity! Literally insanity.This decision was critical, he screws it, the business plunges down to rock bottom. He had to call the committee. “No way that is crazy! Does this dimwit even know how to hold a gun?” Elizabeth asked. She had a point, this abomination of a human being just tried to kill himself, he can’t hold a gun and now Ben wants to make him the king of the chess board? Yes maybe Ben has gone crazy. Everyone had the same thinking, the same thought, they all thought that Ben had some lose screws, literally! The bishops, the advisory council however, were open to here what Ben had to say, because he could not possibly just want to do such an unwise action without a reason. I mean was he l
Head of The Table New life
He couldn’t believe it, was he still in a comma or were the drugs bringing some hallucinations? He who wore sandals as his Sunday best, wore a ragged long sleeved t-shirt as his favorite, and owned a mere 20 dollar fake Rolex watch coated in fake gold as his most prize possession, was now dressed in a 13,000 dollar tuxedo, and a real legit 45,000 dollar Rolex watch coated with ice. Who said you wouldn’t wake up rich overnight! Well Brian did and he savored every second.His 10,000 dollar debt with Gondi you wonder? Well Ben dealt with that, and for keeping him overdue Ben paid double the price, that’s 20,000 dollars!. He had money so why not spend it, he is rich isn’t he? Speaking of spending, Brian’s sister medical bills were not some 2 dollar bills, oh no! They were amounting to nearly 100,000 dollars now. Some medical bill right? But you know Ben, being a spendthrift was his favorite side of his real self, so he cleared all outstanding medical bills due, and heck! Even the doctor
Head of The Table The hunt
Ben knew someone tried to assassinate his brother, and that the man was sent by the Tang brothers. He had to find this man, he was on the hunt for Rio. The word was out, as fast as a wild fire spreads on the dry grass of the African plains, so did the bounty for anyone who had Intel on the most likely suspect to have attempted the assassination.Days later in came a chain of likely suspects, but most were amateurs so it was easy picking them out. Further research analysis and there they were, down to two men, Bruno and Rio… Ben was left in an awkward scenario, on one hand he had Bruno, a hired hitman who did any task for the right price, he respected Ben but money talks. On the other hand was Rio, an also capable hitman who was known to do dirty work for politicians. He was fearful off Ben so it can’t be him unless… His thought was cut short because of a phone call that came in. “They found him, his in a warehouse down the south near blue lake hospital, right next to Billow superm
Head of The Table Smell a mole?
Wu saved his skin but barely, had he not been informed well… Ben would have landed in Korea 3 hours ago instead of Rio. Li on the other hand was excited, he was glad amidst the bad news and recent tensed moments, they pulled a smart move and out smarted Ben. “It calls for celebration!” Li announced and excitement vibes were filled in the mansion. Yes they outsmarted Ben but it came at a cost a dire one, but not to them, but to an important asset in their set piece, their inside informant in Madagascar. The mole amidst Ben’s empire.Ben was hot headed but was fond of keeping a cool head, not to let emotions cloud his judgment. He sensed something was amiss, he picked a scent like a hound there was something odd lurking in the oblique, yes he smelt it, a mole, a snitch! Coincidentally in the Tang mansion, Wu sensed the same, he flickered, the joy and ecstasy faded away, they saved a pawn but their rook was in harm’s way. Wrong move Wu! He messed up and he knew it, big time! Smart move
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Awake
This man who saved him, who made him the man he is from the immature boy he was boy, who made him be the living example of from rags to riches, at this moment he had the guts to brush this away and end his messiah without skipping a beat, without no hesitation, without remorse in his heart. But the countless death toll proved he had no heart, proved that yarn in his head had killed the man and made him the vessel of chaos and pain, the man died ages ago only demons floated inside his shell. Staring at him like his previous victims he increased the weight on his finger, the pressure on the trigger till eventually… “Click!”, is this broken, he wounded scanning the death tool in hand to confirm his suspicions. No bullets, the magazine was empty the echo sounded, but why, he wondered, he was lost by the turn of events like why threaten his sister with an unloaded gun, did he love her? Were they together? All these filled the gaps but still it couldn’t make the full sentence. As he tucked
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Crossfire
“Faster.” He cursed, even with a HeadStart Brian managed to catchup to his men and out pass them, “You good for guns only, your feet are mere Pinocchio sticks.” He rebuked them highlighting the facts in comparison to the mahogany fragile softwood barks he assumed built Pinocchio. But he was right, upper wise, they had bulging muscles, chisel shapes, but down, their legs were low on stamina, speed and toughness, he now understood why women complained about the bed performance of men with mishandled, unmaintained, let loose legs “Pathetic!”, he cursed boosting himself onwards without the excuse of a team behind him. “Wait.” He paused, there was something odd, it took him ten minutes to notice the behavior, they were running in circles, the ten minutes he marked the direction he went and noticed the mushroom he passed moments ago, the dying tree he tripped on, the baby sticker one of his men dropped from his SMG, “Shit!” he cursed his men arriving at the same time he dawned this. “Let’s
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The Barian Ghosts
The ghosts of the Barian ancestry they called the haunted abandoned chapel. Years ago, it was told of the story, carried from mouth to mouth on the man who was chased away from the house of whom they called the Messiah, how evil overpowered good. The month of giving, it was the month priests fattened themselves on the offerings of their congregation, “For charity.”, they preached though it was their bellies fundraised to meet their gluttonous needs. Amongst them was a believer, from his ancestors, the line of grand parents to the first man, he believed that this chapel was the house of the supreme being, “Father!”, he would pray every day, before dawn and hours after dusk he would recite. Barian he was named after his birth right ceremony, his parents were of the tradition and of the foreign religion, rich in spirit and wisdom but their richest was the grassed thatched dome rooftop, their cubical shelter they called home, and like true religionists they were satisfied. Barian like hi
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Secrets unveiled
“Not much time… this condition may be permanent I’m afraid.”, the doctor dropped the disheartening news, “he may live with it but it will grow at a slow rate so maybe till his eighties will it be the size of a tumor.”, he concluded tying the note on his death receipt. His immature stupid decisions brought this condition, this unexplainable criticality, he recalled his struggles blinded by the love for his sister that he paid no attention to his own. In his initial hell life, when his sister was admitted amidst his scuffles and struggles for money, he attempted to rob the grocery saleswoman down the alley. He had planned everything knowing his sister’s bill was due the next day, he was aware of his victim’s behaviors, “First the fruits… then the wooden boards…” his scanning paused, “…Yes then the money.”, he gladdened his self, locked on the purse, its insides were unknown but it clinked with each swing. Starting his speed from far, he burst his left hand stretched as he neared his v
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Blood is Thicker
“Who am I fighting for?” he questioned angrily, his brutal side took over, his left both hands roughly clutched on her bloodied white shirt, “I said who do I fight for!” he screeched this time colluding her with the wall, her spine was at its limit, her body enough of the brutality. As she gathered the last of her energy to answer the simple question, her last question, she recalled the ordeal, how her so called husband assaulted her beyond humane reasoning. “How will I tell him?” she tensed, after she gathered herself from her drowning self she called a cab, boarded, paid and with no instructions she told the driver, “Drive.”, in a light weak voice. “He will know eventually better I tell him myself.”, she reasoned, still healing on the sudden blunder she just did her thoughts were in a whirlpool of confusion, “But will he understand? I’m his wife he will have to.” She consoled herself again, “I’m more valuable than her sister.” She bragged amidst the torment, this courage braved her
- Head of The Table
Madman
“When will you be back?” she asked half conscious, “Soon.” He answered hesitantly, how could he answer something not even he knew the answer, a year, a decade, a day, he had no clue, al he knew was the only way out was through that door and once he was out, he was closing the one behind him till… well till forever he guessed. Forever was limited though, after a month or so she was released from hospital and like all alone women out there with tycoon brothers she was moved in the remote west of the island where few people lived the conditions unlike the rest of the island were dry, hot and desert like in some seasons. There with a built home courtesy of her brother, she began small growth development, visiting the upper region more warm than hot she ventured in the weaving sector, then gaining the skills the salon department within her lifespan of her youth she had enough skill to make her self-employed, an employed or an entrepreneur, she just had to choose. Ben and Brian took care o
- Head of The Table
Hostage care
He glared on the vast blue calm waters, the soft winds and gentle sun touches erased the reality, the previous night front seat row witnessing death juggle them like pins in a circus show. It was hectic, terrifying and self-enlightening, Brian became open that nature was the only thing he couldn’t control, at least the only thing he figured. After their escape from their death givers a near month at sea they were approaching the island’s shore, after conquering and wiping Ben’s power like it never existed, they docked welcomed by their remaining mercenaries who survived in one piece though some in crutches, walking sticks and wheelchairs. “Welcome home.”, he greeted, the second in command who was now first since his superior was blown courtesy of Mist’s giveaway gift. “Call this my home and I will end you.”, he hissed slapping the gestured hand cursing as he slithered by, followed by his remaining crew, the captain, and the disrespected mercenary left to feel the deep thorn of lookin
- Head of The Table
On Top Again
For his brother and himself he had to do it, he didn’t want to but did he have a choice? No, he didn’t, he wished it would have never come to this point. To the shackles again and this time heavier ones, tighter ones, this time maybe death can save them or relieve them at least. Like the game he normally played he stared at death again, it smiled at him, they smiled back because Ben knew how to pull the wire just at the right moment, and once again death failed to get him, a whisker close but not close enough for the death cheater. Mili seconds before Lee fired Ben clicked his detonator and just then the tables turned for the third time, and probably the last time. Underneath the doom weapons went off, the unlucky men at the top were the unfavored by the look. One detonated between two, the force blew their face clean off to atom pieces only their neck downwards was intact, another close to an unsuspecting culprit behind his back blowing half his back off melting it from his upper back
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One Sided Loyalty
He cried for the third time, and history proved he rarely did. The body count was off the charts, first Ben’s committee ghosted a whole docking security guard, Eliz returned the favor but hers was more straight to the point. However, this time Ben’s tears weren’t of what happened but what was to come, what he knew if happened he will be dead both emotionally and physically. So let the wheel turn back, some playback on the betrayal saga, the fleeing, the death scenes, all of it. Ben disclosed to the knights, Mila broke down in the inside, Risa glare towards the fire summoned the deepest locked emotional valve he caved deep within, and there both the two brothers a tear flowed one on the right for one and another on the right for the other. But they were in the middle of a war, a war that will take more of their lives if they had a grieving season, they had to man up, soldier on, “Yes they died,” but grieving was the one thing the befallen bishops would want them not to do. With the ig
