“Good job everyone,” Haze high fived his team in his Nameless costume, “I’ll treat you all to something special this Friday.”
“But, boss!” Alfie whined to him, “Why can’t we do that now?”“I have some business, unlike a lazy bum like you.” Haze told them, “Besides, you have to work on your stealth first before the official Player League’s invitation comes to us.”“You think they’d let us in? It’s pretty big, you know?”“After our stellar performance? Oh, they couldn’t place us like a typical new team and ignore us for long.” Then, Haze looked at Melody, the daughter of the Head of the Immigration Service they made a deal with, “Did your father give you a hard time lately?”Melody frowned, but shook his head, “Strangely no, sir. You must have said very good words for me to my father? I hope the deal is worth it.”“Oh, you wouldn’t know.”After that, Haze and Maxine left the headquarters. Only then that they realize‘Ring!’ Haze looked at his phone, seeing the reminder that he had set for today. He had to get ready for a very important first meeting today. Soon, a grin bloomed on his face, replacing the frown and scowl from earlier. After all, today was the day he faced his past mistakes again. Located in a quite fancy restaurant in the middle of the city, Haze hoped that he wouldn’t meet anyone who knew Cassius before. It’d be troublesome if he did, considering he was on his own now. As much as he hated to admit, having an assistant was useful in a time like this. But, he wasn’t exactly in full authority to get one himself from the many employees Leonard had. Besides, if it were up to him, they would meet in a place less dense. Alas, even after a month of living in this city, he still wasn’t that familiar with the public places. About two o’clock, he arrived at the mentioned restaurant. It had outdoor space, and it turned out, Kain Randall had
Unfortunately, there was one thing she ever regretted in her life. She couldn’t do anything to prevent Cassius’s death. If only she knew that he was poisoned, she might have done everything she could to get the antidote. Though, she knew the antidote didn’t exist. Still, the least she could do was stay by his side. But no. No, Elaine just has to be mad at Cassius for some menial things – she couldn’t even remember now. She was away, being angry at him that she even took some days off and refused his attempt to contact her. Tears welled up in her eyes at the memory. If there was a time machine, Elaine would do anything as long as she stayed by Cassius’s side. Even if it was in his last breath. The opposite happened. There was no denying that as Cassius’s assistant – and more, hopefully – Eliane was doing such a poor job. She didn’t even know he was poisoned, let alone staying by his side as he was dying.
It was almost nine when Jonathan finally emerged back into the dining slash meeting room. There was a renewed strength in the way he walked and held himself, as if the bald assistant gave him a shot of adrenaline that made him forget the illness and fatigue.Although, Haze knew it wasn’t the case.“Now, let’s talk about what you all want.” Jonathan smiled as he sat at the head of the table, resuming his almighty authority in this magnificent house.Several ears perked up hearing about the honest statement. Shamelessly, some of them even smiled with a smug face, already imagining the trillion inheritance that would fall on their open arms. Modestly, a few of them managed to hide the obliviousness of their greed.Like always, Leonard didn’t let that remark bother his impassive expression. He made sure to stay calm, composed at the face of his earthly desire slowly heading his way. He had faith that Cassius wouldn’t disapp
“What’s that about?” Valentine was the one to break the silence in the meeting room.No one didn’t dare to ask aloud like her, seeing as she was Jonathan’s favourite daughter, and yet, she was nothing in his eyes also. Let alone the others.However, instead of being cryptic, Jonathan looked at Leonard and dared him with a question. “Don’t you have anything to say?”Another silence in the room, but then Leonard tapped his fingers on the table and answered, “That is the poison that Samuel used.”“Are we talking about beauty or an anti-aging potion here?”“No.”Valentine furrowed her brow, “Then? What does Samuel use that poison for? Killing someone?”Again, Leonard went silent.In turn, it was Charles who chuckled with amusement in his eyes. “Don’t tell me that pussy brother of ours really went for it?”When Le
Thud!The sharp end of the blade went through the meeting table, barely leaving three inches distance from Leonard’s face. It was enough for him to see and imagine how it’d be if Haze was not as benevolent.“I can never forgive you for what you did to me all those years ago, nor for what you put Cassius through in my absence.” Haze told his father, undignified under his mercy. “But I can never see your face again. Not even hearing your name. So why don’t you rot in prison for me, hmm?”And then, as if on cue, the door to the meeting room once again opened. Four people in uniform and one in a trench coat appeared.“Mr. Leonard Blackwood,” the leader of the bunch showed his police ID, “You are under investigation for child abuse, domestic violence, and murder cases. Can you come with us to the station for a statement?”Haze let go of the sword, but didn’t step back from Leonard&r
Haze Wilburn. That name was written on the white tag hanging by his neck. He took it off and tucked it into the pocket of his pants. Looking into the rearview mirror, he made sure to appear neat after ten hours of long, arduous work in the office. At the end of the week, the game he worked on was finally ready to meet its potential investor. "Ready to meet the money bag now?" Haze turned to face a man in a pink dress shirt donning a light blue suit jacket. "You sound like I'm about to volunteer as a tribute from district twelve." "Maybe you are? I can see you holding a rusty sword against a gatling gun because you're too slow to move." "Shut it, Derek. I don't want to mess this up now, when the company is only one signature away from receiving a one million dollar investment." Derek Phillips nodded and put on a serious face. "Good to know you're such a responsible adult, because my company's future depends on your new game. If we screw this up, I'll be forced to announce bankrupt
The stranger who had his face coughed blood. Dying right in Haze's arms. He frantically tried to help. He wanted to call the emergency number, but his phone's battery was dead. What an inconvenient thing to happen. "Hey, can you breathe?" he asked, knowing nothing of the stranger's condition. "I'll get you to the hospital." It was the only thing he could do. Haze half dragged the stranger into the car he came in. The key was still in there. In fact, the car engine was still on. After maneuvering the stranger's deadweighted body into the back seat, Haze rushed to drive to the hospital. Turning his attention between the road and the dying stranger, Haze asked his name. But, the stranger gave no sound. He tried again, harder this time, still receiving no reaction except for him to slump down from the seat. Haze cursed and stepped on the gas pedal. He didn't know what to do if the stranger died on the way. What would he say to everyone, then? "Hey, please don't die on me," he quickl
The white and green colours of an unfamiliar place came first, before a tang of antiseptic smell hit his nose. Haze woke up in a hospital room, feeling weak and very out of place. The room itself was wider than his studio apartment, definitely better with that wide TV screen and nice air conditioning. The window's curtains were opened, giving him a good view of several high buildings in the city. "Mr. Blackwood, how are you feeling?" A nurse called from the doorway, holding a clipboard in her hand. Haze was so out of it that he didn't hear her open the door. He tried to tell her that his surname was Wilburn, not Blackwood, but he only managed to croak like a toad and coughed heavily. "Take it easy, sir," the nurse rushed to his side, checking his vitals. She took a glass of water from the bedside table, "Do you want some water?" Haze nodded, and the nurse helped him. He drank half a glass, then asked, "What day is it?" "It's Friday, sir." "So, I was out for a day." "More like a