Chapter 4: A Lucky Night not to Die Hard

With the speed of lightening, the automated doors were completely shut down as chaos filled the atmosphere. After about 10 minutes of security searching the vicinity for the robber fruitlessly, they came back to report to a restless Mr. Greystone who had just paced to and fro the room about the 20th time. At this point, the alarm had gone off.

“We are very sorry sir but we could not get hold of the criminal,” Snowflake said disappointedly. “Sorry for yourself and your job, you little piece of s**t. I don’t pay you half a million dollars to tell me sorry. You, of all people, should know the importance of the Celestial Reliquary, a crestgem that has been passed down to me by my ancestors.”

Mr. Greystone continued, “Without the heirloom, the Greystones are nothing but history. Now, go find that criminal and bring him to me dead or alive!” he ordered. “Father, I suggest we start by searching that pauper standing there.” Astrid said as he pointed straight at Ryan. “And why should my boyfriend be searched?” Zara hurriedly defended Ryan.

“The door to the Family’s heirloom is strongly shielded with laser protected technology that only father and his offspring, which happens to be us both, can bypass. Even Kevin Mitnick will struggle to hack this one,” Zara reinstated.

“He seems to me like a wretched thief. I mean, the white house he messed up earlier is very close to the room with the heirloom. More so, the alarm went blaring immediately he took a step out of the house. For me, that low budget boyfriend of yours should be the prime suspect” Astrid said confidently. Zara was utterly speechless and Ryan equally dumbfounded. The allegations leveled at him were heavy and made him unsure of his reaction. If he defended himself of the allegation and refused to be searched, that would send a wrong message. Therefore, he concurred to the search.

Snowflake swung into action immediately as he searched Ryan roughly. “What do you have inside the right pocket of your suit?” he asked. “Nothing,” Ryan replied. “Really, Then what is this?” Snowflake asked as he sent a right hook with the force of a truck across the jaw of Ryan who immediately started to bleed and for a second, thought he would pass out. Zara could not help the tears that flowed effortlessly from her eyes. “Please, don’t hurt him. He didn’t do it, I am sure he was set up.” She said softly in an ocean of tears.

“Take her upstairs to her room immediately!” Mr. Greystone ordered. The other security beside snowflake immediately went to pick her up but was met with resistance from Zara. “Leave me you moron! You are going to be dead if your filthy hands touch me.” Zara ran and knelt at the feet of her father. “Father, please spare his life. I promise he would never do this.” Zara begged amidst tears.

Smack! A resounding backhand slap to Zara sent her completely mute and astonished. It was the first time in her 21 years of existence; her father would raise his hand at her. “Take her in immediately!” Mr. Greystone said while avoiding the prying eyes of Zara.

Ryan was still in shock as he wondered how the Celestial Reliquary found its way to his suit. It was then he remembered that after he had cleaned up his vomit in the white house and on his suit, the Chief Chef, Alessio, had offered to help dry up his wet suit. Was he the mastermind of this whole set up? Ryan thought.

The terrifying voice of Mr. Greystone brought him back to reality. “You Meathead” Mr. Greystone exclaimed. “I let you in my house for two hours and this is how you repay my kindness. What then will happen if I leave you with my daughter for life?” He continued as he brought out a gun and cocked it placing it at Ryan’s temple, “You have got about ten seconds to live if you don’t answer my questions”

Ryan was trembling and sweating profusely at this point and did let one out of his anus. He was only 22 and was not ready to die.

“F**k! Did he just shit himself?” Astrid asked disgustedly.

”Who sent you? What do you know about the Celestial Reliquary?” Mr. Greysone enquired as he counted down from ten. “Please, don’t kill me. I know nothing about the Celestial Reliquary. It’s the first time I have heard of such. I am being set up.” Ryan pleaded amidst tears and blood.

“Liar” Mr. Greystone said whilst counting down and immediately, a loud gunshot that shook the house went off the recoil of the pistol.

Ryan slowly opened his eyes as he touched his body to be sure he was still alive and breathing. He thought he had been sent to the netherworld by the father of his lover. There he stood, the father of his lover, staring menacingly at him.

“You are lucky you are still alive because I purposely missed my shot. I will spare your life for the sake of my daughter’s love. However, if anyone hears about this heirloom from you, be sure that you will beg for death and it won’t come because I will tear your flesh bit by bit until I get enough to make a bag that would carry your bones. The unused part of your flesh will then be chopped into tiny pieces and fed to my dogs” Mr. Greystone threatened. “Am I clear enough?”

Ryan knew he meant every word he said and was not bluffing. “Y-e-e-es sir!” Ryan slowly stuttered while nodding his head. “Take him out of my house,” Mr. Greystone ordered. With weak limbs, Ryan was immediately thrown out of the building face first to the floor. He was already tired and exhausted as he had just escaped a near death situation. He had just witnessed scenes he would ordinarily see in movies from the slap and punch he received from Snowflake to the betrayal by the chef, and the gunshot incidence all in one night. This was Hollywood standard reality.

With heavy shoulders and a weak limb, he picked himself up and headed to the bus station. It was already circa 11pm and he could barely see any bus. The streets were empty as it was already late. Ryan could count the number of private cars that passed the bus station. All that bore deep in his mind was how he was going to take revenge for everything that the Greystones’ had done to him.

He initially thought of going to report the incidence to the police station. However, he realized that this was a minor case considering the affluence of Mr. Greystone, who could easily buy immunity and then, kill him.

“Moreover, who would believe a billionaire’s daughter is in love with a fat 333lb ugly asshole like me aside Jake.” Ryan thought.

”Yes! Jake! He has a scooter. He can come pick me up.” Ryan said as he tried to remain positive though he was scared at how serene and lonely the environment was. He initially texted Jake: “Hey Fatso! Let’s put your ugly ass scooter to use. Kindly, come get me at the bus station nearest to the Greystones. Thanks!” However, after waiting for about ten minutes and got no response, he decided to call Jake instead. ”He is probably in bed,” Ryan thought.

Ryan had just finished dialing Jake’s number when a red Mercedes car with black tinted windows pulled over at super speed and screechy tires. Three armed men with covered faces immediately charged towards him.

He immediately turned to abscond but met with a fourth man whose physical features were simpatico to that of Snowflake. “A kidnap? Snowflake, is that you?” Before he could react, a sharp blow to the back of his head with a gun sent searing pain radiating through his skull, and his world exploded into darkness. Ryan immediately lost consciousness and was thrown into the trunk of the car, and zoom, the car sped away into the unknown.

(FLASHBACK ENDS)