The air hummed with tension as Archer and Master Woods sat in the back seat of his jeep, the hum of the engine a stark contrast to weight of Archer’s thoughts.He had insisted on driving but almost every guard of the temple worked for Master Woods.Archer was not only surprised, but impressed to find that Master Woods had an army of Kenjitsu experts who looked nothing like what they were. His grip on the armrest, his mind racing with worry for Tangie.They had been on the road all day, blurring through the streets at the highest speed legal.Sunset became dusk and now they were slicing through the night.Master Woods observed him quietly, concerned about him. His denial of the feelings he had for his wife was a sharp contrast to the despair he had in his eyes. “We’re getting close, Archer.” He said quietly, his voice breaking the deafening silence in the air.Archer nodded, but his jaw remained clenched and his grip tightened on the armrest. Afraid that if he said anything, the turm
Celestine pushed through the doors of the Drunken Badger, the usual activities of the night going on like nothing was happening in the outside world. Well, technically nothing that concerned them was happening.Celestine had been everywhere in the city in one day in search of Maverick Jr. But it seemed like he had been erased from existence.There was no sign or trace of him anywhere, and he feared that Archer had trusted the wrong person when he let Mercy take him.“Celestine!” The badger called out, his bubbly voice cutting through the loud music. Celestine turned around in search of the familiar voice calling out to him, his gaze landed on the badger and he flinched, unimpressed by his almost unclad body. “What’s going on with you?” Celestine whispered as the badger approached him.“I’m having fun, Celestine. Live a little.” “This doesn’t look like fun to me. This is madness”. Celestine replied, his eyes blazing with disapproval.“Call it whatever you want,” the Badger replied,
As the night thickened, so did the unfolding events. Celestine was sitting on pins at the Drunken Badger, staring at his phone and praying earnestly that Archer did not call him. He was not ready to betray his friend, yet the desperate desire to save his parents gnawed at him. Meanwhile, Master Woods stood amidst the darkness, the glow of distant house lights of flickered on in response to their daring action. Archer joined him after his last shot, his heart racing with anticipation.“Four houses still have their lights off,” he said, his voice low but firm.“We split the troop, take the two on the left, while I take the two on the right.”Archer gripped his gun tighter, his senses alert as he braced himself for the task ahead.Adrenaline pumped through his veins, drowning out fear and uncertainty, leaving him with a fierce determination to find Tangie, no matter the any cost.Without further hesitation, Master Woods and Archer separated. Master Woods led the way towards the darke
Master Woods checked his wrist watch, it was almost day break, he had been pacing the now lighted street waiting for Archer. "Five more minutes and I'm going in there," Marcellus said for the umpteenth time, but Master Woods insisted they waited for a sign before barging in."We can't keep waiting, what if they're heavily armed? I'm worried, I am so worried."Master Woods sighed softly, turning to face the antsy Marcellus, "All you younger generation want to do is make your presence known. There's a certain power that comes with not being seen." "I don't care, old man," Marcellus fumed, "President Williams is a good man, I don't want him to get hurt. He's been betrayed by a lot of people and I wouldnt be surprised if you're one of them. We've been standing out here for over forty minutes. I'll only wait five more minutes and I'm going in there whether you approve of it or not."Although Master Woods was confident that Archer would make it out alive, he was more concerned about his
"I don't think the Press will call it self-defense when I release it... It will just be murder. Besides, in this video, it doesn't show that he was going ro harm you. But thank you, thanks for getting rid of the old man, he was such a pain in the ass." Luke chimed, his voice dripping with amusement."Is this funny to you?" Archer queried, disappointed by his behavior. "Someone else's suffering is pleasurable to you?" "Pretentious bastard! Worry about yourself. Your friend's sister lays on the floor in cold blood, but you are more concerned about my laughter... I told her but she wouldn't listen. I told her you rich folks don't care if she died or lived.""So you admit to killing her," Archer seethed, his eyes blazing with anger."No, no... You're wrong, you're always wrong you incompetent fool. I didn't kill her. You can ask your sick wife. Mr Adejobi did that...""What are you saying?! I saw you, I saw you myself, you shot her..." Tangie cried."Well, no one is going to believe you
The faint light of dawn replaced the darkness of the night, Archer slowly approached Master Woods who had been restlessly awaiting his return. As soon as he sighted Archer, Master Woods rushed to his side, examining his features as if he had just reunited with his long-lost son.Tangie watched the unfolding scenario, her brows raised in confusion, silently wondering who he was.Archer observing the confusion on her face, squared his shoulders standing upright.“Master, this is my wife, Tangie. Tangie Sullivan…” “Lord Sullivan’s granddaughter,” Master Woods nodded, “I couldn’t miss the face…”Their short introduction was interrupted by quick footsteps and heavy breathing echoing in the air. Archer turned around to find Mariah cradled in Fred’s arms. “She still has a pulse!” He exclaimed, “It’s very faint but I can feel it.”“Huh?!” Tangie gasped, relief coursing through her instantly. “Hurry, let’s get her to the nearest hospital…”“She might not make it to the hospital,” Fred object
“Are you playing with me, Celestine?” Mr. Stranger roared.In the Drunken Badger, Celestine sat across Mr. Stranger, staring at his phone restlessly. The activities of the night had ended, and the morning sunlight seeped into the room, stirring the ladies of the night awake. As if they were strangers to him, Mr. Stranger drove them away, his gaze hardened with frustration. Celestine could see the lines of his jaw clench against each other. “Get out all of you!” He yelled, sending the ladies scurrying out of the room.What seemed like a really cool aesthetic for all their atrocities was now just a hall with a mess of cigarettes, empty bottles, and ashtray.Playing with him is the last thing he wanted to do, even he was worried that Archer had not called him yet. He thought about calling him but he held back, knowing fully well that Archer was in danger.“Give me your phone,” Mr. Stranger demanded. Without an argument, Celestine handed over his phone, secretly praying Archer was sti
Celestine smiled to himself, indeed Archer was no ordinary man. “You couldn’t break him, I suppose.” He muttered to himself as he walked away.The doors of the Drunken Badger felt like the doors of heaven. As he pushed it open, Celestine stepped into an air of refreshment and relief.Their threats were mediocre, his sister survived. And he didn’t betray his friend. “But Mr. Mathew as Big Dot?” Celestine shrugged, “Why is it always our closest friends?” Making his way towards his parked car, with his mind heavy with thoughts, Celestine felt eyes boring into his back. The hair on his neck stood up in response to the creepy glare. He stopped abruptly, turning around to see who was watching him. Standing there, almost as fair as the sun was the person that brought him to the Drunken Badger in the first place. Celestine’s heart pounded in his chest as he struggled to hold her gaze.“Mercy?” He called out, he fit the description. Fair, very fair- that was all the description Archer gave