Once Upon A Time... In The Underworld

Chapter 2: The First Tragedy

"There is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evildoing" -

Ecclesiastes 7:15:

Back to the past, After he finished his speech he knew this would make his people aware that those who appear to look like sheeps are just wolves wearing the wool of the harmless.

This revelation even though it was enlightening, not everyone was benefitted by it. The Italian Mafia, The Chinese Syndicate and The Berdych Gang were in a position which can potentially compromise their advantage if their insiders in the government are exposed it can lead to the capture of many organised crime members. The Bosses of each syndicate decided that this journalist had to be taken care of. Which even the Journalist knew would happen. He has began a game of tag with Death Himself.

He was not afraid of losing his family, even though he deeply loved his child and wife. He was afraid if he could not deliver the vow which he made to himself that he will not die without bringing the truth to the light about how Prague has her reigns in the hand of the unrighteous and the cruel.

The brave journalist after finishing his work in the event hastily heads down to the underground metro station and heads out through a different exit to reach his car and made sure he was not followed. He makes his way to his silver sedan and he drives to his work den that not many people know about. As drove into the neighborhood, he saw his neighbor looking at him. He was looking different... It was not the usual warm expression he was used to but this time his face was vacant and lacked a sense of familiarity. The journalist drives by him and sees in the rearview mirror that he is taking out his phone and calling someone. He knew something was not right.

He parks his car in the garage of his den. While he was unlocking his den's door, he sensed something was off. A black van with its lights off, opposite to his den. Just barely even 200 metres away which appeared to be empty if you didn't pay attention. But he knew it was occupied as the cigarette light smoked by its occupants gave it away.

Adrenaline was rushing through his veins and he rushed inside, closing the door with a thunderous slam and puts all the locks which he previously installed to his door in case of a threat. He runs to his desk and grabs his CZ 52 pistol and takes cover behind his desk, he hears a muffled sound of a machine outside the door. It was the sound of drilling.

His ears perched and even before he could react, the handheld drill cuts open the door bolt and 4 men clad in black overalls bursts open his door and rushes towards his study. He prepares to shoot as they draw closer to him but as he pulls the trigger he realises the bullet has jammed his gun and was not able to fire. He desperately tried to pull the trigger again and again multiple times out of frustration. They grab him. No matter how hard he tried to resist. He failed.

The men carried the now subdued man to his storeroom and kneels him down.

One of the men approaches him and stands besides him,

"You made a mistake by rising your head against us. You could have lived you little insignificant life with your family but you decided to be a fool... Your family too shall suffer the same fate... "

The man who was on his knees looks at his foe. There was no fear in his eyes but the fire that burns in him. The spirit of patriotism within him. He spits on the face of his foe and smiles at him defiant.

The man in black. He was dumbfounded by what the man did. He looks at the brave man thinking "How can one be so defiant when everything he has ever cared for was in harm's way." The man respected him.

Without hesitation, he takes out his pistol, aiming at the man's temple at point blank.

A loud shot was heard which could be heard even a few blocks away. After that was the silence which followed. The patriot laid on the floor as it was painted crimson.

The man behind the dead man and the killer, shot everything in his camcorder. The killer approaches the camcorder and says "This is a warning to all those who wishes to be brave. This shall be your Fate. "

The masked assailant takes out a Jerry can filled with Gasoline which his crew previously kept it nearby the study room, brings it to the spot where the man was shot dead. He opens the lid and tosses it away before he douses the body in gasoline as the camcorder witnesses every painful and cruel details of the heinous act done by the killer. He orders his henchmen to do the same by taking the remaining gasoline cans from the van and dousing the entire place with it.

It went on for fifteen minutes before the assailant went in front of the camcorder as it was recording and took out a silver military lighter that opened with an ironically pleasant sound in an atmosphere of violence and gloom. The flame which came out greeted the air around it with a gentle sway before the man took a few steps back and tossed the lighter onto the gasoline trails near the body.

The killers rushed out of the den and entered their van before they watched the den slowly be engulfed by the flame. Every file, every research article, potential publishing materials and evidence. All burnt. which took months of pain, toil and expectations was annihilated in mere minutes by the very people who would have been harmed by it. The plans of the journalist to take his findings to the Federal Government to bring these corrupt officials to the eyes of Law and Justice was foiled by the very people who thought he could defeat.

The corpse of the Journalist. His skin, flesh and blood. Melted into the hardwood floor along with his work of his lifetime which would have potentially brought a more quiet and peaceful time to Prague. Bringing her to her former glory. Alas, that day never came.

He was not able to fulfill his vow. But the camcorder inside a black box rests besides the remaining of his corpse. The only thing which was not harmed. To serve as a reminder to never cross the line.