The Dragon

Clicking on the keys sounded with an echo in the dimly lit shell of a room. A twin bed, with slept in sheets and thin pillow filled one wall. A book shelf and desk filled the other side of the room. The rest was bare, not lived in. This room as a whole, barely lived in, almost deserted. Rain fell down in large droplets outside, banging against the windows in a fury. The glass creates a fog, as his hands glide across the keys as a pianist does a finely tuned piano. He looks up and in a daze walks over to the window wiping away the condensation with a torn bloody sleeve. Walking back he sits at the desk and sighs before typing again.

Heavy footsteps sound outside the door. The typing stops, the man waits and listens. Outside the worn and old door, a gun clocks. Springing into action he races to the bed ripping the mattress off in a frenzy, pulling out a duffle bag and envelope in one hand and a gun in the other. Racing to the window, breaking the latch in a hurried manor, he steps onto the ledge taking a deep breath as he braces himself and jumps. The gun shot sounds and the door knob shatters. Kicking the door open two men in black suits rush in and scan the room. Nothing and no one. The ripped apart bed, an open laptop, and a broken window are the only evidence that anyone had been here recently.

Walking towards the glow of the laptop, they read what was left for them.

"Hanover St. 112. Red Mailbox, House on the corner. Meet @10pm. I Know Everything And I Won't Be Silenced."

Rushing towards the window looking down, they saw him limping away at a brisk pace. Tearing off out of the room and down the stairs of the building after him, they hurried. This could never be exposed, not this far into it. Speeding to the car, they hopped in and were off in a flash after him.

His heart raced, beat as fast as a lion's in the middle of a hunt, only in this case he was the gazelle and they were the lions. Worried thoughts filled his mind about this mission, what if he was late? What if he didn't make it there first? What if this ended in failure? It didn't matter he told himself, there were no other options. He had to get there first, he had to end this. There was no turning back at this point.

Weaving in and out of consciousness he ran as fast as his body could carry him through the bustling streets and patches of wooded areas. Suddenly her voice sounded in his head "Zeke! Zeke! Focus now, it's time. We wait no more. Things must be handled properly this time. No mistakes, no second chances, no other way."

Struggling he staggers to the gate, pushing it open with a loud resounding creak as the rusted bars give way under his weight. Falling to his knees he drags himself up the driveway, across the ground, and up the stairs to the open doorway of the darkened house. There she waits for him.

"Is it done?"

"Yes, they shall be arriving within moments most likely."

"Very well, go clean up. We can't have you bleeding to death right now. Arnold will take you to freshen up quickly. Hurry back."

He nods as the other man stepped out of the shadows and lifted him up to his feet, dragging him up the stairs to freshen up. Heading to the dining table placed strategically in front of the window in order to see when they arrived, no surprises this time. Sit sits and waits, stirring her glass of whiskey as the ice clangs together, an evil smirk spreads across her face.

Their time was now, her time was now. The other men placed themselves in position around the house and sat in complete silence guns at the ready. There they were laying in wait. Headlights slowly approached, two hushed voices sounded out, whispers could be heard. Safety on their guns were off and guns were drawn. Pushing open the door slowly they saw nothing, heartrates sped up as they entered and slowly examined what they could from the house.

"Hello Gentlemen, it's about time you got here. I was getting bored doing all this waiting and thinking all by myself."

Whipping around they came face to face with a shadow. This shadow, this voice it plagued their nightmares and lives for the past five years. She was here, this was their chance, their shot at redemption. This was the moment. The Dragon was here.

"Well sit down now boys, it's time we had a little chat don't you think? A little reunion if you will."

TO BE CONTINUED