Life was easy, hell for most to kids my age it was. School was a jog and the laid back vibe seem to cascade over every city.
I lived in New York Nine, a part of the metropolis that popped up seemingly out of nowhere. I had superb grades and all the money someone could have, except...
I had everything to lose, and to no one's surprise, I did.
"Hey rich boy!"
I sighed and already slid my back pack across the hallway. It landed perfectly in front of my locker, 223. "What's up Park, don't have all day?"
A tall Mexican boy with almost monstrous shoulders sauntered down the hallway at an annoying rate. It was Armando, prick of the century. He had a buzz cut and his tie loosened for an exaggerated effect. It was like he had a cholo-school bully vibe written all over him and if one were to guess just that, they wouldn't be wrong.
"Tongue as ever chico, now what's with Eliana eh?"
I cracked my knuckles and pushed my hands into my pockets. I still had twenty seconds left.
"What, I did my part?"
Armando chuckled and slammed his fist against one of the lockers, "You honestly think you can lie your way out of it, because on god you not walking away clean hermano."
I wanted to laugh but to save face, I nodded, "Yeah like everyone else would."
Armando was close now, so much so you could smell the cheap cologne and a burnt out cigarette. It was almost blasphemy that a kid such as him made it into Nallen Academy, a place for the top ranked academic kids in the nation, or at the very least one of them. Even if he did smell like shit, he was smart. The gold grill, the tattoos, and the accent might of thrown some people off, but no, I knew he was only a few ranks below me when it came to academics.
Touché.
"You fucking bitch I'll rip you a new one!"
I pulled my right hand out and finger gunned him, "Did not you were going gay so soon, Eliana would love that."
Armando seem to flinch from my words. I smiled as I struck a nerve. It was an adopted rule of being a man, don't ever let someone talk about your girl. A door just behind Armando opened, times up, if my calculations were correct than principal Sharp would walk out any minute and tell us to get to class. This was my last day of school anyways, I was having a little fun for my send off. Sadly though, fun was over.
Armando should also have noticed despite his entire face going red, Checkmate dipshit.
My mouth dropped as a male student in the regular green uniform walked out and turned toward us, "Do you guys know where Mr. Sharp is?"
Armando turned and faced the kid, his reputation causing the boy to instantly drop the question and speed walk away. Fuck.
"So you think you lucked out, you may have that crazy memory but I guess you aren't smart enough to know Mr. Sharp is at a training camp."
Shit, I completely screwed up, I knew I should of checked before being an asshole. Always check.
Armando threw a right hook, and a nasty one too, only, my years of karate and boxing did not amount to nothing. Though it may be a cliche, I refused to be bullied.
I simply took a outward step back, the punch dying out as it started, instead a knee was driven into my diaphragm. I coughed and slouched forward from the impact, not much I could do their.
Armando smiled as I stumbled back a few steps. "What's the matter pussy?"
I sighed heavily before taking my left hand out of my pocket. "Oh nothing really, just grateful for the breath of fresh air."
Armando charged me once again but to his misfortune, I also did. I head butted him and proceeded to dislocate both of his wrists simultaneously. It was not my fault he was weak. He screamed in pain and dropped to the floor immediately. Not so tough now eh?
"Try taking the math test now bitch." I flipped him off and grabbed my backpack from the floor. "Bye Armando, thanks for keeping me company this semester."
I smiled as I found myself already on the stairs leading out to the parking lot. My simple red bike already ready to be taken. I placed it close to where my locker was, I knew Armando would try one last time to hurt me.
I hopped on the seat and pushed on the pedals. The wheels started spinning and soon I was racing across asphalt. I glanced back at Nallen Academy, a very beautiful and well known establishment. I would never look back again.
My name was Leland Tombs and my dad was Vice President of the United States, tough luck if you were his son. Elected with President Marlo and was former governor of Texas, my father was one steaming pile of shit.
He was a drunkard, abuser, cheater, and money laundering conman who did everything and anything to get his way. For me, it was not a problem having a dad who rarely came home but for my mom, it was the complete opposite.
"Hey mom I'm home!"
I unlocked the door to my apartment and tossed my backpack against the wall. A white english bull dog quickly trotted up to me with slobber and joy. "Patton stay, no slobber today." The bulldog whined as I closed the door and unzipped my red hoodie. I still was awaiting my mother's reply. With haste I stepped into the living room. Piles and stacks of cardboard boxes littered the living room. So much so that even the television and books shelf were hidden.
I quickly searched the room, my heart calming as I saw my mom passed out on the yellow sofa. She was still so young, only being twenty five while my dad was forty nine. She was wearing the same dress she used to go "out with her friends" and had a trash can next to her. I got the jist of things rather fast and headed to my room. As long as she smiled, I could care less about her late night partying.
My door was already ajar and my bed was cleaned spotless. Damn that woman, she had the time to party and clean my room, a trooper to say the least. I plopped on my bed and threw my phone on the dresser. As I did, something white caught my eye. Just on my desk, a white envelope was placed perfectly in the center.
I made sure to close the door before approaching the envelope. Was it another recommendation from some rich kid school? If it was, I would throw it next to the other fifty, no need for it.
I plopped down on my gaming chair and rolled over to my study desk. What school do we have here eh?
My eyes lit up as I threw the remains of the envelope away and a single slip of paper was situated in my hands. Weighing any options, it could just be a letter from my father. I unraveled it and read it contents.
The note contained a few words, not particularly formal. It read, "Leave by midnight". The message was blunt and if it was by my father, I would gladly ignore it. If that disgrace of a man came home and tried to lay a finger on my mom, things would not be pretty.
"Whatcha doing Lee?"
I crumpled the paper on instinct and turned to see my mom leaning against the door. Her head was poking through, her eyes red from the crying fits she must of had last night. Vodka and wine don't mix well you know.
"Oh, this, just another university letter."
My mom burped and giggled, "Well is this one any different from the last eighty?"
I glanced at the crumbled ball of paper. Leave by Midnight? What possibly could that mean?
"Yeah, a little different..."
Mom awkwardly stayed in my doorway, glancing around my room, "I remember when I was a freshman in high school, actually were I met your father."
I could not help but grin. She was not referring to the prick who changed my mom's last name. No, this man was different. My real dad was a contract killer. At first it seemed way to hard to believe but one time, and one time only, he took me on one of his missions. He taught me how to analyze the situation and when the time to strike was. Kind of sad he taught his son how to kill but it was even sadder mother did not know.
I guess he saw something in me, like I was going to follow in his footsteps. I sighed, whatever he intended, it was all in the past.
"How was dad back then?"
"A lot like you, quiet and calm, yet can snap at you with so much anger." A warming smile washed over her, those blue eyes looking at something beyond my understanding.
"I don't snap out, when have I-"
"Ginna's birthday party when you stabbed a fork in her stepdad's leg for smoking in front of kids." She shrugged, "Say what you want."
She shot me a wink before disappearing, the door shutting shortly after.
I love you mom, thank you for being born.
The paper was thrown in the trash and I looked at my smartphone. It was three o-clock.
The door opened again, my mom peeking around it, "Hey sorry almost forgot to say, Daniel is coming over to see the new place, wants to know if we can manage our money right."
Father is coming eh? Great, another thing I have to deal with. Asshole.
"What time?" I asked while kicking off my shoes.
She tapped her chin, "Around midnight I guess..."
Oh, so it was my father, what an asshole for telling me to leave.
The door shut again and I was alone again. My room was so void of personality, a sinking feeling consumed me every time I was in it.
Oh well, time to take a nap. You can't be a boy genius on two hours of sleep. Well, I was usually was anyways.
I laughed to myself before laying down on my bed. The ceiling's dead grey plaster resembling the color of storm clouds. Is this some sign a storm is coming...
I laughed again before turning over.
I put a mental clock in my head to wake up around eleven. Usually doing so actually worked but there were those few times I wake up a few seconds off.
Sigghhhhhh.
See you soon father, just a note to you if somehow you can hear me.
If you hurt mom, I will hurt you twice as much.
BANG
BOOM
I unhinged my eyes, the grogginess from my nap still at work. I picked my head up slowly. What was that noise?
I surveyed my dull room before sitting up. Funny enough, another envelope was on my desk. Who sent this one I wonder?
Without taking off my school uniform or fixing my hair, I walked over to my desk. I did the same as before and oddly enough, another folded paper was held in between my fingers.
It read, "I warned you". I crumpled it up and threw it at the trash bin, I was not interested.
I checked the clock, eleven forty-five. I guess that was close enough.
BANG.
I jolted as I heard a crash come from the other side of my door. What the hell?
Mom...
I quickly shot out of my chair and sprinted to my door. Before I was able to grasp the handle, I heard chilling words.
"You stupid bitch! Partying all night and ending up on the news! Are you trying to shame me woman!"
I heard the sickening sound of a slap. My eyes narrowed and my heart did not race. I bursted through the door, the living room empty. A few clangs of metal came from the kitchen.
My fists clenched as I saw my mom laying on the floor, her limbs shaking and her hair scuffed around her face.
My Father stood idle above her, his composure calm as he unbuttoned his shirt.
He was a balding man with his brown hair turning white. He also had put on a few pounds the last time I saw him. Even though I was examining his body, all I could think about was how to break it.
"Do not touch her again Daniel, or I will hurt you."
"Hahaha, son I saw a few recommendations letter in the mail box as I walked in. I'm proud you are excelling at your studies per usual."
My features went dark, "Did you hear me old man, or do I need to force you too."
Daniel chuckled and kicked a kitchen knife. The serrated blade slid acorss the tile and hit my bare feet.
"Then force me, force me to understand your rage. Oh wait, if you even laid a finger on me, you would go to jail and your mother would be even more helpless."
My body was frozen, so many possible outcomes playing in my head. There had to be one way to hurt this man. Shaking...
I was shaking, why? I could take down brutes like Armando but this short chubby man felt so much more, so much more powerful.
"Honestly, what kind of shit did you get yourself into Katie. Now I will have reporters flooding me at work, do you understand what burdens you have caused me."
Daniel swiftly kicked my mom in the gut, her hair moving so I could see her face. Blood coursed down her forehead.
No..
No one will hurt my mom, my world, not without punishment. I took a heavy step toward Daniel, rage quaking through my soul. When I was mad, my mind only worked faster. Each finger... I would break each of his fingers first.
"You come closer and I hit her again."
My eyes widened. Why? I knew my mind was miles above this man but at the moment, it was useless.
"Anyways, I already moved my antics in here. Make sure you keep good care of them. You break them and I break you, simple okay Leland."
I nodded.
"Okay then, I'll be on my way."
The stout man smiled as he passed by, his shoulder colliding against mine. You son of a bitch. He turned, his hazel eyes noticing my resentment.
"I will kill you, I will make you pay!"
Daniel smiled a wild grin, "You may be superior to me when it comes to minds but I have years of experience against guys who threaten when there is no way out."
He stepped over to a black Katana mounted on the wall, "Did you know this katana was taken from a enemy in world war two."
It has been handed down generation by generation.
He took the black sheathed blade and tossed it to me. I did not catch it. My eyes focused on his confident grin.
"Take it, its yours now."
I glanced down at the sword. In the second I looked away, Daniel was inches away from my face. "That rage within you, use it to become successful."
"Shut the hell up, get away from me."
He shook his head, "Guess you can't fix a broken record. Here."
He pushed the cold metal of a pistol against my chest. I looked down at the weapon. Why, what was he doing?!
"If you want me gone, then shoot me and kill me. Save your mother and be a hero."
I took the pistol in my hand. Could I actually pull the trigger? Could I actually end life? Even if my words said I could, were they true?
What the hell am I thinking?
I aimed the pistol at his head. So many ideas forming in my head. If I did how would mother react?
I laughed internally, I'm so stupid. I started to let my outstretched hand fall when suddenly, everything went dark. The lights shutting off and the entire apartment being consumed by shade. I still felt the cold pistol in my hand.
BANG
A gunshot? Did I? Wait did I really just do that?! No, no way I did, I never felt the kick back.
The lights flickered back on. My body went cold as I saw my Father's limp body, blood spilling around his shoulders.
"Leland, what ha-"
I dropped the gun and ran, it was all I could muster at the time. Watching my father bleed out was something I did not want to witness.
After jumping down multiple stairs, I was out into the alley way. Red and blue lights flashing in the distance. Already, how was-I-uh...
I could not even formulate thoughts.
"Hey kid, chill for a second."
I swirled around and saw a man perched on the fire escape. He had a spiked mohawk dyed purple and a biker jacket on.
"Wha-a-a"
He started laughing, "Look at you stuttering."
After his laugh died out, he leaped off the ten foot fire escape, landing perfectly on the ground.
"You really don't know how to take a hint, maybe next time make sure you read ominous letters in your room."
Those letters were not from my dad, it was this man, whoever this was.
"Names Spike, I'm here on business."
"What's going on, why is my dad dead?!"
Spike patted me on the back, "I'm a contract killer kid, I saw what was going on and took advantage, nothing crazy."
"How, why him, that's the fucking Vice President?!"
Spike put his hands in his ripped jeans, "A job's a job." The young man shrugged and sauntered down the alleyway. He stopped, "You coming or not?"
What?
"What do you mean?"
"The cops are on their way and no matter what circumstance you try, you will be trialed for the murder of your father."
I was still frozen, my mind still trying to grip the situation I was in. Why did any of this happen to me?
"Listen man, I never wanted you to get tied up in all of this but, there is no way I can repay you unless you come with me."
"Where are you taking me?"
"To where your Father, Navaneil Tombs, went to become a trained killer. I did some research on your family to make sure I got a clean kill. I even watched you take down that bully at school. You have a choice, I won't force you."
I had no where to go, as long as my mother was safe, I could care less were I went. I honestly just needed a place to think...
"Fine."