"Drop your gun first, then we can talk," I say while keeping my gun pointed at him
"Alright, alright," he takes off his jacket and throws it away along with his gun. "... It kind of reminds you of our last meeting doesn't it?" (Jefe)
I think back on it, I guess a similar situation happened back then too.
"It appears so... So what's this request you have?"
"As you're probably already aware there's a lot of people behind me. Would you let them go?"
So was he planning on escaping along with these people and now that his plans have been foiled he's telling me to let these people go?
"I already know that they are the people you're trafficking so I won't ask who they are. My question is, Why? Weren't you escaping with them"
"Well, I wasn't planning on escaping with them it was more like...they aren't involved in what's happening in any way shape or form. Their families are waiting for them so I thought since the end is probably near, I should at least let them escape."
He's saying he wasn't planning on escaping with them too. He probably just said that to try and make me think better of him.
"Wouldn't letting them escape also be cruel? They would wonder endlessly until they got caught."
"Not really, they all know where they are suppose to go. We were just waiting to receive our payment. Even if we want to give back the family members just like that then our business would just plummet. I've had to make some unfortunate decisions in the past and also have kept some of them in order to maintain some image and authority,.But...I guess...I want to stay true to myself in the end."
So he's just accepting that he will get caught no matter what? Also, why would you tell them where to go, wouldn't they escape just like that?... I won't pry too much I guess. Well, I wanted to anyway so I'll just let it pass.
"...I'll let them go."
"Thank you so much!"
"Sure."
"Hey, muchachos, Vayanse y encuentren su family."
(Hey, guys, go and find your family)
"Jefe pero-" (???)
(Jefe, but-)
"No, Vayanse!" (Jefe)
(No, Go)
With those words, they started to leave. The majority of them were happy yet you could feel a small sense of sadness as they knew what would most likely happen to this place. I watched quietly as they said goodbye to Jefe and went down the emergency staircase. After no one was visible Jefe turned around and looked at me.
"Can I come over?"
I'm still a bit wary of him, but he doesn't really pose much of a threat to me right now.
"...Make sure to stay one meter away from me."
"In that case, I'll kindly take that offer."
He approached as gunshots in the background went off one after another. I check and there's still no sign of any police cars for now. He walked past me, making sure to stay out of the one-meter rage, and leaned on to the ledge. He then takes out a cigar, puts it on his mouth and lights it..
"...Looks like this is the end, isn't it?" (Jefe)
I walk onto the ledge and look out like him.
"GIving up rather quickly, don't you think?"
Gunshots can be heard everywhere yet here we were having a casual conversation.
"I can tell that I'm no match for you kid, I've been on this business for a while." He smokes his cigar. "... I never really wanted this to happen but I'm glad that at least it was you who got me."
"What do you mean?"
He
"...I was afraid that it'd be one of the other two organizations. Crimson Night is brutal but Lotus flower is on a whole new another level. Frankly speaking, I was afraid that if either one attacked I'd be doomed to a horrible death."
Lotus Flower is beyond brutal? But I thought Argus said...
"The Lotus Flower?"
"Yes, they do things cleanly and heartlessly. They usually torture people at the top to get information before killing them. They go after their families sometimes. So in a way, this was not the worst that could happen." He smokes more of his cigar
So Lotus Flower is like that? I'm getting more and more confused about this. Argus said that they weren't necessarily bad people... I mean, M. warned me about Argus but this is unexpected too.
"...Why are you telling me all of this?"
He takes another smoke
"... Who knows, perhaps I saw my younger self in you, I'm not really sure myself. I could just tell that was somewhat similar in a way."
If that's the case. Then I want to ask him.
"...Did you regret it?"
"Regret what?"
"Regret doing all the things you did to get to where you are now ever since your friend was killed."
"...Sometimes, I think back on it and regret many of the things I've done. However, even if I had to all of that. I also gained things that I can't describe. I married the woman of my dreams and had two amazing children. I made many friends that I can wholeheartedly trust So, even if this is the end, I will just accept it. At the end of it all, I still found moments of happiness." (Jefe)
We both stay quiet, we can clearly hear the sounds of guns and there are still no signs of the police being here for now. Looks like we still have some time. Well, at least I do, I look over at Jefe. Jefe sees me looking at him.
"What is it?"(Jefe)
"You already know why I infiltrated don't you." (Luis)
He sighs.
"So it's time, isn't it?" He spits out the cigar and faces me.
I point my gun at him.
"Do you have any last requests?" (Luis)
"...Can I have one last conversation with my wife?" (Jefe)
We have about 2-3 minutes before the police arrive. Calling his wife won't do anything at this point and neither will reinforcements.
"Only if you put it on speaker and you only have one minute."
"...I understand."
He takes out his phone and dials, he then puts it on speaker. Gunshots were going off everywhere yet I could still hear the sound of a phone ringing. Rain starts slowly pouring.
"Hello, is that- What do I hear gunshots in the background!?" (Emily)
"Emily, I want you to listen to me."
"NO! Stop, don't leave me again!"
"Sorry, this time. It's inevitable, I wanted to hear your voice one last time. I can't get out of this situation anymore."
"..."
" I want to thank you for always being by my side. I want to thank you for saving me when I was at my worst. I want to thank you for giving me another chance. Tell little Phillip and little Maria that Daddy loves them very much. No matter what they become they will always be my treasures... Bye, I love you." He voice cracks towards the end
"No, please, don't-" he hung up the phone.
"That's one minute, isn't it?" Jefe looks at me with a found resolve.
Hopefully, I can find something like this guy has, even if I'm like this right now.
"...I guess it is." I put my finger on the trigger, the phone starts to ring again. My hand starts trembling again. Can I really take his life? Even if he did some horrible things in the past he looks like an upright person. I just don't know anymore. The phone rings again.
"Come on boy, you already had your answer and resolve when you made your own resolution didn't you?" (Jefe)
I look at my white bracelet. He is not wrong but...
...My cheeks feel wet, whether it's rain or my own tears, I don't know.
*Pam*
I pulled the trigger.