... 22nd of November 2034 ...
"One week has passed since the incident at Mariette Drive and the suspect has yet to be found. People are tying the incident to a gang related attack where the victim involved knew something they shouldn't have. The malicious gang in question, run by a notorious street mobster known as The Musician, formerly responsible for the murder of Rosco Jackson and presumably much more. When questioned, the victim gave nothing of substance, other than a vague description of an Opossum, They are theorised to be responsible for the murder of Christie Abbott, she was a beloved wife and friend to many. People who have information regarding the killing are asked to give any potential leads to the law respectively, of course the police are also requesting that people remain vigilant from now on. Similarly, it has been one week since the murder of Rosco Jackson which was just the day prior to the murder of Christie, With this time, there has come good news and justice can be served for one of the murders. We have found that the one responsible has been caught red handed, quite literally. Fingerprints were found at the scene as pointed out by a police Officer named Andy, who handed in the evidence to professional analysts on the team to confirm the fingerprints did in fact match the mobster known only as The Musician. He has been since charged with manslaughter and given Life Imprisonment with a very little chance of parole for his crimes. On other news there has been protests on the streets based on the abortion or experimentation of children who hold special psychological properties, as they believe it is unjust and cruel and that every live matters; flawed or not."
"Here is a statement, from an opposition against the protestors marching outside of the Ill-Will Laboratories" - - - - "Mr Pierce, what do you think of all this protesting?" The news broadcast would show an angry looking husky staring at the screen in a defensive manner, crossing his arms and shaking his head disapprovingly "They're nothing but filthy Outsiders, every one of them needs to be killed one way or the other. Teenager, Child or Foetus doesn't matter much to me they'll grow up to be a god damn criminal one way or the other. They make our streets cruel and unjust and I am even afraid walking home at nights now because of those bastards running around. I think those scientists should keep experimenting on them and find a way to cure them someway, only Outsider I respect is cured of their sickness.--"
The TV would power off suddenly and rain would tap gently against the windows of the small apartment room, it was dark and gloomy thanks to the night-time atmosphere and the only thing now lighting up the room was a computer screen that had a single audience of a broken cop, still dressed in stained uniform and hunched over in front of it. Jake's desk was surrounded by empty beer cans and one minute noodles bought from the store nearby. He'd Throw the TV remote onto the messy bed, that looks like it hasn't been made in some time. Standing up and walking towards the window, gazing out at the building that obstructed his view to see into the horizon. There were rings around his eyes, and he looked as if he hadn't been sleeping well at all. Now gazing up at one of the many photographs stapled deep onto the wall of the apartment bedroom it was a clear photograph of him and his wife on their wedding day. He twiddled idly with the wedding ring on his finger while staring at it as he felt it become loose before he shoved it back onto his finger again and turned towards his computer monitor to sit down yet again.
The entire wall was covered with photos of his wife, almost as if he got every memory he had with her and kept it on his wall as a reminder; or maybe this was an over-attachment from a broken mind left alone and trapped in a world without his true love. Fixating on the monitor, it somehow had access to every camera situated around the flat. He managed to find a way to access it and he was definitely being over-protective of himself just as much as he was over-attached at the loss of his loved one. Picking up a phone, he'd dial his friend Andy, his phone showing he had tried to call him over 40 times over the past week since the incident and all of which he never answered. Pressing the phone to his ear, he'd lean back in his chair and stare up at the dark ceiling, only to be left with an answering machine yet again "Hi this is Andy, Best cop on the force probably doing something really productive right n-" He'd hang up before the answering machine could give the full message, sighing loudly out of frustration and slamming his fist onto the table.
"Where the fuck are you.. What happened to you.." His voice was a strained and quiet whisper of concern for his friend, he was a definite missing person case now. Despite appearing on TV as a hero for finding evidence against the Musician, it was like he dropped out of existence entirely and wasn't around anywhere else except for being on the TV.
----
From the outside, it was a cold November's night as usual and the streetlights were shining through the small block with a light fog being made visible only near the light source. A car sat stationary outside but upon closer notice, it was simply a pizza delivery car, opening the door a Leopard would step out dressed in full uniform with a red colour and a little black hat to accomplish his outfit. Reaching in he'd pull out a single pizza box and look up toward the flats he was designated to deliver the pizza to. Walking closer towards the building he'd lay his phone atop the box and confirm the order for being delivered before opening the door with his shoulder and reaching the receptionist.
"Uh.. Hi this is.. um a pizza delivery for a Mr Jake Abbott?" The receptionist was in their own world, gazing down at the desk to what is presumably their phone, twiddling with her hair and two seconds later would look up at the delivery boy and nod, sound blaring from the headphones she wore, not paying any attention to him before realising he was a delivery guy and taking off her headphones. "Sorry what name?" He'd stutter along his words and grip the box "Jake.. Abbott?" She'd nod and hold up two fingers "Floor two, down the hall in room 27 you'll see it." He nods and slowly approaches the elevator and remaining careful not wanting to accidentally slip by ascending the stairs or anything stupid "Thanks miss"
However, on the outside there was another presence dawning from the darkness and slowly walking up to the flats as casually and as happily as can be was Dime. Opening the door and walking in before placing his hands confidently along the receptionist table and staring right at the woman who was distracted again by her headphones "Hey.. HEY! You know a guy around here? I got to talk to him, names Jake? Should be checked in here riightt?" She'd jump at the sudden shout and look up before quickly pulling her headphones down to rest again, slowly nodding and feeling a wave of Deja vu "Uhm.. Floor two buddy in room 27.." He'd grin stupidly at her and tap the counter respectively before pulling himself away "Hey thanks!! I'll be on my way then!" She'd eye him up suspiciously as he left, not paying much mind to it however and continuing to distract herself with the device in front of her.
The Dime would instead ascend the stairs and goes up two steps at a time in a fast yet relaxed manner as he does, meanwhile the elevator would ding quietly at the top and the pizza boy would walk out and look up and down either side of the hall before walking right down towards what he assumes to be the room. Bumping directly into The Dime as he reaches the top of the stairs in the process and gasps as he almost drops the box "Oh shoot! Uh.. Sorry man I didn't see you coming" He'd whimper out to him in his introverted tone and avoid eye contact, The Dime narrows his eyes at him and lets out a short snicker "You blind or something kid? I was clearly at the top you should've seen me." His tone would completely change however as he sets eyes on the pizza, tilting his head and reaching for the box to which the delivery boy would pull away "Hey.. That's for the paying customers man" This wouldn't stop him, opening the box and taking a slice of it before holding it up and almost analysing it as the cheese droops off "DAMN!! What sort of basic fuck around here orders cheese only? Laaame man" The poor kid would stand and stare unable to react in any way other than to watch as he eats a slice and respectively closes the box and winks.
"What room are you delivering this steaming pile of shit to anyway, kid?" This would force a response out of the nervous Leopard and he'd hold the box away from the man and respond "Uh.. Some guy he lives .. here? On the 27th room that's what the girl told me anyway" The Dime would normally want to cackle at how shy the boy was but he brought up something that could be of value to him, taking the box forcefully from him and pulling out what appears to be a hand-crafted wallet and it doesn't look that pleasant at all. "Here!!! I'll pay for the damn pizza and deliver it to the room for ya? Sounds good right? Doing your job for you!" He'd smile innocently and pull out a single hundred dollar bill from the many stashed away and the delivery boy would sag back against the wall at the sight of it, he was in a state of shock and confusion and hesitated to take it "Gee mister.. that's.. a lot of money y-know uh, I'm not sure I ca--" He'd be cut off by a "Nonsense!!" Before the note is placed into one of the pockets on his shirt's uniform, it had a noticeable stain of blood marked onto the fine paper "Treat yourself man! It's a cruel life you don't get many truck-stops like this one! Get yourself a newww watch or a new game console or whatever the fuck you wanna bore yourself with nowadays... Now go on .. get!"
With this in mind, he simply stops trying to avert the situation, turning back towards the elevator and anxiously hitting the button more than once while Dime strolls down the hall gripping the box tightly almost crushing the actual delicacy underneath before stopping right in front of the door.
Inside the room, the cop would be gone from his table, the window was left wide open, letting in a cold draft that occasionally made the door to his bedroom open and close on it's own, banging loudly other times as the wind infiltrates his room. He knew someone was coming and he knew who it was, sitting on his couch while a handgun rested on his lap clutched in his hand, his tired eyes with bags under them would fixate on the door as calm and collected as can be, not a single thought behind those eyes but anticipation, alertness and an increasing eagerness to attack and subdue. He already knew who was coming, the security cameras gave him the upper hand and he was not going to let The Dime get the upper hand on him this time. As much as he resented the psychotic opossum for what he had done, the spark of goodness in his heart was still burning, yet very dimly, but it didn't change the fact he only wanted to do the right thing. Clicking the safety off, his heartbeat would dramatically pick up as a loud enthusiastic and intrusive knock would bang against the apartment door "Take-Away Pizza Hot n' Ready to be eatennn!!!" That sinister and playful tone, it could almost be mistaken for someone with the innocence of a child, but he fell not for the lies of the wolf in sheep's clothing. Narrowing his eyes and standing up, kicking off his shoes to make less noise he'd slowly tread closer and closer to the door as quietly as a cat in the night.
The lack of a spy-glass on the door was unnecessarily to further benefiting his knowledge, he knew who had come for him and with that in mind he would take a short quiet breath in and aim the gun, swinging the door open in such a violent manner he'd aim the gun straight at the others head before they had a chance to react "Try anything, move anywhere or even fucking flinch and I'll blow your fucking brains out like you did to my wife." The Dime was at a loss of words, standing there clutching the pizza box with a shocked expression that slowly dissolved into a disgruntled look like he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, dropping the pizza messily to the ground and slowly raising his hands before smirking at the mentally hobbled man before him, panting and refusing to take his gaze off of the possum "Like last time.. This is a social call mister, I'm not here to hurt you unless you give me a reason to. Thought we'd spend and end this evening with me knowing who that informant of yours is .. heheh!"
"I'll be doing the hurting if you don't comply with me.." With one swift motion Jake would press the gun to his abdomen and with his other firm grasp stationed on the scruff of his jacket, throwing him to the rug into the room almost ripping the material as he uses his foot to kick the door shut while looking over at the murderer. Still having the sights trained on him, he looked as if he was almost resisting the urge to pull the trigger there and then. A fire burning in his eyes with rage as he glares down at the man with a thundering breath each time he inhales and exhales steadily. The Dime would simply lay there on the ground, clutching the rug and sighing as he gazed up at him, like this whole dangerous ordeal was a chore for him.
"Wipe that smug look off your face or I will you piece.. of shit.." The officer snarls and waves the gun a little and to which Clovis would respond instantly in a cocky manner "You won't shoot me, you would have already you FUCKING idiot! Tell me what you want get it over with.. Maybe we can play a game of Chinese whispers, you ask me what you wanna know and I ask you... what I wanna know heh" Jake hesitates for a short moment before cutting past the bullshit and asking "Who the fuck sent you.. was it that Musician I interrogated? Huh?! To shit on my doorstep to KILL my fucking wife?!!" The unstoppable rage was consuming him, his legs visibly shook and the gun rattled as his wrist also shivered, the anticipation and adrenaline giving him a high of his own Jurisdiction he was giving that eventually made the Possum crack and continue to answer. "Yes... and Yes I'm sorry about your girlfriend man--" Jake would cut him off, a strained rage induced whisper through his teeth "Wife... She was my fucking wife.. you degenerate .. trash!"
The Dime would sigh and stare directly into the man's eyes "Can always get another one, pshh.. You want the fucking answers or not?! Let me FINISH ..you jackass.." And so Jake did, holding himself back from all the violent things just caressing and tenderly hugging his mind. Encouraging him to desperately just give in to that rising vindictive nature. "Good man.. Silence is what I need in order to speak to you.. god DAMN it.. The Musician sent me to ask about that informant, we're looking for him and his possible boss right now because we have a god damn plan to exact, okay?" The gun would rattle in the man's hand even more and he'd step forward, his finger gently running up and down along the trigger "And.. your reasoning for the execution of my beloved wife... is?"
There was a short silence, the possum would stare for a moment trying to find the words to put together to not get shot on the spot after saying it "It wasn't me that did it man.. It was that coin flip, I had to it was for my own safety yknow.. She was a witness and I would've iced you too if you didn't have valuable information that we fucking need--" He stopped mid-way through his sentence, realising the answer he gave was completely invalid and didn't make sense but at the same time it gave him an opportunity. The Officer stood there wide eyed with a tear streaming down his cheek "You.. You.. killed her for no reason.. You took her.. a-away from me.. for no reason.." This would draw a smirk along the Dime's face "Oh yeah.. I DID pal' Get used to it, Wake the fuck up! You're in over your head aren't you?! You thought that cop life would be easy?! I executed your wife for Fun n' Games, One less loose end and for my enjoyment.. I shouldn't have shot her though, means it would've went quieter and smoother and I wouldn't be in this shabby fucking apartment room trying to talk to you again"
Jake continued to stare, wide eyed and unable to process what he was hearing. Before he could do anything he was immediately charged by the man as he ran up and close-lined him pressing him to the door, his gun dropping from his hand as he is delivered two sharp punches to the sides and as The Dime recovers quickly, having pinned him to the door he would punch the cop right in the face. He wasn't going down that easily again, not again especially with this much anger on his mind he finally had the drive and the state of not being injured like last time. Despite being pinned, he managed to punch in just the right spot on his collarbone and use his leg to kick into his stomach sending him back, before the possum could recover he'd launch forward and send another sharp punch right to his face.
His knuckle was already sore from the punches, immediately ready for the punch The Dime threw back and leaning his head back before grappling him by the throat and with an unseen amount of strength would throw him over the kitchen counter, the loud clashing of cutlery and pots and pans plummeting to the floor was almost ear-ringing from how quiet the room was previously. Walking around slowly to the other side of the counter while the injured Clovis slowly recovered; if he was a bull, he'd have steam shooting down through his nostrils with his thundering breaths. Infuriated, just as much as Jake, the possum would pick up a kitchen knife and clumsily throw it to no avail. Jake would retaliate relentlessly and grapple the Possum yet again before slamming his head right onto the counter to leave a now slumped and grunting Clovis fall limply to the floor on the cutlery and knifes as Jake stares down at him, his face already bruising from the punch. "I'm gonna kill all of you.. I'm gonna murder every last one of you and only then will I rest well with Christie"
"You're.. fucking i-insane man I think you broke.. my FUCKING nose!" Off guard the Opossum would be able to strike, a meat fork would suddenly embed itself into Jake's ankle and his confidence immediately folded. Falling back onto the loose cutlery and trying his best to regain authority over the fight but it was too late, the blooded meat fork now pressed deep into his jugular and pushed further to completely sever it. Gagging, choking on blood and slight vision loss. There was no pain it was oddly numbing as he gazed up at his wife's murderer and now suddenly.. too quickly, his own killer.
"Jake.. Hun?.." The voice of what sounded like an Angel to him would ring out in his head "You got to stop obsessing over me like this.. Look at what it's doing to you." Jake would respond, unable to talk much so he responded to the voice with his own thoughts "I know Christie, I'm gonna get us out of this nightmare.. I promise you that much.. I just miss you." The voice would sigh and seem oddly disappointed, despite the Officer's Perseverance "You just got to go back.. Try again with someone else, you don't deserve to be unhappy like this.. Go back.."
"Go back.."
"Go back...."
Time would hiss, it felt as if his throat was collapsing yet feeling better suddenly by the second as the meat fork removes itself back into the Dime's hands as he sits up and allows Jake to stand up too, everything was going back. There was no meaning of the word 'forwards' in this state anymore, he felt sick and nauseous but before he could even comprehend that, he reached a realisation. What happened?
Before him laid an injured Dime on the floor again and it was like he went back and none of the following events happened, was he given a second chance? did he give himself a second chance? Spotting the Meat fork on the floor it was already back to action, the Dime bringing it towards his ankle again but before he could let it happen once more, he kicked the meat fork from his hand and pinned it down with his foot. It felt good to predict something like this, how did it even happen? Was what he experienced real? So many questions roamed his mind and he simply stared at The Dime, baffled at himself and at a loss of words "Get.. the fuck off of me.." Clovis would whimper out.
Jake would stare, running his hand over his throat and seemingly confused, keeping Clovis at bay while doing so and to his shock and an audible gasp, it was all right and not harmed whatsoever. Reality seemingly gave him another chance and allowed him to pre cognate, quietly gasping and panting he felt as if he could still feel that meat fork in his throat like a phantom limb, but he didn't bother. He focused on what was in front of him and gritted his teeth to try to snap himself back into shape as he glares down at the man.
"You're going to tell me where your little gang is holed up now, I want to know where your leader is now." Jake said with a strained angry voice, The Dime would glare back up at him and spit disrespectfully at him "MY LEADER?? He's in prison you fucking maniac.. He's in prison... Waiting to strike up the most devastating HEIST of all time, this world will not be the same after what happens tonight you hear me?!" Snarled the opossum right back at the cop with overwhelming confidence despite his position "You can kill me now but it won't change a DAMN thing! IT ISN'T BRINGING YOUR DAMN WIFE BACK!" Jake wasn't taking any of his shit, leaning down and straddling his chest before punching him direct in the throat to shut him up from shouting. "Your clubhouse.. your home? Mansion? I don't care if your leader is in prison, I'm going to make sure there's nothing left for him on the outside of prison including his little gang, I've had enough of you tyrants thinking you can rule the fucking world."
The Dime would grab at his throat, coughing and wheezing with his wounded oesophagus from the punch. He'd pant heavily trying to get his breath back before letting out a sinister laugh for a few seconds before his response "Oh but we will rule the world Pig.. Just you wait and see" As Jake was raising his fist about to strike the man with a bloodied knuckle again he'd wince and hold his hands up with a forced growl like sigh, spitting blood out of his mouth from a busted lip "West of Stardown city, the old abandoned theatre at the bottom of the street with the little star on top, you'll find us there and I warn you it's a death wish going alone.. Hey there's a pretty damn good bar down there too, let's settle this over a shot of whiskey huh-?" Before he could respond Jake would snarl and bring the fist down onto his head, involuntarily knocking the man out blinded by his own rage. "Eat shit you fucking Junkie murderer.."
Coming to a stance Jake would walk over to the kitchen sink and run the tap, the sound of running water filled the room as he looked down into the drain, watching as the water which was definitely not safe for drinking ran right into the drain, this apartment complex's water supply must be tainted or something. He grunted and simply allowed it to fill his cupped hands and splashed it over his face, neatly taking a towel and running his face down before setting it to the side. Walking around the kitchen counter he'd pick up the gun and walk back to stare back down at The Dime with a stoic expression, aiming the gun almost ready to execute the unconsciousness man before a knock rang out at the door "Sir..? You're causing an awful ruckus in here I'm going to have to ask you to keep it down, is everything all right in there it sounds like there was some fighting.." Jake would look over towards the door with narrowed eyes, his heart sinking in his chest realising he couldn't exactly get what he wanted right now without trouble. "Look man if you don't respond I'm gonna have to call the cops.. it's just my job" Jake's ears would perk up and he'd speak "No no.. Everything's all right in here my friend just showed up drunk and was knocking everything over, I've put him in my bed he'll be alright in the morning."
The voice on the other end would grow silent for a moment, before responding again "Alright.. Keep it down please, we have enough disturbances going on already.. Don't need another." The gun would drop from the officer's hands with a loud clunk against the kitchen tiles and utensils scattered along the floor, sighing he'd walk away from the unconscious man and walk right past him and into his bedroom again.
Suddenly he would run right out of the bedroom a hand eagerly covering his mouth as he bursts into the bathroom and comes to a full kneel before the toilet. Gripping the seat he'd vomit right into the bowl and gag with each of the contents from his stomach giving up and rushing out of him. After a minute, he'd look up towards the mirror near the sink to gaze into his own eyes kneeled over the toilet, almost ragged and weak he didn't know what exactly was happening to him. Coming to a stance he'd wipe his lips with his backhand and drowsily wander towards the sink before pressing both of his palms into the glass and staring into his soul through those solid blue marble eyes.
"What's wrong with me? ... I can still feel that fork in my throat, did it really happen or did I imagine it?" Behind him just out of his vision a figure would manifest slowly as he began to daydream, possibilities rushing through his head he didn't even notice the bizarre figure before he turned and it was too late. She was gone and he knew who it was, his wife standing there in the doorway staring at him. "Christie, are you there?" He'd call out and waited expectantly for a response he knew he wasn't going to get "I'm not ready for you to leave again, I saw you.." As he started talking to himself, another voice in his head would call out, further provoking the trauma in his head "You're not ready to do such a thing Jake." The voice taunted his emotions, hobbling out of the bathroom slowly, not even bothering to flush down his fresh vomit and feeling a stream of tears rush down his face. "But you are doing the right thing, right now, don't let them tempt you into killing like they are." Christie said, he'd start to feel himself becoming manic as he turned and punched his fist directly into the bathroom door. "You're not real, you're just some stupid coping mechanism my brain has formed or something. Christie, you're dead."
He'd try his best to accept it, walking into his bedroom holding his hurt knuckle and wincing at the pain as regret slowly washes over him for injuring himself stupidly. "You're just here to taunt me, something is toying with me. You're not my wife." Jake states with a broken heart, Christie would protest though. Trying to clarify the false fact she was there when in fact she was not "That's what is logical, I'm sorry Jake." Opening up the apartment window from his bedroom and gazing out side as he listens to his deceased wife talk, he'd step out onto the fire escape stairs and lean weakly against the one thing stopping him from falling, a barrier of cold metal pushing up against his arms and stumbling body. "No! I'm sorry Christie, I did this to you.. look at what I DID!" His tears would fall a few stairs down onto the alleyway below "I got you killed, I should've stopped him by any means necessary. I failed you, not even the police got there in time.."
He'd feel the tears well up more in his eyes as his hand fiddles with the wedding ring placed on his finger, it gradually slid up and down along the fluffy ring finger but it never came off, refusing to let it slip and fall into the alleyway of darkness below, he'd shove it back down onto his finger and turn back towards the stairs with an idea in mind "You're gonna serve Justice anyway you fucking murderer.." Stepping in through the window he would snarl and walk over towards the front door and open it "The police didn't get there in time for my wife's murder but they'll sure as hell get here in time Tonight, you're gonna know what loss is. I'll kill every one you work with and make sure you know."
^^^^Stepping over towards The Dime, mumbling angrily to himself he'd pull the handcuffs off of his belt and detain the suspect, keeping him laid there along the floor still unconscious and unmoving. Quickly moving back to his bedroom he'd take a single photo off of the wall, his wedding day and a beautiful picture it was. Rushing out of the room he'd slam the apartment door behind him and step right over the pizza box. Finding himself in the reception he'd tap the desk to get the Receptionist's attention "I lied, guy upstairs who came to visit me is dangerous and I need the police here as soon as possible to detain him. He's in my room and he's cuffed, if the police ask where I went tell them I went to clean up some business and that I'd check in with them later. Bye."
He'd abruptly turn and walk out before the receptionist could say anything "Sir.. Sir?! Come back.." She'd sigh and turn to call 911 to report the crime, The Dime was certainly done for now just as much as The Musician was too.
(Nuclear Summer - Hexsystem would play here)
A police car silently drove down the still and dry road, travelling to a familiar location that now brought sorrowful and guilting memories to the policeman rather than happy ones. His hands clung to the wheel tight as his tired eyes fixated on the road and the beautiful scenery of trees and colourful houses now shrouded in darkness, his world was left in black. Coming to a stop in front of his old home and turning off the ignition to look over towards what was now a crime scene, yellow tape covered his door preventing entry. A place he wished he never had to see crime tape being put over, getting out of his car he'd close the door. Memories from what caused this fire started flooding his mind again, that old woman and her dead son, Rosco Jackson.
Walking slowly up the pathway leading to the door he'd rip the crime tape down and walk into the home, slamming the door shut as he gazed around in the dark to spot a few markers laid around the now dry blood stained carpet of his home, indicating a murder to have happened there. He'd walk towards it and lean down onto his knees, sighing deeply "I promise I'll make this up to you tonight hun, they won't get away with this and I'll make sure of that. Can't remove just one weed from the garden, you got to burn the source too to ensure it doesn't come back. That Possum fella is just an after effect of the true evil that did this to you. I'll see to it that they get the justice they deserve my love."
Splaying his hand along the carpet he'd give a broken smile, hearing that voice again in his head that egged on his emotions even more and convincing him that she was still around with him. Somewhere in the darkness of the room it was almost like he could feel her "Jake.. I know you're better than this honey." Jake would shake his head dismissively "Don't argue on this, it's only right." Almost like he could feel a hand on his shoulder he still wouldn't move "It's not right, you know it's not right, let go Jake." His hand would clutch the carpet even more where the dried blood soaked into "Until death I am going to fight for you, only then will I rest. Do you got that?!" Swinging around the officer was left with nothing more than disbelief, the fatal reality of the situation swept back into his mind as he realised nothing was there and his wife was gone.
Standing up slowly again his broken smile had gone, walking quietly towards his bedroom and pushing open the door. Moving into the room he'd reach under the bed to pull out a dusty gun case he thought he'd never have to use unless there was a dire circumstance, this was in fact a dire circumstance to him however. Opening it with a key he found in the bedside drawer it would click open to reveal a Beretta Shotgun. It was premium and as beautiful as the dim light shining on it would show him, lifting it out and smiling at it once more. "They never really let us use Lethal Force before, this will be a first actually for me. That handgun was usually just for show, this will get the job done my dear." Speaking to himself he'd lift out a few boxes of 12 gauge slugs and stand to his knees, opening the boxes he would use one to load up the shotgun completely. The others would be pocketed on his vest for safe keeping and easy access for a reload.
Walking right out of the room, gun in hand he'd look down the hall again into the kitchen to spot the blood on the floor. Walking slowly towards the crime scene again he would pull away the markers and bin them respectively in the trashcan "You're not gone yet, not to me. You're still here and I refuse to believe otherwise."
Walking over to sit down on the couch in his home again in the darkness he would rest the expensive shotgun on his lap and caress it with his fingers, staring ahead into the darkness and not wanting to leave. He felt that vivid connection with his wife here oddly enough, glancing at the bloodied pizza boxes on the counters just barely visible in the extremely dim light.
"You'll really go that far? For me?" The voice asked expectantly and Jake would nod with a quiet sigh and closed his eyes "I'd do anything for you, that asshole said he didn't have any men except for that enforcer. I don't believe him, someone with a plan has got to have backup." Jake replied still talking to himself, to an outside view he was practically insane at this point and unable to move on, but inside his mind he was right at home. "You're a good, strong man hun." It was almost like he was coaxing his own mind into letting his wife feed into his murderous revenge fantasy, a smile drawing along his face as he stood to his feet again and walked right out of the house towards his car. This was more than enough motivation to do for him, he was going to get payback.
"Let me in now and it means I won't have to come back later man! This is a no brainer I know that fucker is in there I just need to talk to him" A snake would stand there questioning two guards that stood outside the theatre, one smoking a cigarette and the other laughed in his face that simply replied "Scratch, you're out of line here. Boss isn't even here, he's hauled off to prison and besides even if he was here I wouldn't let the likes of your slithery ass in." The goon would push the snake back from the door who would groan and dramatically raise his arms up "That bastard is reducing my pay for the work I've been doing, I-" The other fella holding the cigarette would spit in his direction and step forward into the light "You really want some Approval? go ask the boys around the bar see if they'll offer you some fucking money."
(I'd Love to Change the World by Ten Years After would play here)
Scratch would recoil almost, the person was twice the size of him and clearly stronger causing him to step back "Fine.. I need a god damn drink anyway" Throwing his cigarette to the ground the goon would cross his arms and give a rude remark before he left "God damn Organ Rustler.." Scratch would turn and look back right as he was walking away "I could kill you if I so pleased, There's a reason he pays me to kill." The other guard would chuckle "Clearly not too good at it if he's reducing 'yer pay" Scratch would snarl and turn completely, shouting back from a little way down the street "He pays me because I got balls unlike any of you!" Heading off in a tantrum down towards the bar a police car would come driving slowly down the road towards the theatre, inside was of course the deranged police officer from before.
Pulling up beside the theatre the two guards would chuckle and gossip silently to each other in preparation for what's to come, expecting it to be a simple questioning from a cop. Jake would step out of the car, shotgun in hand and approached the two men "You boys know The Musician?" They would shrug and puff their chest out before crossing their arms defensively, one of them would speak up "Couldn't tell ya friend, Is that a street-name? What's with the heavy metal?" Gesturing to the shotgun. Jake would look down at it and think about what he was gonna do for a moment before gazing back up at the two goons "I want to know where the rest of you degenerates are holed up, and I want to know now."
One of them would raise an eyebrow and the other's confidence would refuse to fold, looking back at the other goon and then back at the cop "What if we don't tell you? Gonna shoot us, scumbag? Musician isn't even here anyway" Jake would give an almost psychotic grin, bloodthirsty and ready for what he was gonna do "Good, Just making sure I had the right place." Raising the shotgun towards the first man the last expression he'd make was that of shock and wide eyes as Jake unloaded the first slug into his chest, sending him back into the door and sliding down along it, dead within seconds. The other looked back at his partner with terror then back at the cop as he tried to quickly draw a handgun "What The Fuck?!" Were his last words, another loud bang rushed through the once silent city of Stardown, Laying down beside his friend with half of his face missing now and Jake stepped forward and walked towards the building. There's nothing scarier than a man with nothing left to lose that has skill and determination to do what he has his mind set to, kicking the door open he was faced with a room that led to two hallways.
"Alright you fuckers! Come get a fucking piece of me! This is for my wife! There's gonna be nothing left of you!" His shout of pure rage was terrific, it would have sent chills up anyone's spine that was listening, someone would come running down the hallway as if to check a disturbance to quickly be close-lined by a slug to the face with pin-point accuracy from the cop. His body slid right along the floor and dramatically smashing a plant pot in the corner as he progressed further down that same hall. He was enjoying this, knowing he was finally doing something other than grieving. Hell, this was a better grieving solution even if he knew it wasn't going to fill that void in his heart, only replacing it with a cavity.
On the way down the hall he would find a room, there was pink lights shining onto the rug leading down the hallway as the door was crept open a little. Approaching it he would open it to find two women, half naked and of course innocent. Sitting in a chair enjoying the view of their services as they danced would be a surprised Coyote, quickly sitting up as he spots the cop and the two women would scream as he took aim with his shotgun. "Woah.. Woah wait dude!" Jake pulverised his stomach from the doorway as the handgun the coyote held shot 3 times in the ceiling before his body tensed down and relaxed as another fresh corpse.
Looking towards the two women who were terrified and holding each other in the middle of the room, two fennec girls "Leave through the door." Jake muttered as he turned to continue down the hall, a man standing at the end of the hall fired his gun as a bullet lodged in his shoulder. Growling in pain he would accidentally fire off a shot from his shotgun into the wall and backed up into the room, pink lights would lighten up his face showcasing a twisted smile of enjoyment "Bring it you fucking pathetic ROACH!" The man down the hall would shout in attempts to scare him, firing off another two warning shots down the hall "This place has A lot of men Amigo!! Best to leave well enough alone.. in a coffin!"
Jake would laugh and poke his head from around the corner, taking the chance as he had seen his guard had dropped his defence and firing another slug that had wedged itself into the man's leg. Rushing down the hall he would pin the man trying to get up, pressing the barrel into his maw and completely obliterating his head. Looking up and around the oddly empty room, it was an oddly liminal space to him. Rows of seats and even balconies above him containing most likely more seats above him, a few stairs down would be a circular stage with a red curtain behind it, designed for performances and acts and even playing instruments.
Walking at a fast pace towards the stage a man would come out from behind the curtains with his hands up, caught off guard by the police-officer's visit and unarmed. Jake already had the shotgun raised in his direction where he began to beg "I don't have any gun, or anything to hurt you with--" He would be cut off by a stern voice, requesting to know right off the bat "Are you one of the Musician's men?" The goon would blink a few times and half-heartedly shrug before just giving the truth that would ultimately seal his fate "Yes-" Before he could speak another word the man would shoot a slug right through his chest, covering the stage in blood and sending the man falling back behind the curtains. On alert, Jake would look around for any signs of anybody else before rushing to the door left at the end of the room where the rows of seats would end.
Opening it would reveal stairs leading directly up, stepping inside and making sure he is loaded up. Chuffing a few more shells into the shotgun he received from his pocket for safekeeping and all the while keeping his gaze focused upstairs and behind him, he could definitely hear people from up there. Maybe it was some kind of overview room of the stage below. Clutching his shoulder and oddly enough the adrenaline from the gunfight had him barely being able to feel it at all
Pressing his advantage he would aim the gun and slowly ascend the steep stairway, his shoes clacking against the metal with each and every step and from now whoever was up there probably knew he was coming. There was a bitter and waiting silence like a tiger in the shadows waiting to strike, reaching the final step it was like an attic of some sorts, dark and all around was boxes and even some instruments laid around messily on the wooden floorboards. "Get out here, wherever the hell you are."
His instructions were immediately answered as the click of a gun's safety being flipped up rung out from behind him, a barrel of a pistol pressed into his head and he could physically feel the gun rattle, sensing the person's fear behind him. "Huh..? Who's the bitch now? Storming on in here and killing us like you own the place Pig.. Fuck you." Jake was too lost in thought, trying to think of something to do to get out of this situation and before the words could leave his mouth the gun would go off, his ears would ring and he felt his body visibly shift forwards as if to fall to the floor but yet again it would happen. Like his instincts to live were prompting him to continue on, not allowing him to die he felt himself immediately shifting back upwards into place like time was rewinding in his own head again.
"Huh..? Who's the bitch now?" The man would repeat himself, Jake had already heard it and decided this was his way out. Jake would speak the line the goon had said to him before shooting him to catch him off guard before he could even speak again "Storming on in here and killing us like you own the place Pig.. Fuck you" He felt the gun shift on the back of his skull after stating this, the man quietly gasped "How the fuck? What are you some kind of outsider?" Jake would immediately turn and ram the butt of his shotgun into his wrist, causing it to go off right next to his ear and chipping it. Clasping a paw in front of his ear in pain as it bled the now unarmed man would retaliate in the worst way possible and grab the barrel of the shotgun, Jake would only pull the trigger and completely blow the man's leg off. Due to the fact the cop was holding the firearm with one hand it would send him stumbling back to the floor as well and laying there as he tried to focus again, the ringing was intense and refused to stop at all.
"What happened?" The mumbled whines of the man across from him in an severe amount of shock as he laid and clutched as his leg that was no longer there "Where is it? .. Where did it go?" Another figure would rush up the stairs and the literal shell-shocked man would gaze up at him and swallow the build-up of saliva in his throat before speaking again "Scratch.. Scratch? .. Help me.. Man I think he shot me too.. Am I gonna be okay?" His broken rambling was the least of Scratch's concerns as he gazed over at the Culprit "Who the fuck are you to come in here like this? What's your issue?" In the snake's hands was a dagger, leaning down onto his knees and without warning he put the man out of his misery knowing he would inevitably bleed out, his femur was practically hanging out of his leg.
Jake upon seeing the man would stand and aim the gun at Scratch who oddly submitted instantly, raising his hands and dropping the bloodied dagger to the floor. Blood ran off of the blade and stained the wooden floorboards below, the shattered shell of the shotgun now rolled along the floor that was just dispensed to blow off the goon's leg, fully projecting the rage the cop had for everyone under the roof of the building he was in.
"I'm here to settle some business, you .. you guys attacked my family and I'm attacking yours." Scratch would narrow his eyebrows and try to stay calm, having a shotgun pointed at you anyone would struggle to remain calm under this circumstance "Hm.. You're that cop huh? Heard Clovis wasted your girl?" Gripping the shotgun tighter he would huff angrily and spit on the floor at the sound of the name "He's on his way to prison, I thought it would be fitting for the right hand to join the leader in prison while I waste their family on the outside.. nothing they can do about it."
Scratch for some reason seemed impressed, a sinister smile drawing along his lips as he quietly laughed "Hoh wow.. You're cold for a cop, But you're not very wise either. That's probably exactly what he wanted you know." Jake tilted his head as he exclaimed this "Who?" Jake asks, "Music Man.. Street Cat, You do realise he's planning a prison riot tonight. He's smuggling his instruments in there to do it and with the help of some cop he brainwashed.
A look of worrying realisation washes over Jake's face as he considers this, the shotgun lowering for a moment but then raising again just as his guard comes back up "How is he doing this? Is he using some form of hypnosis on people? Is that what happened to the police officer? His name is fucking Andy.. Did he do that to Andy?" He yelled, demanding answers for each and every question his brain was now spit-balling at him. The only answer the snake could give him was another soft laugh "The Brain is a wonderful and yet very destructive thing, just like a horse if you saddle it you can eventually take control of it and make it your own.. He uses instruments as his saddle."
Bewildered, shocked and angry that all this was happening right under his nose. Andy was the key to all of this and he was too busy creating a revenge fantasy in his mind to avenge his beloved wife. He could have stopped this but he realised it may be too late now, maybe not too late? There's still time.. he thought..
Rushing forward the snake's eyes would widen before instead of attacking, Jake would run right past him and down the stairs. Almost tripping on the way down as he clutched the shotgun tight, running right out of the theatre and down the hall. Not once gazing at the bloodbath he created tonight, pulling his phone out of his pocket he would immediately stop at the entrance. Two other police cars pulled up to his and took aim at the man before dropping their guns in surprise "Jake?.. What's going on in there? What the fuck are you doing here this late?"
It was Ragnarok, the shark was ready to respond to some typical crime related orchestra of violence between two clashing turfs but what he found was an Officer he thought he knew but despised well. The shark felt sympathy for the man judging by what happened to his wife so he didn't press him too much "You gotta check it out for yourself, whole massacre in there I am the first responder here. What took you guys so long??" He lied through his teeth, trying to get the belief of the shark and the bunny partner beside him who analysed him instead of talking. "Seems like a Typical day here now because of that fella.. And here I thought lockin' that son of a bitch up for good was going to stop all this gang related fighting, get the fuck out of here I'll deal with this. They still inside?"
Jake shook his head and then rushed over to his own cruiser "They got me in the shoulder, It's fine I can get it out myself.. I think they took a backdoor of some sorts but they ain't in there anymore" The bunny would have raised suspicions for the culprit but it wasn't Jake, speaking up to the Shark "Probably that Jaklo fella.. He's nowhere to be seen and that Street Cat did kill one of his members, provoking war so to speak."
The Cop was already gone, shotgun in his car and speeding off down the road with his phone dangerously in his hand. Desperately dialling his former partner and pressing the phone to his ear "Andy?.. Andy you need to pick up the fucking phone now! Where are you?! I know you're out there man. Don't do this, I know what that fucker did to you now.. I heard it myself, I just need to know your location. I'll come help you."
A long ways away, in a nice quiet and lonesome home similar to what Jake once had with his wife. It was silent and darkness pursued the place, showing no one was home. There was a vibration coming from the kitchen counter of Andy's home. On the counter was a phone, several missed calls of course all coming from Jake and other concerned loved ones desperate to reach him. It vibrated more and more before falling off of the counter and cracking on the floor below, still vibrating the floorboards.
Moonlight shined into the home, there was a horrible energy about the night. It seemed like everything would change after this moon went down and a new sun would rise up over the land.