The chilling breeze of the evening slid past my cheek, and the rustling of autumn leaves could be heard as we were walking on it. As we were walking by the houses, the sound of children playing could be heard but it was different with their adults as they were struggling with the ongoing crisis, in these days even feeding their children was becoming difficult. In front of a brick building, a man could be seen selling things for his survival. Beside me I see a cold boy walking relentlessly without being bothered by his surroundings lost in his thoughts and walking this cold path. How a seventeen year old can be so mature as to hide his feeling under his cold attire? Maybe Mr Matthew was right, life makes you mature not your age. He seems to be lost and busy in the deep forest of his thoughts, always talking in a deep and gruff tone opposite from his father, Mr Francisco used to be a kind, warm and welcoming man. Everybody in the town knew him because of his hospitality, if and only if that poor man wouldn't know the secret of that corrupt Lorenzo he would continue leading a happy life and this child would have had a better childhood instead of suffering since he was seven. But today with John I saw a completely different Alessio, a warm and kind man just like his father.
"Why are you staring at me?"
"No, nothing," I said quickly.
"What are your plans, what did you write in that letter?" Alessio asked.
"I called a friend," I said
"Who? Edmondson?" He said surprisingly.
"Yes him," I said
"Are you in your senses? don't you know he is with Lorenzo, What if he brings his men and kills all of us?" he jolted.
"no nothing like that would happen." I said
"And how are you so sure?" he asked
"Because before I came here, he did send me a letter assuring everything is OK and his last address was from Edinburgh, and besides sometimes the situation is not what it seems like." I said
"I just don't understand you." he said
He said while gritting his teeth and started walking angrily. Young people often think that they are the only genius although sometimes they follow their emotions rather than thinking the rational way. Edmondson is a man I know for the past twenty years, there are times when detectives have to go undercover to attain their goals. Now the reality would be told by Edmondson by himself!
We finally reached my residence, When we were about to enter Alessio saw a letter beneath the entrance door and picked it up,
"What is it?" I asked
"A letter," Alessio replied.
"Let's go inside and read what it says." I said
"hmm." Alessio nodded.
We both went inside and looked at that letter curiously, both of us were thinking the same thing: Who must have sent this letter?
I lit up the lantern and candles on the candle stand, to visibly read the letter and escape the darkness of our suspicion. In the letter, it said, for Samuel. We both looked at each other and then opened it hesitantly. Inside it was written,
"To Samuel Greco
House no.234 Brandon street,
London
Dear Samuel,
I received your letter lately, I told you that the case was settled then what is the reason behind this aroused suspicion, does the trust between the two friends disappeared? Well as a friend it's my priority to clear this cynical thought of yours after I fight these approaching sinister shadows.
8 5 12 16 13 5 9 14 5 5 4 25 15 21 15 14 20 8 9 19 1 4 4 18 5 19 19
Regards,
Edmondson Brown 444."
"He is in trouble!" I said
"Who?" Alessio asked
"Edmondson." I said
"What?" Alessio was shocked
"We need to hurry, We have to save him!" I said
"Where is he?" Alessio asked
"We will know soon." I said
"How will you know if there isn't anything written in this letter about it?" Alessip asked?
"We are detectives kid, we use cyphers for talking to each other." I said and smiled.
"But I don't see a code anywhere there are just some mere odd numbers written!" Alessio said in an annoyed tone.
"There are not just numbers this is a cypher, look!" I said
I started panicky searching for my briefcase,
"Found it!" I said like I have won an award.
"What is this?" Alessio asked.
"It's a machine that we detectives use to decipher codes. It has numbers till 24 each number for each letter when I write a number it enrols the letter" I explained him how this works
"Codes?" Alessio said
"Some words are way too hazardous to be said straight!" I replied
"What are you writing?" He asked while he saw me writing.
"I'm deciphering this code, 11 for A and 23 for E..." I said.
Alessio looked curiously and with full concentration at every button of that deciphering machine that Samuel was pressing, this mechanism was intriguing to Alessio's intelligence. As he was examining this iron, capsule-like machine, his ocean blue eyes widened by seeing what was finally written on the page,
"HELP ME I NEED YOU AT THIS ADDRESS
8 5 12 16 13 5 9 14 5 5 4 25 15 21 15 14 20 8 9 19 1 4 4 18 5 19 19"
Samuel's hand started to shake and he said hesitantly,
"He is in trouble!"
"Mr Edmondson?" Alessio asked.
"Yes, we need to hurry before it gets too late!" I said
"But how do we know if he's at the same residence?" he asked
"He has sent the house number 444 that's the same address you received, you know the way there right?" I asked
"Yes." he said
"Then let's go!"
I said while putting the gun in my waistband. We both wore our coats and covered our faces to hide our identities because if they are Lorenzo's men then they would be searching for us crazily like dogs and would be desperate to feed us to carnivorous beasts! We both left the home and went on the way on this night like Knights of the night. Being fully aware of our surroundings, walking the dark streets attentively. Looking at our surroundings with our sharp eyes the only light that lightened the way was moonlight.
"Be careful from the attack of those filthy hyenas." I instructed Alessio
"You too." he said
"hmm." I nodded
"Are you sure it isn't a trap?" Alessio asked while we walked like spies.
"I don't think so, we only use cyphers when it's of utmost important like a matter of life and death!" i replied.
"Well, I just hope your friend is still your friend or else-" Alessio said
"Bent down! " an arrow came slid over Alessio's head, and hairs on his crown lifted from his head with the forceful air of that arrow. Before we knew we were surrounded by that clan of hyenas. I flared my coat backwards in the air and took out my gun while pointing it at them,
"Back off or else it will cost your lives!" I said while pointing it towards them.
"Why scare us with that weapon if you're a man let's fight with our fists!" The person said?
"Why you're scared of this?" I asked
"Not scared at all, but I would prefer to fight like a man!" He said
"Are you ready Alessio?" I asked while looking at Alessio.
"Always!" Alessio replied.
"Then come forward you hyenas!"
I put my gun back and signalled them to come. One of the hyenas came forward and punched him so hard in his face that blood came out of his mouth, he tried to punch me back but I held his fist in my hands just as tightly as a wolf would hold his prey in his teeth and twisted his hand back then kicked his back, he fell on the road. Behind me was Alessio fighting fiercely continuously kicking and punching the enemy right in their faces. One of them came from behind me and kicked my spine I fell on my knees before he could punch me I looked into his eyes which were full of fear I grabbed his leg and made him fall on the ground then I kept punching him until blood came out of his mouth. We both were fighting as bravely as lions. Before we knew they all were lying on the road.
"You ok Alessio?" I asked
"Sure am sir, are you-" a hidden-faced one threw a dagger towards Alessio from behind his back.
"Alessio move aside!!!" Alessio saw the dagger and moved while the dagger slid past his face so close that it gave a slight cut on his cheek and it started bleeding.
"You hyena!" I shot him right in his legs before he could escape, he was crippled and fell on the ground, still crawling to escape. I went to him and held his collar,
"Who sends you huh? Who did?" I asked fiercely.
" He was-" before he could say anything else police who often patrol these streets came.
"Back off or you'll get killed!" A man said while pointing his gun towards me
"Huh?" I said and glared at him.
"BACK OFF I SAID!!!!!" The man shouted.