Prologue.
Hospital ward
8-31 am
- Eh, it won't be long now, – I said out loud. Yes, I don't have long left. Oh, yeah. I didn't even introduce myself. My name is...although forget it better call me Abe. This is my nickname, which has become my new name. And why Abe, you ask? Everything is quite simple and comical. When I was still young and just started to learn about the delights of the hormonal explosion of a teenager, my parents decided to send me to study abroad. Yes, yes, the achievement has been uclocked – make parents mad parents and get a ticket to foreign land. The bonus for early receipt is nicotine addiction at 15 and only 2 months a year to spend at home. I got the nickname just during my first year of study, because my real name turned out to be too difficult for foreigners, and I decided to save myself and others from this torment. And that's how I became Abe.
And about my words....I really don't have much time left. Instead of a young handsome man with a gorgeous mane, you will see a dried-up corpse in a wheelchair covered with sensors and with a bunch of injection marks. The reason for my current condition ? Severe chemical poisoning in a compartment with practically burned lungs. No, I'm not a drug addict, well, except for cigarettes, hehe, I won't lie here, I was just unlucky enough to get in the way of the ambitions of one whom we considered reliable and trusty person. My family was quite rich and had political power in society, which gave some sort of protection, but this was not enough, because as one character said, when a traitor strikes, he does it with the strength of the legion. Yeah, the blow was strong not only in its destructiveness but also cruelty ....
Flashback
- I'll try to get out of here, it's been half an hour without a cigarette and in the heat. I'm going to have a smoke.
- I will not suffer here alone! – said Max, my cousin or second cousin, somehow I don't care because we grew up together and the paths of life were similar. Both studied abroad, both were sloppies and jokers. And now, together with our families, we are standing at the opening of a new chemical plant. Oh, we can't get away in any way because our moms are keeping an eye us at this event. Damn, it seems like despite being adults we are still treated like small children.
-….this plant will provide new jobs and will become a starting point for the further development of the region - Uncle Tolya's voice reaches our places. Damn, uncle, let's hurry up, otherwise soon people will start to riot here, its too damn hot and you're stilltelling us how this plant will become a local eldorado.
- Abe, look, there are some strange flashes behind the first block - Max points his finger in the direction of the first experimental block of the new production cycle.
- CRAP! This is an emergency, quickly press the alarm button and call the security, let them begin evacuation protocol– I shout to him.
And then there are shouts from the crowd, everyone notices flashes and smoke and you don't need to be a genius to understand that these are not fireworks in glory of the opening ceremony. Everyone is running wherever they can. Well, at least the bodyguards managed to encircle our relatives, otherwise they would have trodden over. I begin to gather security around me and give orders to evacuate the crowd and prevent a stampede. If only we get enough time. The next 5 minutes passed in a hurricane of shouts and orders. Faster you sloppy bastards faster a couple more minutes and we will get out of danger zone.
Explosion. We don't have time, the front rows are still in danger zone. Chemimicals are in the air! That's it, the crowd is getting completely out of control. I am knocked down and I start to lose consciousness when someone's foot kicks my head into the floor. The last thing I hear is an explosion and an order to take me out of here. Hrr... air burns.
The end
Yes, the disaster during the opening ceremony caused the death of my family and friends, as well as more than 40 people. More than 200 became disabled or suffered from chemical intoxication. All news services called for higher numbers, but only security services, along with the lawyers, know the real numbers. But only I know what, or rather who caused this tragedy.
But there were alarm bells from the internal security service about strange changes in the layout and suppliers. And only after the tragedy everything came together. One of the board of directors wanted to seize power in the company by destroying the top management, including family members. He could have fully succeded, try to prove that it was a purposeful diversion and not just a unlucky coincidence.
Violation of safety regulations, use of cheap materials, experienced specialists on paper but complete degenerates in reality, and so on. The number of errors and malfunctions just reached a critical point, that's the reason for the disaster. And he has nothing to do with it, he could have died too if he hadn't left because of an urgent call from the main office. But the greedy freak forgot that paranoia has always been a strong feature of Max and he was able to find a recording of his conversations and drunken bragging that soon he would become top dog.
Yeah, although what else to expect from a person who forgot that the company not only provided money to build his new house, but also found builders, and there will always be a place for people with the right skills to install wiretapping and tracking devices. For the last couple of months, we've been doing nothing but gathering information and planning revenge. I don't have long left, my body is decaying faster with every day passed. Without an oxygen mask, I can last even five minutes, and without strong pain killers, I doubt I can remain conscious. There is only one thing left to smoke a cherry flavoured cigarette, and take some enemies with me. And everything else will be dealt by Max.
The sound of the door opening pulled me out of thinking and unpleasant memories. Max is here.
- Time Abe. It's time. - said Max - a meeting of deputies and other riffraff in an hour. We need to hurry up.
- I know Max. Are the oxygen containers and the demolition charge inside the chair ready?
- Yes. Everything is ready.
-Then bring my favorite suit and help me with my tie. After all, you need to go to such a gorgeous funeral in a suit and not in hospital pajamas.
Main office
9-30 am
- Enough time has passed since that terrible tragedy, we need to get back on track. To do this, new heads of departments will be appointed and....
The doors suddenly opened and a wheelchair was wheeled in with several cylinders on its back. A young man was sitting on a wheelchair. Although an half-dead look and an oxygen mask can safely add 10 years.
- Well, why did you stop just now. Go on, I still want to find out how you plan to take over the company and make it completely your own. I am very interested in seeing jackals and vultures in their natural habitat.
- How dare you?!!! – this jackal yells, looking with his bloodshot eyes. Huh, and only six months ago he would have thought twice before raising his voice at me. – We are trying to save your family's legacy…
- Shut up. I know everything. And now you will be punished.
- Security! Get this madman out!
- Yes, yes. I am a madman, without preparation to come to the lion's den. By the way, about the preparation - I took out a portable communicator – Is everything ready?
- Everything is ready. All personnel have been evacuated to the lower floors.
- Great. And now be kind enough to block the elevators and doors of the top management floor and leave. If you want to see the show, turn on the security cameras. – I hope you enjoy the show, a thought passes in my head.
- I hope you all paid attention to the cylinders behind my back. They contain oxygen. And this – my hand pulls out a large box from a side container – is a powerful explosive. I think there are no frankly stupid degenerates here and everyone understands how this is connected?
- Please don't! Let us go! We have nothing to do with it! We didn't want to! Sorry! – the damn scavengers are screaming. But just a couple of minutes ago they felt untouchable. What a pitiful sight, but on the other hand, what to expect from such scum. As it was in the joke, these are not the worst of the best and not even the worst of the worst, but what is left after. Okay, it's time to end this, the very idea that these creatures will live for another minute is disgusting for me.
My hand slowly dips into my side pocket and pulls out a pack of cherry flavoured cigarettes and my favorite Zippo blue lighter. I take off my oxygen mask and light a cigarette. What bliss, how long I've been waiting for this moment. The ashes fall on the polished floor and for some reason the thought comes that I'm littering the floor, which someone washed and cleaned every day. I even felt a little ashamed, but all these thoughts go out of my head when only half a cigarette is left in my hands. Heh, these cowards just sat and watched me smoke. None of the them even thought to rush at me and stop their execution for past few moments. From the inside pocket of my jacket I take out a small detonator. That's all it remains only to click the button and it will all be over. The song Blood Type (Gruppa Krovi) started playing in my head. A good epilogue for my life. Even if the accompanying entourage is so so.
— He who sows the wind will reap the storm! – grinning angrily, I pressed the button and the last thing I saw was the bright light.