Evening was approaching.
As John drank water, a heated discussion took place in the room.
"How likely is it that something like this is real?" Maxwell paced the room as he spoke.
"As likely as at least one vampire being real. But that's just a possibility," Axel remarked as he leafed through the newspaper.
"Why don't we investigate?" Felix asked eagerly.
"I hope nobody here is thinking of becoming a ghost hunter," Maxwell looked at Felix suspiciously.
"We don't need to know everything," Axel's attitude was clear. He wasn't one to chase after every unknown. He didn't want to investigate the reality of ghosts unless it was a threat to him.
"Alright." Felix, though a little disappointed, knew they were right. Without clues they couldn't investigate.
John lit a cigarette. He took the cigarette out of his mouth and held it in his hand. "There's something more important," he said, looking very serious.
Maxwell, Axel and Felix turned to John curiously. "What happened, John?" Maxwell asked.
John took a deep breath and took another drag on his cigarette. "I'll tell you, but Axel, I want you to stay calm. I got a message on my cell phone. Tony..." Axel's face suddenly turned serious. "Tony?"
John leaned toward Axel. "Tony's been seriously injured."
Axel stood still. He hadn't expected to hear this.
____ Flashback
"Tony, you look pretty energetic for an old man," Axel said with a smile to the older man punching the bag.
"I'm still young. The day I get old is the day I die." Tony was out of breath as he took off his boxing gloves. He had been training for a long time.
Axel understood what Tony meant.
Tony was one of the strongest guys around. He had been drawn into the world of crime at a young age, but when Axel met him, his life wasn't so dark. Both had grown up in tough neighborhoods. Tony was always involved in shady deals, petty theft and fraud. Axel, on the other hand, was a young man trying to obey the law and do the right thing.
Their paths crossed in a street fight. Tony had saved Axel from bullies, and from that day forward they became close friends. Their friendship lasted until Axel became a vampire. After Axel became a vampire, they never saw each other again.
Axel met Tony again when Tony was an old man. Although Tony recognized Axel, he thought it was impossible for Axel to be the same person.
"I'm still young. The day I get old is the day I die," Tony said, smiling. There was a melancholy smile on his face.
"Was he someone you loved?" Axel pretended not to know.
"He was my brother." His voice trembled as he spoke. "The bodies of his parents were found. But Lucas' and his sister's were not."
Axel was shocked to hear the name. Could her sister still be alive? "Do you think they are dead?" Axel pretended he didn't know.
"I don't know. It's been a long time. But I hope they're not dead if they're still alive." Axel was lost in thought as he heard Tony's words.
The death Tony was talking about was the death of the soul. You live, you eat, you drink, you sleep, but you don't live, that's all.
John prevented that from happening by helping Axel.
"You're a good man, Tony." Axel put his hand on Tony's shoulder.
"No. No, I'm not. I've made too many mistakes. There's no making up for my mistakes. I've done everything for money, for power. I deserve God's hell. My only wish before I die is to ease my conscience." Tony had killed too many people. The men he killed weren't innocent, but Tony was no different from those men.
Axel remained silent. He wanted to comfort Tony, but he knew it was impossible. Tony was a smart man. He knew all his mistakes.
"Axel," Tony's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
Axel looked at him, indicating that he was listening.
"Don't be like me. Money, power, this life of luxury. They all remind me of the blood I spilled." Tony said, looking around in disgust.
"I can't promise to live a righteous life. But I'll try." Axel spoke honestly.
Flashback ends
An old car was speeding down the street, exceeding the speed limit. It was a 1970 Dodge Charger. Axel was in the driver's seat.
As the car pulled into the hospital parking lot, Axel quickly parked and got out of the car. The other Blackwood family members followed.
After getting the necessary information from the hospital secretary, Axel went to Tony's hospital room.
When he arrived, Tony's family was already there. The doctors hadn't allowed anyone in the room. Tony was in critical condition in intensive care.
Axel felt a pang in his heart when he saw Tony's family. They all looked worried and distraught. Axel looked at them and quietly moved to the waiting area outside the room.
Maxwell tapped Axel lightly on the shoulder. "We're here for him. Whatever needs to be done, we'll do it," he said in a calm voice.
Felix, on the other hand, sat quietly, staring thoughtfully ahead. After a few minutes he looked up and turned to Axel. "If this was a hostile attack, we need to find out who did it. Whoever hurt Tony must be punished."
Axel took a deep breath. "Let's wait for Tony to recover first. Then we'll pursue this matter."
At that moment, a doctor came out of the room and walked toward Tony's family. Axel could tell from the doctor's expression that he had bad news.
Tony's wife approached the doctor. "Doctor, how is he?" she asked, her voice shaking.
The doctor shook his head sadly. "Unfortunately, we have lost Tony. We did everything we could, but his injuries were too severe."
The only person left from his old life was dead. He thought of him as his brother.
Axel took a deep breath and his expression hardened. Tony's family sobbed uncontrollably.
John touched Axel's shoulder and said, "We're here for you, Axel.
Axel walked over to the departing doctor.
"Is there a problem, sir?" The doctor was curious as to Axel's identity.
Axel whispered to the doctor in a tone only he could hear, "No one will know he's dead. No one but these people will know."
The doctor was startled by Axel's attitude. "What are you trying to do?"
"Just for a few hours. I don't need an answer from you. I just told you what to do." Axel looked threatening.
"Okay." The doctor agreed, feeling that Axel was dangerous.
After finishing his conversation with the doctor, Axel returned to John, Maxwell and Felix. Tony's family was still sobbing uncontrollably.
"What are we going to do?" Maxwell asked Axel, looking at him.
Axel looked at them and spoke calmly. "We'll do whatever it takes."
Axel closed his eyes for a moment and thought. Then, as if he had made a decision,
"John, you stay here. Make sure these people are safe. You two," Axel pointed to Maxwell and Felix, "come with me."
John nodded. "All right, Axel. Be careful."
Axel, Maxwell and Felix walked out of the hospital. Axel got into his car and drove quickly toward downtown. As they drove through the darkness of the night, Axel's mind was filled with thoughts of revenge.
A few hours later, they came to a dark street in the city. Axel parked the car and got out, followed by John and Felix.
Axel walked over to an old warehouse.
This warehouse was one of Tony's haunts. Few people knew about it. Axel went inside.
Inside the warehouse was an arsenal of weapons. There were different models of guns. Axel picked up a custom-made revolver that belonged to Tony.
Felix and Maxwell each picked up a Beretta from the arsenal.
Maxwell asked the question on his mind. "Why didn't you want the news of his death to spread?"
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