Seht den Löwen, der den Stamm Juda besiegt, die Wurzel Davids! Ich werde das Buch und seine sieben Siegel öffnen. Ich habe Satan wie einen Blitz gesehen, der vom Himmel fällt. Du hast uns die Macht gegeben, Drachen, Skorpione und alle deine Feinde unter deinen Füßen zu vernichten. Nichts soll uns schaden, nicht einmal____________________________."
"You listened to it, right?"
A strange rattling sound emerged, all the televisions went black and lost their signal. Gerard and his wife Emily were engaged in a peculiar ritual, sitting within a circle drawn with chalk. All around the place were some writings in what appeared to be an unknown language. In the middle was a black wooden cross, with some writing on it as well. A performance of indulging akin to ritual, the memoir on the paper Gerard was holding had mysterious textures.
He hesitated, unsure of the results, while Emily remained silent, stuck in a deaf and numb state. The atmosphere became even more intense and oppressive as if a spiritual phenomenon had surrounded their home with possession.
"Alright Emily, now's our chance... This is the last page if we do it then... You understand?"
Emily nodded, steeling herself to accept what might be next as she clenched her fist. Gerard began reciting the words, the atmosphere deepened, the house seemed to be darkened, and their garden seemed to lose its all significance as every flower was molded to dust.
"Watch your words! Behold, he forbids rebellion against our wills, and bids you return to your seats. Let there be peace between us and you, and be ready to come in every way, as you have been called to face."
Gerard spoke words that didn't seem to dispel the darkness but alleviated the weight of the surroundings more. They felt a temporary sense of cold since snowfall started, but the situation grew more complicated. The ashes of the circle flew from their places because of the chilly winds and faded away like dust.
The powdered circle vanished, leaving Emily and Gerard outside. She attempted to lead out a sweet but agitated whisper which was abnormal since she was mute but was abruptly interrupted.
"You–"
"It's alright. I'll be the test subject."
Gerard gave Emily a reassuring smile.
"Bring that thing. It's in my basement, covered with crimson cloth."
Emily's face was saddened, but a blend of fear and curiosity forced her to comply. She descended the stairs leading to the basement, stepping into the pitch-black darkness. Various smells blew her senses as she made her way through this unfamiliar environment. As she reached the corner, she found the object that had been hidden and concealed beneath the red cloth. She hesitated, hesitant to expose its contents, but her fear was engulfed by the overwhelming curiosity. Emily removed the red cloth, and a surge of shock ran through her veins, mixing it with fear as she swallowed her saliva.
...
"Coming to the actual reason, when are you supposed to return your debt, James?"
Five days ago, around fifty well-dressed and mannered people were sitting in a large room.
[Communist Party Associates...]
They were one of the most important political parties in this country. The man named James was sitting in front of them becoming a centre of attraction, he was wearing a cap and a mask, a white jacket and black pants. Albeit, his attire seemed to be akin to a boy but he seemed to be in his thirties.
James stood confidently in front of the room filled with politicians, his brown eyes scanning the faces of each individual. The gossip about his debt hung heavy in the air, and the tension was palpable. His voice quivered slightly as he began to speak.
"Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to address you today. I understand the situation and the frustration caused by our inability to collect the necessary funds to repay the debt. It was never my intention to deceive or mislead anyone–"
One politician named Herein, his voice dripping with anger, interrupted James.
"So you're saying you failed to collect the amount we entrusted to you and how do you expect us to believe that? We set a deadline and gave you extra time, yet you still can't fulfil your obligations. Do you expect us to let you walk free while we suffer the consequences or shall we send you to court?"
James sighed, his gaze halted towards the table, hiding the subtle smirk that tugged at the corners of his lips.
"I admit that I miscalculated the potential returns, and for that, I take full responsibility. But let me ask you this: is it fair to burden me with a debt of fifty billion Marx that far surpasses my own net worth, while you sit in positions of immense power and wealth, Mr. Richard?"
James addressed one of the politicians who spoke up with a formality and density, differently from any other politician.
"James, the constitution doesn't bend to people's preferences. It is a framework designed to maintain order and protect the interests of our nation. We have dedicated our lives to serving this country and its democracy. Do you really think you're exempt from the consequences of your actions?"
A sly smile played on James' lips as he responded. A hint of mocking in his words.
"Mr. Richard, your ego precedes you, doesn't it? But let me remind you—it is the collective power and influence that you wield as politicians that set you apart from the rest of society."
Richard's face remained cold, but James continued, his tone dense.
"You hold the reins of this nation, governing and ruling over the lives of its citizens. You have amassed wealth and power far beyond what any ordinary individual could dream of. Yet, you demand that I shoulder a debt that is a fraction of your net worth? Everything I did was with the request of your stature and to help with the same cause in order to reconcile but pressing a charge against me for defamation seems Peccadillo to you?"
A false charge of defamation...?
The politicians didn't show any kind of emotions but did exchange uneasy gazes and doubts. The force of their authority, usually unquestioned, seemed to hang in the tranquillity. James seized the opportunity to make his proposal and sighed.
"I have a proposal to make, it seemingly may help to be held my debts certainly. On the 27th of June, at precisely 9:45 p.m., you have an important meeting scheduled at the Giardino Di Fiori hotel, correct? Today is the 25th, only two days to go."
The room erupted with expressions of shock.
"How do you know about that? This is confidential information!" One politician pointed out loud.
"Calm down, Mr. Herein. I assure you, I am here to help everyone. As you are well aware, at 9:44 p.m., a bomb is set to detonate at the Giardino di Fiori hotel."
Gasps filled the room, and all eyes were fixed on James. Still reeling from the revelation, Herein managed to stand amidst the chaos and tried to speak in between but Richard silenced the room, slightly raising his hand.
"Continue, we weren't able to catch the perpetrator. This hotel holds a significance which we cannot avoid."
"Thank you, sir. I happen to have ties with the individual responsible for this act, and I am the only one who knows how to apprehend him."
Herein, his voice filled with distrust and anger, raised his gun, pointing it towards James. The politicians remained there in silence as the situation reached its peak, and the atmosphere grew increasingly cold.
"You want us to believe in a normal entrepreneur like you? Wait, was this your plan?"
James looked at Herein with an utter confusion. "Um... well, why? Wouldn't it also affect my worth?"
He slowly stood up and met Herein's eye with a serious gaze.
"Mr. Herein, why so violent? Of course not, I have many ways to correspond to this but the hotel's dependency currently lies on my hand. The surveillance cameras you use in this very company were developed by me. And besides, I don't even have the culprit's contact information since I owed him once. Would you still pull that trigger and risk tarnishing your respected and generous public image? One single action could bring your reputation crashing down."
Hesitating here, he reasoned thoughtfully in his mind while he trembled and slowly lowered the gun. The room breathed a collective sigh of relief, the tension easing a little. James took a step forward, his eyes fixed on Richard, he whispered something in his ear that made Richard flinch.
"Richard, did James' words thrash you that much? You look very pale." Another politician leaned toward Richard's ear, concerned etched on her face.
"Sarah, we shouldn't trust him anyway, but if all goes well the hotel might survive. We must trust James this time." Richard said, swallowing hard, his voice barely audible.
Whispers and incredulous glances resonated through the room.
"Richard, are you really sure about that? After everything that has happened, do you really think we should trust him?" Sarah, confused, whispered the question in Richard's ear.
He made eye contact with James, his stance firm. He stood up gently and raised his voice.
"My friends, thoughts have changed. We are in a dire situation, facing an imminent threat that we cannot handle alone. If we don't use this opportunity to unite, protect our families and ensure our survival, who will be left to defend justice and decisions? We will only have to watch our families' suffering from above... Do you want that to be the case?"
He looked around the room, meeting the gaze of each politician in turn. Richard, known for his unwavering resolve and idealism, seemed to have adopted a new way of thinking.
"Let us not forget the principles we have sworn to uphold—unity, family and the wider interest. These ideals must guide us in this difficult decision."
James sneered with a slight tinge of sarcasm.
"Ah, unity, family, and interest. What great ideas to pursue. I might even start to idealize you, Richard."
Richard, unaffected by the sarcasm, looked James straight in the eye.
"We can overcome this challenge together. Our differences, your debts—let's put them aside for the moment. Let's protect what's most important to us together."
Silence fell over the room, the politicians grappling with their options. Herein, finally spoke up.
"Richard, if you said so, we must trust your judgment. Let's do this."
One by one, the politicians began to nod in agreement, their initial idea turning into a glimmer of reasoning. James, sensing the change in the atmosphere, handed them each a piece of paper.
"Then, sign this agreement." He said calmly.
"It will symbolize our unity and commitment to confront this threat."
Everyone confidentially signed the papers, binding themselves to this unexpected alliance.
...
The sky was covered with clouds as usual, the night of June 27 has finally arrived, the red-wood heightened building of Giardino di Fiori was illuminated, but the sky was covered in darkness and the atmosphere outside the hotel was showing the silence around the area. A lively party was in full swing. The guests held their wine glasses as a symbol of respect and importance in the ceremony before the meeting. The President of the Communist Association Maximilien Robespierre came to deliver a toast, his powerful voice resonating throughout the venue, overwhelming every single individual out there.
"As I propose a toast, let us enjoy this party to the fullest and nurture our thoughts for this country and ourselves. The meeting will be held after the festivities. May you all enjoy the night! Hail Mary!"
The President's words were much of a resonance through everyone present, setting the tone for this perfect and elegant evening. Herein and Richard were engaged in a casual conversation amidst the celebration. However, Herein suddenly brought up something unexpected, expressing doubts about James and how he had obtained certain information.
"Are you sure James was right about this? I can't understand how he found out about this ceremony. The warning stated that the bomb would detonate at 9:44 but it's 10 O'clock now, it hasn't happened yet."
Herein voiced his concerns. Richard looked at him with a smile, patting his shoulder and confronting Herein, reminding him of James' plan.
"Maybe he was right. Thanks to his help, the culprit might have already been apprehended. Without him, we all might be dead by now."
Herein wore a worried and complex expression as he gazed at the dark night sky, with only the Giardino di Fiori Hotel shining brightly, creating a beautiful scene around the dark atmosphere. After a moment, Herein took a moment and wanted to talk about something.
"Richard, if we knew that the bomb will explode at a certain time, why didn't we avoid this place right away."
"All I followed was Mr. Robespierre's order. He's a hard-to-read man."
Richard held a soft gaze towards him and slowly shifted it back with a subtle idea on the back of his mind.
"Herein, I have a plan. You just have to support me in this..."
Herein, confused but intrigued, asked.
"What kind of plan?"
"Just gather all of our members, and I'll explain everything," Richard replied with a resolute.