Chapter 3.4

A man entered the warehouse, as a loud bang was heard and Gold chain collapsed, half his head blown off. The newcomer grimaced as he looked at the surrounding corpses. He was a tall man with a lean muscular build. His dark chocolate skin made his short blonde hair look even more exotic. He was wearing an old, almost faded, green military camo jacket and his hands were stuffed into his cargo pants.

"You mind telling me why you killed my - Jason? You … you're alive?" The newcomer asked calmly before seeing Jason's face and taking a step back.

"John…?" Jason asked back, stunned.

"You survived. What happened to the others? Where have you been all this time? Why didn't you come back?" John asked as he looked at Jason.

"Dead. Why do you care?" Jason apathetically answered.

"Shit, you think we had a choice? I couldn't even go near Budapest to find out what happ- no. No, that's not it. You think I wanted that to happen. You think I wanted you dead. Really, Jason? After all we've been through, that's what you think?" John looked at Jason with wide eyes as he spoke.

"Is that why you never returned? You left us! Yo- you abandoned us! Us! When we needed you! When... I… when I needed you." John exploded angrily then ended while looking downwards, his voice breaking. "After the incident, we were attacked from all sides. Mercenaries ganged up on us, our clients left, and fatty… Fatty Lui died."

"Huh. So that's your play?" Jason replied blandly, his dead cold eyes burrowing into John. "Guilt-tripping me? You know what I think 'Papa John'? I think you started to worry about me. I was the perfect weapon, your gun, that you'd use on others. But when I started to think for myself, do things you didn't like? You got rid me. And that's what damned us all. That's why Fatty Liu's death is on you, not me."

"Bullshit. That's bullshit and you know it, Jason! I never wanted to control you and I certainly didn't want you dead!" John retorted.

"Really? Then what about Mary, huh? You knew I liked her but she always had a thing for you. But, somehow, someday, she started to date me. Now why's that, hm? And then, the night before I left for Budapest, right before the mission I see her go into your room. At night, John. Your room. For hours. Hmm?" Jason paused and waited for John to reply, who opened and closed his mouth without replying.

"Look at you, you don't even deny it. You used her to manipulate me, to control me. And I was fine with it, John, I was fine with it. Because I trusted you, I respected you! You were our captain, our friend, our fath- … our leader. You got us out of that hell-hole. But in the end, you betrayed me. You tried to kill me. And those kids … I used to hear 'em John, every night for the past 6 years I'd hear them screaming! Every night! They were innocent! You could've tried another way to kill me! Without involving them!" Jason bellowed, the first spark of emotions rippling through him. Wiping his eyes, while massaging them with two fingers, Jason continued. "So, yeah. I left, John. I up and left after that. And I'm glad I did. I realized who I was, who you were, and I did whatever I wanted. And now I'm free. So don't try to justify yourself. It doesn't matter. Not anymore."

"Then why are you here? Revenge?" asked a distraught John as he looked away, his eyes glistening with tears.

"No. These punks messed with my sister and her friends, so I decided to kill them. Consider it a warning, John. You or your men show up near any Second Academy student - any - and I find out? I'll wipe out whatever is left of your group, even if they are my old pals," Jason answered coldly as he walked away.

John watched him leave before looking upwards as tears fell from his face.

Damn it all. It wasn't like that Jason, he thought. But what's the point in explaining? I fucked up, so maybe this is karma.

Jason walked out of the warehouse and noticed a large group by the entrance, near a few parked cars. They were mostly young men and teens, the older ones carrying guns while the younger ones wielded pipes and bats. Only one was a female, dressed in normal clothes. Her brown shoulder-length hair blanketed her homely face and bright brown eyes. A look of shock appeared on her face when she recognized Jason. As the teens prepared to charge forward, the older ones stopped them, shaking their heads; they also recognized Jason.

"Jason? … how ...?" The woman began hesitantly but Jason ignored her and walked past her, to where he kept his bike. A roar sounded out as Jason drove past them, his motorcycle showcasing to them his prosperous status.

"Well, at least he's well-off, thank goodness," John came out the warehouse just in time to see Jason riding off. "Oh, and you boys stay away from any Second Academy students you see, or you'll end up like those bodies in there. And no, I can't save you when that happens."

He then turned to the woman who was looking back at him in confusion and sadness.

"Let's go home, Mary. I'll explain everything there." He said quietly to her. Mary nodded and the two left in a car while the rest went to clean the bodies in the warehouse.