Chapter 5: Freedom Cry

My name is Zachariah Wing Barone, and I was assigned the case of the King. I decided to go undercover and gather more information. This woman, Jessica Roberts, who is she? What was she to the King? I needed to know what kind of person she was and why the King protected her. It wasn't just that one time. It was shown in the records that she was hospitalized three years ago. The same time he disappeared. I didn't think it was a coincidence. As such, he was my prime suspect. That wasn't it too. This Arthur fellow, his files were blank at the PD. It was like he didn't exist or something. He was certainly a mysterious fellow, and that was enough for me to bank on him.

In class, he seemed like your normal deadbeat student. He wasn't anybody that stood out. I approached him and Jessica after hours. I had to test this man. If he was anywhere close to my suspicions, he should be able to handle me in hand-to-hand combat.

In the ring, though he didn't fight back, my suspicions were almost cemented. He had quick cat-like reflexes. He was able to react to every move I threw at him and this was including when I decided to "play" a little more seriously. Arthur didn't seem like a fighter for sure, but that was just one test. He handled me a little too well. Plus, when the bout started, there was something strange about him. His aura was not like mine at all. His….his was deadlier. Somebody like him, somebody that likes to be unnoticed, how can he emit such an ominous aura? I had more questions than answers at that point, but it was something I had to return to at a later time.

Back at the precinct, we were getting reports of gang attacks around the city. Calling themselves, "Freedom Cry, the Tears of the City." The reports the involved them included most petty crimes from grand theft auto to gas station robbery. These thugs were trying to build a name for themselves, trying to spread their influence.

"So Freedom Cry eh," Chris spoke.

"What about them?" I questioned.

"These guys, don't they seem a little random?"

"A little, I think it's in response to the King's return."

"Fun fact about them," Julie interjected, "apparently, Freedom Cry was a name for old freedom fighters here in the city."

"Really?" Chris asked.

"Yeah, I dug around for them, and folks say that was the name used during the Civil Rights movement back in the 60's. It seems that they are deeply rooted into the city and its history."

"Then why come around committing petty crimes?" I pondered. Were these the same guys as the one's in the history books? They couldn't be. Men like that, that fought for freedom and oppression would never turn to crime. Men that were inspired by Malcom X and his peers. This wasn't the same group. I was able to deduce that much. These guys, they were something else, and they were turning a name of hope into something to fear, much like what Hitler did with the Swastika. These guys, they were doing the same. Then, as if it was fate itself, we received a call saying that thugs had appeared calling themselves "Freedom Cry." Chris wasn't just going to let a chance like this go. He instructed Julie and I to head towards the scene. "Well, well, fate sure is weird isn't it Zach?"

"What do you mean Jules?"

"I mean we were just researching these guys and BOOM, 911 here they are."

"Yeah, I guess." I shrugged my shoulders. "Let's just hope we get there in time."

"You doubt my driving skills?"

"I doubt your cooking skills, not driving," I laughed.

"HEY!"

We arrived at the scene. It was a gas station not too far from a junction to the interstate. There were hooded men, with bandanas covering their faces, about six men in total. "THIS CITY HAS CRIED FOR FAR TOO LONG!" One of the men called out. They were armed with molotov cocktails, and iron rods. They threw the cocktails around, not caring for the destruction they caused. They noticed us when Julie blared the car sirens. They didn't run. "Wow lookie here, they sent some cops. WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ARREST US?!"

"They're not scattering?"

"They're not afraid Julie." I got out of the car, one hand on my side arm. "I'm going to approach, we only see six but there may be more. Cover me."

"Got it."

"You think we're afraid of you?! YOU DAMNED COPS CAUSED ALL THIS?! WE ARE THE CITY'S ANSWER TO WHAT YOU WON'T FIX!!" The same guy spoke. He must've been the leader of this group.

"Is that right," I responded as I approached closer, "how about we drop the flaming bottles and talk this out like civilized folk."

"Sure, we'll talk. ON YOUR DEAD BODY!"

"You don't want to do this."

"I THINK WE DO! KILL HIM!" The leader ordered. The three with the rods came charging at me in three different directions. One to my left, one to my right, one directly in front, with the one on the left being the closest to me.

I evaded the left, grabbed his shoulder and threw him at his comrade. Only the one that was on my right remained. He swung multiple times, all of which I evaded. I grabbed his rod with my left hand and punched him in the gut with my right. That was when I noticed. The reason why these men were acting so savagely and didn't listen to reason. They were drugged. The man I struck, didn't feel the pain from my blow and tried to continue his assault. He readied himself to strike me with his bare hands this time, bad move. If they couldn't feel pain, then I had to incapacitate them. I ducked under his fist, grabbed it and bent his arm into a "C." I kicked the back of his knees, making him kneel, and then followed up with a horizontal elbow strike to his head. It wasn't fatal, but he'll be out cold for a bit. His allies regained their position and came charging again. I picked up the metal rod and charged at one. Three strikes, two to the abdomen and one to the head, out cold. The remaining one jumped at me and tried to kick, but I intercepted him. I grabbed him while he was in midair and sent him to the ground, followed by a kick to the head, knocking him out too. The three that had stayed behind, readied their molotovs, but before they could even light their bombs Julie disarmed them, by shooting the bottles of alcohol. Upon realizing their long range weapons were useless, they proceeded to charge me again. I entered my stance, a hardened mǎbù facing left, a square stance. I clenched my fists as they approached me. The first guy lunged at me with the intent to choke me. I grabbed his left index finger, snapped it, and proceeded to wrap my right arm around his head. I tripped him and sent him to the ground face first. The next guy tried to roundhouse kick me. I checked his kick with my left leg, jumped and straight kicked his chin upwards with me right. Using the momentum created, I stepped and jumped off his left shoulder in order to create enough space for a flying right tornado kick to his jaw. "That's two!" I glanced at the "leader." He was drugged like his men here, but that didn't stop the natural instincts. He knew before him stood a foe he could not defeat. He ran towards me, screaming with all his might, as if to convince himself he could win. He threw a right straight jab. I evaded to the left and struck his abdomen with my right fist. I followed up with a left elbow strike to the chin causing multiple concussions. With his collapsing form, I followed up with a right twisting axe kick, knocking him out. "Bravo detective." A voice called out from afar. Except, this voice sounded distorted. It was coming from a loudspeaker. "You beat up six hardworking citizens of this city."

"Citizens? More like criminals." I responded

"Gasp! DETECTIVE! How dare you!"

"Who are you?"

"Me? Well, let's just say I'm the people's answer."

"Really. You?"

"Yes, can't you hear it, detective? The cries of the city?" He sounded as if he was about to cry. "You're question shouldn't have been who but what. WE, are the DIVINE PUNISHMENT against all of whom stand against true law and order. TRUE FREEDOM!" As this maniac was blabbering about, I noticed more people gathering around me. I counted around 50 men, and that was what I could see. "WE ARE FREEDOM CRY! THE TRUE ANSWER FOR FREEDOM!"

"If you think freedom means crimes and drugs, then buddy I've got news for you."

"Oh, you're going to stop me are you? STOP THE PEOPLE?! YOU HERE THAT FOLKS? HE'S A SINNER! WE MUST CLEANSE THIS CITY OF PEOPLE LIKE HIM. PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEIZE OUR FREEDOM! PEOPLE LIKE HIM AND…...AND THE KING!"

"Ah I get it now. You're acting in response to his return."

"Yes, the true heretic. He who wishes to destroy our freedom. He who makes the city cry. The King."

"Well," I cracked my knuckles, and my neck. I loosened up my joints. More than 50 men, there wasn't a way this wasn't going to be a major brawl, "I'm sorry but he and this sorry ass cult of yours. I'm taking all of you down."

"You can try detective. You can most certainly try, but those the Cry, we all over the city. No one detective can stop us. No mere man can!"

"No man, then how about a king?" Another voice called out. I glanced to my right at the gas station. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was him. The hooded vigilante. The King! He jumped down from the roof of the gas station and walked to my side. "All this talk about freedom and crying, when you're the one poisoning the city with your drugs." He glanced at me, and I couldn't tell through his mask, but I think he smiled? He clenched his fist and glared at the men in front of us. "50, 100, 1,000, it makes no difference to me. I will destroy you. All of you."

"MEN HERE LIES THE TRUE HERETIC! MAKE HIM PAY! KILL HIM! IN THE NAME OF FREEDOM CRY!" The voice behind the speaker ordered. I saw them all clearly as they entered the light and began to charge at me, Julie, and the King, 100 men. This was going to be a long night.