the mallet of justice part III

Rig wakes up in the middle of the day. he is in the floor with his nose bleeding. he looks in front of him. Randy is standing in front with a smile.

"hello there, you sweet sleepy grumpy. you took a wild fight with six guys and won. I am really curious, are you even human? what are you waiting for. come on get up."

"some bastard was upset because I am leaving in two months. someone told everyone. now some bastards with old grudges had been coming at me to fight me."

it has been already twenty two months since the arrival of Rigoberto. he is soon getting out of this hellhole thanks to Senator Henry Stevens. in two months he is leaving. now some people are trying to break Rigoberto before he is gone.

Rig has notice that Roy Wilson has been watching him more lately. the director knows if he takes a step, or if he doesn't. Mr Wilson knows about Rig's activities at all time. is it out of fear, or is it for suspicion? only Mr Wilson knows why he is watchful of Rig.

.....

seven nights ago.

while Rig was trying to sleep. the prison director entered in his cell with a box in his hands. he seemed to be too friendly. something felt off.

"do you have time for an old friend? or are you not interested? now that you are leaving. you might think that you no longer need of my services."

"oh no Mr. Wilson, you are always welcome. please let me know how can I help you."

Roy opens the box. he takes a bottle of wine and two glasses out of it. he calls for one of the guards. the guard brings sea food to the two of them. another two guards bring a table and two chairs. they take a sit to eat.

"well I want to celebrate for the good news. my favorite henchmen is leaving soon. it was great having you here, I hope you behave better this time."

"thanks for the meal sir. if you are worry that my tongue may talk about your hobby. don't worry I won't tell no one, how you like to play mafia boss in your own prison. but if there is something else, please tell me about it."

Roy doesn't say a single word. they keep eating for the next few minutes. Rig thanks Roy for the food. he haven't eaten good food in so long. he almost forgot what real food should taste like.

"this is not about my 'personal' hobby, like you called it. this is about a favor that I want you to do. do it for me once you are out of here."

Rig smiles in a creepy way. he likes the road which the conversation is taking right now. Roy Wilson isn't asking to someone inferior, but he is talking to someone who he considers his equal. he isn't giving an order, but asking for a favor.

"please allow me to know, how can I help a gentleman like yourself?"

.....

the next day.

Rig told Kenneth about the visit from the director. Kenneth told him to follow his instructions because that man is dangerous. he told him about people who try to ignored him outside of prison, people that were later kill under his orders.

Rig starts to realized what type of man is the prison director. he knows that his best choice is to better follow the instructions of this man. the order was simple, to kill the man that he named. a man that the prison director hates.

Rig is curious about what can anger the prison director so much, to order to someone who he doesn't fully trust to kill that man. Rig is a bit curious, but more than curious. he knows that he shouldn't anger Roy Wilson.

Kenneth leaves him alone for a moment. Rig thinks about his brother. one of the guards comes and tells him that he has a visit. Rig is a confuse. he wasn't expecting for anyone to visit him this time. the only named that came to his mind was Henry Stevens.

Rig follows the guard. the man who visited him wasn't the Judge. but his own father, Juan Miguel Mendez. he came with good news. his father told him that his brother had awaken and that he is getting better.

for the first times in the last two years Rig was crying but of happiness. he was able to feel something that isn't anger. for a moment he was the innocent boy he used to be two years ago before all of this circus happened.

"pa how is Amado? es el doing good? does he misses me?"

"mijo. my pequeno. your brother isn't as healthy as he was. but I creo que la virgen will guided him. with love and rezos he will be as strong as un arbol. my little boy I want to hug you. I love you mijo."

"I love you to pa."

the conversation was light. for a moment Rig thought about resuming his life. once he is out of prison he wants to continue with school. he wants to go to a good school. there are many things he wants to accomplish.

maybe the past two years are just a bad nightmare. and once he is out of the hellhole. the nightmare will be finally over. he has some hope and dreams left. the boy he used to be isn't completely dead.

.....

for the following days Rig was careful enough to not fight, nor do anything risky. if anyone tried to attacked him. Rig's friends and his henchmen were always there. Rig had enough protection to be on equal footing to some of the strongest guys on prison.

of course Rig wasn't stupid to let that go to his head. he always took careful steps. he was always careful of his words and following actions. he was watched by too many eyes that were expecting him to commit a mistake.

another reason why he kept himself mostly out of trouble was his father. the conversation that he had with his father helped him a lot. he is now thinking with a more clear head. he wants to actually be free. he wants to see his brother.

for too long he felt on fire. for too long he left himself being affected by the new emotions he experienced after killing Jack. talking about the devil, he keeps seen Jack every once in a while. he isn't affected by his presence anymore.

there are times in which Rig feels comfort on Jack's visits and his words. he doesn't feel capable of telling this to anyone else. he knows that Kenneth blames himself for his son's actions and his death. so it is hard to tell him. he will only blame himself more.

now if we talk about someone like Randy. well the guy is too odd. he won't understand about things like guilt or other things. he won't understand him. there is also the possibility of him telling Kenneth about that.

the days used to be longer at the beginning. now a day feels like it end every two seconds or two minutes. maybe the time feels different, because Rig feels different. on the beginning he was afraid of his new life. now he is used to everything.

Rig feels like it is going to be an issue to forget about the gore. to forget about the drug deals done on prison. to forget about all the fighting. Rigoberto got used to the crude nature of prison. now that he is about to be free. he is afraid of the outside world.

Rig at times has conversations with Kenneth. he usually asks about his past life, or the things he could do if he gets out one day. Kenneth takes those conversations as a joke. he only wants to see his kids. he has forgotten how they look like.

most people when they talk about Kenneth. they refer to him as a beast. as a monster, but to Rig he is just a wounded old man. an old man who got a hard life and haven't enjoy much of his tragic life.

there are times in which Kenneth seems to be the most human out of everyone inside. he is even more human than Roy Wilson. unlike most guys, Kenneth never goes after weaker guys or people who haven't done anything to him. he is mostly a peaceful man.

there the few exceptions in which Kenneth breaks flesh and smashes bones. he is truly scary against those who provoke his rage. those fools end up either dead or disabled. Kenneth is no joke when it is about fighting.

.....

finally came Rig's final day on prison. his time to be free once more has come. it was like a miracle to him when he woke up that day.

the first thing he did was to says goodbye to his friends Randy, then to Kenneth. he also said goodbye to Terry Davis. on the last four months they became good friends.

he had some fun with his friends. he told Roy Wilson that he was taking the job. he is going to kill the guy on the picture. he then had some cake with Roy. they even drink some good liquor.

that day felt mostly like a party. it was a small meaningful celebration to Rig. soon he will see his family again. he wants to see his brother and hug his father. there are many things he wants to do. he will continue with his old life.

.....

on the day of Rig's released the Senator Henry Stevens was awaiting for him. he took him to the hospital to see his brother. in the way Rig asks about his family. he is told that they are doing fine.

when they arrive at the hospital Rig sees his brother Amado in a wheelchair. he is talking with a nurse. Amado seems to be happy.

Rig runs towards his brother. he hugs him. they weren't alone. Rig notice that Detective Williams is in there. before he could say anything the Detective left.

.....

for the next few days Rig walks on the streets. he is seem by some like a monster. by others like a victim.

Rig was unable to graduate for the incident. his father helped him to seek a way to graduate from high school. after some time he is allow to go back to school to finish the months that he needed.

but little he knew that in the time that he was on prison, the youngest brother of Jack was growing working for the Fierro mafia. he has been killing people and selling drugs. just like his brother did once. he has been waiting for his return to punish him.

his anger has grown so much that he doesn't want to just kill him. but also he wants him to suffer and be on hell since the first day he was freed. Samuel has been waiting and planing a way to make him suffer.

he isn't the only one who has been awaiting for Rig to be free. on the list is the greatest king pin himself, Tiziano Fierro. he was also waiting with joy and fear at the same time.

there is also the detective whom is investigating the Fierro mafia. he wanted to arrest Jack before his death. and now this detective is interested in knowing what would happen now that Rig is free.

there are many who were awaiting with anticipation for the day in which Rig walked free on the streets once more. now the question is, what would happen? or who would take the first move. but not everything is about him.

while Rig is trying to recover his life. some were trying to move forward. one day Jack's sister found the money that Jack kept hidden. with that money she left to another town alongside her boyfriend.

she tried to give a part to Sidney. but she refused to accept any dollar. now that she has a descent job she wants to keep her life like that. she doesn't need anything else.

Jack's mother keeps working as a hooker with only a son in her house. a son who sometimes arrives with blood on his clothes, with wounds, or with weapons. now is when the mother suffers to see her favorite child becoming just like the son she lost.

.....

it has been two weeks since Rig's freedom. Rig is walking on a quiet neighborhood. he walks directly towards a certain house with a black door. he knocks on the black door. after four minutes a man opens the door.

"Roy Wilson send me."

the man is frozen on fear. he is unable to move. he closed his eyes. Rig takes a pistol out and shots him. the man falls on the floor wounded. he drags himself inside. Rig gives two steps forward and he shots another four times. the man is now dead.

Rig leaves quietly. no one saw him. he keeps walking for about one hours. he looks at a diner and he decides to go there to kill some time.

once inside he takes a sit on a corner. Sidney was the waitress that served him. he asks for a black coffee and scrambled eggs with a sausage. Sidney knows who he is. she tries to be nice to him.

Sidney smiles with so much pain that a tear falls from her eyes and he notice. Rig eats peacefully. he asks for a second cup of coffee while eating. he looks at the window. Sidney asks him if there is something in his mind.

"not really, I was just wondering what my life would be if none of the things that had happen to me in the last two years ever.... never mind. pardon my boring talk. there are things that can't be undone. nor fate that can be change."

Rig keeps eating. he drinks the coffee in silence. when he is done, he leaves the money on the table. he walks away. outside he is stop by Sidney holding a gun.

"if this is about the money, I left it in the table. is twice the price."

some tears fall from Sidney's eyes. a part of hers wants to avenge her dead lover. another part of her is grateful. and some parts of her are on doubt. she is trembling while holding the gun with all her strength.

"you killed my boyfriend two years ago."

"if he was the Jack guy. he left my brother in a coma for almost two years. and now that he has awaken he is in a wheelchair unable to speak properly."

"I am sorry. but he was the love of my life. he was everything to me on some point of my life. he wished for a better life."

"if we ask who lost more, from a man with no future like your boyfriend. to a man whom was accepted to the college of his dreams with dreams of becoming a great doctor...."

Sidney is mute unable to answer. she sees the anger on Rig's eyes. she can feel how much that incident has effected him.

"....tell me who lost the most. if you can't, then I would tell you. but does it even matter now. it has been two years since all of this shit happen. so why do we keep holding ourselves on a past that is already gone. and it won't come back, never ever again."

Sidney could hear the pain on his voice. she can see a tear or two falling from his eyes. she throws the gun in the ground. she falls on her knees crying.

Rig takes the gun. he looks at it for a second. he puts it inside a trash can. then he whispers a few words that she could barely hear "I am so sorry." those are the words that he said before leaving.