Knowing The Past

----|10 years ago |----

Elbert's POV

Being an orphan, I never knew how I was born. When I could feel my existence as an unique entity, there was always Al Calphonso, the trainers and his thugs.

There were several other orphans. We lived together. All of us were strong and tough kids picked up from various orphanages across Asia.

They trained us to be the Dead-Man's henchmen. From snipping to shooting, boxing to fighting, science to law, psychology to technology we had to know them all. We read codes, languages, court verdicts, detective & crime history, anatomy, diversity of weapons and their various uses. We knew surgery. We could treat anyone with the least of resources that were available. In brief we were trained to escape death in the most deadly situations.

In return they gave us food to live, clothes to wear, home to stay and a family to cherish. Though we had to work hard we never complained; it was a better life indeed.

Al Calphonso appointed the best of all men in his specialized team for selecting and training the orphans.

For a vivid understanding of the situation, we shall have to go back in the past when all of this began and I, Elbert Dillinger got the title 'El'.

The Dead-man had his first kill in his teens. His life was like a criminal novel. Unlike all of us, he knew his father. He was hanged on a false accusations of murdering the Prime minister. A day after his father was convicted he stabbed six men chiefly connected with the crime and comprehension of the allegation which included the original killer, a policemen, a lawyer, the judge and his father's dearest friend, Tommy Rider. After he had avenged for his father's death he swiftly escaped to Nevada where he worked under a popular Mafia group of Mexico in those days. He said "it was a tough life but a dear life."

Later when he was in his early 20s, the mafia died, he took over the gang and moved towards the southern region. Since then he expanded his territory and became richer.

Al Calphonso was a rough man. His hands were shrouded with cold blood. He had lost an eye for an eye, had deep scars; one over his right cheek another on his left elbow. The chest had cup marks of cigar burns. Once his leg was ripped open by a drilling machine and he has sewn all of that shit back together with perfection. Apart from it he has a few bruises on the back and shoulders and his physic looked quite thick and heavy. He never came out of the dark ally where he is known to trod from his early 30s. Nobody saw him for 20 years now except for myself.

Why ? Because he is my Godfather. The man neither had faith on the vows of wedlock nor ever remembered of falling in love. Mafias don't love he once said to me.

Yet I was dear to him like his own beget.

When I was first introduced to the gang by Dr. Chyle Heartwood, my foster father; they thought I was weak. However Dr. Chyle was Dead-Man's closest acquaintance and on his recommendation I could still make my way through.  He was persistent and believed that I could live in this world if I had been given a slightest chance. So I knew I had to prove myself that I am worthy of it.

Thereafter my days were rough. Bruises, scars and a few broken bones marked the end of almost everyday. Meals were enough but nothing of that could ever filled our stomach entirely. We had minimal clothes even on winters and life was difficult.

I had my first kill at the age of 17. After that I had my second and third kill in the same year.

When I was still recovering the broken bones, an unknown girl under-covered, attempted to stab the Dead-man on his bed.

The night was darker than usual and evening clouded over the ally quite too soon. Al Calphonso felt the wind made him sick. He called for me to have a conversation. I thought it was very incredulous since the Dead-man never chit chatted from what I could recall. He seemed cool and composed, spoke the least and never let any extra details out of himself that would give others an advantage over him.

Before his dinner he asked me how I was doing in my lessons and that if I ever needed any help I should inform him. He said me more about the mafia world and the mafioso. He warned me about different types of dangers.

I felt awkwardly happy. It was my first time meeting our Boss. I had always imagined how the Dead man actually looked. My childish mind thought that perhaps he was a man who was dead and could still give instructions. It made my innocence curious. I never knew why it was me that he called for the night among all the other orphans. Maybe he saw some kind of potential in me but what ?

Now that it has been almost 10 years I could still not get enough from Al what one would say a satisfactory explanation to ' why was it me among all ? '

That night I slept in his chamber. I was accommodated in a corner sofa; too huge for my little body. Al slept on the bed beside the sofa but I couldn't sleep. That night he ordered extra guards for security. Perhaps he could sense something.

When the night fell deep, Al fell into a deeper slumber. Just when I was about to close my eyes. I saw a shadow move over the glass window. At first I thought it was just a guard on his duty but when the shadow turned low to reveal a figure dark blue under the moonlight; I knew it was an assassin.

My heart panicked. Was he going to kill me or Al? Probably both of us.

The man sneaked in. He tip toed towards the bed where the Dead-man lay in his stupor. From how he moved I could surmise he wasn't aware of my presence. I had to think of a way. There was a huge mud vase beside the sofa. When he was looking at Al's face in a lost gaze; His vengeful eyes thrusting sharply through his heart under the dewy moonlight, I took my chance.

I knew I had to be quick or else I would be dead before a second thought. With an utter swiftness I lifted the heavy vase and threw it towards his head with a precise perfection. He fell on the ground. The smash of the vessel made the guards hurried into the room. Al woke up and saw me panting. The assassin lay on the ground and all the broken clay pieces scattered around him. There were blood spills all over the carpet. 

My huge rounded eyes looked like a schizophrenic patient. The guards pulled up the covers from his face and I was stupefied on the unexpected revelation; a girl somehow of my age lay collapsed on the ground. I couldn't make out the face clearly since she was covered in blood.

They carried her away in her unconsciousness. We knew she would be latter questioned and punished.

 After everyone left, Al Calphonso beckoned me to come close to him. He ordered a glass of milk to be served. I still shivered while I hold onto the glass.

" That was a brave one. You proved yourself to me today " 

He said while patting my shoulder gently. 

" Go to your room and have good sleep. " 

Al eyes glittered and it seemed he was delighted.

Later in the morning when I woke up I came to know the assassin girl had already escaped. The fugitive produced a huge rush in the hallway as our hideout was finely exposed to a trespasser and that was enough of a threat.  

Nobody could prove her existence. she fled under the cover of the shadows.

We had to arrange for ourselves a better shelter as we search the rugged landscapes of Northern Mexico.

However Al Calphonso was pleased. A few days later after we settled in a small town of Juarez, He called for me in the afternoon.

" Elbert eh ? Your name seemed so royal and nobel my boy . That makes you a vulnerable punk. Do you like it ?"

"It's just an identity. I don't have much attachments with it since I do not know who kept it and why"

" That's ok my boy. I'll give you a name; quite a reasonable one. Im sure you will like it"

" Anything you wish sir"

" Your well mannered and that makes you likable"

"Thank you sir"

" You shall be called ' El ' from now. Go my dear Son El , make me proud."

Everyone of us kept a small weapon. We weren't allowed to keep guns until our initiation ceremony. 

I knew the decorum. I unsheathed the little dagger that I always carried with me. Placed the weapon in front of Al Calphonso i sat low.

" I shall follow your orders with my flesh and blood "

He smiled through the corner of his mouth, picked up the weapon and presented it to me.

This is how Elbert Dillinger was known became El.