The End? Or A New Beginning? Part 1/2

Nathan fell on the old couch.

"Sigh, I'm so tired!"

The problems that Nathan was facing were not something that everyone could handle. If someone else had faced the same situations​ they would have most probably gone insane at this point. Despite the fact that Nathan was still standing and fighting, he was just too tired mentally and physically to do anything more.

Nathan was 21 years old. Medium height with lean build with thick black hair with dark violet hue that was one of his unusual features. He was a good-looking man especially with his bright violet eyes and long eyelashes that gives​ him a unique charm that even girls would get envious of. He was a perfect example of what you say a "pretty boy".

His hobbies were reading, jogging, and looking through ancient archaeological sites and artifacts. In spite of the fact that he could not afford to own them but Nathan could not help it. He always found it fascinating seeing something that was made ages ago by someone unknown with some unknown techniques that we still did not know.

These were the relics of human advancement and proof of ancient human's wisdom. The more the mystery it holds the more Nathan wants to visit the site or to get his hands on the artefact.

He had a warm and compassionate personality. He was an honest and hardworking man, a unique breed you may call in this day and age. And uniqueness does not always mean something good. It could be like a "curse" that will not stop until it broke you into pieces.

The world was full of materialistic people. Where honesty, and kindness were like the biggest flawes. Where people helped only in matters where they could get benefits in return. Compassion has become like a loan, If anyone thinks that he will not get anything in return then you won't get any.

But that does not mean that there were not any good people around. There were also a bunch of people like Nathan. But in front of ruthless and deceiving society, they always lose. Well that was the case most of the time.

At this moment Nathan was helpless. His company that he built with his blood and sweat from the scratch. A place that he called his second home, was crumbling like a sand castle. And no matter how hard he made an effort Nathan could not change anything. He could not help but just helplessly watch the downfall of his hard earned wealth and reputation.

He always treated his employees as a family and gave them an environment where they could learn and grow because he also came from a very humble background and knew how hard it is to survive in this world. Not like other companies who sucked their employees dry and discard them when they are no use to them.

But it is a fact that people, in general are selfish and thankless beings. It's useless no matter what or how you helped them, they will treat it like it was their right to begin with.

These kinds of wretched and ungrateful people would always succeed in backstabbing you because trustful and inexperienced people like Nathan or you can say "naive" people would hope to get the same kindness and sincerity in return like you did in their most needed time, or at least they will not stab you in the back when you are down. But on the contrary, when you are at your most weakened and vulnerable state, that will be the time when they will attack.

A stepping stone, an opportunity, an easy target, how can they let it go out of their hands? When Nathan's company was facing a crisis, people who he trusted the most strikeout from everywhere just like vicious vultures on a dead body.

He was first shocked and soon it became sadness and anger and he fought back but he was weak. It was a moment where friends and foes were alike, he could not deferential between them. It wasn't because he was a fool, but because of the way, y he looks at this world. he could never imagine that his most trusted friends would sell him out to his enemies.

His enemies and friends were working together, they made a plan to put him out from the business when he refused to sell his secrets to one of the biggest companies in the world. And it all happened right under his nose and that was also one of the biggest reason for his shame and anger.

First, they infiltrated his company and secretly acquired all the information, and planted a lot of false evidence around him using his trusted and closed people who were unknown to Nathan, were secretly digging his grave.

When all the preparations were completed, they suid him and his company for stealing and fraud. He tried to fight back in court, and that was the time when people in sheep's clothing started to come to the light one by one. People, who were supposed to be his biggest support in this fight started to show their true colors.

"I tried to stop him from using someone else's work, but he threatened me that I'm already involved and if-if I didn't do what he told me, he will..." Said a man standing in the courtroom.

Nathan could not properly hear what his friend Gordon was saying, he just felt like everything around him was spinning. If Nathan was not sitting on the chair he would have fell on the ground. He could not think or hear anything and just stared at Gordon in the witness box with widen eyes.

'Why?' he wanted to shout, he wanted to grab him by his collar and punch that lier in the face. But he could just sit there and when he came to his senses another witness was in Gordon's place.

"There is no doubt that Mister Nathan is a greedy man. He couldn't be satisfied with what he had. Me. Nathan said that he is going to open another company and all the materials were bought by him. The documents I provided to the respectable court has all the proofs. The signatures, the stamps and money trails all are included in the documents which can be verified. I didn't ask Mr. Nathan what was he going to do because I trusted him and leased my place. I didn't know he was going to create illegal drugs there if I..."

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU SAYING GUSTAVE! YOU FUCKING SHIT!" Nathan lost it. He was out of his mind and jumped at Gustave Gouin, who was also one of his friends.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID I DO TO YOU FUCKING SHITS!" Nathan was not able to hit Gustave and was grabbed by the police.

"Did you forget all the helps you received from me! Did you really forgot how I saved your wife and mother when they were about to die?"

Nathan kept yelling without listening to the presiding judge "I was the one who supported you on your every step until you got here, YOU PIECE OFSHIT!"

Nathan was out of control, and the hearings could not progress and Nathan was charged with contempt of court.

This wasn't his only worry though. Soon after the first hearings, Nathan's house got raided by swat and they brutally taken him to unknown location. He was interrogated and then they brought him to the trial court for murder charges.

There was all kind of charges filed against him. These charges come suddenly from everywhere like a storm. Fraud, Industrial espionage, Unlicensed Medical Practice, Kidnapping, Drugs, Bribery, Blackmailing, Human trafficking, and even Murder were just top off the long list.

He was so overwhelmed and out of his mind not just because of these false accusations but also because almost every case involved someone he helped in the past.

Group of foreign employees that he helped and gave them a job in his company even though they did not had the qualification accused him of human trafficking. A group of employees got arrested and "admitted" to kidnapping important personnel of other companies by Nathan's order. People like these started to popping out like ants in rainy days. And even brought up the evidence to backup their statements.

He faced too many betrayals that he lost his trust from everyone around him. Or maybe from humanity itself. He used everything he got and came out on bail. At this point, he refused every offer of help from others. He fought alone, be it inside the courtroom or outside of it, he fought with everything he got.

Soon his enemies found out that he is a lot stronger than what they previously believed. That was the time when everyone got to know that Nathan is not a fool nor a coward.

He started to win some cases, and that made him hopeful for his future and motivated to work hard. Some people believed that this was the last struggle of sinking man in the storm and maybe that what it was.

No matter how he racked his brain no matter how he braved through this storm, no matter... what he did, It wasn't enough. He was nothing but just a one man. How could he be compared to the giant he was facing in manpower, resources, contacts, experience and use of underhanded tactics, this was all new to him.

He started to get threats, many accidents started to happen around him. He couldn't pay the salaries of his workers. He told them the truth and assured them that he will pay them very soon and just to hold on for some time. But most of them didn't believe him and started rioting. It was chaotic, they started breaking things, whatever they found, and beat him up until the police arrived and rescued him from the mob.

His feelings aside, he lost everything he earned, because of his naivety and trustfulness, but it was too late to think about that now.

He got mocked by his former friends.

"A fool like you should just die" Karla spat in disgust and said.

"I was your friend? And why we betrayed you?"

*Pfft*

"Hahaha, you fucking shithead. I was always working with them in the first place. I never betrayed you, you fool! But I have to say... It was just... too fucking easy, Pwahahaha" Gordon and others laughed crazily.

He had met them because he thought maybe his enemies were somehow forcing them to do these things. Nathan had never imagined that truth would be this shocking.

"Just like Gordon said, you were just an easy money, nothing else" Max stared at him in the eyes and told him coldly.

These were just some of the mocking words said by his former friends, that hammered his heart and crushed it. These were the most painful moments of his life after the disappearance of his parents. He started to face psychological problems and because of it, the hearings in the court were postponed for some time.

At this moment he came back to his old apartment, where he used to live before his success, which he has not sold because this place was where he spent his childhood until his parents were here that's why this place was very close to his heart.

It did not took long to clean up the place. He used to come here and clean the whole apartment with his hands because he did not want to forget his beginning. His and his late parent's memories "those days…"

He dived into those blurry memories as he sat on the couch. He shook off all the negative feelings and thoughts that were coming to his mind these days and muttered

"If I can do it once then I can do it again" Nathan encouraged himself.

"I won't forgive them, never. But first I have to pull myself together and think straight and then make a plan... a plan to get even. I trusted them more than what they deserved"

He sat up slowly and kept talking to himself.

"It's never too late to take my revenge. But first I have to get out of these mess they created"

He wanted all of the responsible people to feel the helplessness and despair he had felt. Especially to friends more than his enemies.

"I was always concerned with principles of right and wrong" He clenched his fist.

"I tried very hard to live up to my parent's guidelines and wishes. Morals? ethics? huh! These kinds of people don't deserve any mercy and forgiveness."

"laws and regulations? What a joke! it's just a tool to oppress the weak. A tool of control. A facade of righteousness with powerful people manipulating it from behind. Justice is only for the weak and poor. The ones who made these rules are people​... just like me or any other human being so why I have to follow other's wishes and rules?"

There was a sharp glint in Nathan's eyes as he said that.

"First let's eat something. I'm starving!" Just as he was about to stand up he heard something.

"Khee-khee-khee-khee!"

Nathan was startled because of that weird laugh. It sounded like the laughing person has some kind of respiratory disorder as wheezing noise would accompany his voice as something got stuck in his throat when he was laughing. When Nathan turned towards the voice, he saw a tall man with a horrid face in black clothes.

Standing in the shadow at the corner of the room. There was not any trace of him a moment ago. Like he just appeared out of thin air.

"Wh-who are you? And how did you entered my apartment?" Nathan stuttered, he wasn't​ scared but startled. It was something that he never imagined that a person would visit him in this mysterious manners.

"There is no need to burden your little brain with these questions. I'm just doing my job" The stranger replied in his wheezing voice.

"If you want money or..."

"I'm not here for the money" The man smiled showing rows of teeth.

"I'm here for you!"

"Wh..." Nathan tried to stand up but he found out that he could not move his body at all. Not even a muscle below his neck could be moved. Nathan could still feel his body... No it's more like his senses become more sharper in this state than when he was normal.

"Yo-You are an AWAKENED!" His brain was working fast and the only explanation he got in return was blurted out unconsciously.

"Mm? You know about awakening? How so?" the man in the black rob asked, he seemed surprised that a small-time businessman like Nathan knows about awakening. Very few people outside of the special circle know of it so where did he learned it from?

"I heard that there are... ways to get superpowers if you have enough resources... and have right contacts" Nathan hurriedly said and continued.

He was shocked to find out that the people of legends, who he only heard in stories are really exist in this world! And on top of that he would meet someone from that group in this situation.

"I don't know why a great person like you would visit me but it's my honour to meet you sir."

Nathan had already forgotten about what kind of situation he was in. His eyes were shining with longing and respect. Nathan was willing to do anything to gain these powers.

"Esteemed Sir, I don't have anything that could have brought you here. But I want to say that I wished to become a powerful Practitioner since I was young"

Nathan said enthusiastically, it was like a lottery that he met an awakened. No matter what the situation he was in, he wanted to try his luck to gain some knowledge of how to awaken himself.

The man was looking at Nathan like he was looking at some kind of fool who does not understand anything.

"Why are you talking so casually like I'm here to visit my pal or something? Mm? Or you think that I won't harm you?"

He asked Nathan in a cold tone. He was starting to get annoyed by this dumb and brainless fellow in front of him.

"I'm sorry if I angered you in any way Mister Awakened but why would you harm me? You are an Awakened a Practitioner of secrete arts of this universe! A great and mighty being and I'm just a normal human. There's a huge difference between us"

He was positive that the awakened in front of him won't harm him. The awakened most of the times would not hurt normal people because of their pride. That was what he heard in the stories at least. So maybe he, the stranger would do the same hopefully.

"Nathan Wallace! Khee-khee-khee, you are a funny guy. But… too bad!" He shooked his head.

"Did you forgot what were you saying to yourself a moment ago about the revenge and stuff?" The man laughed and points his finger at him "I'm here to kill you, you toad! Do you understand that?" His eyes flashed with a murderous light.

"K-kill me? B-but why?"

Nathan found it unbelievable that an awakened! The "Heroes" of this unitos he heard from the stories is here to kill him? A normal human being?

He felt like he was suddenly brought in to the real world from his fantasies. And yet another one of his beliefs was shattered, like a fragile glass would shatter if it was hit by a hard object.

"That's right, some people do not like any loose ends like you. So they come to me. I'm the problem solver for their past, present and future troubles" As if the man in front of Nathan was enjoying the conversation, he replied to his question.

"No... It... It can't be!"

Nathan was not listening to what the man was saying, he was talking to himself with an expression of disbelief.

'A Practitioner as a hired killer! What is wrong with this world? Or am I the crazy one?'

Nathan was distracted by his troubling thoughts.

"Yeah, that's the expression, Kheekheekhee!" The man in black dress thought that Nathan was scared out of his mind and burst into laughter. "Now that's a reaction a normal person would have when meeting an assassin!" He sounds like he was praising himself.

"Now hand over that "Magical Book" and I'll make it quick. You won't feel a thing!" He move his hands while talking, maybe it was his habit or something.

"B-book? What book?" Nathan jolted when he heard the man mentioned the book.

'It can't be, no-no-no. No one knows about the book except me, how could he knew? Maybe he is just guess! How The Hell Did He Know! I can't let him know that I possess such thing'

Nathan exclaimed in his mind but it was too late. He knew he was not a good actor and after his reactions, even if the man in front of him didn't know anything before, now he knew that he was right.

"Look kid, just give me that damn book what was it called again? Hmm..."

"The Book of Caji? No-no, The book of Cajen? Ughhh FUCK IT!"

The man got frustrated because he could not remember the name of the book.

"Just give me that fucking book and I promise I'll give you a painless death and if you refuse I'll torture you until you spit everything out and die a miserable and painful death. Either​ way, your fate is sealed. So don't waste my time and just tell me! Where it is?"

The man said it like killing and torturing were nothing but everyday talk to him.

Nathan did not answered. How could he gave him the book? That book was his last hope! A last chance to stand back and get everything that was his.

"Trust me, when I skin you alive you'll hope you were dead!" Sharp blades suddenly emerged from his both sleeves. The blades were shiny and were reflecting lights in the room. Despite sitting at some distance Nathan could feel the sharpness of the blades on his skin.

'Psycho!' Nathan exclaimed in his mind. It wasn not that he was not afraid of dying, but the thing that was asked of him was really important to him.

'The book is the one and only hope for me! I can't give him the book! If they really know about the book then they won't kill me until they got their hands on it. I just have to behave strong and endure any torture and if I can't tolerate it any more I will propose a deal to work with them or the man in front of me! Yes i can offer him knowledge from the book! And even this doesn't work then I'll just die without giving them the book' Nathan planned this in his mind swiftly.

"Oh wait a sec. Akhe-khe-khe I remembered it, it is called The Book of Caijeon! Isn't it?"

Nathan's eyes got wide with disbelief because that was the name that he himself gave it to the book and he never ever mentioned it before to anyone

He looked into the eyes of the the man in black and said firmly "No matter where or how you've learned about this, I can't give you the book. It's the same to me either if you kill me or take the book away from me"

"Don't act tough in front of me you twerp! I know everything about you, you are dumb fuck who is hated by his friends and even his family! You know why they all left you to rott alone in this world?"

He paused a bit and answered his own question "Because you are hatefull and useless! I'll say only this once, GIVE ME THE DAMN BOOK!" His eyes turned red as he yelled at Nathan. It looked like he had a habit of insulting others.

For Nathan, these were the topics most painful to him. The stranger's words made him very furious. He clenched his teeth and said "Now I get it who you are!"

"Oh?" The assassin was startled by this revelation and thought 'What the hell? Who the hell is he? Isn't he some fool who got tricked by his friends, how can he know me?'

Nathan's voice suddenly cooled down and said "You are not an awakened..."

"I heard about the people like you. Who would do anything, even licking feet of someone to gain some resources when they couldn't accomplish anything with their trashy talents. A "perfect" example of Who bullies the weak and feared the strong. You are just a "Trash!" The Trashiest Existence Who Show..."

"HOW DARE YOU!!!"

His roar shook the room. The man in black dress lost his composure and jumped at Nathan who was sitting on the couch or more accurately restrained by some mysterious force.

"You Fucking SHIT! YOU Think You Know ME?" He did not used the blades but hit Nathan on the face with his fist.

*BAM!!!*

*CRACK!*