Rags or Riches?

"Do you have enough courage to listen to it?" I asked in a lowered tone.

"I had lived a life which was more painful than death," he said with his eyes filled with desperation.

"I think I have kept it a secret for too long isn't it?" I asked while smiling.

"Hmm. " he nodded devotedly.

"Then now is the time to reveal it, did you remember the time when you were seven ?" I asked him.

"How can I forget it that was the time when this dark cloud of doom covered my and my family's entire life." he sighed.

"The truth I will now tell you requires utmost patience," I warned him.

"I have done one thing my whole life, patience," he said with pain in his voice. I gathered up the courage and decide to tell him the truth.

"It was- "

Before I could tell him anything, suddenly the constable unlocked our cell,

"What are you doing? Have you realized that you locked up the wrong people?" Alessio said.

"Come out both of you someone has come to see you?" the constable said in an unordered tone.

"Who?" I asked curiously

"According to him, he is your friend." the constable said.

"Friend? Could it be " Alessio said

"Edmondson," I replied with a grave look on my face.

"Why did that jerk come here now?" Alessio said In an incensed tone.

"Let's see," I said in a deep tone.

We went to meet Edmondson, meanwhile, I saw some painful sights. It was true that this city was no longer running according to Law or Justice. In this Police station, many mothers were pleading to spare the lives of their sons, and many fathers were there to beg justice for their loved ones, but one tragic irony was that the beggars of justice were only impoverished. This Law didn't grab the necks of the greedy land grabbers. When we reached there, Edmondson Brown was sitting there. His appearance was quite different from what I last saw, he was wearing a fine-lined black and white suit, shoes were shining like black diamonds, with him was a premium Italian leather suitcase and in his hands was a cigar. He was sitting like he was the owner of this place and looked at me with a cold look. I was quite shocked by seeing this change and when I looked beside me I could see an infuriated Alessio, with his eyes filled with rage, teeth gritted, and fists tightly closed he was so angry that his nerves became visible on his forehead.

"Oh, my dear friend Samuel please have a seat," Edmondson said in a proud tone.

"Why did you come here?" I asked

"Obviously to see you, my friend, how can I leave my friend in such a pitiful situation." He said ironically.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" Alessio banged his fist on the table, I signed him to calm himself.

"Easy young man this much anger is not good for you," Edmondson said.

"Edmondson tell us clearly why did you come here and what you want?" I asked with a raged voice.

"Well my friend, as you can see the time has changed as well the situation. I'm sorry for calling you both there, I didn't know someone would do this hideous thing or maybe it was planned, hahaha. I guess sign is enough for the wise one."

He said while smiling filthy.

"Did you betray me?" I asked with a grieved tone.

"I had to my friend, money does change you I mean." He said while crossing his legs.

"Yes, money surely does change you," I said.

"No Offence meant mate but I think you should settle too I mean for how long will you live in rags like these people." He cackled and said.

"Shut up! Be mindful of your words." I said aggressively.

"OK I'm sorry mate, well it's better late than never right?" He said

"What do you mean?" he slides forward that Italian leather suitcase.

"This is the same offer which was made to you ten years ago. It's still waiting for you to grab this opportunity. The choice is yours rags or riches?"

"Aroma of money tempts you not me," I said.

"Enough! I was trying to be good to you but you deserve to be in these rags." He said angrily.

"I'm better in these rags rather than trading my dignity," I said while smiling

"Ugh let's go!" He stood up and was about to leave with two of his guards when Alessio cried from behind,

"Wait! Where do you think you're going?"

"What do you mean ragged peasant?" He looked at him with a sneering gaze.

"What happened to my mother and sister?" Alessio asked.

"They are burnt in hell!" He shouted.

"huh, stop you jerk! "

Alessio went near him and punched him hard in the face.

"Hey, you!" Some constables and I tried to stop Alessio. But his face was filled with rage, all these years of frustration and pain everything he had gone through had made him do this with Edmondson. Constables and his guards took both of us to the prison and started beating us to death. I pleaded with them to leave Alessio whatever they wanted to do with me not Alessio. But those beasts didn't listen to me. Alessio tried to fight till the end and I did my best to protect him, but it was of no use. They were beating him and each time he was painfully wriggling on the ground. Blood was coming from his mouth he tried to resist but they beat him even more. Every one of mine I felt was breaking apart, one pain of seeing that poor and innocent child suffering worse since he was a child. We both were getting beaten by these cruel, greedy, black-hearted people. Those beasts were breathing heavily and spit out on Alessio then went out after almost killing us, My clothes were covered in blood when I looked at Alessio, he was barely breathing and lying lifeless on the ground. I tried very hard to sit and went to Alessio.

"Alessio! Alessio! Wake up Alessio please my son!" I stood up, and the entire world was spinning and blurry, I held the wall for support and from one hand held my stomach which was continuously bleeding. I went to the water which was on the farthest corner of the cell and quickly filled the vessel with water and brought it to Alessio.

"Drink it, my son!"

He drank it a bit and started coughing out blood. His whole body was shivering and he was covered in blood entirely. His shirt was torn off showing clearly his deep wounds and bruises. His innocent blood was spread all over the floor. Tears were coming continuously from my eyes by seeing this boy's pitiful condition.

"Alessio!" I screamed. He took my hand in his hand and said while being in extreme pain.

"Sir... Sir please .....take revenge on my father ...and tell my mother I love her the most and... I'm sorry for not leaving too early."

"No Alessio! NOOOOOO!"