The Crusader

Robert looked at Rachel, who was sitting quietly on a sofa and chanting some words with her hands crossed. Robert asked, "So, what did you asked in your prayer? " Rachel said, "I just want my daughter, Alice to remain safe and sound and stay away from any danger." Robin walked inside and smiled, "You should be worried about yourself, dear. Buyers from all over the world has been enquiring me about your selling cost. Some are even offering ten million euros too. A very heavy price may tilt my mind into selling you. What can I do? Feed you all the time without any monetary benefit. I'm not a foolish like my little brother." Rachel looked at Robin and asked, "What do you get by tormenting innocent people like this. Money is important in life, but turning into a monster for earning it is a sin. God will punish you for that." Robin smiled, "God has given us the power to dominate other species on this earth. In fact, great empires are built on the back of "innocent" people like you. Your blood and sweat has nourished the empires of evil people like us for ages. And for me, I'm a businessman, darling. I trade my services in return for their money. Like any other business, my business deserves appreciation too. People beats and torments you till you break down completely and emerge as a new stronger and firm version of your former self. Then, people plots against you and curses you for your success and spends their lives and energy in the efforts of destroying you. I have seen the wild and crooked side of the world and conquered it while you were born and raised in a fairytale world where everything comes easily without any hassle. I don't sell women or anyone's organs because I like it but because someone will pay me money in exchange for them. I would rather live as fearful and hateful monster than die like a sewer cockroach." Rachel said, "You may give any excuse you like. But, what's wrong is wrong. People are bad and selfish, no doubt. But, won't it more good to fight cruelty with mercy and eliminate injustice with justice. You lament your starting line, but won't see what your ending line would be. I see your kind everyday, roaming around crying and justifying their heinous crimes with the curtain of cruelty and sinful environment around you. I may not be alive then, but your end will come. That day, you will cry for death and even death won't come for you. You will have a fate more pitiful than a sewer cockroach." Robin slapped her and said, "Take her and get her ready for tonight's bid. I'm selling her to the highest bidder tonight."

Rachel looked towards Robert who lowered his head in shame. Rachel was able to gather so much courage to confront Robin only because she thought Robert will take her side and help her. Rachel again started to sob and this time cursed Robert, calling him a coward. Robert couldn't hear those sour words anymore and went outside the room. Robert looked around and then took out his phone and dialed a number on his phone. After several rings, the other end answered the phone and said, "Yes, boss. You have some work for me?" Robert said whispering, "I want you to gather some men and ambush a convoy coming from the airport and kill all the people present in the convoy. They are important people of my brother, so inspect everyone of them carefully and confirm that all of them are dead. I will transfer you the money and passports later in the evening and you can get out of Los Angeles as soon as possible. The man asked, "Won't Robin sir chase us?" Robert said, "Don't worry. Once I get my hands on a precious possession of my brother's, I can easil persuade him in forgiving you people."

Robin was sitting with confidence and poise and was having conversation with the peers who has attended his rendezvous meeting. Among them were various political elites, medical professionals and rich and influential businessmen of Chicago, Massachusetts, Orlando, New Jersey and Oklahoma. Robin looked at Robert who was standing at some distance and talking with someone on the phone and from his way of hands and talking way he seemed to be in some kind of rage and nervousness. Robin decided to ignore his brother for sometime but again as an elder brother his heart and mind remained diverted towards Robert. Mr. Johnson asked, "When will the girls arrive, Mr. Fletcher?" Robin said, "They will be here shortly. Actually, the amount of girls have decreased quite a lot after the recent attack on Mr. Lee and the police getting deep inside my ass. But, I managed to keep a wonderful and beautiful girl for you. I hope you would like her service tonight." Mr. Johnson said, "Self enjoyment is always quite risky in this line of business. I won't fuck your girl tonight. Anyway, I am not here for it. I heard Mr. Stephen Hawks is arriving tonight. His presence has always been quite a delight for small businessmen like us." Robin laughed, "Stephen Hawks is quite tricky person. I know him because I deal with him personally. His is quite a miser and to be honest, he hasn't even paid two years of my money." Mr. Johnson said, "If you want to succeed then you should know from whom to ask and from whom to not ask. Mr. Hawks is a lousy man but don't forget he is quite a big name in the world of crime. Your business managed to survive two large hits this year only because of the name and money of Mr. Hawks behind you. Him coming to this meeting will take your name and fame to another level." Robin said, "If only Mr. Hawks was a little more lenient in this way of working, I would have already been quite successful till now." Mr. Johnson said, "Even the most sweetest of nectar comes with the lid of the most vicious poison. It's an old saying my father used to tell me." Robin smiled.

Five black SUVs were running front and back of a golden limousine in which Mr. Stephen Hawks was sitting. Mr. Stephen Hawks is the city's largest drug baron and also has hands in many big oil refineries and power plants. His money has made many big leader's career and also helped people like Robin progress in the world of cutthroat business. Stephen Hawks was a man of crooked principles and in many ways was a headache of many. His no criminal policy was a direct hit to the criminals that he nurtures under him. He extracts heavy taxes and cuts from the industrialists and also gets cuts from the deals that he set ups between two parties. Robin hates Stephen Hawks to his last nerve but can't openly do anything because of his heavy involvement in his business and also due to several controversies that he has already embroiled himself into. Stephen Hawks looked at his watch and said, "Robin has no work in the world arranging parties at such late hours and also at some distant island of his." He closed his eyes and plugged headphones and started listening to music. A loud thud on the front car awoke him and he looked around and saw that various black jeeps has surrounds him and they started firing on his car. The car was bulletproof and he quickly got out of the mess and started to return towards his home. But, the heavy firing punctured his car's tyres and one of them caught fire due to the friction and soon the car back end blasted in air. Mr. Hawks got heavily injured and slowly got out and crawled outside and took out his gun and shot two bullets at two men. But, the heavy firing on his body killed him and he fell on the ground dead. His golden suit turned crime with blood and the road got wet with his blood. The leader took out his phone and dialed a number and said, "The job is done. Soon we will be out of the city. I hope you haven't forgotten about the money and passports. We may contact you in the near future." He threw the phone on the road and went away in his jeep.

Robin and other people were sitting eagerly for Stephen Hawks and it was already past two hours of his expected arrival time. Mr. Johnson said, "Call his driver and ask where is he." Robin said, "I have already tried to call but the number is showing busy." Mr. Johnson looked at his watch and said, "If it wents on like this, we have to leave the party without meet him. Stephen Hawks definitely is testing our nerves to its end." Robin switched on the TV and a news flashed in front of his eyes "Mr. Stephen Hawks. A renowned man of Chicago was found dead on the Sub Highway 96. Peers claim listening to some heavy firing sound and when the sound subsided, they came and saw that Stephen Hawks was lying dead on the road. His murder has created many big questions and many political analysts are connecting the dots with the alleged criminal Robin who was last seen entering Mr. Hawks's house two days ago."

Everyone looked at Robin who was clearly quite shocked himself and was taking the harsh truth with heavy heart. Mr. Johnson said, "We cannot just him on behalf of some silly coincidence. He would have no business killing Mr. Hawks." Robin said, "Yes, no one would even think about killing Mr. Hawks. He was such an important person to us and I deeply regret not being there to save his life." Mr. Thomas, another big industrialist said, "What has been done, has already been done. May God give him peace but his death has created much havoc in our lives. I don't want to elaborate detailing the situation but after what happened with Mr. Hawks I cannot say that we should be waiting here for any further time. Robin should go underground and save himself from the unnecessary drama that is going to happen soon." Robin said, "That's a great idea, Mr. Thomas. I will soon go out and go in hiding." He looked around and searched for his brother who was nowhere to be found. He called his number many times but he didn't received the phone and soon his phone showed switched off. Robin quickly went outside from the house and went inside his helicopter and soon he left the island and flew towards Los Angeles.

Robert opened the door and saw Rachel was sleeping peacefully on the bed. He looked at her and smiled. He slowly closed the door and walked towards the deck and stood on the bow of the ship and looked at light dark sky and the rainy clouds forming in the sky. Like the unpredictable and gloomy sky, Robert's heart was also churning a storm in it's womb. The warm of Rachel's love and the gloom of his brother's wrath was crashing violently in every corner of his heart and a chaotic silence was roaming in his heart. He took out a cigarette from his pocket and pressed it between his shivering lips as the cold and misty winds beated his body as the ship slowly advanced in the silence of the night, tearing the chest of the sea....