Chapter 40 - Origin and Death

Saturday, Outskirts of Dallas

Faust was heading his way to the orphanage to visit when he saw a commotion outside. He was surprised by the amount of crowd so he rushed towards the scene and saw his old home burnt to the ground.

"God dammit.. those bastards didn't even spare even the kids." Faust muttered in anger.

He then heard someone telling the story that it started in wee hours of the night. They saw it too late as the fire was already big.

Trying to find any clue or evidence, Faust walked past the police line when he saw no one's paying attention. He went in only to see scattered and burnt debris of woods. As he was walking and looking around for some clues, he noticed the charred carpet that was covering the floor and it was slighty lifted. Though he couldn't recognize the surrounding anymore, if he calculate the distance from the entrance, he remembered this was supposed to be where the secret passage that he made in his childhood going to the woods.

He trace it and went directly to the end location of the small tunnel which was in the woods. As he approach, he was stunned to see Granny Matilda and some other kids who survived huddled together in a cave.

Mother Matilda was frightened when she felt someone approaching but she relaxed when she saw it was Faust.

Faust run towards them and he looked at her face. He couldn't help but noticed that her skinned on the side of her face was burned. The old lady looked exhausted so he pulled her into a hug and asked worriedly.

"Nana! Oh god I'm glad you're still alive. The kids? Are they, okay?"

Mother Matilda shook her head while sobbing quietly.

"I didn't manage to save everyone. These kids are the only ones I'm able to save. However, those guys in black broke their limbs without mercy. They are just kids..oh my god how could they be so heartless."

She gushed out her tears as she tried to recall the nightmare they've experienced last night.

Faust just listened to her story keeping his arms around her. His anger was already past the point of doing anything even sell his soul just to have his revenge.

"It was thanks to the secret passage you've made when you are young that we're able to escape. Otherwise... otherwise...."

"Shhh.. It's okay I'm here now. We need to move the kids to safety right now. Hang on a second, I'll go get a van to transport you and the kids. Don't go out and search for those police. Just stay here, I'll be back right away."

He didn't waste time and departed from the cave. He needed to find their vehicle right away since the kids require immediate medical attention.

Faust put on his smartglass and ordered Alice to find a heavily tinted van for sale nearby. After a minute of search, Alice displayed three results. He searched for the address of the first one and arrived in no time. He talked to the owner if he could take it right away as he have an urgent matter to attend to. The guy didn't haggle and sold him the van.

Faust drove the van towards the woods near the orphanage. Although it was his first time driving but with the help of Alice and his ability to learn, he was able to drive the van without any accident.

After returning to the cave, he ushered Mother Matilda and carried the kids one by one towards the van.

Ensuring that no one was left behind, he drove the van in one of the safe houses he arranged for emergency. He let kids and Mother Matilda settled in and called for a trusted doctor that was a friend of his father.

While they are waiting, Faust was having a conversation with Mother Matilda.

"Nana, they probably thought you were dead. I think you should go to New York to start a new orphanage."

"Sigh, I'm already old."

"Nana, please do it for me. I won't be at ease unless I know you're all safe. Here have this card. There's a 5 million dollars in it. Completely untraceable. It's enough for you to start. If not, let me know I'll think of something."

"Okay, I'll bother you then. I'm going to accept this for the kids."

"Thank you, Nana. I'll contact Sebastian later so he can assist you. You know how to drive, right? You can have the van. I don't think it's safe if you travel by plane since those guys might recognize you. In the meantime, we need to treat the kids before you go."

"Okay, I'll follow your arrangements. Thank you for all of this--"

"Stop right there, Nana. You already know that I treat you as a family so stop being polite, okay?"

Mother Matilda nodded affectionately. Then she remembered that there's something important she needed to give to Faust.

She searched her pockets and fished out a ring made of silver. She then hand it over to Faust which made the latter confused.

"Are you proposing to me? Look, I love you as a mother and I'm not into granny stuff so..."

"Silly child, I know you're just trying to cheer me up despite all the things your family has been through. Sigh, actually, it was yours from the beginning. It was included in the bag where I found you and it was wrapped in a blouse full of blood. I only remembered it just now when I rummage through your old things when we're in hurry trying to escape."

"You say, this was inside the bag and this might probably belong to my mother?" Faust asked to confirm.

"Highly likely." Mother Matilda said.

Faust was kind of surprised to know that his late biological mother left something for him. He knows that his biological parents were dead based on the story of the people who brought him to the orphanage when he was just a baby.

Faust took a closer look and found that it actually resembled an emblem. It was circular top where an emblem shows a bird that is about to perch. The emblem was somewhat familiar but he didn't think much of it.

A/N: Ring Image

"Thank you, Nana for keeping it for me." Faust said as he slipped it through his right middle finger.

--

Not long after, the doctor arrived with a set of medical tools. Faust assisted the doctor in bracing the limbs of all the kids and giving them a bunch of medication for faster healing.

Faust thank the doctor and tried to give him a million for his service but the latterbdidn't accept it and said it was the least he can do for their family.

Faust thank him from the bottom of his heart and promised he will pay it back someday. Then he secretly slipped one of his bank cards into his Jacket.

As the kids were finally treated, Faust and Mother Matilda decided to let them rest for three days before leaving for New York.

On the day of their departure, Faust stuffed all of the necessities inside the van to make sure they have a comfortable trip.

A little girl that has bandage on her arm was sitting inside while she was swinging her legs.

"Are you not going to come with us, big brother Faust?" The little girl asked.

"Nope, I still need to do something here so I'm unable to go with you."

The little girl looked sad when she heard his reply.

Seeing this he couldn't help patting her head and said, "But--I will visit you there someday. You have to learn how to cook. I might be starving when I go there to see you."

The little girl's eyes shine and asked, "Promise?"

She reached out her pinky towards him to seal their deal.

Faust didn't let her down and locked his pinky into hers.

"Promise! Just wait for me, okay?"

The little girl nodded her head like a chicken pecking.

"Off you go pinkfart.. Be careful on the road, okay? And watch out for your brothers and sisters."

Then Faust turned to Mother Matilda one last time and hugged her telling her to be careful on the way.

Faust couldn't help but sigh as he watched them leave while muttering in quiet voice.

"I'm sorry."

--

Faust went back to the villa as he tried to remember all the happy memories lingered in these walls.

From time to time, he couldn't help but chuckle when remember how he used to run in the hallway with George while escaping his mom as she scold them. He remembered his first dinner with his parents. The joy when they first bought a TV in the living room when every household already have them.

He missed his banter with his father and how he always tried to set him up so Margaret will scold him.

He missed their laughter and their voices. Every corner of this villa had their memories. He thought maybe it was his fault to begin with. If only he didn't bring those alien techs, maybe they are still alive right now.

He missed George and his goofy behavior.

Without him noticing, he was already in tears and he was clenching his fist so hard they almost turn white.

Noticing his tears, he wipe it out and took out a cigarette and lit it. He puffed a mouthful of smoke as he reminisce the past glory of his family.

"I will kill them all. Every last one of them. I promise in your name, Mom, Dad. "

His eyes turned fierce as he review his plans to make sure there's no loophole.

--

Three days later

Faust went to the company once again wearing a nice suit. However, this time, instead of respect, only disdain was cast on him by the employees when he passed by.

Faust know this but he didn't care and went to the conference meeting being held this time.

As he entered the the conference room, the once noisy atmosphere became quiet once again.

Eventually, one of the shareholders couldn't take it anymore and shouted at his face.

"It was all your fault you fucking brat! If only you have been here, your deceitful butler wouldn't be able to have his way in this company!"

Hearing this, another shareholder followed up and blamed his incompetence in leading the company.

"You should die a painful death like your parents!!!"

Faust couldn't take it anymore so he grabbed his chair and hurl it towards the one who spoke.

Bang!

"Ahhhh, that hurt you fucking bastard. What the fuck do you think you're doing, huh? Are you trying to kill me? I will sue you, you son of a bitch. I'll fucking sue you."

Faust didn't reply, instead he calmly approached the man.

"Tell me, dickhead. Do you still have a family? A daughter perhaps? Yeah? Imagine if they suddenly died tonight, how would you feel?" Faust patted his face as he calmly talk to him.

The man trembled when he heard him. But then he looked around and saw everyone looking at them so he found his courage once again and shouted at his face.

"Are you threatening me? Everyone, you saw that right? He is threatening me."

Faust on the other hand took out a cigarette in his pocket and light it up. He amusely watched him shouting like a monkey in a zoo.

"Are you done? You say I'm threatening you, but I'm only letting you imagine if somehow someday you find your family getting killed. Ah let me tell you how it feels."

He puffed out a smoke and said, "It was a nightmare... Everytime I go to sleep, I saw my parents' dying faces."

"We get it, Faust. We know that you're in sorrow for the murder of your parents but this is a company, we're doing business here not a fucking TV show for charity on orphans. Stop your drama brat, we want our money back." a Vice President from the company said.

Then another man added. "That's right... More importantly, how can we get back our money?"

Faust looked at each of their faces with a trace of disdain and sympathy before quietly walking out of the conference room without saying anything.

Faust then walked into his office and sat down in his chair. In his desk, there was already a coffee waiting for him so he picked it up and have a sipped as he was quite thirsty. He was writing something in his notebook when he suddenly felt dizzy.

He tried to stand up but the feeling got stronger. He accidentally trip the coffee to the ground as he tried to hold on to something. His vision went dark and then he fell to ground with no breath left.

Eventually, someone noticed the incident which brought a commotion inside the office. They called in the police and ambulance to check but the medical team shook their heads while placing their finger in his nose to confirm.

"He's not breathing anymore. He's dead."

The police investigator found his notebook and saw a disturbing scribble with the names of the shareholders along with the word 'Hate' so they arrested them in custody for investigation.