ASHES: 7

Lucas sat there dazed. He was shaken to the core of his soul. He wanted to deny it but it was all there, right in front of him. He held his head in despair as an internal conflict raged inside him. Is this all true? Can I believe it? he asked himself. Poor guy, Drake thought as he stood and headed to the bedroom. He came out with a very very old laptop and placed it in front of Lucas. " This was the last thing she told me to give you, said that it took a lot of work but finally managed to complete it before her death." 

Lucas looked at Drake curiously. He set the laptop down on top of the papers, opened it and turned it on. He stepped aside and continued," There's a video for you among the files, you should watch it," he stepped away and headed for the swimming pool.

 Lucas found the video and pressed play. For a moment nothing happened, then images began to show. Images of his childhood, teenage years up to his current self. " Aaaaaarrrrrrrggggggghhhhhh"! he screamed and held his head as the past and its memories surfaced in his head. Drake rushed in, only to stop dead in his tracks. The air around them had changed. For the first time in a long time, Drake felt fear run down his whole body before settling on his knees. 

 "Come in", Lucas said in a deep heavy voice looking at Drake from the corner of his eye. Drake gulped before proceeding, just what happened? he asked himself as he walked towards him. 

 * * * *

 Lucas stepped into his office building. Everyone was surprised that he was at the lobby at this hour. That was because of the board meeting that had started without him. He made his way into the boardroom but stood at its door, listening. He stood still for a while before turning and took the elevator to his office. He went in and sat down and began to work. Barely two minutes in, his phone rang. It was Jake. He hesitated then answered. " Where did you go"? Jake asked loudly. " Sorry I went to the Eastern bank I had something urgent to take care of," he replied quietly. Jake felt as though something was wrong but didn't dwell on it. " Alright I'll be coming tonight let's have dinner then, " he concluded and cut the call not waiting for Lucas to answer.

 So it was always like this, Lucas thought as he stood up and went to the window. The clouds had gathered and gave off a grey hue. A sign of rain he thought smiling. However, I wonder how many will drown. He smiled darkly. This was going to be fun. Behind him, the door opened and in came both Mark and Dan. He eyed them angrily but smiled and hid his eyes. These people, he thought as he turned and began talking to them, to think I once called them friends. 

 I'll make them pay. All of them, he thought as he smiled to whatever Dan was saying. I will make you pay for everything that you've done to me and to her. When I'm done with you, there'll be nothing left. Loudly he asked the two," Guys, suppose you have a beautiful bird and you kept it in a cage but one day the bird accidentally runs away but returns looking wiser would you still keep it"? Mark replied first, " Of course I would but I'd also teach it a lesson .. " he was interrupted by Dan who said, "Teach it a lesson? No way I'd rather kill it then look for another one..." Lucas looked at the two and smiled. He was no longer listening. They would rather kill than protect and show care eh? he thought. Interesting.

 The conversation had drifted off to other topics. Lucas stood and walked to the window. The sky had darkened. A storm was coming. A terrible one at that. He took a glass of whisky that was offered to him by Mark and smiled , a final toast I guess he thought as he raised and drank it all in one go. He threw the glass to the ground, smashing it into pieces. It was time to make them pay.