It was an average day at the convenience store. People came and went. There was a rush between noon and one as businessmen in suits flooded the store in search of lunch and then it slowed back down for the early afternoon.
The sliding doors beeped as a man in a tan overcoat stumbled in through the doors of the convenience store. The smell of urine wafted in with him. He was mumbling, “Need… more… beer,” or something along those lines. Quite the sight, but people like him were all too common in the convenience stores located in the slums of Strongzinburg city.
MC’s eyes followed the man closely, as he took his time looking through the alcohol refrigerators in the back of the store, making sure he didn't stuff anything into those deep coat pockets. After what seemed to be a very careful consideration of beverage choice, the man approached the counter with a six-pack of beers. A strong stench of urine burned MC’s nostrils. Despite this, the man seemed to be sporting a fresh and fancy haircut that looked like it had been gelled and parted nicely at some point several hours ago. Under his tan overcoat was a white button-up shirt with a plain black tie.
Is he a businessman of some sort? He sure doesn't seem like it. Maybe he had a rough day at the office then went out and drank too much.
The man pulled out his wallet and a wad of money fell out. To MC’s surprise, it was several times the amount he got paid in a month. The man fidgeted with the money, attempting to grab a single twenty-dollar bill.
There’s something strange about this guy. I feel like I’ve seen him before or something. I get this feeling once in a while, but with him, it really seems like I know him from somewhere. MC scanned the beers and told the man his total. “I see a lot of people I know come in and out of here, but you seem familiar, sir,” said MC.
“Oh, you finally noticed?” the man said with a smile. “You’ve seen me plenty of times before.”
“Sorry, I guess after a while the faces all blend together. I see so many people every day. Just one of the things that comes with working here.”
The man handed MC the twenty and MC put it into the register and began counting his change.
“No, that’s not it. I’ve actually never been in this convenience store before.”
MC was slightly taken aback. His speech doesn't seem drunk at all, but I swear he was just plastered and what does he mean that I’ve seen him before if it wasn't here?
MC handed the man his change with a confused eyebrow raised.
“Well, I’ll see you later,” the man said as he stuffed the change into his pocket. He grabbed the beers, turned around, and waved over his shoulder.
It was dark outside as MC finished his shift at the convenience store. He grabbed his coat from his locker in the break room and pondered the mysterious man from earlier. Where have I seen him before? Why did he have so much money? Why did he smell so bad? Too many questions to answer at once and is it really that important? He donned his coat and made for the doors.
Upon stepping outside, he was greeted by the smell of cigarette smoke. A regular occurrence in the city. He looked to his right to identify the origin of the cigarette and saw the man from earlier. He was casually leaning back against the brick side of the building smoking away.
“Bout time, kid,” said the man, taking one last drag from his cigarette and tossing it onto the ground. He looked up to meet MC’s eyes.
“What the?” said MC. “What are you still doing here?”
“Still? I went home and came back. You think I’d waste all day waiting for you? Talk about entitlement. I bet I don't smell half as bad as earlier too,” he said with a smirk. “Last night I overdid it and woke up in the damn alley again, but that’s a story for another time.”
It was true. The stench was gone. His hair was neatly parted in the middle and he smelled like a strong church cologne.
“Who are you?”
“I guess you really don't remember,” said the man stretching out his hand to shake MC’s. “It’s me, GM. We spoke on the phone last night.”
MC turned pale as a ghost. The mysterious man from the phone call last night had suddenly appeared before him in an even more mysterious fashion. GM observed MC’s shocked aura and attempted to bring the situation down a notch. “Don’t worry I’m here to help you,” said GM.
MC paused as he weighed the decision to run away or scream for help but he came to a sudden recognition of the man. Fuzzy memories began to clear up the more he dwelled on them until he had a vivid picture of where he’d met this man before. “Of course… You were my father’s friend.” He recalled seeing GM a few times at the barbecue parties that his father used to throw for all of his coworkers.
“Bingo!” said GM pointing his finger like a gun at MC.
“I remember you coming around sometimes when I was just a kid. What do you want with me?” asked MC, crossing his arms.
“I just came to check-in on you. I felt that I owed it to your father to at least make sure you were doing ok.”
“Well if that’s it, I’m doing fine, but that doesn’t explain how you recognized me by just my voice last night on the phone.”
“Oh come on don't be so concerned. Why don’t you come with me? I'll treat you to some food and we can talk.”
MC hesitated but decided that getting food with his father’s old friend couldn't hurt, even if he was a little weird. He was more than a bit curious about solving the mystery of the phone call as well. “Ok, but I’m not staying long,” he said, following GM to his car.
GM took them through the drive through of a taco restaurant and then to an empty parking lot a ways out from the main roads of the city. “They’ve got some of the best burritos. They make their own salsa daily. Pretty spicy if you’re not used to hot stuff,” said GM as they got out of the car and used the trunk as a table lit by the large overheard parking lot lights. GM handed MC the burrito he’d ordered and they started to eat. “So what brought you to call that number last night,” asked GM.
“Since you’re one of my father’s old friends, I think you already know the answer.”
“Yes, you’re right. I just wanted to make sure that you knew why you called.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“It’s something I’ve given up on. I’m going to handle things on my own. I dont have the money to live and hire someone to do my dirty work and I never will. Working that dead end job will never give me enough money and it was hard enough just to find work.”
“Yeah, and you really think you’ll be able to handle this business all on our own?”
“Yeah, I think I could.”
“You really think that you could kill Jin. The Jin. The man that killed your father who was a hero among The Organization.”
“Wait what?” said MC. “My father was in The Organization? And he was a hero?”
“So you didn’t know about your old man? I guess you were pretty young when he used to have us over for those barbecues and such. William, your father, was a member of the very team that I’m now the leader of.”
MC was frozen in place for a moment. “I always thought there was something like that going on, but I never imagined it was something like this.”
“Yeah, your father showed me the ropes when I was new to the business.” GM looked out into the distance as if he was remembering a time long ago. “He taught me some of the skills that I still use today. He even bought me this old thing,” said GM as he held open up his overcoat to reveal an aged and worn looking katana sheath with a handle sticking out the top of it. MC only stole a quick look before GM whipped his jacket closed again. He realized that GM’s sword stuck out a few inches past the bottom of his jacket and now seemed to be unable to take his gaze off of it.
“All this information doesn’t change what my goal has always been: to kill Jin. However, now that you put it that way, it does sound a bit far fetched. The only thing I’m sure of is that I won’t be able to feel peace until I finish this. I’ve had enough suffering and I’ve had enough of letting Jin run around in the shadows of the city. Every day that scum walks the earth is another day that my father’s grave is spit upon. I have no choice.” MC said.
“Well then, how do you plan on doing it?”
“I suppose I could get a gun and shoot him. Easy enough right?”
GM laughed. “I don't think that would be satisfying enough for you. A decade of hatred just to be quenched with the smoke of a barrel? And quite frankly I don’t think that would work. He’d sense your bloodlust coming a mile away. Remember, this guy is a professional.”
“Then what else? I could fight him.”
GM bent over as he burst out in laughter. “You? Fight Jin head on? Oh that’s funny kid.”
“You don’t think I could?” asked MC.
“Let’s do a little experiment. How about you show me what you’ve got?”
“Huh?”
“Show me your moves!” demanded GM, setting the remainder of his burrito on the trunk of the car.
“You want me to just hit you like some sort of Brad Pitt movie?” clarified MC.
“Yes, now come on,” said GM, tilting his neck to the side and rolling his shoulders around.
MC wasn’t even sure how to hit someone. He’d seen it in the movies before, but he’d never actually punched anyone.
“Is there a certain place you want me to hit you?”
“Anywhere is fine. Come on come on we’re wasting the day.”
MC shrugged off his concerns then made his fist into a ball and swung for the center of GM’s chest. Just before the moment of impact, GM turned his body to dodge the attack. MC’s fist hit only air and he stumbled forward a few steps.
“I thought I told you to hit me,” said GM. “Now give me your best shot, not some wimpy punch like that last one.”
“Alright I’m going to pack some heat into the next one then.” MC repositioned himself and cocked his arm back. He lunged forward once again aiming for GM’s chest. This time GM did not dodge, but instead, threw his palm up in front of MC’s fist, completely neutralizing the attack.
MC stepped back, astonished. “How'd you do that? I just threw my hardest punch and you blocked it like it was nothing.”
“Well that one definitely had some power behind it,” he said, making a sour face and shaking the pain out of his hand. My point here is that you’re never going to be able to take out Jin if you can't even land a solid punch on me.” There was a more serious tone to his voice than before. “Imagine if I had a weapon to fight back with, which Jin will. You’d be dead ten times over by now.”
MC came to a sobering realization that his revenge was even farther away than he’d realized. “What? Did you think you could kill someone just because you wanted to? Don’t underestimate what your goal really is. Taking a life is a serious thing to do.” GM pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his shirt pocket, put one between his lips and lit it. “Jin isn't someone you can afford to take lightly,” he said as smoke billowed out of his mouth. “He’s a trained killer. And a teammate-killing bastard at that. You still have a lot of life ahead of you and I don't think you should throw that away trying to do something crazy. That much, I do owe your father.”
MC clenched his fists in frustration “So, what am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to keep living with this weight on my shoulders? I’ll never be able to get back the things Jin took from me.”
“Yeah, I get it. I don't like him either. In fact there’s quite a few people who have similar feelings as you. Jin’s managed to make quite the name for himself and it hasn’t been a good one. If you’re serious about this, then I have a possible solution. How about you join The Organization?”
“What exactly is The Organization?”
GM was surprised. “You really don't know?” The Organization and the Black Diamond are the two biggest criminal organizations in Strongzinburg City. They’re basically the only two. Any others that pop up get squashed out before they can even establish much of a following.
“I’ve at least heard of the groups. They mention Jin being in the Black Diamond.”
“That’s right. These aren’t your normal everyday taking old ladie’s purses and holding up the convenience store type organizations. I’m talking about organized crime. Billions of dollars worth of business and access to weapons, training, information, and more. Things you’ll need in order to carry on down the path you’ve chosen.”
“I never really pay much attention to that stuff. All I know is that they cast fear and violence like a shadow behind them.”
“You’re not wrong there, but there are differences and also necessary evils. If The Organization allowed the Black Diamond to run free, there would be much more ruthless crime, not to mention the pain and suffering that goes along with it,” said GM.
“So The Organization is like a group that’s involved with these shady activities, but also helps to keep the Black Diamond in check from getting too powerful?”
“Exactly. Our existence alone protects the city. And I know that’s not your main concern, but it might help you see where I’m coming from. If your goal is to take out Jin, it might be worth your while to join. Frankly, it’s not a goal you’d be able to achieve on your own.”
“So this was your plan all along and it started with the phone call last night,” said MC, putting the pieces together.
“You’ve figured me out. I’d heard about you asking around about a hitman from some of our lower level members. Like I mentioned earlier, I owe it to your father to make sure you don’t do anything too stupid. We sent out the business cards and waited for you to call and it didn't take long at all. I just needed to confirm it was you for myself.”
MC was impressed. “And if I say yes to joining The Organization?”
“If you say, yes. You’re in. The boss was actually the one that sent me to find you. He wants you to join. Me, I don't really care either way. I think you’re better off moving far away from here and living a peaceful life on a farm or something, but if you want to take part in The Organization, I’m here to hopefully make sure you don't get yourself killed.”
MC paused and thought deeply. He rested his back on the trunk of GM’s car and looked up at the skyscrapers and night sky.
“So what do you say?” asked GM.
MC thought for another moment before meeting GM’s eyes. “As much as I’d just like to do this myself, I’m going to give it a shot. I’m in,” he said confidently.