Quodque initium novum alio initio finito evenit
Kenneth Wangsadarma
Flick. A flame finally sparked to life on top of the lighter. It hadn’t been easy. The rain had been very insistent on keeping everything as dark as possible. Even under cover, the wind and the heady smell of rain it brought along, had mercilessly stomped out any sparks that poked its head out. The moonlight had also been unable to pierce through the clouds to light the dark brick road. Sighing softly, Andrew shifted his eyes from the leisurely dancing flame to the turbulent storm clouds above him. His flat, dull cerulean eyes were as tranquil as the puddles forming all around him. Then he looked back down, letting the silhouette of the flame flicker in his eyes. For a second, sparks seemed to pop to life in the dead lake of his eyes, but then he lowered his eyes, letting the peace of darkness once again reign supreme. Andrew then brought the flame closer to the cigarette that had been hanging loosely from the edge of his lips this entire time. It’s been a few years since he started this habit. Smoking used to be solely to relax his nerves before the start of a job, but he had kept the habit even after growing numb to the horrors he had experienced and caused over the course of his life. Sighing once more, Andrew coolly grabbed the now-wet grocery bags he had left by his side and continued a slow walk back home. Soon, all that was left of where he had been was the acrid smell and taste of smoke as he disappeared into the hazy darkness of the fog-filled night.
An hour later, Andrew finally arrived at his intended destination. “The beginning of the end,” he mused. This was what he had been waiting for half his life but now…he felt no happiness, just a bittersweet emotion. He spotted his targets and silently started following them. It was the 31st of October, so everyone was wearing masks. But Andrew could remember that figure anywhere. They reached an alleyway in hopes of escaping the downpour, and he knew that it was time. Slipping into the same alleyway, Andrew reached deep into one of his grocery bags and drew out a single revolver. Silently, he snuck up behind the elderly couple and then placed the cold muzzle right on the old man’s head.
“Stop or I’ll shoot,” Andrew called out before the man could say anything. That stopped the aging couple dead in their tracks. “Clearly the alleyway has seen better days,” Andrew noted as he quickly surveyed the area. The bricks had no trace of their original red color and were either green or white. The walls and floor seemed like they would break down with one wrong push or step. The rain echoed off the walls, making the empty gray alley all the more deafening and intimidating.
“Put your hands in the air and turn around slowly,” Andrew continued. Having no choice, the two elderlies complied and slowly faced him.
“My wallet is in my bag and his is in his pants. We want no trouble, just take them and go,” the grandma croaked out.
Without a word, Andrew smoothly aimed the gun then bang! Before the old man could comprehend what happened, the love of his life sported a new bloody hole between her temples and slowly fell to the muddy ground. Just to make sure, Andrew looked back and indeed no one had noticed the gunshot. The perpetually shady alleyway worked in tandem with the waterfall-like rain to provide excellent cover from both sound and sight. With the sad truth of human nature, even if anyone had heard it, they would have walked the other way and pretended they had not heard anything. Suddenly, a weak fist slammed into his hand, knocking the gun out of his hands. Surprised, Andrew looked back, noticing how the old man had finally realized what had happened and started madly hobbling away. “Sloppy,” Andrew berated himself. Calmly, Andrew bent down and grabbed a loose brick. With a grunt of effort, he pulled the brick off the pavement. His black leather gloves ensured that no fingerprints would be left behind to connect the crime to him. Hefting the slippery brick, Andrew got into a throwing position and threw it at the figure of the stumbling old man. The brick quickly flew through the air, unimpeded by the heavy rain, and hit the back of the old man’s head. The impact caused him to fall with a cry of pain as his arms subconsciously reach out to clutch his now bleeding nape.
Looking at the groveling and crying old man, Andrew decided to make sure such a thing wouldn’t happen again. And so he stomped. Stomped Hard. Right on the man’s tibia. Effectively cracking the already enfeebled old bones. Ignoring the old man’s sniveling, Andrew slowly walked back toward where his gun had fallen.
“Why,” a broken voice sounded out from the darkness. “Why are you doing this to me?”
Andrew didn’t bother to answer. All he did was give a single glance before turning his back on the teary-eyed man. Carefully, he picked up the gun and cleaned the dirt that had gotten on it. Then he walked back to his victim. This time, he purposely made loud footsteps, the metallic end of his shoe creating a ringing sound that echoed like the toll of the evening bell, muted from the rain but growing increasingly loud as he got closer. He wanted them to know. That death was coming for them.
By this point, the old man had given up. He could tell that Andrew was doing this solely for the kill.
“How unlucky…to happen upon a madman on a day like this…”
“Wrong,” Andrew spoke for the first time. The suddenness of his voice caused the old man to freeze as he softly announced, “An eye for an eye.”
“What? What non-”
Suddenly the man paused in disbelief. In close proximity, Andrew pulled back his overcoat and pulled out a pendant. The ruby-decorated, intricate pendant briefly dangled in front of the man’s face, before Andrew opened said pendant to pull a single bullet from within. A single bullet with a name carved to its side otherwise smooth surface. It was clear what it was. It was a bullet specifically meant for a single man.
“Accardi! You…you are their son!” The old man shrieked out as Andrew replaced the used bullet with the special one.
“Wait! We can talk abo-,” the old man was about to start rambling but then he noticed it. Andrew’s eyes which were usually as emotionlessly silent as a dead lake were now blazing hot like hellfire. From within its depths, the fury and hatred roared out burning the usual silence like how ember takes the straw. He was dead set on vengeance and the old man could tell. However, the amount in his eyes still left the old man unable to do anything but gape as Andrew finished adjusting the bullet.
“That day. What you gave me, I will now return,” Andrew uttered through gritted teeth.
The old man opened his mouth again. Probably to say his last words. But bang! It would never have the chance to come out.
“Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum,” Andrew whispered as he slowly set the gun down, “Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”
As if nothing had happened, Andrew walked back to the grocery bags he had left behind and wiped the rain off them. He carefully wrapped the gun in plastic and hid it back underneath a few cans of tuna and spam, some of which have spilled and were letting out its contents awful smell. But even then, the metallic scent of blood was still overpowering the nearby surrounding. It stayed behind, just like a grudge unwilling to get washed away by the rain.
Andrew started trudging away but then hesitated at the edge of the alleyway. What he wanted to do, was something he hadn’t done in a very long time. And that made him scared. But he knew what he had to do. He couldn’t move on properly with his life without properly closing this chapter of his life. But Andrew couldn’t do it without help and so his trembling hands reached inside his pocket. He retrieved the packet of cigarettes and managed to grab one from inside. He left it hanging loosely on his lips then slowly walked back toward the corpse. He gazed at the dead body, the old man’s face still stuck with a surprised look and mouth in a wide “O.” Flick. Unlike before, a flame sprang out immediately. Under the dim light, Andrew’s eyes were once more visible. It was no longer a dead lake or a sea of hellfire. Instead, it was now a raging ocean. Previously missing emotions were written all over it and the waves were starting to overflow into tears at the edge of his eyes. And so he lifted his head, letting the pitter-patter of rain fall on his face in an effort to conceal what threatened to flow out. Andrew then brought the flame closer to the cigarette. Taking a few quick puffs, Andrew soon brought his eyes back to flame. But this time, he let go. Tears, in droplets too big to blend in with the other raindrops, started flowing out as he let out what he had concealed a long time ago, the cry of a broken man who had lost it all. Taking a vodka bottle out of his grocery bag, he smashed it open on the ground, letting it sink into the ground between both corpses. Then once more, he stared at the flame, but this time, with eyes filled with the fires of determination.
“Father, mother, sister…these deaths I dedicate to you. Please rest at ease wherever you guys have gone to, for I have finally avenged you,” Andrew muttered. Afterward, he dropped the lighter and walked away. Soon, just like before, all that was left of where he had been was the acrid smell and taste of smoke as he disappeared into the hazy darkness of the fog-filled night. But this time, light like the first rays of the morning sun followed from behind him. He may no longer have a vodka bottle to drink and toast to the end of this chapter of his tragic life. But maybe he can finally start searching for a life where he can actually be happy. After all, every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.
An hour later, Andrew finally arrived at his intended destination. “The beginning of the end,” he mused. This was what he had been waiting for half his life but now…he felt no happiness, just a bittersweet emotion. He spotted his targets and silently started following them. It was the 31st of October, so everyone was wearing masks. But Andrew could remember that figure anywhere. They reached an alleyway in hopes of escaping the downpour, and he knew that it was time. Slipping into the same alleyway, Andrew reached deep into one of his grocery bags and drew out a single revolver. Silently, he snuck up behind the elderly couple and then placed the cold muzzle right on the old man’s head.
“Stop or I’ll shoot,” Andrew called out before the man could say anything. That stopped the aging couple dead in their tracks. “Clearly the alleyway has seen better days,” Andrew noted as he quickly surveyed the area. The bricks had no trace of their original red color and were either green or white. The walls and floor seemed like they would break down with one wrong push or step. The rain echoed off the walls, making the empty gray alley all the more deafening and intimidating.
“Put your hands in the air and turn around slowly,” Andrew continued. Having no choice, the two elderlies complied and slowly faced him.
“My wallet is in my bag and his is in his pants. We want no trouble, just take them and go,” the grandma croaked out.
Without a word, Andrew smoothly aimed the gun then bang! Before the old man could comprehend what happened, the love of his life sported a new bloody hole between her temples and slowly fell to the muddy ground. Just to make sure, Andrew looked back and indeed no one had noticed the gunshot. The perpetually shady alleyway worked in tandem with the waterfall-like rain to provide excellent cover from both sound and sight. With the sad truth of human nature, even if anyone had heard it, they would have walked the other way and pretended they had not heard anything. Suddenly, a weak fist slammed into his hand, knocking the gun out of his hands. Surprised, Andrew looked back, noticing how the old man had finally realized what had happened and started madly hobbling away. “Sloppy,” Andrew berated himself. Calmly, Andrew bent down and grabbed a loose brick. With a grunt of effort, he pulled the brick off the pavement. His black leather gloves ensured that no fingerprints would be left behind to connect the crime to him. Hefting the slippery brick, Andrew got into a throwing position and threw it at the figure of the stumbling old man. The brick quickly flew through the air, unimpeded by the heavy rain, and hit the back of the old man’s head. The impact caused him to fall with a cry of pain as his arms subconsciously reach out to clutch his now bleeding nape.
Looking at the groveling and crying old man, Andrew decided to make sure such a thing wouldn’t happen again. And so he stomped. Stomped Hard. Right on the man’s tibia. Effectively cracking the already enfeebled old bones. Ignoring the old man’s sniveling, Andrew slowly walked back toward where his gun had fallen.
“Why,” a broken voice sounded out from the darkness. “Why are you doing this to me?”
Andrew didn’t bother to answer. All he did was give a single glance before turning his back on the teary-eyed man. Carefully, he picked up the gun and cleaned the dirt that had gotten on it. Then he walked back to his victim. This time, he purposely made loud footsteps, the metallic end of his shoe creating a ringing sound that echoed like the toll of the evening bell, muted from the rain but growing increasingly loud as he got closer. He wanted them to know. That death was coming for them.
By this point, the old man had given up. He could tell that Andrew was doing this solely for the kill.
“How unlucky…to happen upon a madman on a day like this…”
“Wrong,” Andrew spoke for the first time. The suddenness of his voice caused the old man to freeze as he softly announced, “An eye for an eye.”
“What? What non-”
Suddenly the man paused in disbelief. In close proximity, Andrew pulled back his overcoat and pulled out a pendant. The ruby-decorated, intricate pendant briefly dangled in front of the man’s face, before Andrew opened said pendant to pull a single bullet from within. A single bullet with a name carved to its side otherwise smooth surface. It was clear what it was. It was a bullet specifically meant for a single man.
“Accardi! You…you are their son!” The old man shrieked out as Andrew replaced the used bullet with the special one.
“Wait! We can talk abo-,” the old man was about to start rambling but then he noticed it. Andrew’s eyes which were usually as emotionlessly silent as a dead lake were now blazing hot like hellfire. From within its depths, the fury and hatred roared out burning the usual silence like how ember takes the straw. He was dead set on vengeance and the old man could tell. However, the amount in his eyes still left the old man unable to do anything but gape as Andrew finished adjusting the bullet.
“That day. What you gave me, I will now return,” Andrew uttered through gritted teeth.
The old man opened his mouth again. Probably to say his last words. But bang! It would never have the chance to come out.
“Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum,” Andrew whispered as he slowly set the gun down, “Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”
As if nothing had happened, Andrew walked back to the grocery bags he had left behind and wiped the rain off them. He carefully wrapped the gun in plastic and hid it back underneath a few cans of tuna and spam, some of which have spilled and were letting out its contents awful smell. But even then, the metallic scent of blood was still overpowering the nearby surrounding. It stayed behind, just like a grudge unwilling to get washed away by the rain.
Andrew started trudging away but then hesitated at the edge of the alleyway. What he wanted to do, was something he hadn’t done in a very long time. And that made him scared. But he knew what he had to do. He couldn’t move on properly with his life without properly closing this chapter of his life. But Andrew couldn’t do it without help and so his trembling hands reached inside his pocket. He retrieved the packet of cigarettes and managed to grab one from inside. He left it hanging loosely on his lips then slowly walked back toward the corpse. He gazed at the dead body, the old man’s face still stuck with a surprised look and mouth in a wide “O.” Flick. Unlike before, a flame sprang out immediately. Under the dim light, Andrew’s eyes were once more visible. It was no longer a dead lake or a sea of hellfire. Instead, it was now a raging ocean. Previously missing emotions were written all over it and the waves were starting to overflow into tears at the edge of his eyes. And so he lifted his head, letting the pitter-patter of rain fall on his face in an effort to conceal what threatened to flow out. Andrew then brought the flame closer to the cigarette. Taking a few quick puffs, Andrew soon brought his eyes back to flame. But this time, he let go. Tears, in droplets too big to blend in with the other raindrops, started flowing out as he let out what he had concealed a long time ago, the cry of a broken man who had lost it all. Taking a vodka bottle out of his grocery bag, he smashed it open on the ground, letting it sink into the ground between both corpses. Then once more, he stared at the flame, but this time, with eyes filled with the fires of determination.
“Father, mother, sister…these deaths I dedicate to you. Please rest at ease wherever you guys have gone to, for I have finally avenged you,” Andrew muttered. Afterward, he dropped the lighter and walked away. Soon, just like before, all that was left of where he had been was the acrid smell and taste of smoke as he disappeared into the hazy darkness of the fog-filled night. But this time, light like the first rays of the morning sun followed from behind him. He may no longer have a vodka bottle to drink and toast to the end of this chapter of his tragic life. But maybe he can finally start searching for a life where he can actually be happy. After all, every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.
Just an ordinary kid happiest when he is eating, hanging out with friends and just chilling at home.