EnthuZiks

“The Earth is the cradle of Humanity,

But mankind cannot stay in the cradle forever.”

                                                                       Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

Prologue

I yearn for love that adds meaning to my life.

I’m not looking for a relationship;

 I’m looking for a partnership.

Someone to help me climb life’s mountain 

And guide me through the valleys of adversity.

Someone who can breathe in sync with me

And dance by my side through thick and thin.

I’m looking for the grind-together type of love.

I can build an empire together with my best friend.

-Sundus Ayaz

Warm Koskenkorva vodka scours the inside of her mouth, lighting up her throat. However, Nakada maintains control of the sideways swerve, and the car exits the bend at nearly the same speed as it entered.

She removes her right hand from the steering wheel, shifts into gear, and checks the speedometer. A little more than 130. This speed is ideal for winter driving, especially in freezing conditions along a winding road across the eastern side of Colorado.

You must also consider that, despite the brightness of the stars, visibility is limited at this time of night. Her left foot presses down on the clutch while her right foot presses down on the accelerator. She raises her left hand once more and takes a sliver from the bottle. And this is how you enjoy driving your car.

She reaches a long, gentle downward slope that gradually veers to the right but so gradually and smoothly that the curve is deceptive. At first glance, it appears that all you need to do is keep the car straight and your foot on the accelerator and pedal to the metal.

However, this is not the case. The road then slopes slightly to the left, and the faster you drive, the more it feels like the road is trying to buck the car off its back. He grips the steering wheel, aware that she is travelling at approximately 165 kilometres per hour. It is the champions’ speed. She is aware of this as well, and it stings.

Nakada reached the restaurant, entered her office where she was working as a PR manager, and took her seat. She started checking the schedules for today, “Oh! Today we have another luxury dinner!” Her mind started planning.

She looked at her hands. “I will be poisoning their dinner and then enjoy the whole situation. No one can get a clue about me. I know how to pocket myself.  And I know how to be at the top! I am a fan of MYSELF. I need not do competition with anyone. I don’t know why people have so much time to be in competition with someone else. I love to be better day by day by doing competitions with myself. Today my lovely hands will be pocketing again, and I will feather of victory in my hair.” She touched her hair. Her neck was looking straight and long now. 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Do you know what type of people is in this world? Ava looked into the eyes of her assistant. “There are two types of people that exist in this World. The first one is ‘the hunters’, and the second one are ‘to be hunted’. Now go and decide your type. Get out of here! She threw the report in and faced her. She trembled and took three steps back. The file of the report fell down that she picked up. 

She continued. “I don’t need this type of work. Go and research again on every design of their leather. I won’t need your failure. There is no space for it. My Leather Boutique can’t bear such an attitude, such work, and such employees. OUT!!!” She screamed from her throat.

Lynda, her assistant, felt uneasiness in her stomach, trembled again, and exited the room. But before going out, she turned and looked at her Boss, who was also staring at her with anger. “OUT”. Ava screamed again. Lynda disappeared without wasting a second.

                                                          ……………………………………………………………….

It was 2 AM, but there were no signs of tiredness on the face of Regan. She was dealing with her patients since 6 Am yesterday. She did eight heart surgeries in this time duration and came out smiling from Operation Theatre at every turn. She was a black British heart surgeon who was considered successful in her surroundings. But no one knew her actual face. 

“Hey! When will you come? Today I have something special for you.” She waited for a while. “I have 5 youngsters and 3 mature loves.” She had x-rays on her table. She was watching them with twinkling eyes. Today was her triumph. “You know what I meant by ‘LOVE’,” She laughed loudly. She heard the answer and laughed again. “Oh, Jemmie! It means ‘hearts of patients. Today I have eight heart X-rays in front of me, and I am hoping for good pricing from your black market.” She listened again, but now she was looking somewhat angry over her client. She said in an angry tone. “Yeah! Certainly, you will buy them via QR code. It is the safest way.” Meanwhile, someone knocked at her office door. She turned suspiciously and said in a slow voice, looking at the door, “Okay! I will talk to you later.” Reagan switched off her phone and opened her door lock. 

“Yes?” Reagan asked. 

……………………………………………………………………………

No voice could be heard except music. Yana, having a half-filled tumbler of whiskey, enjoying her own dancing with her new Love, Jack. “Hey, Beau! You are my love, why don’t you visit my place? 

“Sure! Why not”. Jack said smilingly.

Yana looked at him deeply. Both of them left the casino, sat in their vehicle of Yana, and reached her apartment. Yana drove and talked a lot at the same time, but Just just listened to her. He looked like a little silent listener.

As they entered her apartment, Jack looked at the paintings on the walls. But there was something strange in them. They were all about males. The other strange thing was that all of them were painted as dead. Although they are painted amazingly. But Jack felt something strange, a really strange feeling.

“They were my enemies. I killed them and then painted.” He heard Yana at his back. He turned fully towards her. 

“Enemies?” He said slowly and surprisingly. 

“Yes! They rejected my love. How can one do so? Humiliated someone’s emotions! Then I took revenge on them. I am accepting I am a lesbian. Is it taboo or evil? Can you give me some words over it?” She had questions for Jack.

Jack looked at her for a while, took a deep breath, and said. “I guess I should leave.” He took a step towards the door. 

Yana came in front of him speedily. “No! No! No!” She said. She was looking disheartened. “You are taking me wrongly”. 

“Please Yana!” He was avoiding her. Suddenly her face got red. She was standing very close to Jack. She raised her right arm in the blinking of eyes. Jack did not understand what was happening. He just felt the silvery shine that came towards his heart and then a sharp pain. He could not stand more, and fell down. His eyes were filled with pain and amazement. He took his last breath.

Yana sat down near him, looked at him, and said. “You will be my next masterpiece!

………………………………………………………………………………

Chapter I

What should I say 

when faith is dead 

and truth has fled 

Should I be led 

With lie,

Mistress, nay! Nay! Nay!

I promised you,

and you promised me, 

that you would be

as honest as 

I will be,

But since I see

Your double heart,

I fell apart!

-Sundus Ayaz

“Hey, I am Ava. Can we talk for a while?” Ava reached the hospital an hour before. The receptionist told her to wait because Dr Reagan was busy in the operation theatre. After waiting for half an hour, Ava was guided towards her office. 

“Of course!” Reagan gave her way to come inside. “Certainly, you have taken the appointment.” She added. 

“No. I did not take nor have any idea about that. Actually, I need some help. David told me about you.” Ava said nervously. 

“David!!” A red-faced guy came in front of Reagan’s eyes.  He was her old and trustworthy client. Suddenly, Reagan’s phone rang again. She checked the name of the caller, and it was David. 

“Excuse me!” She said to Ava and distanced from her. Ava gave her a willing smile.

“What is that, David? Why is she here?” She asked questions without giving him time to explain.

“Hey, Hey, Darling! Please listen to me. She is my friend. She has a problem, and I hope that you can solve that. Now go and talk with her.” David convinced her. 

“Okay, talk soon.” She disconnected the phone and came back.   

Please can you tell me straightforwardly what you want from me? She asked Ava.

“A man!!” Ava said and bit her lips.

“What? I did not get anything.” Reagan was involved fully now. Ava forwarded her arm. She had a folded paper in her palm.

“Please.” Reagan took that paper and opened it. “Excuse me for the writing.” Ava took a breath heavily. 

Reagan looked at her thoughtfully and smiled for the first time. Ava smiled too 

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

“Revenge is not enough. We must completely destroy him.” Reagan and Ava were meeting on the same evening. 

That evening, Heeley’s Bar was packed. It was as if the mild Mayday had flipped a switch in the locals’ brains, and everyone was in a celebratory mood. Summer had arrived, or at least as good as it got in this small corner. A quieter cosy nook and a couple of snugs were located around the corner from the busy main barroom.

Ava looked at her. Reagan impressed her so much. They were enjoying their drinks.

That is an excellent idea. But how is it possible? Don’t you think we need more people then? Ava asked her. Reagan saw her thoughtfully. 

“You know I painted my another enemy yesterday.” Both of them heard a chilled voice of a girl. Reagan looked at her from her eye corners without turning. She was talking with another girl. 

“You mean you took someone’s life again? Oh, Jesus! What you are??” Her friend shrugged. 

“Oh, come on! I don’t think I should waste more time with you. I have a lot to do.” She stood up over there. Her friend was calling her from the back, but she did not look back. 

Reagan and Ava also followed her. All of them came out of the casino. The girl who was in front of Reagan and Ava was not aware of her following. She sat in her car and went to the main road. Both of them hurriedly sat into Ava’s car and continued to follow her. They did not know where she was going. They are just want to know more about her. These were the thoughts and plans of Ava And Reagan. 

They believed that they had got their new partner. 

……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Hey Love! Ava called her new partner from the back, who was coming out of her car. Reagan was two steps back from Ava. Now she also reached there. 

I know you. A new partner asked.

“Not now, but soon we will know each other,” Reagan said pleasantly.

“Please come into my studio.” She said and unlocked her apartment in which she had her studio, too, where she used to do her artwork.

Ava and Reagan looked at the hanging paintings like every newcomer. “I am Yana, a painter, and I love to meet new people.” Both of them come out of those paintings after listening to her voice. 

“Well, I am Reagan, a heart surgeon, and she is Ava. She has her own leather boutique business. We have some special attention for coming here.” Reagan explained to her. 

What intentions? Yana asked.

“We want a partner for a mission,” Yana spoke nothing. She wanted to know more. “I have a rival. We are planning against him to destroy him completely. 

“I love it.” Yana smiled. “I love to take revenge. Deal!!” She forwarded her fist. Ava and Reagan looked at each other, and all of them said, “CHEERS!”

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Chapter II

You walk alone

 Being Crushed to each bone

Under the sorrows of this world

 And the tragic love

Ambitions that are unfulfilled

And your greed is on the top.

You walk alone 

On the road that is unknown

Broken and Bleed

Withered  and weaken

Looking for the stone of fate

You walk alone.

-Sundus Ayaz

“I hope that I am not too late,” Reagan said after reaching the table that was booked by Yana for their Dinner. All of these gathered there to discuss further plans. 

No worries. Take a seat, Ava is telling her story. Yana said busily. “Please, Ava, continue it!” Yana said to her in an impatient way.

“Alex is doing competition with me in each and everything. Doing a competition is not a bad thing, but he tries to ruin my career. A week ago, I fired my two employees because they were giving news to Alex. He gave them money for every news about my office and business. He also interrupted my office by creating politics among employees with the help of his spies. Now I want to attack back and give him a good lesson. I mean, how can one control you? It is right I copied his designs every time and publicised them before him, but he should not do the same. He should be nice. Isn’t it? I am sick of this now. First, we will completely destroy him and finally kill him.” 

 They ate more than their needed, drank many packs, and laughed a lot. They did not have any idea that they spent 4 hours there. The waiter came to their table and asked them if they needed anything. 

“Oh! We have spent 4 hours over here.” Reagan realised suddenly. 

“Amazing! It is a great place. I guess we should thank the hotel manager.” It was Yana. 

Ava agreed too and called the waiter. “Can we meet your manager?”

“Sure, Ma’am! Please come.” All of these were taken to the PR manager’s office. 

They entered the office after knocking. An elegant lady was sitting there.

As she looked at Ava, impressions of identification came on both of the faces. Ava rounded her lips and said, “Oh!!”

The manager stood up in an exciting way and said, “Don’t tell me. It is you, Ava.” 

She put her hands on Ava’s shoulders. “Nakada! My love, my friend, where were you? Oh Gosh! How can I express my feelings!” Ava said smilingly. 

“Yana, Reagan, she is Nakada, my school friend. Thank you, oh Jesus, we meet again!”Nakada shook hands with Yana and Reagan.

Four drama queens in the same place!

Four killers to ruin the peace of the world!

Four beauties to disturb the slumber of lovers!

They had the strongest bond! 

Time is afraid! 

Life is afraid!

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

He generally went to services. The church was only a few blocks away. On the way, he usually recalled any lines of the Bible and thought about them. He always had a pocket Bible. 

“It is mentioned in Ephesians 4:29 that Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen,” Father said to him once.

But father! No one thinks about others, not their feelings. Even everyone hates each other. There is no tolerance for others’ opinions. So I think your mentioned quote could not be followed.

Father smiled and then laughed. “Oh, dear! It is your real test. You have to do it when no one is going to do that. Do not follow the crowd blindly. You have to get rid of all of the bitterness that is in your heart and purify it. Remove rage and anger as they destroy you. Brawling and slander damage your reputation; if you have any form of malice, it will harm you first.”

“It looks like a really difficult Father. I always try to see good among others, but I am unable to do that and fail, and finally, I quit.”  Alex was worried about his thoughts. He is like a common man who wants to purify himself, but he does not have the consistency to do this. 

“When we maintain a conscious connection with Gratitude, our presence will naturally radiate a certain beauty and undisturbed, inner tranquillity. Such individuals glow. All such individuals look beautiful and seem irresistible to those who value goodness. They have an attractive field of loveliness. It tends to bring out the beauty in other people.

“Father, nothing is easy to do, as you are saying. My own life is full of hardships and worries.”  The faces of his wife Kate and his son Conor came into his mind. His eyes filled with tears.

“My dear Son! On every path of life, you will come across boulders and flowers. Concentrating only on the hardship will take your focus away from the beauty on that path. Know that both boulders and flowers complement each other.” 

Having the business of leather, he had rivals. But he was tired of Ava. She stole her designs and plans. He was sure that she left her men in his workplace. He took revenge on her sometimes, but it made his soul heavy because he had a different nature, polite and pure, who tried to avoid killing even an insect. 

……………………………………………………………………..

Chapter III

You Shouldn’t Seek Love

Try to be in love

It is better to wait years for the

Right person

Or do you have to wait years

for the desired love

from the very

wrongest person.

-Sundus Ayaz

In the next few days, they planned how to proceed and got success. All of them were experts in their professions. They had the taste of the Power of Death. Their lives had been a series of competitions, and the only thing they all had in common was that they had won them all.

Their motto of life was the same. They said whatever they had done was nothing. They should stand you, do more, and give tough competition to themselves.

This thing made them distinctive, unsurpassable, and exclusive. They proved evil for anyone. If someone could take a chance of teasing them, it meant that he had called his death for sure. And Alex did that mistake long before. Now it was too late.

Reagan’s phone rang. A private call is written where she used to see the caller’s number. She took a deep breath and picked it up. 

“Hey Roger, I know it is you! She said curtly.

“Hey, Reagan. I have all the information you told me to gather.”  Roger came to the point because he understood that she was not in a talking mood.

“Okay! I am coming. Wait for me.” She said and disconnected the call. “I will come soon!” She said Ava and Nakada. Yana was not there. She had gone two hours before to collect some necessary things for the mission. 

……………………………………………………………………………..

“He has a very good reputation in his surroundings. I tried a lot but did not gather any crime that he committed. Although he disturbed Ava because she ruined his plans, intriguing into his matter of business by his spy men, and copied his designs.”

Reagan was listening to him. “Anything else?” She said.

“Alex is attractive. I have not heard a girl in his neighbourhood say anything else except out of spite. The gel-spiked hair, the shapely chest muscles, the lucid brown eyes. You will see him sitting in his block’s church stairs, one ankle propped on the opposite knee, wearing a blue-and-white striped Ben Sherman shirt with the collar turned up and a pair of grey O’Neill’s tracksuit bottoms, and I’m afraid to say if that guy has ever fuck any girl. Why do you want information about him?

“That is not your headache. Mind your business. I want his weakness. Did you get about that?”

“It is his wife. He really loves her. He can leave everything for her, his son, his business, and whatever he has.” Roger added.

“How are you saying this? Any proof? Reagan asked.

“Yes. Whatever he has, it is owned by her, and he has done that willingly. Kate has full authority over him. He used to ask her before taking any step for his business.” Roger explained more. 

Reagan’s eyes flamed.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Chapter IV

You don’t need to play on 

Words anymore

Because 

Words are what 

That played with your heart

And ruined its 

Empire

Let it cry now

To be the sunshine.

-Sundus Ayaz

She screamed and tried to stand up, but the room spun. She sat down again, trying to concentrate by taking deep breaths in and out. Was there any way out? Consider this. She stood up, her legs shaking beneath her. 

“We planned great. You should give me some time to take a picture of the burned flat. I will miss it in my art pieces, but I will use my imagination to paint it.” Yana was offended by Nakada, who brought her back without wasting a single second there. 

They got the news that Kate, Alex’s wife, was alone at home. Nakada and Yana went there and made everything perfect for a natural short-circuit fire cause. Now they were at Ava’s place and celebrating their first success. 

The flames were now engulfing the books and photographs. Those had the memories of their happy life.

“It is my hospital timing, girls! See you all soon. Bye,” Reagan stood up and went out. 

“Reagan!” Ava called her back. She turned. “Thank you! Whatever you are doing for me!” 

Reagan was amazed and said smilingly, “Love you silly!”  and went out.

 As heavy smoke filled the room, she sank to her hands and knees. She coughed as she moved across the floor toward the hall, pulling her shirt over her mouth as the air became too dense with it.

“Help me!” she yelled, knowing there was no one nearby who could. Don’t freak out, she told herself. She had to try to keep herself quiet in order to preserve her oxygen. She couldn’t die in this manner.

“Today, he will find the corpse of his wife. I am certain it would be a great loss of his.” She took a sip from her tumbler.

The first murder is always difficult for everyone. But you know, success is created for those who can stand after falling down, cleans themselves, smile back, and start their work again.  

The smoke was becoming so dense that she couldn’t see more than a few inches ahead of her. The heat of the flames was approaching her, threatening to consume her. I’m not going to make it, she reasoned.

“You know death is the biggest truth. Many can not accept it. Because it is the only thing that is bitter and harsh, and it offends all of us. We can not accept how our dear ones leave us. I am sure he will not survive it.” it was Nakada.

“Hey, Kate!” Kate was preparing for dinner when Conor came into the room and saw her. For some time, he saw her and then called back. Kate stopped suddenly and turned towards Conor.

“Yes, my Love!” Conor never called her with Mom, and the same case was with Alex. Alex really liked it and got happy when he called him by name. 

“Actually, I have a surprise for you. Can you come with me?”

“Yeah, sure.” Kate laughed with heart. She forgot everything that she was thinking about sometime before. She went with Conor. 

He took her into his room. “Here it is. Look, Katee, what I made!” Conor was just 9 years old, but he behaved like a 15-year-old boy. He was really mature and beyond his age level. 

The structure of the Eiffel Tower was completed with blocks that Alex had brought for him. There was not any flaw that could be detected. Kate was mesmerised for a moment, and then she sat down near the project and examined it properly. Conor was standing near her to see her response by folding his arms on his chest like Alex. 

“Wow, it is just amazing. I do not think that I have words to praise it. You are a genius, my hero.”

Conor smiled. “Thank you so much!” He said confidently, without any signs of shyness.

“I guess we should put it in our lounge so that everyone can see your masterpiece.” 

His mother suggested.

“No, No, not at all. Then how can I do any further project?” He was looking worried suddenly.

“I can not understand Conor. What are you saying? If I put this into the lounge, how will it affect you?” Kate was amazed.

“You are not getting me. If you put it there, everyone will praise me, and their praising words arouse pride in me. As a consequence, I will become dumb and stop working as I am doing. My creativity will vanish. It will create a hurdle in my work. Do you want to see me like this?” Conor asked Kate.

Kate was just looking at him. She was not expecting such talk from his side at this age. 

“Conor!” After a while, she called him.

Yes, Kate? Conor inquired by lifting his left eyebrow up. 

“You are not a kid, my Love!” Latrice praised her.

“I never was!” He replied simply. Conor was having a clear vision of what he would do with every moment of hir life. Pride is the only thing that he disliked the most, nor he had it.

“Conor! Conor! She screamed again. “I know you are not a kid.” Her throat was raw, and her nose was on fire. She inched her way to the entrance hall with every ounce of strength she could muster. She was panting from exhaustion as she lay there.

 Her mind was foggy, but the cold marble floor felt good against her body, and she pressed her cheek against it. She was finally able to sleep. Her eyes closed, and she felt herself fade away until everything became black.

…………………………………………………………………………………

After the service, the long line of cars seemed to take hours to reach the cemetery, and when everyone arrived, Alex wasn’t surprised to see that it wrapped around it. As mourners crowded around the gravesite, Alex and Conor took their seats. Conor remained silent as he pondered a serious matter. Alex’s eyes searched each face behind his dark sunglasses, assessing and questioning whether the murderer was among them. Some were strangers to him, while others were old friends he hadn’t seen in years.

The service at the grave was mercifully brief, and as the casket was lowered into the earth, Alex stood motionless, staring at it. Conor clasped his hand in his father’s, and he lingered for a few moments longer, his face blank. He appeared much older than his forty-five years of age, the deep lines around his mouth becoming even more pronounced. Suddenly, he was overcome with grief and reached for one of the folding chairs to steady himself.

He spent the rest of the day in a daze. Alex had holed up in his office after everyone had left, dealing with a work crisis, while Conor wandered restlessly from room to room. He’d been waiting for everyone to leave, for the day of her mother’s funeral to be over, but the house was strangely quiet now. There seemed to be another sympathy card or flower arrangement everywhere he looked.

He finally sat in the study recliner, leaning back and closing his eyes, tired and sad. He had almost fallen asleep when a vibration at his side forced him to open his eyes. Her phone rang in his dress pocket. He took it out, pressed his thumb to unlock it, and saw Private Caller in place of the phone number. He read the incoming text message.

“It’s such a lovely day for a funeral. I had fun watching you as they lowered your Love into the ground. Your hot face had become mottled and swollen as a result of your tears. But I enjoyed watching your world come crashing down. Do you think you’re sad now? Wait a minute. You’ll wish you’d been buried today by the time I’m done with you.”

He jumped out of the chair, his heart pounding wildly against his chest, and dashed out of the room, his breath coming in short bursts. “Should I call the cops?” I inquired of him. “I don’t want to live right now.” But before I die, I’ll be going to finish you. Whatever it is that you are. He yelled while making fists.

……………………………………………………………………………

Chapter V

Of course, I’ll hurt you.

Of course, you’ll hurt me.

Of course, we’ll hurt each other.

But this is the very condition.

Of existence. To become spring,

Accepting the risk of winter.

To become present means

Accepting the risk of absence.

-Sundus Ayaz

Since Kate’s death, the sadness had been paying Alex visits often. He’d found himself slumped at the kitchen table over the last week, minutes are gone and tea cold, or on the hallway floor, rug print on his cheek. Until now, there had always been some kind of warning sign, a rising din of white noise in his jumbled mind. But today was different. It had sideswiped him today – and it had done so right in the middle of Main Street.

He returned his gaze to the road, this time to the shop window in front of him. He didn’t recognise the man and reflected back for a startling moment. His face was puffy, and her grey-green eyes were sunken and tired. Alex was recently reminded of the creeping earliness of each evening’s wine bottle, as well as the regular clatter of the recycling bin. The few shifts he worked at the wine shop each week came with a generous employee discount, which didn’t help matters. A thorough detox had been long overdue. He was totally ignorant of Conor. Even he did not remember to give him something to eat. 

The child asked nothing and engaged himself in creativity. He wanted to escape. Once, he himself made “baked onions” that Kate taught him. Alex was fully ashamed when Conor put them in front of him.

After that day, he started making food for himself and Conor. 

                           ……………………………………………………………………………………………….

“He is doing nothing. His office work is handled by his employees. We have won it finally.” Ava was updating them.

All of them were seated in the Rocky Moutain National Park. Here they gathered to plan their next move. All of them were very cautious about their surrounding. They chose the loneliest place of Lake Helene.

“Now we should proceed towards our next step. We planned to ruin him completely. So my suggestion is to make him bankrupt. First, we have to check his belongings, and then we will disown from them.” It was Nakada. 

It was decided by them that the next move would be accomplished by Yana and Ava. Yana will use her sources to get his bank information and steal all of his credit and whatever Alex had in his bank account. 

………………………………………………

When a frail figure stepped through the church door, Alex’s heartbeat quickened. She was dressed in a long white gown that gave her the appearance of an angel descending from heaven. Her arm was wrapped around the arm of his father. Suddenly, all noises were drowned out, and the world became hazy. As she walked up the alley leading to me, he noticed a bouquet of pink roses and white lilies in her hand. Her face was hidden behind a veil, but that didn’t stop his gaze from caressing her lovely features. Her gleaming long silver earrings swayed with each step she took towards me. When she stood at the bottom of the stairs, sweat poured out of every cell of his body. 

“Alex! What is Conor doing?” Alex heard Kate’s voice that, interrupted his train of thought. He was trying to distract his mind and opened his Email to go through nowadays activities of the office. He had left everything to Joseph. He was a loyal employee which he could trust blindly. But after coming here, he remembered the day when he got married to Kate.  

Kate sat before him, looking fresher as she was. “Kate! You are here.” Alex felt his pain again.

“Alex! I am missing Conor. You are neither caring of yourself nor him properly.” She shook her head in distress and closed her eyes. 

“Kate! How can we live with you? You must tell us before going how to live. I do not about it. I do not get any way to bring myself out of this grief. Can you tell me what I should do? Kate, I am telling you that sooner or later, I will be with you. I can’t live anymore. I can’t.” He started crying loudly. “How can you do this with me? I can’t bear it.”

He fell down on his knees, crying badly. Suddenly the door of the study room opened. Conor entered the room. 

“If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” Conor sat down near Alex and said these words from the Bible. 

Conor had a photogenic memory. He never forgot whatever he saw once. He read the Bible at the age of 4 and a half, Kate was really overwhelmed by his intelligence, so she decided to give him books to read before the normal child. 

“Oh, my son! What will I do? I am not understanding. I can’t bear it.” Alex said. He tried to stop crying. He looked towards the chair of the writing table where Kate sat for a while. But she was not there now. 

“Alex! We have to take a deep breath and start everything from the beginning. Today we are going out to my favourite place.” Conor decided what to do. 

“Okay, give me a minute to fresh me up, then we will move.” Alex never declined his and Kate’s wishes. 

………………………………………………………………

Alex and Conor reached Rocky Mountain, National Park. It was my favourite place Conor. They went fishing there many a time.  Conor had already purchased passes for him and Alex. So they entered it without any problem.

“Hey, Alex!” Ava was going towards the exit door when she saw Alex and his son, who were talking with each other at the entrance. 

“Hello!” Alex did not have any interest in talking to her.

“I am sorry for your wife.” Ava’s words were totally opposite from the expressions in her eyes. She was feeling relaxed after seeing his pitiable plight.

“Alright.” He said curtly and addressed Conor, “Move.”

Hey Alex, listen to me! She called him back. “If you need my help…” Alex interrupted her.

“Thank you so much, Ava.” He replied and went after Conor. Something burned inside Ava.

“Hey, honey, what is going on?” It was Yana. She heard everything. Others were gone. 

“Nothing.” She tried to hide her expression.

“Do not be sad. You are doing right with him. He deserves this.” She said in anger and spat on the ground. 

…………………………………………………………………

Chapter VI

Usually, the wish is for

The dream to come true

But in your case,

The reality turned into a

Dream;

That was you.

-Celine Zabad

“Hey, I need your help. Reach Alex’s leather boutique and control their security cameras.” Nakada instructed someone on her phone. Then she listened. She added after loud laughter, “Yes! Today you will assist me there. Today we will con them. Reach there fast.” she disconnected the call.

Now she was standing in front of the mirror. Shehe said to her reflection, “Definitely, it is not my responsibility to make someone comfortable when I want to step into my worth. Isn’t it? My responsibility is to be kind. But.” She stopped and laughed ironically, “I need to give honour my life too.” 

She looked long at herself.  “Girls! Today you will see how I can accomplish my tasks single-headedly.” Then she left her flat.

………………………………………………………………….

She had an arrogant posture with a long neck. Wherever she went, it would have guaranteed that she would be the pivot of the whole house. The guard opened the entrance door for her. 

She reached the receptionist. She got information that the receptionist had done Lasik two days before and had the problem of blurred eyes. Nakada asked for an appointment with Joseph, who was working on the seat Alex’s nowadays.

After 10 minutes, she opened the door of his office, but before that, she acknowledged the presence of her partner in the security office, her special poison and last but not least, her looks. 

Hey, good noon, sir! She looked straight into the eyes of Joseph and said in a respectful tone. He was approximately 55 years of age.

Good noon, young lady, have a seat, please. Belinda told me you came here for a job. His small eyes were scanning Nakada. She did not like him.

“Yes, Mr?” She spoke with a sugary sound. 

My name is Joseph. He was an easy kind of person. I guess you are hardly 18.

How do you know? Nakada acted amazingly.

“I have a very good ability to guess about others. My words are always true.” He said proudly.

Excellent! I love it. Can you please tell me more about myself? She asked anxiously.

Sure, but first, we will take something. What is your choice? He picked up his intercom.

“Black coffee.” She said confidently. He smiled and asked for two black coffees.

They talked until the office boy brought two cups of black coffee. She stopped suddenly as he entered the room. 

After he vanished from the room, she said to Joseph smilingly, “You have a very good sense of humour.”

“And you are a perfect listener. Otherwise, I use not give much time to anyone.” He was convincing her something. 

She stood from her seat, went near him, held his tie in her right hand, stretched it towards her, and said softly, “I am feeling honoured.” 

Joseph did know about her left hand that was adding something to his coffee. His eyes were fixed on Nakada. He sweated. 

Nakada smiled again and went back. She did it. It was time to wait now. Joseph looked nervous. He took his Coffee and filled his mouth with it. He wanted to look confident before a young girl. 

“Great!” She said and stressed on ‘T’. Joseph understood nothing, but he felt her eyes become more bright. There was something that was ambiguous and weird. He did not get time to gather what was going on. He almost took his last breath and fell on the files that were opened before him. 

Oh, Jesus! Forgive me. She went near him and examined his face. “Everyone will consider it a heart attack, as the sign shows. I never work stupidly!” She opened her clutch, brought out a USB, and started copying the data from the Laptop. 

The laptop was really fast. She got everything soon. She did not forget to attach a chip to the laptop to get access to the next work that would be done on it. “I am exiting.” She said to her partner. 

………………………………………………………………..

Chapter VII

I know it is horrible,

Horrific & evil.

But the thing is

It won’t be like this

On your spirit

One day.

And you will

Consider this time 

And remember, this time 

When you believed

It could end

And could be different.

-Sundus Ayaz

Alex had forgotten his cash at home, so he thought to use his credit card. He gave it to the sales boy. The sales boy entered the card into the transaction machine and pressed some buttons. 

“Excuse me, Sir! It is empty.” The sales boy looked at Alex questionably.

“Seriously?? Please check it again.” Alex was amazed.

“Sir, I have checked it three times.” The sales boy answered.

“Okay! I will be back soon.” He said and came out from the market. He reached t the nearest transaction machine, but the sales boy was right. The credit card was empty. He looked towards the sky. 

………………………………………………………….

“Hi, Alex!” Conor opened the door and found his father empty-handed. He did not question and gave him a glass of water. 

Alex threw the credit card in front of him. Conor looked at him but said nothing again. 

“You know it is empty. Someone stole all my money, not only me but Kate’s card is also empty. We have nothing, Conor.”His voice became heavier at his last words. Conor looked at him silently. 

“Alex, who is behind everything? Do you have an enemy?” Alex looked strangely towards him. “Why do I not think in this way?” He thought but did not answer him. The message that he got that day was fleshed into his mind.

Suddenly his phone rang. He brought it out from his hip pocket. It was Belinda. As he picked up the call, she spoke impatiently, “Sir! Joseph died due to a heart attack.” This could be the last blow that he received today. He forgot to take his breath.

…………………………………………………………..

Unseen Evil

It is always important to

Know when something has

Reached its end. 

Closing circles,

Shutting doors,

Finishing chapters,

It doesn’t matter if to leave it in

The past those moments in life,

That is over.

-Paulo Coelho

Alex and Conor did not eat that day. They slept early. In fact, they were not sleeping but avoiding each other. Their house was damaged completely because of the fire. Now they were living in Alex’s friend’s residence. Both of them did not like to live here. The only thing they liked was the AKVARIUM. That was extra large and attractive. 

They heard some strange sounds from the lounge. Conor became alert, but Alex lay as before. It was shown that he did not have any more interest in living. Then they heard a glass fall and break. Alex left the bed at this time and opened the door. Conor was after him. 

As he opened the door, suddenly, all the lights in the lounge were turned on. Alex and Conor put their hands on their eyes unconsciously for a while. 

When they were able to see in the light, they saw that girls were seated on the sofa of the lounge. Alex was amazed to see that one of them was Ava. 

“Welcome, Mr handsome!” Ava said with a wide smile. 

“Why are you here?” He asked.

“To send you to your last destination.” She said coldly. Alex froze. He finally got who was behind everything. 

“Why are you doing all of this?” He was literally shocked. “We are rivals. But it doesn’t mean you will fall down too much.” He said pathetically. “You have killed my wife, ruined my house, stole my money, killed Joseph, destroyed my business, and now you want to kill me? I know you are mean, but I was not aware of its intensity. You really disappoint me, Ava.” He was seriously in shock. 

“Stop it!” she loosed her temper. “Mean? It is not me. It is you. Have you remembered what you said to me? You said I couldn’t achieve anything in my life. Who has given you the right to judge me? I can not bear you anymore. You have to die, Alex.” She said ruthlessly. 

Alex laughed. Conor looked at him. He got afraid of his laughing. Alex laughed continuously.

“Stupid lady! I am not afraid of death. Not a bit. You should be afraid of an unlived life. No one can live here forever. Do you know what to do? You have to live each second, minute, and moment.” He said this and started laughing again. 

“He has lost his senses,” Reagan said in a low voice. 

“Your time is over, Mr! Enter into this aquarium.” Nakada showed him the rifle.

“You have just two minutes otherwise, I will kill your son.” It was Yana. She put her pistol on Conor’s forehead, which she did not resist.

Alex looked at Conor first, then the aquarium. He started moving towards it. 

After reaching the aquarium, he looked back towards Conor.  He said. “Conor, I am empty-handed, leaving nothing for you. But I know you are more strong than me. Your shoulder can bear more burden than mine. You know why God has given you this life because you can live it more beautifully. I will always be with you, wherever you will be, whatever you will do.”

“Step into it, or do you want to lose your son?” Nakada inquired from him in a cold voice.

Alex lay in the aquarium. Suddenly he felt someone’s touch. He smiled. “I know it is you, Kate.” Kate laughed and laid with him into it. He gave her his shoulder. She put her head over it. They were contented. They smiled. 

“I know your stubborn attitude for everything. You had once committed with me that you would never leave me alone, and finally, you are fulfilling it.” She said with love. 

“Yes, honey, I will never leave you alone, nor can I live without you! Take me with you.” He kissed her forehead. 

She held his hand and said, “Then let’s go!” She stood up along with him, and they stepped up slowly.

…………………………………………………………………

All of these four were Unseen Evils. They murdered a lot of people by using their minds collectively, but they never forgot Alex.  They were always successful, always together. But they were not aware that there would be an end to each tyrant. And their end will be worse than others.

…………………………………………………………………….

His long brown hairs were flying with the wind. He was standing in front of the house where all of those ladies lived who destroyed his life once.  He looked towards the house. He was a silent boy of 18 years of age. 

“I remember you all, forget nothing.  I have learned everything to take revenge on you. Revenge is in my blood, my breath, and my body parts. I am an expert in every technique. I am coming to destroy you. I am 18 now. I will tell you now what I am and how I have controlled this fire over these years. You have lived a lot. I will attack you like an unseen evil. Finish you!

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