Gift of The Dead: Chapter 1
This is my first attempt to write a thriller story. I have broken down the story into several chapters, which I will publish every week. Hope you enjoy it!
Two men appeared out of no-where. Both were looking ghastly, and panting trying to catch a breath, as their insides became frigid by the arid night air. The just enough light from the lamppost was illuminating their silhouettes. Both did a swift movement to take a combat position, only realising in split-second whom they are facing. They started walking towards each other briskly.
“Did we lose them?” asked the taller of the two.
“I guess not.” said the other one.
“We better take the riverside and meet in the next thirty minutes at the petrol pump near the Chatelet station.”
The other one nodded, and they both set off in hurried pace, disappearing into the darkness, just like they appeared. Their footsteps are ebbing away into thin air.
Ray hurried through the cobbled streets thronging with merry pub-goers. Few tosspots at the opposite side of the road were jeering at a group of girls “Fancy a drink with us, darling?” Muscles hardened in Ray’s face, as his numb fingers tightened on the cold grip of Glock 45, but he skirted past the crowd- “Now is not the time!” He quickly got into a deserted alleyway. His brain racing with all the events of past one hour, trying to frame the random pieces of the obscured scenes playing in his mind’s eyes. “Clink, Clink!!” the incessant sound of shell case ejection was still echoing inside his ear, which drowned his own screams of pain even.
Till yesterday, he was complacent with his precocious abilities to make inferences from data, doing critical analysis, and sending forth the investigation to the Tact-Team. Today, he is embroiled by circumstances to run for his life and hide like a fugitive.
He checked his watch. The glass was broken, surely his wife will not be impressed — it was a gift of their 4th anniversary after all. The clocked ticked half past 11.
He shifted his focus on the trail of events — Earlier this evening, he had come to the bar as an undercover agent, belied as a reporter to collect information from a source about the arms deal. “No one was supposed to know about his meeting! No one! He only told Michel about this. How can he betray his trust? He has been working with him for the past eight years. Secrets and lies — that’s how they shared their mutual trust.”
Ray was sitting at the far end corner of the bar. 7:45, Friday night. The crowd had started pouring in, mostly cohorts of teens and late ’30s, who were retiring to this shack to get relaxed after a hectic week. People were colonising at the booths, and soon waiters were running around with the mugs and bottles.
He was here on business — he needs to be focused; one wrong question can impede his four months of hard work.
A guy dropped in the empty chair beside him, almost starting him. His face was half masked by the shadow cast by the cap. He wore a thick green jacket.
“Did I scare you?” he spoke in a deep, hushed voice. His rattling breath was heavy with smoke and rum.
“No, it’s fine. Keep it short and quick, Jason.” In subdued lights, Ray could barely make out the face of the man. He faintly made out the structure; it was rough with several scars, unshaven and unkempt.
“The Ukrainians are going to move the arms to a secured facility next Saturday. They are planning something big.” There was a little pause. He looked around with incertitude, to make sure the conversation is not heard upon and continued. “There is someone inside who allowed their border pass. Someone at a higher authority. I have got the weapon list..” There was a loud bang at the front door. Armed men in black vest hurtled through the dust forming a thin haze now. Both turned on their spot, acting with astonishing speed, taking out their guns. As they jumped for covers, there was a deafening roar, “There they are!” Jason started firing in the direction of armed men while Ray killed the lights.
Screams of terrors rented the air as it exploded with gunshots.
“We need them alive, hold your fire!”
The next few minutes were too confusing as Jason launched himself onto one of the intruders like a savage lion, parrying the attack, and Ray hustled through the back door, firing haphazardly towards the other end. But two of them were waiting for them outside and opened fire as soon as he came out. The bullet grazed past his lower torso as he stumbled upon the big dustbin in front of him. Jason busted through the door, blood dripping from his arm, firing blindly. Ray caught hold of him and dragged him behind the waste disposal container.
With moment’s pause, both Ray and Jason perfected their aim from their dark corner, and the two men hit the road with a thud and lay motionless there. Realising, they have seconds before their escape, they treaded as fast as they could into darkness.
Standing in the darkness, as he tried to make sense of everything; he felt the pain from the bullet wound was threatening to burst open. Ray took out his phone and speed-dialled his wife’s number. “The number you are trying to reach…”. He did not need to hear the rest as the fear rippled inside him like cold water. “What if they had taken her? — I need to find the fastest route to home.”
A cold and a cruel sense of purpose was engulfing him fast, his inside filled with murder. He thundered out of the hiding when a strong brutal force pushed him back inside.
“WHAT THE…!? YOU!” his voice choked half-way.
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
