Penalty Mafia - Page 4

Fingering around the pen in his hand absent-mindedly, Hesmyrr warily waited for his appointments to arrive. Since founding Penaville few months ago he had been consistently badgered by annoying visitors who all demanded something out of him; usually it involved silly personal dispute in desperate need for calmer heads. The extent of conflict just eighteen people could create still amazed him even now.

Still, to be visited by those three... He knew it couldn't be no ordinary matter.

The town of Penaville was located in still largely uncharted territory of Trasvin, desolate field located north of Liquidpolis. Despite of its proximity to the metropolis no one bothered to go to this barren landscape where nothingness was said to stretch on for miles. Where people only saw an useless land, Hesmyrr had spied an opportunity.

Obtaining chunk of Trasvin with cheap price, he built a collection of self-sufficient residences quite far away from the city- and advertised the town as locale where people with personality problems could live freely isolated from normal population. Most preferred to take a chance with psychiatrist instead, but few took up the offer just enough to make the concept viable. Of course he had taken care to turn down those truly mental cases who posed danger to others. One would have been surprised at how many strange people his idea had attracted--

Knocking.

Snapping out of his thought, Hesmyrr stood and walked toward the front door. His residence, having only one room, was pretty small, perhaps smaller than one of those expensive apartments offered in the city, but it was enough for him. He did not like wasting his money on unnecessary luxuries.

With a smile familiar figure stepped in, followed by two others.

"Sorry, I think I was bit late? I kind of took the longer route here stumbling around in darkness."

"It's fine. With the town having near non-existent lightning hardly anyone walks on the night anyway. Why did you choose such late time for appointment?"

"Had something to do." Hesmyrr watched the third man shrug as he shut the door. Behind him, he could hear the sound of curtain being drawn over the windows. Suddenly, he felt wave of uneasiness washing over him, but he forcibly repelled the sensation. None of the people here was unstable enough to be dangerous; especially these group of individuals.

"So what's the problem?"

"I came here to discuss my dream." The first man spoke with crooked smile.

"...I am interested to hear what your dreams are, though I don't understand how your dream relates to our appointment."

"When I was in my twenties," the man narrated near dreamily, "I was rather dissatisfied with life though having succeeded in basic hurdles of life; good education, stable and well-paying job. They were useless to me. I will be stuck into repetitive routine of work, groveling over superiors until I retire and fade into obscurity, without ever obtaining my true desire: power and control. I see you are becoming rather squirmish- note that two of my partners are standing behind you. Let me finish this story for your sake, at least. Eventually I realized creating criminal organization was the way to go. I lack revulsion toward what society calls immoral act, you see. However there stood massive problem. Being from Liquidpolis I am sure you know what it is- their police organization is too efficient. The metropolis has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, the damned elite officers, 'mods', cutting all sprouting illegal activities at its very root. If I endeavor the same my plan will undoubtedly meet the same fate. No, if I am to succeed in my ambitions my first base of operations must be away from the population, out of these mod's sight."

"You know where I am going with this?"

In last desperation move Hesmyrr sprang up from his chair and started to move toward his room, where he knew was the place his handgun was kept secretly. But before the other two goons could even properly seize him, the first man whipped out gun with a silencer and shot the fleeing founder in back twice. Hesmyrr instantly collapses in agony.

"Y... You are only three- never.. you can't overpower rest of ten. I am certain of it."

"Wasted final words. All means of communications and transportation was sabotaged, which mean they are stuck with no choice but to find your murderers- and I hardly doubt these group of Townies to discover the true culprits behind your death."

The man behind him chuckled. "Hehehe, you may think of upcoming days as good versus evil, but in real life everyone has their little skeletons that always results in their ruin. You yourself know what I'm talking about. We wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you."

As the world slowly turns white and the pain in his body started leaving him, Hesmyrr could swear he could once again see the first meeting between him and these group of dangerous criminals...

"Everything seems to be in order. There's one thing that concerns me though, before we finish this contract. All three of you are rather normal individuals with no mental or background problem at all- why would you choose to live in such small town over Liquidpolis?"

"Do I really need to elaborate?"

"See, when I see group of socially successful man opting to go to isolated town full of problematic individuals, it makes me nervous."

The man on the table across leans toward him and whispers, "Look, you probably checked us and saw we don't have any problems that should warrant a concern. There's just someone we rather hide from for personal reasons, and though I know our intention is somewhat different from what you intended, I am sure we can work this out somehow..."

He sees a black briefcase pushed across the table. It is opened, and despite reliving the entire event in perspective of invisible third party, the thought process is clearly visible in the mind of him at the past, blinded by flash of green: Well, they do have no criminal record.. Plenty of reasons in the world for people to go into isolation... What do I stand to lose anyway?

"It's a deal."