Rachel : My brothers…. Henry… and Hal ….. big age gap….but they take care of me….
Jackson : I’ve met them at the dinner…..
Looking at Rachel’s heavily tattooed brother, I could not resist asking her about it.
Jackson : how….. does the tattoo work… ? what does it mean….? Why some of them have it on their hand…. Some on their necks….
Rachel raised an eyebrow as if I asked something funny.
Jackson : do all Rajahs need to get tattoos… ?
Rachel : hahhaa… no…
Rachel put her glass down and looked up into the evening sky for a moment before telling me what I wanted to know.
Rajah Holdings is a vast business empire with it’s fingers dipping into many different industries. Not all employees are Rajahs and you don’t need to be a Rajah in order to work for them.
Rachel : but we take care of our own…. A lot more…. in ways you cannot possibly imagine….
Jackson : I see….
The tattoos are a generation marker. A rank or sort.
Those with them near the head, they are 2nd gen Rajahs, those with the most experience and clocked the most mileage.
Rachel : There are not many 2nd gen Rajahs left…. A lot are dead or in jail…
3rd generation Rajahs are a little more discreet as visible tattoos are frowned upon, but that did not stop many of them from getting inked.
Rachel : 3rd gen tattoo are smaller, and easily concealed. Usually on the body, the top of their feet…. Or on the shoulders…..
Jackson : what about those on the hands…. ?
Rachel : those are mostly millennials……new age Rajahs….. not afraid to show and flaunt their affiliation…. But just so you know…. I don’t accept every Tom, Dick and Harry into the family…. You got to proof your worth….. in fact….there are strict rules…
Jackson : I see….
Rachel : there are some Rajahs without tattoos but the values in which they live by….. are the same….
Jackson : and what are those…. ?
Rachel : well…. One of them is….You cannot force us to do things we don’t want to……Rajahs don’t bend…
Jackson : ok…. You mean to say you guys are stubborn….
Rachel : hahahah…. Well… in way.. yes…. Very…..very stubborn…. Hahha….anyway…..
Rachel finished her drink before wiping her lips with a napkin, leaving a seductive stain of her lipstick on it.
Rachel turned her head and pulled back her hair, bringing her head really close to me. I could see her brothers eyeing my every move.
Rachel was so close, that I could smell the shampoo from her lovely locks.
She showed me a intricately tattooed ‘R’ at the back of her ear. It’s like an artwork, written by some calligraphy master.
Rachel : This is the mark…. Of those who have contributed and work with the 1st gen Rajahs…….very very rare…. Even rarer for us to show it… hahah…
Jackson : That is…. Really nice….
The 1st gen Rajahs are mostly retired or dead. Those that are alive no longer touch the company matters.
Rachel, together with her brothers and a team of consultants who are all descendent of the 1st generation of company founders, manage the organisation.
Rachel laughed in a teasing manner before asking is she is making me uncomfortable.
Rachel : are you…. Uncomfortable with close body contact… ? hahah… would you like a tattoo ? …. We own 2 parlours in town…. I can get you one for free….
Jackson : err no thank you….
I asked Rachel how does one enter the organisation.
Rachel : send in your resume… hahah
Jackson : come on… be serious… hahaha
Rachel : like I said… anyone can work for us…. To be part of the family…. It’s a different matter…
She dragged her index finger along the back of my palm and I quickly retracted my hand.
By the end of our 2nd drink, Rachel was getting a little more touchy and I did everything I could to try and keep a respectful distance.
Eventually she wanted a change of location to have dinner, but first she needed to grab her purse in her office.
We took the lift down one level into a corporate looking environment. Nothing out of the blue.
It’s pretty much a normal office and I could see some employees working late at their terminals.
Rachel offered me a seat in the office but left the door open.
Jackson : so I reckon…. You can’t quit the organisation…. Once you joined ??
Rachel : Don’t be so draconian… you want to leave… there’s nothing I can do to stop you….but if you do shit in our name or tarnish the organisation…. Well…. I don’t know what happens… my brothers usually takes care of things like that….
Jackson : I see…
Rachel : Many have left over the years…. People move on…. Some went overseas….. some migrated for a greener pasture…. And……….. some….. join a rival gang……
Rachel paused for that to sink in as she looked at me, no doubt sore about the fact that Seven is now working with Yiling.
Rachel : they may no longer have anything to do with the organisation but many remain a true Rajah at heart….till the end….
Jackson : That’s…. really nice….
Rachel : Yiling is lucky to have an employee like you…. I’m just going to grab my bag and phone and we can go….can’t seem to find my wallet….
Jackson : It’s ok… I’ll buy you dinner…
Rachel looked up from her drawer and gave me a seductive smile.
Rachel : really ? …. You’re buying me dinner… ? hahaha… don’t regret…
Jackson : why not….? what do you want to eat… ?
I left the office with Rachel and we took the lift down to the carpark.
Her brothers are already there waiting for her by their cars.
Rachel : ok… I know besides coming to apologise… there is something else you want…. the men that attacked us…
Jackson : yes… that is something that i…
Rachel : ok…. You can have them…. I’ll send them over to the estate tomorrow…. We’re done with them….
My eyes and ears lit up when Rachel said it so casually.
Jackson : Really ? … just like that… ?
Rachel : yeah….
Jackson : cool…. Thank you…. Errr… so…. Did they say why they attacked you… and us…it’s so out of the blue…..
Rachel avoided the question in the same manner Yiling does whenever I asked her about it.
Rachel : it’s….. none of your concern….plenty of crazy people around these days…. Anyway…. The Rajahs’ family day will be held on St John’s island…. Going to be a hell of a party….
Jackson : cool…. I’ll be there…
Rachel : Are you seeing anyone Jackson …. ?
I wasn’t expecting a question like that from Rachel and it caught me by surprise.
Jackson : err… why do you ask… ?
Rachel : because I’m going to marry you…
I looked at her in disbelief.
Jackson : Are you out of your mind…. ? You don’t even know me…. !
Rachel : I know you more than you know yourself Jackson …haha…
She proceeded to link arms with me in a joking manner and I tried to pull myself away from her.
Jackson : please don’t joke Rachel… your brothers are staring at me…
Rachel : They can’t wait for me to be married….hahah…. that way they can wash their hands off me… hahah…
I was struggling with a delirious and laughing Rachel when my phone rang.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone and the photo I stole from Teng’s place dropped out of my pocket.
It was my grandfather.
I answered it but before I could hear him say anything, the line went dead.
It’s like he hung up the moment I answered it.
I tried to dial his number as Rachel bent down to pick up the photo.
My grandpa’s phone rang a few times but he rejected my call.
When I tried again, his phone was off.
I tried several times as I looked at Rachel who was holding onto the photo and staring at it.
I stopped trying after a minute and asked Rachel what’s wrong.
Jackson : Are you ok… ? what’s wrong…
When Rachel looked up at me, her flirtatious behaviour is gone.
She’s not longer smiling, and you could tell the playing mood is gone.
The atmosphere in the carpark has changed.
Her brothers, sensing a change in mood walked over and took the photo from Rachel.
Upon seeing the photo, I could see the anger and fire in their eyes.
The one with the funny fingers spoke first.
Henry : where did you get this !!! where ! ?
Jackson : I stole it off the study of…. Of a man.….when I was…. When I was doing something….. work related……. Why… ?
Hal turned the photo to check the date it was taken and he showed it to Rachel.
Something don’t feel right to me.
Jackson : You….. you know Teng….. ?
And the replies I got sent cold chills of shiver deep into my spine, compounding with the weird phone call I just received from my grandfather, I was doing all I can to stop my body from shaking.
Rachel : No……I don’t know Teng……. .but i know Owen….
The mere recollection of that name sent images flooding into my head, cycling back years into the past and to the time when that man first appeared in front of me.
I don’t know why but my throat felt dry when Rachel uttered that name. It’s as if the name itself is capable of bring along some natural calamity, but this was a man from the past.
A distant past. I’ve never seen him again since that time when I was in the army. I took the photo because I remembered his face.
Jackson : h….. ho…..how…. ?
Rachel : because he’s the one behind the attacks….
My phone started ringing again. It’s my grandpa but when I answered the call, I was greeted by a different voice.
Guo : Hi Jackson…
Upon hearing Guo’s voice, something in my head snapped. I erupted and I lost my cool when I realised what is happening.
Jackson : What the… fuck !!!…DON’T YOU FUCKING TOUCH MY GRANDFATHER !!!! I’ll fuck you up …. Don’t you fucking dare.. !!!
I screamed into the phone so abruptly that Henry and Hal pulled Rachel behind them and I could see a few other Rajahs running into the carpark.
Jackson : GUO !!! GUO!! FUCK YOU… WHERE IS MY GRANDFATHER…. ?
Guo : you took someone very dear to my boss…. It’s only fair he does the same to you…..
Jackson : I’ll fucking kill you I swear to god I will kill you you piece of shit.,.. !!!
Guo sniggered over the phone, taking his time to answer me, displaying his superiority amidst the situation. He knew he had me.
Rachel pushed past her brothers and gestured to my phone and I knew she wanted me to put it on speaker.
Guo : you know… the past few weeks…. Has been particularly difficult for my employer…..
Jackson : I’m not fucking interested in your life story…. WHERE THE FUCK IS MY GRANDFATHER…!
Guo ignored me and continued talking.
Guo : My boss has been deliberating over a proposal so absurd and unthinkable….and he struggled….. to make up his mind…. But thanks to you Jackson…. Thanks to you and your friends…. And the stunts you pulled….he finally made up his mind….
Jackson : I don’t give a fuck what your boss thinks… or what you think…. WHERE THE FUCK IS MY GRANDFATHER…. PUT HIM ON THE LINE NOW !!!!
Guo chuckled and laughed on the other end of the line.
Guo : You must think you are safe right now…….deep inside the Rajah building…. but you can’t be more wrong. ….haha
I immediately swung around and so did the rest of the Rajahs in the carpark. Henry was trying to pull Rachel away and leave.
Guo : I just have a message from my boss for you and the Rajahs……………
There was a loud crash and the sound of metal smashing against metal boomed and echoed throughout the carpark.
Rachel and her brothers started running towards the entrance and I followed closely behind them.
I could hear screams from bystanders across the street as I took in the sight of the cement truck that had lodged itself into the security guard booth with half of it’s axel mangled by the crash barrier.
Guo : Teng……………. sends his regards….
Rachel looked on in horror as blood seeped out from the security guard booth I just walked by a couple of hours ago.
Henry : get back into the building….. Hal !!… get Rachel back to the office… !!
There was another roar of a heavy engine as a refuse truck mounted the kerb and sliced through the soft turfing of the area in front of the building.
Jackson : stay back !!! stay back !!!
I shouted to 2 Rajahs who were trying to put out a small fire by the cement truck with fire extinguishers.
They barely dove out of the way when the refuse truck mounted a tiled signage, sailed through the air for a second or so before ripping a large hole in the perimeter fence of the building.
The cabin where the driver was in smashed onto the ground and the windscreen shattered.
I could see the driver bleeding and smiling as if he was high on drugs. He was trying to climb out of the truck but before he could do so, a 3rd vehicle took the same path through the grass, rammed head on into the back of the refuse truck, sending metal scrapping along the ground with sparks flying a metre high and mowing the bleeding driver into pulp.
The deafening crash of metal against concrete almost ruptured my eardrums as I gripped onto the phone and I ran back down the basement carpark.
This is madness.
The 3rd vehicle is a bus and I could see men alighting from it.
They were laughing and egging each other on as they jumped out of the bus, many of them still laughing despite suffering injuries from the crash.
I shouted into the phone for Guo but it was already dead.
Another bus arrived and this one did not crash into anything. There was no need to. I saw a familiar face, Leon. Not only that, I saw faces from the dinner a couple of months ago.
Men from the Malu Malu
Elmo with his head of red hair was shouting for men to disembark from the bus.
I retreated into the carpark with the rest of the Rajahs and by then more of them had gathered in the basement.
As the intruders flooded into the basement, I estimated there must be at least 80 of them. Almost all of them were armed. I could hear several of the men speaking in some weird native language similar to the men I’ve heard at the nursing home.
Rachel : How dare they !!! HOW DARE THEY DO THIS !!!!
Henry : leave by the side entrance….. GO !! HAL …take her !
Rachel : NO!!! I will not….!!! fucking bastards !!!
Henry : leave now !!!
An older man appeared from behind the approaching men and Rachel shouted at him.
Rachel : RUSSELL YOU PIECE OF SHIT !!! FINALLY CRAWLING OUR OF YOUR HOLE you FUCK !!!
Russell, I remember the name. He’s supposedly the godfather of the Malu Malu base on what Yiling told me.
Russell : you know your biggest mistake Rachel ? …… not knowing what’s good for you……You should have taken the offer Rachel….
Rachel : Fuck you !!
Russell : You’re not leaving this compound tonight Rachel……. Before I kill you…. I’m going to rip your clothes off piece by piece…..And when I’m done fucking every tight hole of yours….…. I’m going to throw you to my men…. Hahahah….
Russell rallied his men and shouted ;
Russell : Tonight ….. The Rajah’s reign will end….
…………………………………………
sorry for the wait.
It’s a long update and i’m still editing some bits.
Not happy with it yet.
Check back on Friday evening.
Soon… soon…
It’s almost 18000 words now and i’m still editing it, hope to shave off some bits and get it down to about 15000.
will definitely be up before 2359.
Let me edit it a little more.
james
Cheers erupted and several of the men slammed the metal rods and weapons they brought along at the cars parked in the basement. Windscreens of the nearby cars were being smashed and sharpened stakes stabbed into the wheels of the parked vehicles.
3 bikes parked next to each other fell in a heap like dominos as the men advanced slowly towards us.
Rachel’s men kept pulling and tugging Rachel to go but she was screaming and cursing at Russell.
Rachel : HOW DARE YOU !!!! HOW DARE YOU… YOU PIECE OF SHIT…. YOU’LL REGRET THIS !!!… YOU HEAR ME…. YOU FUCK !!!
Rachel broke free and pushed her way to the front of the line, asking his men to call the cops.
Rachel : call the cops !! let them deal with this !
Russell laughed as he shook his head at Rachel naivety.
Russell : you really think…. We would do this…. Hahahahaha if we are not confident and assured that there will be no repercussions… ? hahhaa… you are too young and too naïve Rachel…. Hahaha
Russell’s arrogant tone did not sound like he was trying to pull a fast one.
Instead, he sounded exactly like someone who knew he have the backing, or rather the blessing of someone high up in the administration to do what he is doing.
Russell : No one will come….. no one will come to an industrial building known to be the headquarters of one of the few remaining triads in the country….. the roads are blocked…..there are fires across the street….. a collapsed ceiling in a school 2 streets away…..a bad accident jamming up the main junctions…..a 4 car accident in the expressway….. haha
Russell licked his lips and gestured for his men to bring him Rachel. It was then I noticed how he positioned his own men. They were slowly pulling back, allowing the foreigners to come to the front.
The ones he spoke to when he asked them to bring Rachel to him didn’t move at all. Instead they slowly shuffled further away from their foreign allies.
Russell : No one will come to your help Rachel… no one…..not even when you are screaming and moaning when I mount that young tight cunt of yours….. there is nothing you can do….
Rachel : then you couldn’t be more wrong Russell…. You come to my place….. spit on my turf…. You threaten me and my men……
Rachel started tying up her hair as she stared defiantly at Russell.
Rachel : Calling the cops was our one last act of mercy…
Russell : hahahhaa…. Empty threats little girl…. Just get ready to spread your legs hahahaha…..
Rachel : you want me !!! ? you want to fuck with the Rajahs ??!!! Come and get me… !!
Rachel turned and walked back into the lobby as his men tightened the ranks while Russell’s army advances.
I could not believe what was happening.
My fist was clenched so tight that my knuckles turned white. The foreigners took unsteady steps towards us, laughing and stabbing their weapons into the air as if taunting us to go to them.
Russell’s Malu Malu spread out towards the sides, keeping their distance from the foreigners while trying to get a piece of the action.
Hal : Jackson …. You should go…take the side entrance to the neighbour building….
Russell’s makeshift army outnumber the Rajahs in the carpark at least 3 to 1 with more arriving as time past , but there were no indications of any kind that the underdog is going to backdown.
As the attackers approached slowly, the Rajahs stood firm and closed ranks.
From a straight line, they reduced their occupied area, forming a semi circle around the lobby. The Rajahs at the back of the line quickly ran up the stairs in an orderly manner to make way for their friends still in the carpark.
The circle grew smaller and smaller and Russell’s men cheered, elated that they have the Rajahs on the run.
“ Oei !!!… Rajahs bo ji ah ( Rajahs are pussys )
“ Hooooo…. Run loh… Rajahs all running away loh…hahaha “
“ Booooo….. pussies… !!! hahahaa “
The taunts came from the malu malu while those speaking a foreign language just laugh hysterically without a care in the world. They’re definitely high on something.
Crazed Foreigners.
Perhaps a drug induced euphoria.
I backed into the lobby and the last Rajah in slid a key into the control of the automatic sliding glass door and it shut. Not that the thin piece of tempered glass is any help.
It will probably buy a few minutes at the most.
Several of the Rajahs remained in the lobby and they had already armed themselves with whatever they could get their hands on.
Fire extinguishers, trash cans, even the pots of palms.
One of them ripped out the notice board. Several of them brandished karambit knives from their pockets.
I left the basement and I came out on the ground floor and a frantic evacuation was taking place.
2 Rajahs remained by the staircase door after I left, looking in down at the situation below.
That staircase doesn’t go all the way up, it only serves the carpark. You would need to take another staircase to the roof.
Rachel was shouting instructions out to her men as sporadic fights and confrontation took place all over the main lobby.
Rachel : Get the staff out !! all of them…. ! check every floor !!!
From another staircase, I could see nervous and terrified office staff running out, many clutching their work bags and laptops.
About a dozen Rajahs were trying to get them out of the building. There’s even a heavily pregnant lady holding onto her water bottle being ushered out the lift by a Rajah that was already bleeding on his arm.
Rachel had removed her heels, walking around the ground floor barefooted and her brothers were by her side.
The main entrance may be a wreck of debris and mangled vehicles but it still offered a clear way out. Rachel insisted that the administrative staff be escorted out onto the main road.
Many of her men hesitated but she insisted.
Rachel : GO !.. do it…. Make sure they are safe… !! Henry !!! get them all out….
All of them were hesitant to leave their fellow brothers behind to face this catastrophe.
Rachel : Henry… !… go make sure they stay safe…. Get them off the alleys….
Henry : we’ll be back after we get them to the main roads… !
Rachel : No… no….don’t come back…..
Hal : Rachel ! we don’t have enough people to hold this place… !
Rachel : It’s enough…. We have enough…
Henry : I’m coming back !
Rachel : Henry ….!…. get to the schools….
The mere mention of the word school seemed to have struck something in the men’s head. A realisation that there is some place more important than the building we are in.
Rachel : The school and the care centre…..they’re all there when we work…. There are still kids there now….
Henry shouted in frustration as Hal told him to go.
Henry : Rachel…. You are coming with me…
Rachel : No…. i can’t leave…..i’m not leaving my men alone to deal with this….
She gave her Henry a tight hug before turning and walking back into the main lobby.
The 2 Rajahs by the basement door were trying to keep the door shut as the mob had long overwhelmed the Rajahs in the lobby.
They shouted a warning to the rest of us in the lobby.
“ The men in the basement are gone. ..! they’re all dead !!! “
The door is going to give way any moment now.
Rachel shouted without turning back to look at henry.
Rachel : Henry…. GO !!
Hal : We will be fine…. Go.. !!!
Henry shouted for his men to go as he struck a man sneaking up on them on the face before kneeing him so hard that he bent sideways and collapsed onto the ground.
If there is one thing that is clear with that order, is that Henry just left the building with more than a dozen men as they escorted the people out.
The door which I came out from the basement burst open and several cheering and shouting crazed foreigners ( CF ) ran out in search of the nearest targets.
One of them came at me and his wild swing fell far short of his target, I grabbed his arm, moved in closed and tripped him onto the ground before twisting the club out of his hands.
I was about to club him in his head when Rachel threw the metal cover of a dustbin onto his face before stomping down on him.
He stopped moving after that.
Rachel walked to the sculpture of the phoenix in the main lobby.
So did the other Rajahs upon seeing what their boss did.
The raw looking sculpture in the lobby serves more than just a decorative purpose. The jagged pieces of wood, rough metal and steel are positioned in such a manner that in times of need, they can be removed.
All of them reached for particular pieces of the sculpture as if they all knew all along which ones were not welded dead to it.
The Rajah Phoenix kept it’s overall form as it’s metal skin is stripped layer by layer, arming the men that now encircles it.
Wooden clubs with textured grips, angled iron bars, sharpened metal rods filled the hands of the Rajahs on the ground floor.
From the magnificent wings of the iron and copper wings of the phoenix came spade shaped knuckle duster. It’s like a grip with fucking iron on it. I can already imagine the pain one will be experiencing if you get punched with that.
With the sculpture stripped, one would expect to see a sorry looking mythical bird but that could not be further than the truth.
With the outer layer removed, it revealed a leaner and more slick Phoenix. What was originally a dormant looking Phoenix at rest is now transformed into a menacing looking beast.
Rachel : Rajahs !!! ………
With a commanding cry, Rachel split the Rajahs on the ground floor into 2, opening a clear path for the CFs running and charging towards her as she reached into the sculpture with her right hand.
There was a hiss of hydraulics and what sounded like the spit of venom from a angry hydra.
I saw the spark ignite at the mouth of the phoenix and was immediately hit by the heat wave from the column of flame that is shooting out from the Pheonix’s mouth
The heat was incredible, warming up the surrounding air. I felt as if I was transported back to Melbourne , standing in front of Crown Casino as balls of fire lit up the skies with the heat slamming into me.
Rachel directed the angle of the flame at the charging CFs, the short 3 second burst of flame singed the hair, eyebrows and skin of the first wave while sending the rest scurrying and scattering all over the ground floor.
The short burst of flame looked worse than it actually is.
The high temperature only lasted for a brief moment and this is not napalm nor is it dragon fire that would burn your enemy to a crisps.
It was meant to be a decorative spectacle display to impress guest, not as a weapon of mass destruction.
Rachel jumped down from the Phoenix side with a metal stake in hand.
The screams of the burnt Cfs filled the air with many of them screaming and running wildly while touching their raw and red skin.
Rachel raised her metal stake at the CFs that were still coming out from the basement steps and there was no need for her to say anything. With a mighty roar, the Rajahs on the ground charged at the disorganised group.
Bodies clashed and muscles connected with facial bones while delirious screams of pain and agony echoed in the high ceiling of the lobby.
There was no hesitation, every strike the Rajahs delivered, it was meant to put their target on the ground permanently. They didn’t care if the CF is alive or dead, as long as he is on the ground and no longer moving.
My primary concern is my grandfather but I knew if I don’t make it out of this alive, there is nothing I can do for him.
I need stay alive to find him and at that moment, I don’t care who I have to put on the ground or kill in order to get to him.
I joined the Rajahs, spilling blood and taking hits.
The Rajahs were barely done confronting the CFs coming in from the basement when the heavy rumble of a bus engine caught my attention.
The bus ferrying the men earlier rumbled and pushed aside pieces of wreck truck right up to the entrance lobby. Full height glass panels shattered while remaining a solid piece for a couple of seconds before the forward motion of the bus drove the whole curtain wall, frame, glass and all down onto the floor.
Glass shards broke apart like pebbles all over the marbled flooring already streaked with blood at several spots.
The CF behind the wheel was laughing as he kept flooring the accelerator but the bus could not fit in through the lobby. He kept twisting and turning he steering wheel like a teenager playing bumper car in an amusement centre before the explosive deployment of the airbag knocked him out.
With the vehicle driven right up to the entrance, it blocked the way into a narrow path such that only 1 or 2 man may squeeze out at one time. With that narrow path, more foreigners filed into the lobby, attacking anyone that they could see.
Numbers.
Eventually it’s a number’s game.
There must be almost 2 dozen Rajahs in the lobby and those numbers are quickly getting diluted.
The side door burst open and I saw a CF laughing and running in before a Rajah opened up his throat with his karambit knife. The CF never stopped laughing as he clutched his throat, knelt down before going into spasm while face down.
Kicking a kneeling CF that was straddling an injured Rajah, I grabbed his hair, pulling him back as he laughed and screamed until the Rajah he was pinning earlier got up and put a spike metal rod through his eye.
There was barely any blood until I let go of him and the CF landed sideways before the pool of red began to spread.
I fought my way towards the side door, throwing a CF with a missing wrist down before kicking him on his face.
I opened the side door to see a group of Rajahs fighting with a few of the CFs. More men flooded into the compound from the neighbouring building, that route is blocked.
There’s no way I can make it across.
I was about to head back into the building when I saw someone familiar.
I paused and stared at the car parked in the compound of the neighbouring building.
It’s Guo. He was standing beside a car smoking and looking over at my direction.
I don’t know if he saw me but I could see clearly the person sitting inside the car.
It’s my grandfather.
Jackson : Ah GONG !!!
I felt an immediately spike in my anger as I attempted to run towards him
Jackson : GUO!!!! aRGHHHH!!!
I shove several tussling men aside as I kicked a CF getting back on his feet back down on the ground.
Another came at me but I disarmed him and delivered a throat punch with such speed that I amazed myself after I did it. He clutched onto his throat, staggering backwards making retching sound before another Rajah grabbed him and sent him into a tangled mess of spike wires that used to line the top of the perimeter fence.
I felt a heavy object crash onto me and I realised it was a truck tyre. A CF jumped at me but I caught onto him in mid air and using gravity as a helping hand, I turned and slammed him down on the concrete ground.
The CF gasped for air but her held onto my top, ripping it slightly.
I twisted his wrist away from me and I shouted while I dislocated his wrist while pressing down onto his face with my foot.
A Rajah crashed onto me, knocking me off my feet as he grabbed the man he was fighting with down with him.
I staggered to get back up and my hands grabbed onto a piece of broken brick from the ground.
Someone came at me and I threw the brick straight into his face. The sickening crunch drew blood and cracked nasal bones as the man literally collapsed onto his knees in front of me.
I relieved the metal rod he was holding and swung it at a man who was straddling another Rajah on the floor.
Jackson : aRGHHH!!!. ..
I kept swinging the rod, and each time it found a target, I was assured that the hit would draw blood and split skin and muscles.
Someone jumped and grabbed onto me from behind, clutching his hands tightly against my tummy with a vice like grip. Before he could lift me off the ground, I jammed the rod vertically down in between my stomach and his hands.
I turned the rod like I’m the captain trying to steer a ship, snapping his grip apart and applying a fresh coat of abrasion on his hands and wrists.
Dropping low on one knee, I picked up the rod and swung several times, slamming the metal bar so hard against his face that the resulting vibration from my assault robbed the weapon from my own palms.
I barely got 5 steps forward when more men came to the alley I was at.
Kicks and punches rained at me, forcing me back to where I started.
Just when I thought we were about to get overwhelmed by the added numbers, more Rajahs came out the door from behind me.
Seconds before bodies clashed, I noticed all of the Rajahs hands which were initially held behind them appeared with a Karambit knife.
There was no warning when the Rajahs struck. Instead of bruises and cuts, the new entrants drew blood immediately.
Lots of blood in fact.
I felt someone pull me from behind and it was Hal.
Hal : this route is block.. !… get to the rooftop
Jackson : My grandfather is over there !!!
Hal : There’s no way you can get over there….not in this situation…. Get back in there !
Before I could protest, I was half drag and shove back into the lobby.
A Rajah with a palm on his bleeding left ear, gestured to me to follow him up to the roof.
He ran on ahead of me and I felt like screaming my lungs out.
My grandfather is right there across the street and I can’t get to him.
As I ascended to the roof, my only companions are my anguish cries of helplessness and desperation.
Kicking the door open to the roof, I could see at least 2 dozen Rajahs gathered. Those who were well attended to those that were injured and the numbers are growing.
The outdoor gym has been converted into a makeshift field hospital of sort.
The lift door opened and several more injured Rajahs came out.
Rachel was helping to stem the bleeding of a Rajah whose fingers were dangling off his hands while another 2 held down on of their friend as a metal rod was removed from in between his shoulder blade.
The noise that reach my ears cannot be described with words. It was a symphony of cries and groans of pain. Peel away the moments of glory of a fight and you see the ugly truth.
As raw as the exposed tissues and bones.
We cannot expect a confrontation of this magnitude without casualties.
Another Rajah staggered onto the gym bench in front of me and blood poured from his stomach. He was gasping for air and I quickly grabbed a gym towel from the floor and pressed it onto the wound.
His face is pale and he was losing consciousness.
Jackson : hey… hey !!… stay with me !!…
His lips went with literally as I shouted for help.
Jackson : someone help !!…hey !!!
No one paid any heed to me and it’s not their fault.
Everyone is busy.
Jackson : hold onto this…. Hey !! hey… can you hear me… hold tight… !!!
I looked around my immediate surrounding, trying to look for something I can use. I found a bottle of half finished water and I tried to feed the injured Rajah a few sips.
When I tried to lift him up, I felt searing pain on my right arm. That was when I realised I have a almost 15 cm long slash under my forearm. It’s not deep but I could see the skin already split, revealing an angry shade of red.
Hal came onto the rooftop panting as he wiped his bloodied hands on his top.
He started organising abled body men to block off one of the exit door near the bar with heavy gym equipment, leaving only the staircase by the lift lobby opened.
He was shouting over his walkie talking to his men to let them know staircase B is blocked off.
All Rajahs falling back should come up via staircase A.
Hal : ground level…. Report !
He waited for a response before shouting into the radio again.
Hal : Level 2 ….. report !!! anyone there… ?!!
I could head some muffled shouting from the walkie talkie
Rachel rushed over to my side with another guy that looked like he knew first aid or at least help the man on the ground better than me.
After he relieved me, i followed Rachel over to a makeshift stockpile of water and bandages.
Jackson : What’s the situation… ?
Rachel : just look over the edge….
Rachel gestured over the roof parapet and I quickly ran over for a look.
The moment I saw what was happening at the surrounding streets, I could feel the hair on the back of my neck stand on it’s end.
This is madness.
What Russell said it’s true. No help is coming.
There’s a fire just a couple of streets down.
Vehicles are choked up on the streets.
Several car accidents have occurred at the same time at key junctions, crippling the traffic in both directions.
Rachel : This is bullshit !! ….
Rachel came over to my side and commented that they made several police reports but it doesn’t look like any help is coming.
Jackson : you cannot be serious…
Rachel : Unfortunately I am….they through we were prank calling them when we told them we were under attack….
Jackson : surely they can see with their own eyes what the fuck is happening ??!!
Rachel : maybe someone asked them to look the other way…
Just then my phone rang again and I fumbled to pick up when I saw it was my grandfather’s number.
Jackson : hello !! helloe !!!!
Grandpa : Jack…. Jackson…..
Jackson : Ah gong… ah gong !!! are you ok… ?
Before I could hear a reply from him, the phone was snatched away and Guo’s voice came on the line.
Guo : do one thing for me… and I’ll let your grandfather go….
Jackson : go fuck yourself !!! you fucking let him go right now !!!!
Guo ignored my reply totally, stating his demands right away.
Guo : It’s very simple…. Kill Rachel…. And your grandfather goes free…. Better still… throw her over the roof and this madness ends….
The line went dead as I kept shouting at Guo into the speaker.
Jackson : fuck you …. FUCK… YOU PIECE OF FUCK… ARHGHH.. FUCK YOU !!!
I almost flung the phone over the roof if rational thoughts did not take hold faster than my emotions.
Rachel : what did he want… ??
Jackson : Nothing…. That fucking coward….
Rachel : is your grandfather ok… ?
Jackson : I hope so… I’m going to fucking kill him….if anything happens to my grandfather….
I reached for my phone and I dialled Yiling’s number.
She did not answer my call.
I tried Hong and thankfully he picked up.
Hong : Yozz Jackson … where are you….
Jackson : I’m at Rajah holdings… they’re being attacked…. By Russell….and the foreigners we saw at the nursing home…. We have to help the Rajahs… they are outnumbered…. ! Many of them are injured or dead…..
Hong : what… ? what the fuck are you doing at the Rajahs… !!! ?
Jackson : Tell Yiling…. !… I have no time to….
There was some commotion at the roof top lobby when I saw 3 CFS come out of the lift.
Right by the lobby entrance were several Injured Rajahs and the few abled ones were at the other end of the roof.
I dropped my phone and rang swiftly towards the new arrivals.
They didn’t see me coming and I grabbed a 5kg dumbbell off the rack and sent it hurling into the face of an unsuspecting CF before he could stab the closest Rajah.
The other 2 were about to attack a Rajah that was on the ground when I rugby tackled them onto the floor.
The few extra seconds I bought was enough for help to arrive and the CFs were pummelled into pulp with a variety of weights.
I panted and I could hear Hal shouting into the walkie talkie to lock down the lift.
Rachel came over to me and it was then I realised she was bleeding on her forearm and she was trying to bandage the cut on her own.
Jackson : Let me do it…
Rachel : we’re severely outnumbered….. this doesn’t look good….
Rachel told me that her men are scattered throughout the island. There are so many business interests to look after. From coffee shops, to amusement centres to old school factories that employs seamstress from another era.
This may be the HQ of Rajah holdings but the men that are stationed here is actually not a lot.
The HQ at it’s peak only held about 40% of her men and the numbers are dropping fast, not to forget those that left with the regular office staff en route to the school.
Jackson : how many are here tonight… ?
Rachel : about 60 ish I don’t know…. at most 70…. And it’s considered high because about a dozen came back to settle some paper work….
Take away those that were already injured or worse case, dead, there is really not many left.
There are almost a dozen lying on the floor in various state of injury as it is.
Henry left with another dozen. With no help coming, it looks like the roof is the place where we will be making the last stand.
Jackson : what is the deal Russell talked about… ? he offered you a deal… ?
Rachel : No… not him…. Owen…
Jackson : Owen ?
Rachel : yes… Owen offered us a deal…. After he attacked us…
Jackson : what did he want…. ?
Rachel : our cooperation….. to go against La Bella Vita….. in return for protection and power….
Jackson : like what Russell wield now….
Rachel nodded.
Jackson : The foreigners that attacked us…. They were at the nursing homes…. They were killing the residents…
Rachel : of course they are…. They are emptying out the assets of La Bella Vita…. For their own use…
Jackson : What… why ???
Rachel gave me a raised eyebrow look.
Rachel : You mean Yiling didn’t tell you… ?
Jackson : Tell me about what…..
Rachel : She use to work for Owen….. Owen knows almost all of the asset La Bella Vita owns before she took over…. The warehouses… the safehouses… where she keeps her money…. How she moves them….
Jackson : WHAT !… ? no way….
Rachel snorted and say that unlike her, who inherited Rajah holdings by birth right, Yiling was literally parachuted into the organisation.
Rachel : drug traffickers… that’s what they are… that’s what made them so rich…. To her credit… she did diversify the business and build up La Bella Vita …but she has it all set up for her…..all she has to do is run it….
Rachel revealed that the men she captured from the 1st attacked let on a lot of information about what they are here for.
Rachel : especially when they see us drop their friends down into a farm of hungry seabass…..piece by piece just so you know…… oh…. we own a few fish farms…. Hungry fish eat everything you know….
Jackson : let’s not go there…what did the men reveal…
Already I was mentally telling myself to swear off locally produced fish for the next few months if I make it through the night.
Rachel : It wasn’t hard to make them talk….. and we slowly pieced everything together….
Rachel told me that Owen knew most of the assets and cards that La Bella Vita have and hold, and he plans to use them himself. However, he knew those were not enough.
Rachel : Cleaning out the old folks home and residences is just making space for a staging area…. For something big… A transition of power is coming soon…. A new prime minister…. Someone new and yet to build up enough support…..and he’s saving his grand plan for it….
Jackson : What is it… ?
Rachel : I don’t know….Owen used to be a very powerful man in this country…. I would hear my father talk about him…. His connections… the magic and stunts he can pull off….he was wary of him…. And he was right to be…
Hal’s shouting into the walkie talkie marked the end of my conversation with Rachel.
Hal : Level 3…. Report !! Level 3 !!
There was no reply from the device as Hal moved up the floor.
A few more injured Rajahs staggered out from the lobby as Hal shouted for Level 4 to report their status.
Level 4 : We cannot hold !!! too many of them… arghhhh fuck you !!! arGHHH!!!!
Hal : Level 4….Level 4 !! come in..! Fuck !… pull everyone back to the bar !!! move… move… move… now….!!!
I tightened the knot on Rachel’s bandage and immediately went to help drag the Rajahs that were on the floor further away from the lobby.
The rooftop of Rajah Holdings can be imagined as a long rectangle. About 1.5 tennis court line up vertically.
The staircase behind the bar I was drinking at earlier has already been sealed off and there were hardly any place left to walk with the injured lying all over.
Nate : arghhhhh…argHHHHHHHH!!!…
I did not realise Nate was there on the roof with us until he screamed in pain.
Someone just poured half a bottle of Vodka on a 30cm slash across his chest while another guy held him down.
Hal : Level 5… report !!!!
Level 5 : We’re heading up !!!… heading up !!
This is it.
Everyone is coming up to the roof.
Hal shouted for anyone that still can fight to form a barrier in front of the injured.
I reached for a 3kg kettle bell and I scanned my surroundings for anything else that I can use.
I searched the floor for my phone I dropped earlier but I could not find it.
Rachel : You called Yiling… ?
Jackson : I tried….
4 Rajah burst out of the lobby bloodied and panting to join the rest of us on the rooftop.
Hal : how about the rest… ?? where’s the rest… !!
The Rajahs that just came up shook their head as the took quick sips of water their friends passed them.
I did a quick mental count of them men still standing on the roof top.
Including Hal and me, there’s about 20 of us. With another 15 or so Rajahs and administrative staff who did not make it out on the ground.
The staircase door burst open and 3 CFs came rushing out laughing and cheering even though they are bloodied and injured.
They were running so close to each other as if they were doing a three-legged race with their ankles tied together. The 1st man tripped and fell face first and the other 2 followed but they were all laughing as if this is all a joke.
All 3 of them were rolling on the floor laughing as they tried to get back up.
I could see the fingers of one of the man is already mangled out of shape but he was still laughing.
It’s like looking at 3 drunks trying to get back up on their feet and keep failing.
No one laughed on our end. The weird chuckles came only from the 3 CFs who appeared to be in a world of their own.
I overheard one of the Rajah told Hal that the foreigners are mad.
Rajah 1 : They are mad…. They don’t feel pain…. They just kept coming…. They are not afraid to die….
Hal : What…. ? this doesn’t make sense…. How can they not feel pain ?
Rajah 2 : It’s true… they just kept coming….
Hal : what about the Malu malu ?
Rajah 1 : they’re holding back……. Many of them remained on the ground floor with Russell……. the foreigners are the one fighting us all these while….
The 3 laughing and chuckling man got back on their feet and I decided to put that theory to the test as they start to come at us.
I went forward with my kettle bell, stooped low as he ran towards the line and swung it against his knee cap.
I shattered it definitely. No way the knee could take a hit like that without breaking.
The CF I hit literally flew forward as his limbs were knocked out under him. He tried to stand but he was still laughing.
I gripped the kettle bell in my hand as I looked at the CF rolling beneath me.
This is bullshit.
Jackson : What the fuck….
While the other Rajahs dealt with the other 2 CFs, Hal came over to mine and grabbed him by the hair.
CF : ahhahahahaha…. Ahhahahahahha….hahahahah…..griiberish….gibberish…. ahahah…
Hal took his half smoked cigarette and stabbed it into his eye.
CF : arghhhhhh!!! Ahhahaha.. argHHHH!!!!! Ahahhaha… aRGHHH!!!! Hahahaha…
He tried to scratch us before his teeth started snapping at Hal’s hands.
Hal stabbed him in his neck with a dagger and the CF choked as blood pooled and bubbled all over the floor.
Jackson : what the fuck did they take ?
Hal : No idea…. But the concept is not new….. Japanese soldiers took Meth during world war two….. made them more patriotic …. Does shit no one thought they could.
There was barely any time to idle. The staircase door burst opened again and what seemed like an endless stream of CFs started flooding onto the rooftop.
Hal barely had time to shout for his men to hold the line when the CFs started to rush towards us.
Grabbing my kettle bell, I didn’t have time to swing it again when a CF jumped onto me and started to rain blows all over.
We tussled and tumbled on the ground and he grabbed a 5kg dumbbell after I shook him off. Reaching for a 20kg weight plate, I grunted and used it as a shield.
The hit would have smashed my face in if I didn’t block it in time.
I kicked him back and threw the weight plate at him.
Jackson : aRGHHH!!!
It hit him on the chest before slamming down on his toes, causing him to fall over. I kicked him on his face knocking him out cold. Another CF swung a metal bar at me but I ducked in time and using the pin loaded chest press machine as a barrier, I ran in circle twice to escape his hits.
A wider than necessary swing gave me the opening I was looking for.
I punched him so hard on the nose that he collapsed onto the seat of the chest press machine before sliding down and blacking out.
Another jumped towards me and I barely got out of his way when I tripped on a rubber gym ball.
The next thing I knew, a knife punctured the gym ball releasing an angry hiss of air.
I rolled to my left twice and the CF kept laughing and stabbing the knife where my body was barely moments ago.
Hal came to my rescue, putting a club to the side of the CF’s face, buying me valuable seconds to get back on my feet.
The clubbed CF, bleeding and disorientated on his fours was still laughing as he spat blood onto the floor.
The threadmill beside the CF was still running at a high speed.
I went over to him and he made a half hearted attempt to strike me again but I avoided it easily.
I kicked his face once before grabbing his hair and pressing his face down with both hands against the rolling sandpaper like mat of the running threadmill.
CF : aRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Ahahahahha !!!!
Jackson : AHGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
It lasted barely 2 seconds as the machine ripped a chunk of his face off before I slammed him against the edge of the hard plastic.
Getting back on my feet, I could see we held back the first wave.
Another 2 CF came through the lobby and they were swiftly dealt with by the Rajahs who were all well warmed up by then.
Most of us were ok.
It looked like their numbers are thinning down. There might be a silver lining after all.
I immediately tried to look for my phone again. We might just be able to buy enough time for Yiling to send help.
Just as I was getting my hope up, I heard the chime of the lift.
The chime announcing that it had arrived on the 6th floor.
Hal : I thought we locked down the lift… why is it still running ?!!!
No one answered Hal as all eyes rest at the door that slid openly smoothly like a well-oiled machine.
I picked up a metal rod about 1.2m long, getting ready to wield it at whoever the fuck is coming out. My hands are all bloodied and I lost count of the scratches and bruises I have on my body.
I don’t even know if the bloodied prints I left on the rod belonged to me.
The first figure left the lift and came into view.
I was expecting a laughing and crazed foreigner spewing gibberish but I was wrong. Dead wrong.
Walking out of the lift was 3 old men and a women.
And I say old, I meant old. Retirees.
Nursing home residents.
They were pale but they were laughing and smiling.
They are unarmed but they just pointed at us and kept laughing.
Hal : What …..the….. fuck…..
Jackson : oh…. My…. god….
The fucking old men and women walked out into the roof top as fast as their frail body could carry. They laughed, they cried and they stumbled on the bodies that already dotted the floor.
Even after they fell, they tried to stand up.
One of them could no longer stand as he tripped and broke something somewhere. He just looked at us and kept crawling.
My eyes met theirs and I could see tears rolling down the side of their faces. The agony and pain they are in amplified by the numerous bruises and cuts they were already suffering.
Despite in their frail state, they still kept advancing towards us.
No, they are not mindless zombies, they won’t bite, they are unarmed but the eerie and creepy way they laughed, cried and groan as they reached out with their hands affected everyone on the roof top.
I can’t tell if they are reaching out for help but I could see the sadness and desperation in their eyes as their frail bodies struggled with the artificial high induced by whatever the fuck was given to them.
Another lift chimed and I tightened my grip on the metal rod but instead of more CFs running out, I saw a 2nd batch of elderly walking out towards us.
The smiles on their faces did nothing to hide what they are really feeling.
Tears rolled down their cheeks and I could see an old lady soiling herself as she staggered towards us.
This is fucked up.
Jackson : what the… fuck…. this… what the fuck is this….
The Rajahs, armed and ready to fight were at a lost too.
Yes, they may be gangsters, they may be men capable of extreme violence and inflicting pain but those qualities are not effective against the enemy in front of us.
How do you scare a man who has his mind fucked by chemicals and drugs to the point that he doesn’t care if he lives or die ?
All animals, humans included are deterred by pain or the fear of pain.
Fear keeps us all alive.
So how do we fight an enemy that has no fear.
No matter how ferocious a fighter, a Rajah would not strike the frail and elderly in front of us. They mean no harm, or rather, they can inflict no harm.
Not in their current state.
Why the fuck are they even here in the first place ?
Several Rajahs went forward to help the elderly, some gave them water and tried to calm them down. Before help can be properly rendered, the door to the staircase burst open again and a handful of CFs dashed out, laughing and swinging machetes wildly in their hands.
They didn’t care who they swung their weapon at as long as it found a target.
Amidst the confusion of the Rajahs trying to drag the old people to safety, the CFs found them easy target. The Rajahs helping the elderly didn’t even have time to pick their weapons back up.
Those not involved in the help all moved in, jumping over bodies and obstacles.
The clash was quick and violent and even before I landed my blow on a CF, I was literally slapped by a splash of blood into my face and mouth.
I concentrated only on the CF in front of me, kicking and pushing him back and away from the Rajahs and elderly on the ground.
His wild swing of the machete on his arm are easily blocked by the metal rod I have in hand.
Sparks flew as the 2 metal hit each other and with an advantage in length, I sent the CF spewing a mixture of saliva and blood onto the decorative palm tree in the lobby.
By the time the confusion has been sorted out, 3 Rajah fell while trying to help the old. The CFs killed all but one of the elderly by the time the rest recovered from the initial shock fast enough to help.
We pulled the injured back from the lobby.
Looking at the men still standing, I counted about 12 left, this includes Hal and me.
Hal looked shocked and shaken as he stared at the dismembered arm belonging to the old woman that was still smiling at him moments ago.
The stench of piss and shit slowly whiffed over and filled the evening air as sirens flooded the nearby streets.
I could see a jet of water shoot up, slicing across the evening sky a few blocks down in an attempt to control the raging fire that is spreading.
I dropped the rod I was holding and I started to drag a gym bench over to the lobby that looked like a scene out of a horror film.
The glass curtain walls are streaked with blood splatters and prints.
I threw the bench at the entrance before grabbing anything I could find and piling it on.
The remaining Rajahs began to help and we started blocking the doorway of the lobby.
Weights, barbells, benches and even the dead corpse of CFs.
We piled them all at the entrance.
No one knows who else is coming through that door but the obstacles would help.
As the obstacles piled higher, I saw my phone on the floor.
I quickly picked it up and saw I have more than 20 missed calls.
All of them came from Yiling.
I quickly returned the call and waited for it to connect.
Yiling : Jackson … ! are you ok … ?
Jackson : for now yes…. We need help…. We need to get out of here….
Yiling : The roads are all blocked…. The news is saying there’s a industrial accident, a fire and several chain collisions all happening at the same time…
Jackson : It’s Russell…. and Guo… Guo has my grandfather….
Yiling : Is Rachel there… ?
Jackson : Yes…
Yiling : Give her the phone….
I handed the phone to Rachel and she took it.
Rachel : yes…. ?
Rachel kept quiet for a while and she just listened before mumbling a soft ‘thank you’
Rachel : thank you….
She handed the phone back to me and I asked Yiling what should we do.
Yiling : I’m trying to get help….. you guys need to hold… for as long as you can….
Right about then, I could see a few CFs coming up from the staircase door. They hit the glass wall with their weapons and started pushing and kicking the debris.
Jackson : How long ?
Yiling : I don’t know…. as fast as I can…..
The CFs started shouting and pushing and 3 more joined the ranks, taking their number to 6.
Jackson : Ok…. We’ll hold….
Yiling : stay safe….. help will come….
Jackson : the roads are blocked…. How will the help come… ?
Yiling : They have their ways…. Trust me….
A loud crash echoed on the roof top as the top most barrier of weight shelves and racks rolled and crashed onto the floor.
2 more CF arrive, taking the total number to 8 in the lobby and they started pushing and dismantling the make shift barrier.
The Rajahs on our end started picking up the weight plates and dumb bells to throw them back into the lobby at the CFs.
The barrier is not going to hold any longer.
It’s going to give way soon.
Hal : BACK !!! BACK !!!….. MOVE BACK !!!
The Rajahs backed away from the barrier, picking up whatever weapons they could along the way.
Everyone is tired, exhausted and drained.
Jackson : Yiling … I have to go….
Yiling : Jackson ….. don’t die… don’t you dare die….. this is an order….
I smiled but said nothing.
I hung up the phone and put it into my pocket.
There’s a machete near me and I picked it up.
Rachel was holding onto a sharpened rod.
Rachel :…. La Bella Vita has deployed their men to every single Rajah Holding location that is staffed right now…..
Jackson : Including the school ?
Rachel : The school, the orphanage and the tuition centres…. All of them too….
Jackson : Your brother… ?
Rachel : He’s ok…. He’s taking charge of getting our own men accounted for….
Jackson : I see….
Yiling didn’t mentioned what kind of help she is sending over to us.
Perhaps there is none and she just want to keep our hopes up.
With a final heave, the barrier broke and the CFs emerged, laughing and cheering as they spread their arms wide, exposing their chest in triumph.
CFs : ARGHHHH!!!!!
All of them squeezed out from the lobby and started charging towards us.
5 Rajahs, led by Hal threw the weight plates in their hands at the charging CFs, breaking nasal bones and fracturing the skulls of those unfortunate enough to be hit.
Even before the weight plates hit the floor, everyone still standing charged to engage the crazed foreigners to stop them from reaching the wounded.
My machete was knocked out my hand even before I could use it, I don’t even know what hit me. All I know is I felt a searing pain in my arm and the machete was gone.
I bulldozed one of them, lifting him off the ground.
I tripped onto a body and fell with the CF cushioning my fall. I rained blows targeted at his face and he tried in vain to block me.
When his arms tried to block his face, I slammed my fist into the soft part of his stomach. When his blocks broke, I struck his nose with the bottom of my palm.
While he grimaced in pain, I slammed my fist against his left ear.
I grabbed onto his hair with my left hand and yanked his head away from me as he kept screaming and spitting at me while my right hand kept raining blows at his face.
Jackson : arGHHHH!!!..aRGHH!!!!!!!
His fingernails dug into my left wrist, tearing skin and drawing blood but I held on.
I kept hitting his face till the point I felt his grip relaxed on me.
By the time I stopped, my right knuckles were all bruised and bleeding.
We took care of the CFs alright and there didn’t seem like there is anymore coming up.
One of the Rajahs was crying as he held onto his friend with 3 metal stakes sticking out of his stomach.
Another one Hal was holding was trying to stem the blood coming out from the side of his neck as his body went into spasm.
This was it.
Another wave of these drugged mules and we’re all done.
The door to the staircase opened again and I gasped for air, breathing in a combination of snort and blood I could not even tell who it belonged to.
Instead of more CFs arriving, I saw about a dozen men walking calmly out.
The Malu Malus, and right in front of them is the man with blazing red hair.
Elmo.
The lift chimed before sliding open.
This time round, instead of zombified elderlies, out came Russell and behind him, the man whose neck I was looking to put my hands around.
Guo.
And Guo is not alone.
He dragged my grandfather out from behind him and my heart broke into pieces as I saw my grandpa with bruises on his face with his hands zipped tied in front of him.
He could still walk and he was trying to tell me something. His mouth kept mouthing what looked like ‘ I’m ok ‘ over and over again.
The Malu Malu looked fresh and well. They hardly broke a sweat, leaving the dirty work to the CFs that came before them.
I got up on my feet as Russell walked out into the rooftop. The smirk look on his face a perfect fit to the thick mink coat he was wearing as if he’s some RnB rock star.
Russell : What did I tell you Rachel….hahahahah….. what did I tell you…. ?
Rachel did not answer him and before Russle could give another of his shit talk, Guo stepped forward with my grandfather.
Russell backed off immediately, telling everyone on site who is the one in charge right away.
Of course it is Guo.
He’s Teng’s dog
Guo my grandfather in front of him, before brandishing a knife and pushing it against his neck.
Guo : after we’re done with the Rajahs….. we’re going for La Bella Vita…. Hahahah…… maybe with twice as many men that you see today… hahahaha..
Guo grabbed my grandfather’s hair roughly and the knife he was sticking against his neck started to draw blood.
Jackson : let him go…. It’s me you want…. just let him go…
Guo : no…. I like the way you look when you are about to start begging…. I want to see you beg…. Beg me…. go ahead…
Grandpa : eghhh!!
Guo pushed the tip of the knife deeper, breaking the thin layer of skin near on my grandfather’s neck.
Jackson : NO !!! NO… NO!!! PLEASE… PLEASE… NO…!!please…
Guo : ahhahahaha…..hahahaha… kneel down….kneel down and beg….
I immediately got on my knees.
I could feel tears welling up in my eyes as I begged Guo to stop.
My grandfather is everything to me.
Everything.
I can’t live without him.
Jackson : Please don’t…. don’t… let him go.. take me… just take me instead…
I tapped at my chest desperately while begging for Guo to let my grandfather go, begging him to take me instead of my grandfather.
Guo smiled, his every smirk only serve to add a layer of hatred inside me.
Jackson : I’ll take his place…. Please…. !!
Guo wiped the smiled away from his face without warning and replied;
Guo : No….
Without warning and hesitation, Guo drove the dagger into my grandfather’s thigh. Before I could even scream he pulled it out and he plunged it back in again.
Grandfather : arGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
I could hear Rachel gasp behind me as I let loose a blood curling scream.
Jackson : NOOOOOOOO!!!!! NOO!!! YOU FUCK !!!!! NO!!!!
I got up and took a few steps forward and Guo just pulled out the knife, spilling blood all over the floor.
A fresh coat of red soaked my grandfather’s pants as he struggled to stand with Guo putting his arm around his neck.
I was panting and on the verge of a breakdown.
Jackson : STOP !!! STOP!! Let him go … please… just let him go… !!!
Guo : my offer to you….. and I’m only going to offer you once…..
He pushed the bloodied knife back against my grandfather’s neck and nodded towards Rachel and her men.
Pointing to Rachel, Guo chuckled as he spoke.
Guo : kill her…
Russell immediately stepped forward to protest. He’s not about to let his potential fuck die without first tasting the flesh.
Russell : Guo…. She…
Guo : Shut up !…. Rachel must die…. And The Rajahs will be finished….
I looked at Rachel with tears streaking down my cheeks.
Hal went over to shield her sister.
When I turned back to look at my grandfather, I could see he was in pain and he was shaking his head.
Guo : just kill her Jackson …. Hahaha… and all this will end… this nightmare will come to an end…. everything will be over…..
Guo plunged the knife into the shoulder blades of my grandfather and his screams shattered my heart into smithereens.
Jackson : NO!!!! STOP!!!! STOP!!! PLEASE… JUST STOP… !!!
Guo : I don’t know how many more your grandfather can take… ahahha…it’s your choice…..
My legs went soft and I have never felt so helpless before in my life.
Jackson : ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
I slammed my fist against the concrete floor of the roof as the rest of the Rajahs went close to protect Rachel.
Guo : you’re wasting time…. gosh….
Guo pushed my grandfather to the ground and he pulled a gun.
A fucking gun.
The sound of the weapon discharging almost ruptured my eardrums as he squeezed the trigger.
He kept squeezing and my eyes widened in horror as lead tore into the bodies of the Rajahs that were trying to protect Rachel.
The men fell and collapsed like puppets who had their strings cut as the smell of gunpowder assaulted my nose.
There was no time for them to even scream in pain as the bullets ripped into their bodies, severing their vessels and muscles instantly.
Hal’s eyes were open as Rachel screamed while clutching onto her brother’s neck as blood oozed out from the middle of his chest.
Rachel : aRGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! NO!!!!NOOOOOOOOOO!!! aRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HALLLLLLL!!!NO ..arGHHH!!!
Rachel collapsed onto the floor while clutching her brother as she screamed and shriek like a banshee.
Everyone was shocked. Even Russell and the rest of the Malu Malu.
One injured Rajah tried to stand up near the bar and Guo pointed the weapon at him. It fired again and the Rajah fell, toppling bottles of wine and alcohol beside him.
Russell : Guo….you…
Guo : shut up….!! I know what I’m doing. !!!… ahhahaha….
He pulled my grandfather up from the ground and this time round, pointed the gun at his face.
Grandfather : erghhhh..arghhhh..a rnghhh!!!
The muzzle of the gun seared and burn the flesh of my grandpa as Guo gestured again to Rachel .
Guo : kill her Jackson ….hahha…. I want… everyone here to see… that… someone from La Bella Vita… Killed the head of Rajah Holdings… ahhaha… haha… do it….. DO IT!!!
Rachel was reduced to a sobbing wreck as she held onto the lifeless body of her brother.
She hugged onto him and cried while screaming for him to come back to her.
Rachel : HAL !!! … HAL come back please… please… no…not like this….sobzz..sobzz… not like this…. aGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Guo : I’m not waiting any longer Jackson …. Do it now…. I mean it… I’m a man of my word… I will let your grandfather go….. look..look… see… see….
Guo took his knife and cut my grandfather’s cable tie loose.
Guo : see… see… hahah…. A gesture of offering… on my part…now.. it’s your turn….
My grandfather was shaking his head and mouthing no.
Grandpa : no… no.. Jackson … no…. don’t do it…
Guo : Shut up !!!.. your grandson is old enough to make the decision… !!!
Grandpa : no…Jackson …. Look at me…
I looked at my grandpa who’s face was rapidly draining of colour. He’s losing blood and he needs help.
Guo : Time is ticking Jackson … do it… DO IT !!! DO IT !!!
Grandpa : aRGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Jackson : Ah gong NOOO!!!
Before anyone could do anything, I watched in horror as my grandfather, grabbed onto the knife Guo was holding and tried to wrestle it from him.
Guo pointed the weapon at my grandfather’s stomach and pulled the trigger.
The hammer slammed into the firing pin, discharging a round that immediately came out the back of my grandfather’s body and hitting Russell on his calf because he is standing so close.
My grandfather wrestled the knife into his hands and before Guo could squeeze the trigger again, plunged the dagger into his neck.
Guo fired again and I could see my grandfather’s body shake from the impact but he held onto Guo for support as he pulled out the knife and stabbed it again into the same wound he just inflicted.
Everything happened so fast.
Jackson : NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Guo staggered backwards and tripped onto the corpse of a CF as he trashed around while clutching onto the wound. Blood kept spewing out like and he was literally drowning in his own blood as it filled his lungs.
Guo rolled and trashed on the floor as I went over to my grandfather.
I could not breathe.
No matter how hard I sucked, I felt as if no oxygen went to my lungs and no matter how hard I tried to scream, no voice came out.
Russell’s men immediately attended to their boss as he screamed and moaned in pain. Supported by 3 men, Russell beat a hasty retreat, leaving Elmo with about a 20 men behind.
Russell : ahhhh..arghhhh!!! fuck.. fuck… fuck !!! arhghhhh that fucking dumb fuck !!! arhghhh !!!
I held onto my grandfather and tears never stopped falling.
I shook my head as my vision blured. It’s my fault.
This is all my fault.
I am to blame for all this.
Jackson : I’m sorry Ah gong… I’m sorry… sobzz… I’m sorry….this is all my fault….
I could feel his heart beating really fast as his entire body shook with each breath he drew.
He wanted to speak but he can’t. He just looked at me and shook his head in a reassuring manner. It’s as if he was telling me it’s ok.
That’s what I hate.
He’s always telling me everything is ok.
Jackson : I’m sorry ah gong… I’m so sorry…..
I could feel a sudden drop in his breathing as he started to relax.
I held onto him tighter, cradling his head in my arms as I fought back more tears.
His bloodied hands touched my face and my grandfather looked into my eye for the final time when I felt what appears to be a scab or a scar at the hair area above the ear.
With a smile and a laboured breath, my grandpa said something that sent a chill into my spine and right back up my neck.
Grandpa : Rajahs….. don’t bend…