Changing the game

Chapter 2

Revenge is a

Coping Mechanism

Not a Sin

5:00am

Breaking news this morning right Mike? That’s right Catherine this morning not to long ago Police responding to a call of violence in a building in the upper west side were presented with what was described by officers as a Gory hit on some vigilante thugs, it was assumed an inside job as The known leader of the gang was identified by sources and police who saw him fleeing the scene but were unable to subdue the assailant. They say he’s wanted for fleeing a crime scene assaulting an officer of the law and questions as to his connection to the murders, and Money is believed to be the reason for the murders as a safe was found opened and empty...

5:18

I move across the Lower east side it’s safe here mostly as a lot of it is abandoned gangs congregate and have wars here the homeless find shelter here in the lost and hopeless end of the city, but if you know how to be a ghost… You're invisible here… I stalk shadows not even making it eye level before they blend into other shadows. But I keep moving, I can’t stay anywhere too long, not after what I saw on the morning news, on the way over here in that dinner

5:35am

On this rooftop in a squatter building I can get a good look at the city from here. It’s dilapidated and no security also its a few blocks in the “Raid Zone” area named for Gang War activity… I’m trying to figure out who did this? Why? I keep seeing “Matter” bleeding to death in my arms even he was scared in the end… His last words tumble in my mind “Pros” “Like my dad” what like black ops guys? He said that they were “Pro’s”, and “not bangers…” Those were the only two lives my dad lead. He somehow kept them separate still not sure how to this day. Did this have something to do with his disappearance after a year were they coming for us too. Why take “Easy” if you got the Money, whatever is going on seems personal. Someone wanted her, and took the money to cover, and frame me.... Why? Why was this happening? First Dad Now Easy, Matter and the crew this was wrong, unfair, we were doing the right thing, well sometimes the wrong way but still...

5:52am

The cell “rings!” It startles a junkie nearby but he’s not close enough to do much of anything and I can see him… It's the “McGruff the crime dog” sounding guy “Hey Kid look we don’t have a lot of time so I’m gonna be straight with you…” His tone is sincere enough and he Did stop me from going to my known address like a fool… I respond “I’m listening” he breathes a heavy sigh not sure if its relief I’m not screaming or that I answered at all… “Ok look you got my condolences on the loss of your crew, I've been watching you guys working for a while, you're not average bangers, and you been taking heat for doing the law enforcement's job earned you Enemies on both sides of the coin kid… But I owe your dad and I’m here to pay up half now half later...” He pauses for reaction I don’t give any. He breaths roughly again then continues. “I have intel you need, but let me tell you this. It’s no big mystery kid It was the crew your dad put together years ago that did this... There movement’s since he disappeared were more than average territorial disputes. The Majority of the city belongs to them now. This is not what your father wanted” at this point all the talk of my dad is killing me I lash out “Look man no offence, but I don’t know you, I don’t know how you know my dad, and What intel do you have that I need so bad anyway! You know who did this spill it, and don’t give me that gang crap my team was just murdered for money! my family kidnapped! Not by a gang, but by some pro’s!” he cuts me off “Spare me the drama kid I know what’s happening. I know you're grieving, but you're not ready to hear who I am, or what I know of your father, how we are mixed up... Your friends were not murdered for money… That’s the set up use your head think! Don't feel! Like your dad taught you… I breath, I clear my mind… The mention of my dad’s lessons brings me back to reality… He does know my dad “I don't have time to grieve...” I think...

In my mind I enter a room there are many people here most of them shaded I can’t see their faces I hear McGruff’s voice speaking in the phone… He hears me breathing, he knows what I’m doing... “There you go kid, you're, your father’s Son alright. Now we’ll quickly walk through this... The Gang was taken over by That ruthless punk “Realistic” I think you know him as I know him as “Calvin Payne” This is way bigger than him though… We will get to that when it’s important. Right now you need to know Realistic has your sister. It all plays out in my head as he speaks. One of the shaded figures takes form he looks like realistic he smiles at me another takes form, it’s Easy she’s sitting in a chair with chains binding her, when he mentions the Guards I see them around her with auto weapons… That’s right they were not bangers realistic disappears I tell him “That’s wrong Matter told me they were not bangers… He said they were well trained and armed. Professionals” I say… He counters with Your dad was a banger, and a professional you're not bad yourself I hear…” I go silent with that logic... Staring at the guys in the room surrounding Easy they start slowly circling her… He continues “Besides your friend was right they were professionals, but they were on loan to Realistic Let's call it a favor he called in to set you up make sure you don't come looking to take the gang back after all the work he put in…” I let that digest a second Realistic reappears in the room with a ruthless smile he beckons me, and the armed guards around Easy take aim at her they now all have strings on their limbs leading back to that piece of crap Realistic. “But!” he stops my thought process again “Remember I said this is bigger than him, how could that punk take your dad’s gang from what it was, to the criminal powerhouse it is now, without help? I interject a question of my own “Who’s pulling his strings?” I ask before he can get it out he goes silent then says “Now you're asking the questions that need to be asked... Let’s do this quick The answer is simple my new partner is who... Your Dad suspected him of being a mole for a while now, and I knew he had his hands in some bloody money for a while, but there is more. Your sister knows him... She’s been dating him for a while now, it’s how he got her card key I assume...” I stop him “Wait what? My dad knew this?” (Losing the images in my head) I ask confused, and he answers. “Yeah he told her to get close to him, but he must have figured it out… You need the data from the Sec rig in your stash building” Good I think “I already have it” I tell him; he likes that “Good we need to confirm it was counterfeit should register as hers…” He says, and continues with “Get me the data I’ll take care of the rest, I’ll be waiting for you in the park on 114th street, There’s a fountain in the middle third bench from the right in one hour, I'll also answer some of your questions… Don't trust anyone kid see you soon…” He hangs up I seem to have an ally… Figures my dad would have a safety net he never mentioned and what’s all this cloak and dagger with Easy, when did that happen? Why didn't they tell me? And who is this guy? With everything happening I take a moment to swear to my fallen, that I’ll get to the bottom of this, if Realistic did this, he took everything I had left. Everything!!!! He’s gonna pay or I can’t move on, That’s the deal, for my family, for my friends, all I have left is my anger… And a burning desire for vengeance… That helps me get a grip… I watch the sun rise and swear on this new day I’m gonna get them…!

6:00am...