Dark Reign: A Dangerous Misunderstanding

Markus was never the precautious type. He had plans, and could normally keep his cool in a tough situation, but when it came to subtlety, forethought, or even preparation, he often left that to others. If something went wrong, he could usually worm his way out of it, or turn the situation in his favor using his cunning and knowledge to escape any consequences. The gun was supposed to make up for his total lack of caution, and now it was acting up? f all times?

If Markus believed in god or fate, he might have cursed them for forsaking him in this moment.

He heard Raul approach before he saw him. Inwardly, Markus could only sigh as he knew what part was coming next. There was no way to avoid it, but unlike his fortunate foe, he wasn’t going to simply lay down and go quietly. Markus’s red eyes flashed at the rapidly approaching figure, his arm swinging the useless weapon around in an attempt to point it at Raul’s skull in some vain hope his weapon might work at the last second. He knew it would never happen, and that his arm probably wouldn’t get past his waist before Raul was upon him.

That didn’t stop him from trying…even when he was proven right.

The fist SLAMMED into his jaw, carrying all of the primal fear, rage, and energy Raul had left after his hard fight. Markus’s didn’t even register any pain before he was out like a light. The drug peddler’s head shot down like a bag of bricks, and crashed into the concreate just as hard. His weapon flew from his hands, smacking against the concrete and going off with a thunderous BANG!

The thunderous crack of the gun brought with it the sharp and dangerous sounds of a ricocheting bullet! The sound of metal bouncing off brick and concrete before it stopped just as suddenly as it started. None of the goons would be awake to hear it…the two men bent into misshapen beasts finally succumbing to their injuries and Markus’s eyes curled into the back of his head as he entered a dark world of unconsciousness. Somehow, Raul had done the impossible…

Somehow, Raul had won…

Raul's fist HAMMERED into Markus' head, CRASHING it into the floor and forcing the weapon out of its hand. As if the hand of god had been manipulating the ability of the weapon to do it's work, the moment the gun had left Markus's hand, it went OFF, BLASTING THROUGH the tight and confined space, rocking Raul's head and making his ears RING... but the bullet only traveling harmlessly out into the dark... The Mexican felt EVERY inclination to collapse upon the ground, to clutch at his head and try to work through the blood-loss and disorientation but that was EXACTLY why he needed to move! Someone would've DEFINITELY heard that and when they came running...

...It was not going to look too good for Raul. Especially with nobody to witness for him or to buy off to act like they could.

With a staggered huff, the man stumbled out of the alley and into the dark, rainy night, the cold, clean rain washing the blood from his wounds and down into the sewer-drains that dotted the streets, the refreshing chill of the water helping his mind readjust and recuperate. He had to get home... Somewhere safe... Somewhere more of those thugs couldn't get to him as easily... Life in Mexico taught him that living on the streets, sleeping there, was only a way to invite trouble. If it wasn't those guys' friends... it'd be something else. A homeless man, another gangster... Anything. You had to play it smart....

Raul felt his energy deplete in chunks with every step but he refused to let himself fall... not until he had made it home and dressed his wounds....

It wouldn’t be long before someone reported the gunfire in the dark alley. Sirens would break up the soft, rainy night as they shrieked through the streets, finally finding the proper alleyway they were told to about. A violent struggle was obvious to anyone who had steeped into that god forsaken place…blood that had yet to be swept away with the rain was in abundant amounts all over the walls and concrete floor. Metal was dented and kicked in and trash can lids were ripped apart. If anyone were to guess, one might have thought someone was fighting a bear. The two victims found at the scene only added credit to such a theory. Their bodies were mangled and smashed beyond any reasonable repair. Both had been small time enforcers, with only a few misdemeanors and charges of assault to their names. No one could recognize them now…There was no way they could ever do…well, anything ever again, really. Not that this would be much of an issue.

Because neither of them was breathing.

Besides the two corpses, all the police were able to find in that horrific scene was one bullet casing, a syringe that had been shattered, contents unknown…and the bullet buried in the brick wall in the very back of the dark alley. There was evidence of at least two other people being at the scene, but no traces to their identities could be located.

Things were starting to get stranger…criminals and the destitute were disappearing off the streets faster and faster all the time without a hint of where they went. Thugs that should never have amounted to anything were suddenly in high places…and now these two mangled bodies. Something was coming to this town…a new force tainting the streets of japan.

And the authorities were helpless to stop them!

To be continued...