KILLER CROSS OVER

Chapter 03

THAT DAY, LEVINE and me walked down the prison corridors checking cell by cell. Prison Rounds were always fun. It is not like anyone can escape from Catastrophe prisons because it was most likely impossible and so what we had to do was just walk while chatting. Both of us weren't in charge for the prisons and only about once in a year we went around, that was also if we felt bored or if there was nothing else for us to do.

That certain day was exceptional. It was after a mission that only me and Levine handled without letting anyone else know. There were two reasons. First. It was just to capture a single person. Second. Levine and dad didn't want that to go too far and the most interesting fact is that, not until the very moment we imprisoned him, Levine did tell me who that person was.

"Who is that?"

I remember asking from him while walking back after imprisoning that man.

"A traitor."

replied Levine short.

"Traitor? We have such people?"

my eyebrows raised unintentionally while I continued

"I mean... like why do we have traitors? We are the most powerful underworld territory and why would our people betray us? What kind of a treason did he get involved in? Will it cause problems for us? Is it serious?"

Levine stopped. So, did I.

"Cod..."

he had a big smile

"...I just can't imagine how you come up with so many questions at once."

"Just that..."

I shrugged

"I have so many questions in my mind AT ONCE."

I started walking again slowly which he too followed

the pace.

"Actually, he is a person that escaped Catastrophe."

said Levine thoughtfully

"Why?"

"Why do you think? I also don't know."

he nodded his head sideways.

"So? Why don't you ask him?"

"I did. He said he just wanted a normal life."

"That's good so. Why don't you let him?"

Levine put his arms around my neck.

"Cod. That's not the point. Him living a free life, it's really good. But we can't be sure of it, can we? What if he goes and join another Territory or what if he gives all our secrets to the Police or the Security Departments?"

I nodded up and down. That made sense.

"I get it."

I replied.

"So, what if you really want to live a normal life? What if you really want to escape all these and live your own life? Can we... not do that?"

I said suddenly which was totally unintentional. It was something that was deep inside me and was definitely not something I wanted to reveal to anyone.

Instantaneously, my body shifted away from Levine.

What if he gets be suspicious about me now? What should I give as the answer if he asks me why I am asking that? What if he thinks I'm trying to escape?

Thousands of thoughts swirled around my head that day. But... letting out the things that were buried deep inside my heart... It felt really good.

Levine tightened his arm around my neck, again pulling me closer to him showing no change in his face or behaviour. He was not suspicious. Not at all. I was sure.

"Then...”

he paused

"... you will have to escape in a way that anyone can't ever find you again or else... we must be so sure that the person who has escaped will never ever let our tactics and secrets get into wrong hands."

he said.

We both maintained our silence for a few minutes and then Levine's voice broke out again

"You got that bro?"

Levine had a broad playful smile on his face and he tussled my hair swiftly.

"YES!"

I replied back with the same playful smile. But. Deep inside me... I was burning.

The darkness of the night approached. I packed my essential stuff to my backpack to leave the Catastrophe Territory. Secretly.

I knew dad wouldn’t punish me for leaving the gang and deep inside, my head said he trained me expecting that, such a day would come but still, I didn't want to take a risk. But at the same time, I can't deny that I was worried and more than worried I was feeling guilty for what I was doing. They raised me up, fed me, took care of me and loved me... Specially dad.

I felt like a thousand of stones are inside my stomach and that they were weighing so much which made me feel that I couldn't keep standing. I didn't want to leave them. I was attached to dad and Levine so much. They were already a part of my life and I couldn't even imagine how I was going to live without them. But... I wanted to leave so badly. I wanted to venture a different life. A normal life.

My eyes were burning trying to supress the tears. I packed everything optimizing the space so that I could take the maximum out of my backpack. All I packed was clothes. Two black trousers, two dark blue trousers, white, midnight blue and black t-shirts, three from each. I'm a fan of primary colours. I know it sounds weird but that is how I was and that is how I still am, and yes even I myself find it funny sometimes. I had money given by dad but I didn't want to take them with me. I kept them on the table nearby my bed along with a little note.

I'm leaving.

For everything, the only payback I can give for the gratitude soaring in my heart is thanking. Thank you for making me the person who I am today. I know you and dad knew deep inside that this day will come but still... I'm so sorry.

I'm going to live a normal life and that is all I want. Our secrets will forever be inside me. You can trust me on that.

Remember.

Dad loves me more than he loves you.

Gonna miss the idiot.

That was for Levine. My brother.

Tears were unintentional but I suppressed them back. No. I didn't want to cry. Not when it was my own decision to leave. I knew where to sneak. Growing up in the territory and being the younger son of the Leader, I knew about paths that other people didn't even know existed and escaping was just like eating a piece of cake for me because I was their best fighter. So, no matter who I confront I was pretty confident none of them will be able to stop me.

I put on my backpack and reached the window but just as I kept my foot on the ledge...

"Going somewhere little bro?"

Levine's voice cut through my ears. It flustered me. I didn't expect him to find me. I slowly turned back, guilt dripping down my soul. If there's one person I did not want to confront in my escape, it was Levine. I knew it would hurt him. His expression was normal. Quite normal. Like he expected that.

"I think you already know the answer."

I muttered and the conversation I had with him that day is something I will never forget ever in my life. I never actually raised my head to look at him because I felt like a traitor.

A traitor.

He went towards the table which I had kept the money and the note, and... read the note aloud. When he finished the "Gonna miss the idiot" part, a shriek of embarrassment rushed through my body and I twitched my lips to avoid smiling.

He put the note into his shirt pocket and took the money to his hands and came to me. He placed the money on the nearby stool and stood in front of me; smiling by the corner of his mouth.

Though Levine and me were not actually real brothers we still had a lot in common and we did resemble each other in our looks and behaviour both. Smiling from the corner of the mouth which you can also sometimes define as smirking, depending on the situation, is definitely something we had in common.

"What are you thanking for?"

he asked.

"Just... for everything."

my voice chocked. Actually, what they had done for me, the way they cared for me, cannot be just thanked by a word and leaving or let's call it escaping was a total betrayal. I was looking down; my eyes couldn’t concentrate to one place.

"Hey."

Levine said placing his hands on my shoulders.

"I never did put you in trouble and I never will."

his voice was so soothing.

"Cod. Look at me."

he shoved my shoulder. He was right. He never did put me in trouble. He won't let me get caught by dad. Maybe... dad won't care. Levine knew I was going to go away. His calm eyes and behaviour in the situations proved that. If Levine knew, then there was no way that dad wouldn't know. He was a man with a future vision.

"There you are. A grown man now."

He was proud. He looked directly at me. So, did I. They were filled with tears. He already knew I was going to go but that didn't stop him from being sad about it. My heart sank.

He went back to the door and locked it so that no one else could enter the room.

"There are a few things that you need to know before you leave."

he breathed deep.

"I don't know how you'll react to this, but… you should know."

"I'm ready."

I said.