Kill the Truth

Chapter 3: Shattered

Pull the car over now Damian said. His voice was really quiet. It cut through all the noise like a knife. He stared at the dashboard, which was all shot up. He could not believe what Elara had just told him. Marcus Hale, the man who taught him how to survive was behind everything.

I am not pulling over Elara shouted back. The police are over the radio. If we stop they will surround us. We will be dead in no time.

Pull the car over Damian yelled. He slammed his fist on the console. It cracked.

Elara jumped. She turned the car down an alley behind some old factories and slammed on the brakes. The car stopped behind a dumpster.

It was really quiet. The engine was making a noise because it was damaged. The rain was hitting the roof.

Sophia Bennett was sitting in the backseat. She had her knees up to her chest and a gun in her lap. Who is Marcus Hale she asked. Why are you so upset?

Damian did not answer her. He got out his tablet. Started looking at some codes. He checked the address, the signature and the encryption.

It all pointed to a computer in a bunker on the outskirts of the city. A computer that Damian had helped set up.

It is him Damian said quietly. It is his computer. Marcus sent the message. Marcus tried to kill us. Marcus framed me.

Why Elara asked. If Marcus is your friend why would he do that?

Because he is not my friend Damian said. He is using me.

Damian thought about his life. He thought about what he believed in. It was all a lie. Marcus did not teach him to fight against the guys. Marcus taught him to work for them.

Sophia leaned forward. She was angry. So your friend played you she said. He used you to kill someone.

Yes Damian said. He looked at Sophia and Elara. His eyes were burning.

What do we do now Elara asked. We do not have a place to go.

I know a place Sophia said. There is a newspaper office on the south side. It has a basement that is not connected to the internet. I have a key.

Let's go Damian said. Elara drive carefully. Do not go on the roads.

They got to the office just before three in the morning. Sophia took them to the basement. It was full of files and a big desk.

Sophia turned on a lamp. Welcome to our office she said. Every story that my bosses would not publish is here. I have been trying to build a case against the city leaders for five years.

The Directorate Damian said. He got out his laptop. Connected to a secret internet.

Elara sat down. How do we fight against people who have much power?

We have to change the game Damian said. Marcus thinks he knows what I will do.. I am going to surprise him.

Are you crazy Elara asked. Marcus has a lot of guns and men.

He will be alone Damian said. Marcus is paranoid. He does not like to be around people.

Damian started typing on his laptop. He was looking for a trail of money. The Directorate uses a lot of money to do their work.

After a minute, Damian found something. Got you he said quietly.

Sophia leaned over. What is that?

It is a company Damian explained. Marcus made it when he retired from the police. He got a lot of money from it.

Look at the dates Elara said.

Damian looked at the dates and the money. He realized something. Every time someone on the list was killed Marcus got a lot of money.

Marcus is not a helper Damian said. He is the boss. He tells the killers who to kill.

Damian stood up. His face was cold and hard. He got his gun and his jacket.

Where is Marcus Elara asked.

He is in a train yard Damian said. I helped him build his house. I know how to get in.

You cannot go alone Elara said.

I have to Damian said. You two stay here. Sophia keep your gun ready. Elara keep working on the computer. If I do not come back send the information to everyone.

You are going to kill him aren't you Sophia asked quietly.

I am going to make him tell me the truth Damian said. What happens after that depends on what he says.

Damian left the basement. He went to the train yard. It was really quiet and dark. He found the house and used a special device to turn off the camera.

He went inside. Found Marcus sitting at a desk. Marcus was typing on a computer. Drinking a glass of bourbon.

Step away from the computer Damian said. He had his gun pointed at Marcus.

Marcus slowly got up. He was not afraid. He just looked at Damian with a smile.

You figured it out quickly Marcus said. I did not think you would be so smart.

Stand up Damian said. Turn around.

Marcus slowly turned around. He had his hands up. A glass of bourbon in one hand.

You framed me Damian said. You used my name. You tried to kill me.

I did not try to kill you Marcus said. I made you the boss. I gave you the computer. You did what I wanted.

I saw your money Damian said. You got a lot of money for killing people.

Marcus laughed. You think this is about money he said. The money is, for the work. I joined them to control them.

You do not get to kill people and say it is okay Damian said. You killed my father.

Marcus stopped smiling. He looked really scared.

I did not kill your father Marcus said. I did not join them until fifteen years ago. Your father died twenty years ago.

Then who did Damian asked. Tell me who killed my father.

Marcus just looked at Damian. He did not say anything.

If I say that name we are both dead Marcus swallowed hard looking around the room like a crazy person. The person who wanted Arthur Cross killed is the Architect, the boss of The Directorate.

Tell me the name Damian yelled.

Before Marcus could say anything the whole bunker started shaking really hard.

A huge explosion blew through the ceiling of the room. Dust and big chunks of metal fell down as the strong room started to break. The lights went on and off. Then stopped working making the bunker completely dark.

The emergency red lights turned on away making everything look bloody and weird.

They found us Marcus said, breathing hard and hiding behind his metal desk. He was not calm anymore. They found your signal he said.

Another explosion blew the strong steel elevator doors off. Thick gray smoke came into the bunker.

Through the smoke, four men in white armor came down the elevator hole. They had guns and their faces were hidden behind shiny masks. They moved quietly and it was very scary.

The Praetorian Guard Marcus said quietly his voice shaking with fear. The Architects' personal killers. They did not come to arrest us, Damian. They came to destroy this place.

The leader of the soldiers pointed his gun at Damian's face the red light shining through the dark room right between his eyes.

Are you still alive the soldier said loudly through a speaker, on his helmet.

Before Damian could shoot back the soldier pulled the trigger.