RETURN OF THE LEGENDARY CASSIAN MARKAVELLI

5 - A dark Night

To when it all began.

FOUR YEARS AGO.

AT SKYLINE HOTELS AND SUITES.

Cassian sat with his parents around a VIP table having breakfast that morning.

His mother's brother, Drako was present with his wife, Myla.

They were discussing something important but Cassian seems so focused on his food.

“Cassandra, think about this carefully,” Myla said, folding her hands elegantly. “Merzari Holdings is offering us a doorway to global expansion. This deal could create bridges for better opportunities. Why don't you just partner with them?”

Cassandra, Cassian's mother shook her head in disagreement while tapping her fingers lightly on her teacup.

Drako leaned forward.

" Myla is right, this is one in a million opportunity. This could clear your unresolved debts and you could even create new revenue with this partnership. Look at this from a bright side" Drako said, leaning back in his seat with a smile as if he already knew how everything would end.

Cassian continued eating, paying no attention to them.

Cassandra finally spoke.

" Look, agreeing to this means we are willing to give them 80% control over our assets and yet , you still expect me to take it."

" You're one of their biggest shareholders, Cassandra. How could you say something like this? it's clearly on a win on both sides for you" Myla frowned.

" Being a part of their board won't stop me from changing my decision. it's just too absurd.."

Drako sighed tiredly.

" Clarence," Myla sat well and turned to Cassian's father “ Tell Cassandra to be reasonable. This seems like a good business to me. ”

Clarence leaned forward, his face held a frown that showcased his disinterest.

“We don’t need outside hands grabbing into our shares. Agreeing to this is like handling the company over to them. ”

Drako turned to Clarence, Cassian’s father. “You’ve reviewed the final terms. Merzari Holdings is offering sixty-one percent, but you still get to keep the title and control of domestic branches.”

“But it’s not just a merger,” Clarence said calmly. “It’s a cage . One we won’t be able to get out of.”

Mela leaned in. “A golden cage, Clarence. The kind that pulls you into foreign markets, government contracts, oil blocs in Morocco, rare earth mining licenses in South Africa…”

Clarence’s jaw tightened. “And risks that could bury us. They know how much revenue over new patented products could generate which is why they are offering partnership at this time, to milk the opportunity it's so obvious!”

" Why should we bother ourselves with those? We clearly need the money" Drako answered.

Drako leaned in. “Clarence, they’re offering to inject $800 million. They’ll take majority share on paper, but you remain Chairman over all domestic operations. The press gets a headline, the markets get excited, and you walk away ten times richer in two years. It’s a clean win for both sides. ”

Clarence met his gaze, “I said no. This deal is too greedy. They want more than a stake, they want control. Control of our patents, our staff, and the name that’s been in my family for three generations. I won’t sell that off easily.”

Drako's face tightened. “Don’t be emotional about it, Clarence. This is good business.”

" Drako, this is about people's lives... we both know how dangerous the product turns out to be from the tests which is why we decided not to go again with the production. The product is exactly what Merzarki Holdings want and once that products hit the market. Many people will lose their lives in the process. Shouldn't we consider that." Clarence sighed.

" Enough!?" Cassian looked up from his table and glared at them.

" Can we not ruin breakfast with this merger talk? Some of us are actually trying to enjoy the morning.”

Cassian dropped his spoon. “ I thought we all came here for my graduation ceremony.”

Drako chuckled.

His mother placed a hand on his shoulder, as if calming him.

Just then, Drako’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and then stood.

“ you have to excuse me. Something urgent came up at the office”

He rounded the table, but not before pausing beside Cassian and ruffling his hair lightly, a gesture that felt forced.

“Happy graduation, kid,” he said with a half-smile. “I’ll be sending you a gift soon. Something… memorable.”

Cassian smiled. “As long as it’s not another lecture on business empires, I’ll take it.”

Drako chuckled as he turned away. “ Bright kid. ”

And then he left, his phone already pressed to his ear, his voice lowering as he walked into the corridor.

" We'll also take our leave now as we have other important events to attend" Clarence said and stood up with his wife.

Myla nodded with a smile and they all walked out.

Soon, it was night time and they were heading back home.

The ride home was unusually quiet.

Cassian slumped in the back seat, earbuds in, half-listening to music and half-dozing as the luxury Benz cruised down the expressway. His father was behind the wheel, eyes fixed on the road, while his mother scrolled through her tablet beside him.

"That Drako always talks in circles," Clarence muttered under his breath. "That deal was too greedy. I don’t trust it, and I won’t be part of it."

His wife gave a slow nod. "You did the right thing. We don’t need shortcuts."

Cassian pulled out one earbud. “Can you both keep it low? You’re disturbing my post-celebration digestion.”

His mother chuckled, but his father said nothing.

“I still can’t believe my baby is a graduate,” she said, twisting slightly in her seat to glance back at him. “You looked so handsome in your gown.”

Cassian gave her a tired smile. “It was hot under that thing. I thought I’d faint before the ceremony ended.”

His father chuckled from behind the wheel. “You survived four years of college. I think you can handle a little sweat.”

Cassian stretched. “Barely. Can we talk about how you both kept crying? I felt like the whole crowd was watching our row.”

His mother reached back and lightly swatted his leg. “We were proud! You’re our only son.”

His father nodded. “We just wanted you to know how much you mean to us.”

Cassian looked between them, heart warmed in a way he rarely expressed aloud. “I know. I love you guys.”

For a moment, there was only peace.

Then it changed.

His father frowned. He pressed the brakes gently. Nothing.

Again, harder. Still nothing.

“Clearance?” his mother asked, sensing it too.

His father’s hands clenched the wheel. “The brakes... they’re not working.”

“What?” Cassian sat up straighter.

“I’m serious. The brakes aren't working!”

A trailer ahead veered abruptly into their lane, heading straight toward them.

His father swerved, but it was too late.

CRASH!

The world snapped apart.

The car slammed into the trailer with a deafening crunch. It flipped once, twice, before finally landing on its side with a sickening metallic groan.

Darkness.