Chapter 1 - Shawn's death and rebirth

"I hear a pulse!"

"What! Impossible!"

"He's alive!" The voices were audible. 

"Yes! Not like that boss. Boys, stop the movement, Vito is alive." The voice was distant. 

As Shawn Rossacks slowly regained consciousness, the rhythmic beeping of the heart rate monitor flooded his ears together with the voices. His body felt heavy as if he were floating in an abyss, disconnected from the world around him. Confusion clouded his mind as he tried to make sense of his surroundings.

He opened his eyes and he saw a team of doctors and nurses running towards him. 

"He's alive," another masculine voice confirmed. 

"Check his vitals."

"All perfect."

"No, this is impossible," the masculine voice, now reckoned to be the doctor exclaimed. "This is magical!"

With his eyes closed, Shawn realized that there was no pain whatsoever in his head. He stood still as he was injected, the bearable pain bringing about a twitch. 

Images from the moments before his apparent death flashed before his closed eyelids. He had been forced to his knee atop a desolate hill, with no sign of houses around. A gunshot rang out, and a searing pain exploded in the back of his head. The force of the impact had propelled him off the hill and into the vast expanse of the ocean below.

Shawn knew he should have been dead. His body lost to the ocean's depths, should have remained hidden forever and devoured by aquatic mammals. Yet here he was, alive and breathing, albeit in a peculiar situation. 

The images were from the minutes just before his death. What led him to the hill? Memories flashed back. 

***

Bloomfield, New York. 

February 10.

***

Shawn Rossacks was the lowest-ranked worker in the Goldfield Canopy. The household was known as the founder of the city called Bloomfield, harnessing the treasure thereof and were the rulers.

However, working in Goldfield's canopy wasn't enough to make Shawn rich. Countless have been appointed after him but they had moved to the higher elevations of the skyscraper while he was on the first floor. Shawn wasn't unlucky, he wasn't idle, he was smart and diligent - but he was too upright. 

To survive in the Goldfield's canopy, you must steal or work for the thieving elders in the canopy but Shawn won't do that. His salary was the lowest, after many petty roles aiding the record officer.

It was payday and Alicia's birthday, his girlfriend. She had requested a package consisting of five shades of expensive clothing which Shawn won't naturally afford. But he was willing to do anything for Alicia for the sake of love. 

He was standing on the lowest level record officer when he heard him making a call about fixing the water closet up on the third level. "I will do it, sir," Shawn said. "It's just a breakage. Let me fix it and pay me."

"Well, there is someone for it," the officer said.

"I need the money, boss. Please let me," Shawn pleaded and he received the contract. 

In the respite that followed, Shawn was in the elevator for the first time. It wasn't about promotion, but he was going up for the shitty job. He was off his suit, off his shoes and official clothing but was in a brown scrub, required for the duty. 

On the third floor, Shawn kept his eyes down as he manoeuvred his way among the higher staff. He approached the room and knocked, but he got no answer. Shawn pushed the door open. Right before him was Alicia seated on the lap of one Mr Finn, who was employed in the canopy at the same time that Shawn was. 

Alicia tried to stand but Finn held her by the waist. "Shawn? You're the plumber now?" Finn asked. "That aside, have you no manners? You've spent four years in the lowest level of the company and you have no manners still. I guess you must be raised in a ban."

"I'm sorry. Sir," Shawn added as an afterthought.

"My girlfriend her peed and it couldn't flush. If that's what you are here to do, go ahead," Finn said and pulled Alicia to himself, to ensure that she rested on his chest and he wrapped his hands around him. 

Shawn looked into her face and then walked into the restroom. When he closed the door behind him, he sighed and placed his head by the wall. That was the love of his life with Finn. She was the reason he wanted to fix the WC. But there she was with his colleague now turned boss, waiting to use the WC. 

Shawn was reminded of the day when the log book arrived on his table. Should he have signed it, he would be on top of the world now. He would have enough money to buy Alicia what she wanted and host a grand party for her. But he couldn't, and Finn could. 

Shawn changed his mind and walked back to the office. 

"Fixed?" Finn asked and Shawn stood there looking. He wasn't looking at Finn but at Alicia. He was riveted on the spot, reminiscing the promises of love that they shared while Alicia was there, staring back, with no sign of remorse. 

"I am talking to you, idiot!" Finn blurted. 

"I am not fixing it anymore," Shawn said. 

"What?" Finn stood from the chair. "Alicia here has been my girlfriend for four months…"

Four months? The time range made Shawn marvelled. For the past four months, she had been asking Shawn for money and he had been giving.

"Now she's in my office and she can't use the toilet?" 

"I'm sorry. Sir," Shawn answered. 

"You have to fix it," Finn said and walked close to Shawn. "You will fix it or lose your job as a plumber and as an aide."

That was the biggest threat of his life. He would mend his heart for the heartbreak but losing his job would render him hopeless.

No sooner had he been threatened than Finn's secretary came in with a file. "Your attention is needed," she said.

Finn took the file and smirked after reading from it. "I guess I'll be going to level four soon. Do you know what that means? Double the pay," he looked at Shawn and gave him a sly grin. "Now I have the power, I can fire you."

Shawn changed his look sporadically from Finn to Alicia and then lowered his head as Finn signed the document. He knew that it was another corrupt deal, something he wished he'd done but his dignity won't allow.

"After the signature, sir, submit the file to the secretary in level four," the secretary said and left.

"Alicia, pee in the cup and bring it. This is the least punishment that you'll get," Finn said and scoffed. 

Alicia went behind the table and after a while, she brought her urine in a cup and rested her arm on Finn. 

"Bow, or get fired," Finn said. 

Slowly, Shawn lowered his head before Finn. He can't afford to get fired. As he stared down, Alicia's urine rained on his head. Shawn pressed his lips together to avoid the liquid seeping into his mouth but he couldn't prevent the stench. 

"Oh…" Alicia said and giggled. 

Finn dropped the file on the table and took his key. "I'll go drop my babe. Clean the floor and ensure to fix the WC before I return," Finn ordered and cuddled Alicia by the waist as they walked out. 

When they were gone, Shawn angrily walked into the restroom. He knew what to do but he was so saddened that all he knew about plumbing went off his head. As he paced about, an idea popped into his head and he stood, heaving heavily. 

He went to the office, locked the door from behind and went straight to the table. He opened the file and there it was - a file that depicts an unlawful and unregistered transport of raw gold to foreign countries. Finn had signed. 

Shawn saw it as an opportunity. He can't join them, how about destroying them? He returned to the toilet and washed his face. Then, with the file, he went out of the office and went straight to the disciplinary room where he requested to meet the leader of the team.

"I have a theft to report," Shawn said. His heart beat faster as the meeting was scheduled and within five minutes, he was seated before the head of the team. Mr Clinton. 

Shawn handed the file over and looked forward to being commended. As he watched, a call was made. 

"Okay, sir, okay. Okay, sir"

"Mr Finn signed it," Shawn said affirmatively. Happy that a call was made for the report. 

"Do you know the hierarchy?" Clinton asked. 

"Yes," Shawn answered. 

"List the top most powerful three," Clinton asked. 

"His excellency, great dictator Alfred Goldfield who is the chairman of the Goldfield Canopy and the head of the household; Vice chair lady Ann Goldfield; and Venerable Ben Goldfield, who is the head of affairs," Shawn listed. 

"Good, Shawn, you know too well. Now, this deal is spearheaded by Venerable Ben," Clinton explained and Shawn nodded in anxiety. "I have just reported to the chairman, now, take this proof to him. He is in Spence Ace Road waiting for you. Words of this should go to no one or you'll be comprised!"

Shawn rushed out and went down to his floor. He got his suit and took a taxi set towards the Spence Ace road. But the taxi took another turn. "It's a shortcut," the driver said.

Soon, they were joined by two other men, now keeping Shawn in the middle. The tension was sensed and Shawn wanted to escape. But the still cold sensation of a gun silenced him.

He was taken to vulnerable Ben and now, it all was seen as a plot by all. The canopy was corrupt and made for the corrupted. Shawn realized late. He lifted his eyes at Vulnerable Ben and tears rolled down his face. "You know too much, Shawn! You cannot be allowed to live. Kill him, feed him to the sharks."

The next fifteen minutes were spent on the road, and next into the thick forest that led to a hill. The coverage on his face was removed and he looked far into the water body. He was forced to his knee atop a desolate hill, and when he looked around, there with no sign of houses or people. Now, Shawn regretted a life lived in vain. He had lived and was leaving without a trace. A gunshot was heard, and then the cold sensation of the water below. 

***

Bloomfield, New York.

February 11.

***

Shawn opened his eyes and his gaze met with the doctor's. 

"Mr Vito," the doctor said. "Welcome back."