The Novak's Heir Arises

Someone was following him. By the third turn, Travis knew it wasn't a coincidence. The man in the black hoodie followed silently.

Travis quickened his pace. Why was someone following him? He had nothing to offer.

The idea of someone stalking him made his skin crawl. He swiftly entered a nearby cafe and sat down.

The cafe server approached him. "What would you like, sir?"

"A cup of espresso," he said.

As he sipped his drink, he watched through the window. Different people walked past the window but he kept his eyes on the stalker.

To his surprise, the stalker walked past the window and went on his way.

Travis frowned. He had been very sure that the person was following him. Was he just overthinking it?

He left the cafe with his cup of espresso and looked around.

Few pedestrians roamed the streets. Vehicle honks and engine noises echoed in the night. Streetlights, headlights and building lights illuminated the city as it went on with its night activities. No sign of the stalker.

Travis clenched his jaw and continued his journey home. So he just bought this espresso for nothing. Just great.

He arrived in the rural part of the city with an unpaved road. His home based near the woods in an eerie and quiet area with very few neighbors. The home itself was a little bungalow, where he lived with his adoptive father.

His father was probably asleep by now.

The clock neared midnight. His work had no fixed closing time. It was only when there were no customers left that he would be allowed to leave. That's usually between ten to twelve PM. Nine if he was lucky enough.

He could hardly wait to get inside as he searched his bag for his key. His stomach raged as if threatening to leave his body to find food itself. After finding the key, he unlocked the door and went in.

The living room was dark. No surprise. His father must have turned it off before going to sleep. He reached for the light switch.

All of a sudden, a sharp blow smashed into the back of his head. Pain exploded in his head. He fell to his knees. The flick of the light switch echoed and the living room bulb brightened.

Travis blinked, his eyes adjusting to the sudden light.

Before him stood a dozen masked men dressed in black jackets, jeans and boots. Travis's heart raced. In between them on the floor sat a middle-aged man with sandy hair.

Travis's eyes widened. "Father."

His father raised his head slowly. His bottom lip was red and swollen. Huge patch of bruises spotted his face. He held his left shoulder like it hurt.

"What did you do to him?" Travis yelled. He tried to get up. One of the men stepped on his back, pushing him down. Travis recognized the figure as his stalker. So he was actually being followed?

One of the men stepped out. Unlike the other men, his mask had streaks of red lines. Travis assumed him to be the leader.

"Relax. He's stronger than you think. He literally took down five men on his own," said the man. It was then that Travis noticed the five men on the floor.

Travis looked bewildered. Did his father really take them down on his own? He knew he was strong. He teaches him fighting skills every day, but was he that strong?

The leader stared at Travis, as if he were checking out a newly discovered species. "Such a fine boy, Adam. Who would have thought you could raise a boy to manhood?"

"Who are you people?" asked Travis.

"You don't need to worry about that." The leader chuckled. He faced Travis's father, Adam. "Great job, but we'll take him. Shame we couldn't take you too."

Adam grunted and tried to move. One of the men next to him kicked his shoulder. His jaw tightened in pain.

"Stop that," yelled Travis.

"Careful, Adam, or we'll break your other arm."

"Stop it. What do you want?"

"You, of course," the leader said. He crouched down to Travis's level.

"Me?"

"Ah, you have no idea who you are. Adam can't just tell you that, can he now?"

"Huh?" Travis was confused.

The leader moved towards Adam. "Where is your master? Left you to cater for yourself? Is he fit to be called your master?" He patted his broken shoulder.

Adam hissed in pain.

"Oops. My bad." The leader smirked. "Ah, I never dreamed the day I'd have Adam under my power would come. We don't have to be enemies though. You can join us. We could use your skills."

"Over my dead body," Adam said with a tight voice.

"Still stubborn as ever."

"What are you talking about?" asked a confused Travis.

The leader said. "He's so näive about all this. So cute. You'll know soon. So, Adam," he returned his attention to Adam, "one last time. Swear your loyalty to us or die."

Travis's eyes widened. "No." The men held him down as he struggled. "Leave him alone."

"The boy loves you. You wouldn't want to leave him, would you?"

Adam chuckled. "I'll advise you all to run before it's too late."

"Too late? We have you under our feet. You are outnumbered. All I need to do is pull this trigger and—poof—you'll be gone. I have the superior hand here, Adam. What is there to be scared of, huh?" The leader laughed.

Suddenly, a series of gunshots echoed outside, almost deafening Travis's ears, followed by screams. The men's heads snapped to the door in astonishment.

"What the..."

Adam sprang up and knocked three men down with a punch. The others stepped back.

He laughed. "You think I'm taken down so easily. Now, you'll pay for this."

Travis had never seen his father look so deadly before. It was like he could snap their necks before they could move.

The leader shook with fear. "Get the boy. Get the boy."

Before they could grab Travis, another set of people burst into the house. They also wore black and were masked, only that their masks had blue spots.

In less than a minute, they held down the leader and his men. Travis stared with furrowed brows. Who were they?

Adam collapsed on his knees, holding his arm.

"Father..." Travis rushed towards him and helped him up.

Adam smiled. "You are okay. That's all that matters."

"Let's get you treated." He had lots of questions but for now, his health mattered the most.

"No, no," the leader yelled.

A gunshot echoed. Adam let out a gasp, his eyes wide. Travis watched in horror as Adam slumped in his arms and his body slacked.

"Father," screamed Travis.

There was a puncture on the back of his head where blood trickled out in a slow stream, a metal resembling gold stuck in it. A bullet.

"At least I get to kill Adam," the leader said, laughing maniacally. He had managed to pry his hand from the men and shot Adam with a hidden gun. The men behind hit the back of his head, knocking him out.

Travis hugged Adam's body, life suddenly meaningless to him. Tears streamed out of his eyes uncontrollably. His body shook. No, this can't be happening.

Footsteps approached him. Alerted, he looked up. The men with blue-spotted masks surrounded him.

"Stand back," he said, his voice laced with grief and anger.

"We are on your side." One of them stepped forward and spoke. It was a woman.

"I said step back."

The man he trusted the most was no more. No one was trustworthy anymore.

The man sighed and raised his gun.

"Forgive me," he said.

Before Travis could wonder what he meant, something pricked his neck. He hissed.

All of a sudden, his body became weak.

"No," he muttered as he fell into unconsciousness.