Thirty six days ago
"We must block the small passages before midnight. We can't let them surround us."
Inside a small room, five men were looking at a map on top of the small table. On it the entire sewage system of Athens was marked with blue and red paint. The lamps, illuminating the windowless, cold room, brought light to the dark faces of the men.
Some were drenched in sweat while others were covered in dust. All of them had burn marks on their bodies but they paid no mind to them. They were all focused on Jacob giving them instructions.
"We will use the second escape route to ambush them from behind."
"We ain't got enough men to pull it off. We've less than a hundred!"
The slightly plump man on Jacob's right retorted immediately at his suggestion. His black face was covered in scars from his military service and his hair was cut short. He looked like a military veteran in his camouflage uniform, ready to destroy his opponent at the slightest bit of aggression. His eyes were locked on Jacob, searching for fear or anything of the kind.
Jacob didn't back down. He looked back at him and then at everyone with resolute eyes. His gaze pierced through everything in front of him, making everyone look away. Even the veteran stared down as if he was ashamed.
"... I'm sorry boss. At such times everyone's nervous... We're all going to die in two days at most, we can still run away and hide."
The black man didn't dare look Jacob in the eyes. His palms were clenched into fists. His nails dug into his flesh and blood dripped down slowly.
Jacob had seen everything unfold yet his gaze didn't waver at all.
"Scrooge is aiming for a war of dominance that's why he's attacking us every twenty-four hours. We're going to change our roles a little. We'll be the attackers. We'll attack their camp at the third barricade from both sides at 3 AM. Any objections?"
"No boss!"
All of the men agreed without a hint of hesitation. After all, he was the one who 'unified' all the gangs in Peristeri. He was the Python.
*
"It's an ambush!!! Ru-!!!"
Dozens of tents had caught on fire and even more people were dropping to the ground.The smoke had engulfed the entirety of the temporary camp. The shouts of men grasping for air filled Jacob's mind with thoughts.
He isn't here... As expected of the Scrooge. All he cares is about money. He doesn't mind if his subordinates die.
Following that the shouts died down and so did the gunshots. The man wearing the camouflage uniform walked up to him from the scorching narrow battlefield. His face was stern and a new scar adorned his face in memory of this victory.
"Boss, we've captured thirty of 'em. Do we kill them?"
"What are our casualties?"
"... Five died, boss. We're down to eighty-nine.
They lost around two hundred."
In the face of this many deaths Jacob's hand trembled but no one saw it. The cogs in his head were already turning like crazy.
We lost more than I thought. It seems like the attack from the secret passages in the walls was predicted to a certain extent... We have to take a defensive position again, retreating to the headquarters.
"... We're abandoning our current position and the two remaining blockades. We'll fortify the headquarters using the prisoners. Today we'll turn the war around!"
*
"What do you mean he died?"
Jacob was standing in front of the flimsy barricades. He wore an expression full of disbelief as he heard the young boy in front of him. The gangsters behind him were equally surprised by the sudden news.
"Yes, boss! Scrooge died! We don't have to fight anymore!"
"... Are you sure? How did that fire lizard die?"
The teenager stared at him, he replied only after thinking about it for a minute.
"Some believe he was assassinated overnight and others he died in a fire. I don't know the truth but he died for sure."
Jacob finally eased. He was tense throughout the war lasting five, not knowing whether he'd live to see the next day, but now all his anxiety disappeared and happiness overwhelmed his heart.
"We won!!!"
The shouts of the worn-out gangsters broke the tense silence as they hugged and laughed with their comrades. This joyous scene filled Jacob with happiness. A few tears fell to the ground as his hands covered his face.
I did it. I saved them...this time. I miss your compliments. I miss your voice.
Jacob was smiling yet deep down he felt a part of him was missing.
*
Present
"Welcome to the underground city, Atlantis!"
Nicolas was astounded yet angry. He had never expected such a spacious place would exist right below the capital. It was lively and peaceful, so unlike the aboveground capital. A vein bulged at his neck and his head became slightly red. But his anger didn't last for long.
Four men, armed with handguns and submachine guns, closed in on them. One from the door they had just passed and three from the guard post came at them carrying some weird metallic devices.
"Python, you know the rules. No weapons are allowed in."
The man that seemed to be the leader spoke to Jacob with visible effort in trying to sound formal. In response, Jacob nodded silently and gave Nicolas a reassuring look.
Nicolas was curious as to who the armed man was speaking to before he realized it was Jacob all along.
"Yes, I know that, Jack. I've also brought a guest today."
"Hm... A white man. That's unusual for a black gangster like yourself... Anyways, any weapons, in the boxes. Knives, guns, devices and consumables."
The men placed two boxes on a bench and nodded towards them while looking at Nicolas. Confused, Nicolas complied without uttering a word.
He took out his phone, a custom made lighter and a few knives from his pockets before placing them inside a wooden box. After a pause, he also pulled a black pistol from his back pocket, gripping it by the barrel with both hands.
One of the men in front of him was tensely looking at his every move as Nicolas put the cold gun inside. The man was ready to fire at him if he suddenly moved.
Nicolas' heart was already beating fast and the speed was increasing by the second. His mind was racing full of thoughts and questions but he didn't speak.
Following that, another man scanned him with a metal detector and stopped at his chest. The device was making an annoying sound.
"Hey! Pull up your shirt!"
The hoarse voice of the middle aged man reached his ears. As he pulled up his shirt a silver pendant revealed itself under the light. On it, a man wearing a white suit and white trousers was depicted clenching a white rose with his teeth. The body lacking facial features had its arm reach out into the distance.
Suddenly, the armed man grabbed the pendant and proceeded to take it off Nicolas but his hand was stopped. Nicolas was looking at him furiously. He had grabbed the guard's arm.
"Move your hand once more and you won't move it again! I've been suppressing myself long enough I think to not cause trouble for him, but you just had to touch my weak spot, fucker!"
The two males were in standoff, one checking the other, waiting for a gap to be shown. But it didn't last long. Jacob and the guard's leader came in between them and stopped its escalation.
"It's just a pendant. You're pretty sensitive to little things, isn't this an overuse of your authority as a guard?"
"Python, we're all new to this job and the times are worsening by the day. We're all on guard. I'm sorry."
The leader apologized to Jacob in a soothing tone in order to calm the situation. This whole commotion had attracted the attention of a few passerby and he apparently didn't want to make it an issue.
"You too apologize! You've been disrespectful to an honorable guest!"
The middle aged man's shout called for the man who had checked Nicolas earlier and gave him a slap at the back of his head.
"Ugh!... I apologize...for my rudeness."
Now the crowd had scattered, everyone was minding their own business, and the inspection continued.
Beep
The device beeped once again, but this time at the ring on his finger. On it, in the faint light, the glimpse of a woman draped in red could be seen. Nicolas closed his fist tightly.