Alex stared at the message, the word "Traitor" biting at him. His mind raced. What did they want from him? What did they mean by "traitor"? A sense of fear settled in his stomach, heavy and cold.
He paced on the street. The worry worsened, but he knew he needed answers.
After what felt like an eternity, he stopped. He was ready to share this with someone. But there was absolutely no one in his life.
He wanted someone he could rely on, someone who could make sense of things. Williams. He picked up his phone, his hands trembling as he dialed his number.
"Williams, it's Alex. I got a message… uhn, a threat. They want me to meet them at the old dub room on 5th and Main. They sent a photo of my dad's grave. Something about 'traitor'… I have no clue, I don't even know what to do."
There was a pause on the other end, then Williams's regular voice came through. "Stay calm, my friend. Go there."
"Go there." William's voice resounded, but the words felt like a death sentence.
Going there was like writing a letter to death itself. Had they killed his father? How did they get a photo of his father's grave? What connections did they have with his father? His father had died in a car crash with his mother, so no one could have possibly killed them.
Millions of thoughts surged through Alex's mind. He needed to get there, to see what was going on, to find answers.
His mind raced as he wondered why his system hadn't warned him about this. Maybe the system was only about wealth and had no connection to real-life dangers.
Despite the dread knotting in his stomach, Alex knew he had to go.
Alex approached the old dub room, his heart pounding in rhythm with each step. The building stood like a ghost from another age.
He slowed as he neared the entrance. With a deep breath, he pushed it open. The dim light inside was barely enough to cut through the darkness.
The room was silent, except for the distant sound of dripping water.
Alex's eyes darted around, searching for any movement or hint of what may happen.
"Alex Thompson," a voice called out.
Alex spun around, his eyes straining to make out the figures coming out from the darkness. The light in the room barely shone on their faces.
One man stepped forward, and as the light caught his face, Alex recognized Victor.
"You shouldn't have come here," Victor said, with a threat in his tone. "You've made the worst mistake of your life by taking what doesn't belong to you."
Alex's stomach tightened. The phrase, "You shouldn't have come here," made it clear: Victor was behind the message he had received.
Alex squared his shoulders, refusing to back down. "What do you want from me? Why are you doing this?"
Victor smirked. "You're way over your head. Your father, the stupid one, knew the rules and still died. And there's you, a clueless pawn thinking he can take over."
"What are you talking about? You mentioned rules. And my father?" Alex demanded.
Another man stepped forward, his face now adorned by the dim light. It was Mr. Randall. Mr. Randall's face was lined with a knowing smile. "Your father was a member of our group, he was a naive fool," he said, his tone almost mocking. "We control more than you can ever imagine in your whole existence. By taking over this company, you've misstepped into a world far beyond your little brain."
Alex's mind ran as he tried to make sense of where he was heading. "My father? No, you must be mistaken."
Randall's chuckle was low and menacing as he took a step closer to Alex. "Your father was pushing his limits in our own world. We own our world. Seems the universe decided to do us a favor," he said. A cruel loud laugh followed, echoing in the emptiness of the room.
Alex's voice shook. "And what does this group want from me? Why do you want me to step down?"
Victor's face hardened. "Because you're not one of us. You're a liability. A vegetable, a weak life."
Randall leaned in, his nose twitching as if sniffing the air as he was almost touching Alex's. "What's that smell? I detect a whiff of death," he murmured, his eyes fixed on Alex.
Alex blinked rapidly, his eyes flashing over his own body as if trying to find the source of Randall's comment.
Mr. Randall's laugh was low as he turned his back on Alex, his footsteps sounding away. "We're giving you one last chance. Step down!" He screamed.
Alex's fists gripped. "I'm not stepping down. Not now, not ever. This company is mine now, and I won't let you all intimidate me. I bought it fair and square, and I didn't even know my father was supposed to be a top tycoon. That makes me the rightful owner."
"Very well. But if you don't back down, we'll handle things ourselves. And trust me, you don't want to see what we're capable of."
As Alex turned on his heel to leave, Victor's voice cut through the room one last time. "Oh, and Alex? Keep a close watch on your back. Accidents happen."
Alex left the dub room, his mind spinning. As much as he tried to overlook their threats, they pressed heavily on him. He needed answers, a plan—something to protect himself and his company from these dangerous people.
Pulling out his phone, he dialed Williams. "Williams, it's Alex. We need to talk. Now."
---
Williams met Alex at a nearby café, his expression was tense. "What happened? What's it?"
Alex sank into a chair, his voice hurried as he quickly filled him in on the meeting at the dub room, the threats, and the shocking news about his father's involvement with the secret group.
Williams listened intently, his brows furrowing deeper with each detail. "This is serious. These people are not to be toyed with. I know them. Your father… he honestly tried to protect you from these. But now, you're right in the middle of it."
"What do I do, Williams? How do I fight them?" Alex asked, desperation creeping into him.
Williams sighed leaning back as he gathered his thoughts. "First, you must understand what you are up against. This group is powerful, connected, and brutal. They will not hesitate to eliminate anyone who gets in their way."
Alex nodded. "I need to learn everything about them. Who they are, what they want, and how I can stop them. Literally everything."
Williams met his gaze, holding it steady. "I'll help you," he said, his voice calm but resolute.
"One more thing. My parents. My father was your friend, right? Do you know about this? Did you know if they killed my parents?"
Williams nodded passing a yes as an answer.
Alex's anger burned hotter than ever. "I'm going to make them pay for what they did. I don't care what it takes."
Williams placed a hand on his shoulder. "I understand your anger, my friend. But you need to be smart about this. Rushing in without a plan will only get you killed."
"I will bring these people down!" Alex screamed. Alex's fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
He slammed his fist into the table with a quick, violent force, the pressure vibrating throughout the café, prompting shocked looks from customers.
Williams stayed composed, placing a strong, comforting hand on Alex's shoulder. "I will support you through this whole process," he reassured.
Before Alex could reply, a loud, blaring alarm startled him. The system's voice then followed.
"Warning: Unauthorized access detected. Critical threat level. Immediate action required."