Cordayl is wheeled out of the courtroom and pushed to an elevator leading deeper under the courthouse.
Being wheeled into a room with a heavy ass door, only the big ass guard that is pushing Cordayl is allowed into the room. Once inside, the door locks and the guard pushes Cordayl up to a table.
When they are alone, the guard undoes all of Cordayl's restraints. Cordayl jumps down and stretches his body. Sighing upon conclusion, Cordayl thanks the guard and gives him a pound before taking his seat and eating his meal.
"How do you feel about the trial so far?" the guard asks, enjoying his lunch across from Cordayl.
"It's a good fight, but it's one in vain. I was more surprised by how much footage those documenters had on me. That was kinda scary to know that they had been watching me so closely for so long." Cordayl admits.
The guard laughs. "You've been face to face with the devil, the grim reaper and his son, and some nerds with drones is what scared you most?" The guard laughs loudly.
Cordayl smirks and continues to eat his food. The guard asks another question. "Why is it in vain though? The early reports say you might be able to win this case."
Cordayl wipes his mouth off and drinks his beverage in one take. "Trust me, the people I've been at war with will never let me get this victory. This is the easiest way for them to finally get rid of me."
"I mean, I guess, but honestly, Cordayl, me and you both know you don't have to be here. These restraints and chains are really just for show. If you weren't so cooperative, there is no way we would be able to keep you imprisoned." The guard admits.
"True, but what if the victory for me is letting them think they have won?" Cordayl ask.
"I don't understand." The guard responds.
"Not many would," Cordayl replies.
The vault's mechanisms start to unlock, and the guard jumps to alert. "Is it Time to go already?" Cordayl says, walking back to the restraints.
"No, something is wrong. The door shouldn't be unlocking from the outside. That's not protocol. Quick, get behind me, Cordayl. Someone strong has breached security," The guard says.
"If they are that strong, I think it will be safer if you got behind me," Cordayl says, stepping in front of him.
The door opens, and squeezing into the vault is a Minotaur covered in blood.
The Minotaur sizes up the room, and seeing Cordayl and the scared guard behind him, he takes a deep breath that lets out a bunch of steam. As the steam starts to thin out, the Minotaur shrinks and transforms into the ninja Cordayl met in his backyard.
"Ohh, it's just you," Cordayl states, dropping his guard.
"You know him?" The guard asks.
"Kinda, I'm more familiar with his boss."
"Speaking of him, CLEAR!" The ninja shouts.
Ajaccio walks in smug, followed by a woman with a mask covering her forehead and eyes and a man chained and bagged.
"Ahh Cordayl, so nice to see you again."
"Likewise. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" Cordayl ask.
"I've come to honor our agreement." He smiles.
"Our agreement?" Cordayl asks, confused.
"Yes, Cordayl. You don't remember?"
Flashback to chapter 14
"Before you hang up, may I provoke a thought?" Ajaccio asks.
"Shoot." Cordayl drying responds.
"Let's say you defeat my father and his army. What then?"
"I don't know. I usually just fight, win, move, and repeat. Haven't really thought about it." Cordayl admits.
"I see. You know what I think you should do? Give up." Ajaccio suggest.
"Yeah, right. Quitting is worse than losing."
"Worse or worse to you? Believe me, Cordayl. My father joining this fight showed me one scary thing. And that is that this organization is getting desperate. They are tired of the threat you bring, and with the leader taking things into his own hands, it shows me there is nothing they are not willing to do.
"What's next after this? They bring an army to you now. What stops them from bringing another later? Now villages and cities are involved. What if they bring in missiles and bombs? Now villages and cities are destroyed. This goes without saying that any friend or person who knows you will be hunted to bring you out. Is that a future you want?" Ajaccio asks.
Cordayl is silent as he processes all of this.
Ajaccio continues. "I know you're not that selfish to risk all of that over pride. So, I will tell you a loophole, it's yours to use if you want. Surrender and let justice decide. That way, the organization will believe that they have won because we own even that. Do that, and you will still have a chance to win. Just an option, Cordayl."
Flashback ends
"We didn't make a deal or anything, though," Cordayl tells him.
"You're right, but I owe you a favor since your actions have led to my ascension as head of the organization."
"Congratulations," Cordayl says dryly.
"Thank you. And now your reward." Ajaccio says, stepping back and removing the hood off of the man in chains.
"What the hell am I looking at?" Cordayl asks, unimpressed.
"You are looking at the man who is about to take your life sentence." Ajaccio smiles.
"It's not an exact match, but it's pretty close," Ajaccio says, pulling on the fake dreads.
"No th-"
"Stop Cordayl. Before you try to be honorable, know that this man is already serving a life sentence for murder on a much smaller but still unacceptable scale. He has even bargained for his family to profit from this sacrifice. You denying it would be pointless."
Cordayl sits there silent, and this pisses off Ajaccio. "Out with it, Cordayl. Why are you resisting my kindness?"
"I'm curious if that "kindness" is going to last since your last kindness was cut short," Cordayl tells him.
"Well, as I told you, as the head of the organization, my order is now law. Once this trial is concluded, I will see to it that "you" (points at the double) live every second deprived of sunlight." Ajaccio explains.
Seeing the unchanging look on Cordayl's face, he smiles, knowing what else he needs to hear.
"Ohh, you're worried I'm going to want revenge? Trust me, the Reaper lineage comes with a lot of things. Attachment isn't one of them. I mean, my grandfather basically tasked you with murdering his own son, right?" Ajaccio tells him.
Cordayl walks up to him, stares him dead in the eye, and sticks his hand out. Ajaccio takes the hand, solidifying the deal with a smile.
Then he notices Cordayl hasn't let go of his hand yet, and the pressure is getting tighter as Cordayl stares into his soul. Finally letting go, Ajaccio quickly puts his hand behind his back and smiles through the pain.
"So what now? I just walk out of here a free man?"
"Yes, but it won't be that simple. We can't just have people seeing you walk out. That's why she is here."
"I was curious about her. And what is your name, ma'am?" Cordayl ask.
"She doesn't speak. Her mouth is used for other things." Ajaccio responds.
Cordayl looks at him crazy for that sentence, and Ajaccio replies, "Get your mind out of the gutter Cordayl. She is responsible for getting you out unseen. Go on, my dear."
The lady clears her throat and is about to open her mouth when suddenly Ajaccio stops her. "Wait, there is one more matter to attend to."
Suddenly the spy is behind the guard and is about to slit his throat if not for Cordayl's finger standing between the man's flesh and the blade.
"Kill him, and everyone in this room dies after him," Cordayl promises, staring right into the spy's eyes.
"Cordayl, you do understand that the success of this plan relies on everyone believing that it is still you in the trial, and no one knowing that it's not?" Ajaccio asks.
"I don't care. He's been kind to me since I've been locked up. I'm not just about to let him be killed in front of me." Cordayl tells him.
The guard gulps and finds the strength to finally speak. "Listen, you don't have to worry about me saying anything."
"And why is that?" Ajaccio asks.
"I'm indebted to Cordayl. That old lady he was shown saving in the courtroom was my grandmother. I was supposed to be there that day but got called into work." the guard admits.
Ajaccio looks at the both of them, sighs, and rubs his face. Checking his watch, he gives in.
"Okay, look, we are running short on time. I'll take Cordayl's faith in you for what it is, but for good measure, if I hear even a whisper of what might have possibly happened here today, I'll kill your grandmother and every neighbor she has within a mile radius. Understood? Good. Now, my dear."
The lady opens her mouth again, and a brilliant light floods the room.
"Now, Cordayl, all you have to do is close your eyes, think about where you want to go and walk through the portal. As long as she has never tasted the air there, we will have no idea of where you went. Now, please. And you, guardsman, start chaining this one up to the chair. Halftime is almost over."
Cordayl shakes hands with the guard for the first time. Then, taking a deep breath, he clears his mind until he sees one image.
Before he leaves, he asks one last question. "What day is it?"
"Today is October 4th" The guard answers.
"Already?" He responds. Then, he jumps into the light and vanishes.
The lady closes her mouth and wipes it with a cloth. "Do you know where he went?" The son asks.
The lady whispers in his ear, and Ajaccio smirks upon hearing. "Ironic, but clever. Guardsman, your comrades have been replaced and are waiting for you when you are ready. Enjoy the rest of your day, and tell 635 Cherry Road that I said hello."
Cordayl walks into the light, and once its blinding brilliance dies down, he sees that he is standing on the still level and empty Youtound Kingdom. The camera does a 360 as Cordayl takes in, once again, the kingdom that he destroyed.
Taking a deep breath, Cordayl closes his eyes and silently apologizes for his crime before walking away from the flattened kingdom for the last time.
Cordayl finally reaches Esquimo's home. He opens the door to an empty and dark house. He opens the blinds to let some light in before heading to the cupboards to grab a bottle of liquor and a bowl of water.
Stepping into the backyard, Cordayl puts the liquor bottle down and starts washing Esquimo's tombstone. Once it's clean, he sits down next to it, opens the bottle, and has a conversation with Esquimo.
"Hey Esquimo, long time no see. I don't know if you've been watching, but I somehow managed to avoid life in prison. I'm still processing everything, and a big part of me is suspicious of how real it is. Everything feels so unreal. I've met spiritual entities, the Grim Reaper, and his family. Hell, I just beat an army. And after all of that, I am given a chance to live life again away from the world."
Cordayl sits there in silence for a bit. "Yeah, we'll see how long it lasts." He chuckles.
Sighing, Cordayl decides to wrap up. "I have to get going, Esquimo. If you didn't know, I'm expecting my first child soon. I just found out what day it is, and if I'm quick enough, I'll get there in time to be there with Yesseia before she goes into labor. Goodbye, Esquimo. I'll see you again one day," Cordayl concludes, opening the liquor bottle, taking a swig, and then pouring some on the grave.
Cordayl takes off in a blur, rushing to make it in time to see the birth of his child.