On a busy night in the city of Halifax where the blaring sirens of ambulances, fire engines and police cars echoed constantly like a daily routine that had become normal for the locals. In the middle of the chaotic city, there were those who paid no mind to the world around them. What become their priorities is the money all along, those who were tied to the underground; drug, gambling, killing and more that related to that stuff. They, the people that would do anything such as soil their hands and cross any line in pursuit of wealth.
Two figures slipped into a narrow alleyway while dragging a dead body behind them.
"Phew, never knew you're good at this, eh?" A man, probably middle-age, spoke to his partner that look way more younger than him or anyone in the same organization. The man realized how quiet his partner been or he always like that, so the man decided to tease him again with hope the younger man would give any respond.
"Hey...say something kid. Its not like something new to you. I heard you killed your mot–"
Click.
the man shocked as he saw the gun was pointed right to his forehead.
"If you open your mouth again, I won't hesitate." His voice calm, yet menacing and he lower down his gun while taking out the lighter. He ordered the man to burn the body.
"Burn it."
The man didn't question it and take the lighter from the younger man's hand. The man shakily light up the fire, perhaps this is his first time killing people. The younger man already poured the alcohol into the dead body as he ready to watch the fire dancing in front of his eyes. For this younger man, it's not his first time. He was living in hell all along like there is no way to escapes to the heaven at least once. After a while, the body is already churred and the younger man got a message from someone, and he murmured to himself, 'what a great timing' as he saw the message.
The message said, 'Once you dragged the body into somewhere quiet, do not hesitate to burn it, Lawrence.' Atlas just give reaction to the message as he lazy to reply and he look at the man that trembling after burned the body until it churred.
"What are you looking at? Let's head back." Atlas talked to the man. The man looked at him and shakily nodded his head. Both of them walked away from the alleyway, leaving the churred body behind with note, 'Paid', maybe referred to a debt but still, their action was a way too violent than any debt collectors. The police was bribed with stacks of money to keep their mouth shut.
After arriving at the unknown building near the city, another man that look more presentable even his age almost hit 40, Matthew, greet Atlas with applause.
"Bravo! Bravo!...my Lawrence! Never ceased to amuse me!" He said in amusement as Atlas implemented his task efficiently and clean. However, Atlas remained the same, no amuse in his face or no expression. Atlas looked at his phone and saw a notification from bank app that said, 'you've received C$100,000 from XXXX-XXXX-XXXX', he turned to leave but Matthew said something that made him froze for a while.
"I wonder if your father is reliable as you, Lawrence. Since then, we've never managed to track him down. Dead probably?" Matthew let a humourless laugh. Atlas was clenching his fist and said with nonchalant tone,
"I preferred him dead." After that, he leave the place.
'Slam'
All kind of unnecessary thoughts keep lingering in his mind. He's been trained himself to not show weakness in front others, that is why he was wearing a 'mask' of expressionless face or deadpan. Almost everyone in the organization avoided meeting his gaze. Why? He's only 21 years old and the younger one. No, it is not about the age, it's about his capabilities to take people life away easily without any feel of remorse. He does, but never show that as he thought it as his weakness.
Now that he's a student of Saint Mary's University, an average campus that at least give him a peace of mind even little. Still, Atlas keep his expressionless face or that's always him around the campus. Not even a single student dare enough to talk to him because he is awfully quiet, not because he's dangerous, nobody knows that, it just he gave the mysterious vibe in the campus.
Yes, he is new to that place that's why nobody know him yet until a girl, cheerful and clumsy bumped into him that spilled her Strawberry Matcha all over on Atlas clothes. Everyone that saw the scene shocked and some students even gave her a sign like 'you're dead' to her. Atlas, at this point, just stand still like nothing happened. The girl was panicked like what she would do? Change his clothes? Wipe them off? She's totally blanked to what to do. Then, she apologize and bow to him in desperation, which embarrassed both of them.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! Really...!" She begged for his forgiveness, then Atlas speak,
"You didn't intend that. Get up..." As usual, his voice so flat that people can't decides either he's mad or not.
"I–" She stuttered for a moment and suddenly, once again seek for his forgiveness,
"My name is Luna Oila, I seek for your forgiveness Lor–" Atlas cut her line,
"I'm not your Lord and you can't do nothing with this. Unless, you are time traveller." His statements made Luna flustered. What kind of cryptic words is that? But Luna saw his point and scratched her neck even not itchy. Then, Atlas reached out his hand to Luna,
"Atlas or Lawrence, whatever you prefer to call me." Luna froze with his gesture and after a while she took his hand and grinned. Later, both of them became friend after. Everyone in the campus look at her weirdly, like how come she can befriended with someone introvert like Atlas. At least, for Atlas, he can put every his business aside and focus to his studies. Then, Luna voice broke their silence,
"So...you're new student here. Where were you studied from before?" Luna curious about Atlas.
"I was student from McGill Uni–" Atlas line was interfered by Luna,
"YOU...WHAT?! THAT TOP UNIVERSITY??? OH MY GOD!" Luna screamed in disbelief like her first time befriended with top student.
"What so special about that? Both still have same education here." Atlas said in most driest replied.
"My mother insisted me to get there, you know. Getting there will give you validation." Luna said.
"Study hard then..." Atlas scoffed which make Luna pissed a little, she rolled her eyes as she felt like being mocked by prodigy, then she asked him,
"By the way, Atlas...what makes you moved here?" Silence, no answer from Atlas. He look away, not wanting to hurt her feeling by ignoring her question. However, Luna understand that he's not ready to talk about that so she just nodding even Atlas look away.
To be continue...