Chapter 42: Was It Worth It?
With loud steps, Jack marched in the streets. The buildings around him were in ruins, and some places didn't even have ruins, only blocks of ice.
But that changed after he reached the Eastern side of the Charity. The beautiful buildings with great architecture appeared in his view. He can already see the massive Charity News Station building, and he can also feel the anger signal of Laurence's. He is sitting at his office, not planning to escape. He already heard about Jack perhaps coming to Charity.
Now he is here, and today he will die. His wife and son have visited the News Station building every day. Begging for him to go home. It broke his heart seeing them crying in the Lounge, but he told the guards to throw them out of the building, even if it hurt him more. This way... they will be safe.
The citizens saw Jack appearing, but this time... They didn't run away. They stood in the streets or watched from their windows as Jack walked while carrying the heavy-looking refrigerator.
The citizens' eyes showed hate, anger, and intent to harm him. But they would be dead before they knew it. But this time... They didn't plan to run away; they would face him without fear.
Jack felt anger from almost all the citizens, but it was from losing their loved ones. The same type of anger Jack feels all the time.
This time, he didn't feel disgusted by their anger; instead, he felt sympathy. They now know how he feels, no... They still have no idea how he truly feels.
They have only grasped his pain, not truly felt it yet. They still have their families to help with grief. Jack has no one; he is all alone. His family hates him, and Sophia's family despises him.
Jack walked past the angry citizens, didn't even bother to glance at them. He knows what kind of looks they have, acting like they weren't afraid. But in reality... They fear losing more.
The closer he gets to the News Station building, the more citizens seem to appear. Watching him walk, Jack looked into the distance. It was like a path was made for him, a path for his revenge.
He can already see the News Station building clearly; memories of him running there angrily, showing the video clip, and getting thrown out of the building were replaying in his mind.
His grey eyes started slowly transforming; his demonic black and red eyes appeared, making few citizens flinch.
[Rage Meter: 9%]
The closer he gets to the building, the higher his Rage becomes.
He remembered Laurance's mocking face as he spouted some bullshit about editing the video clip.
[Rage Meter: 12%]
Saying that he only got angry because he didn't get a few pennies for his scam... It was like Laurence didn't care about his pregnant wife's murder, and he didn't. He only cared about money.
Would he care if his pregnant wife would have got killed? Definitely.
Jack could see once Laurence finished the video... That he believed him...
But instead of stopping the villainous deeds of Star Warrior before he does something equally horrible, he decided that money is far more important.
Of course, if Laurence could go back to the present. He would do everything differently, but there are no what if's.
Only present remains.
[Rage Meter: 20%]
Jack reached the News Station building, and the familiar doors were in front of him.
He raised his leg and kicked towards the door, smashing it to pieces. He changed the position of the refrigerator on his back slightly and strolled inside the building.
The lounge was empty... except.
A familiar female receptionist was waiting at the front desk. Her face was pale, and sweat drops trickled down her cheeks.
Jack remembered her... She was the receptionist at the time when he first visited. He started walking towards the desk.
He stopped in front of the desk and in the eyes of the receptionist. Jack looked like a colossal mountain. His figure reached the sky. She didn't even dare to breathe.
''Where is Laurence...'' Jack said coldly, his demonic eyes flashing in the color of crimson.
''F-Floor 18.''' She said with a shaky tone; her body was trembling, with a slight stench coming from her groin.
Jack turned towards the elevator, ignoring the receptionist; it didn't matter did she know what would happen to him or not. He only came here for Laurence.
He put the refrigerator first on the elevator and then entered himself. He pressed the [18] on the elevator and started descending quickly.
*Beep*
Once the elevator reached the 18th Floor, the door of the elevator opened. Jack took the refrigerator and started carrying it on his back.
He stepped outside the elevator and saw an empty floor; the only light coming was from an office not far from him. And a shadow of a man was sitting there, waiting...
Jack reached the office and opened the door, there he saw Laurence's disheveled figure.
Laurence's face was pale, with very messy hair. His face was dirty, and he smelt like garbage. He was wearing a tuxedo, but it was messy. His collar was untidy, and his tuxedo was filled with wrinkles. He didn't look like the former Chairman of News Station, now he looks like a man who lost everything. His eyes especially tell you everything he has suffered so far. His eyes were very tired-looking; he barely could keep it open. Since Jack chased after Star Warrior and Green Dream, he hasn't slept at all.
Jack put the refrigerator gently on the ground and sat down on the chair, sitting in front of Laurence, his demonic-looking eyes glaring towards him.
Only the sound of Jack's breathing was heard in the room; Laurence was sitting in the chair silently, waiting for his demise.
''Was it worth it?'' Jack suddenly asked; he was really curious. Was it worth letting Star Warriors' evil deeds be hidden for money?
Laurence bit his lips and nodded, ''I have done a lot of things for money... I have done false news... Protecting the horrible deeds of Heroes Association and blackmailing them for money... Star Warrior was only one; many others have done something equally horrific.
''And it is not only in Charity, it is incredible how it is easier for me to find evil deeds committed by Heroes than from Villains, who are the bad guys really? Villains at least have a community, which isn't separated; instead, it is united.
''But Heroes... They are all separated. There are three kinds of Heroes, in my opinion. The first type, the ones who are heroes for wealth and fame. The second type is the Heroic type, they are the selfless types who genuinely want to help people, but then there are the third type, so-called Anti-Hero's, who does anything to punish the Villains, even if it isn't always the correct way.
''The Anti-Hero's are always the first to fall to temptation, like Star Warrior, for example. He wanted more than money and fame; he went after the pleasure of the flesh, he became obsessed, and he wanted to steal other people's women. Some were willing; he was handsome and wealthy after all, but some he did it with force, he didn't take no for an answer.''
Laurence then took a deep breath and asked, ''So... I knew all this, and I had proofs. But I didn't do anything. I did spread all Star Warriors deeds recently, but it was too late. The things I did, I regret now, yes, but previously? No, I didn't; you weren't the only one who wanted justice. Many did, but I buried all the evidence they gave me.
''I could have given people the justice they deserve... Maybe this is what I deserved... I didn't deserve my family, I didn't deserve the money I earned... This situation... This is where my life led me; I tried to make excuses that I would never be punished for the things I did; I was greedy and young. When I got older, I didn't change, I became even worse.
''This is... My destiny, dying here. By your hands.''
Jack stayed silent, crimson light flickered in his demonic-looking eyes.
Laurence was silent as well, until he opened his mouth for final time, ''Please... Don't hurt people from Charity any more... They have suffered enough.''
Jack glared towards him. His demonic eyes looked like endless pit of darkness.
''Fine...'' Jack murmured, the crimson light appeared on his eyes.
*Ssszzz*
The crimson light flickered on his eyes, waiting to be released.
Laurence smiled and nodded.
*WHOOSH*
[Rage]
The crimson light left Jack's eyes and pierced Laurence's heart.
Laurence widened his eyes and fell down from his chair, there was massive hole in his chest, and his heart was missing.
He coughed heavily, but soon the light disappeared from his eyes, and he fell asleep... For all eternity.
Jack stood up from his seat and took the refrigerator.
He exited the office, and his rage disappearing from him.
[Rage Meter: 8%]
[Rage Meter: 2%]
[Rage Meter: 0%]
His demonic-looking eyes disappeared, and his handsome grey eyes reappeared.
''It's time... Sophia...'' Jack murmured and started walking towards elevator.
Only Laurence's lifeless corpse was left in the building.