(POV : Carlos Vargas)
The Blood Moon hung high above the desert mountains, drowning the cliffs in crimson light.
Red bled across the rocks like neon paint spilled by God himself.
Wind howled through the canyon paths, dragging sand along the ground in long whispering trails.
From somewhere above the ridge—
“Yoo!
Remember me, fat man?”
I froze.
That voice.
It’s that piece of shit.
Julian Kane.
Lieutenant of the Phantom Troupe.
I turned slowly toward the cliffs.
There he was.
Black coat swaying in the desert wind.
Eyes red enough to look inhuman.
The man looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks.
Honestly, he looked less like a person and more like something dragged straight out of a battlefield.
And somehow…
That bastard still got promoted before me.
I joined the Troupe before him, worked longer than him.
Yet the Boss took one look at this psychopath and practically handed him a throne.
“You called a meeting so urgent.” I spoke.
Julian just stared at me.
No blinking.
No expression.
Then he started walking closer.
Holy shit.
What did I even do?
Okay.
Relax.
Don’t panic.
I am still a Warlord.
One step below the Seven Lieutenants.
[ Phantom Troupe is an organization which works on hierarchy.
First is the Boss.
Secondly, we have The Seven Lieutenants.
Then, The Five Warlords.
And finally Shadow Coalition.]
Soon enough after I get promoted, I’d stand in the same league of monsters like him anyway.
Julian stopped directly in front of me.
Too close for comfort.
The smell hit immediately.
Blood.
Old blood.
Dried into fabric.
His breath smelled of coffee, strong enough to melt metal.
“How many times, did I tell you?” Julian asked quietly.
My stomach dropped.
Oh.
The shirt.
Crap.
I looked down at my floral shirt.
Right.
Julian Kane hated color.
Not because he disliked fashion or anything normal like that.
No.
The color reminded him of his nightmares.
And nobody in the Troupe was stupid enough to ask what those nightmares were.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered quickly.
“I was supposed to change before coming here, but I didn’t have eno—”
“Just shut up.”
Julian sighed, with a gentle movement of his hands he touched my collar and adjusted it slowly.
That somehow felt worse than violence.
“One more fuck up,” he whispered near my ear, “and I’ll skin you alive… then dump whatever’s left into the salt lake.
Understood?”
I swallowed.
“Yes, Julian.”
Then came the silence.
Heavy Silence.
The kinda silence that makes your heartbeat sound loud.
Finally, Julian stepped back, sighed again as he muttered,
“Phantom Genesis,”
I frowned.
That was new.
My curiousity piqued about this new plan I never heard, I subconsciously said, “What is Phantom Gen—”
“Did I say you could speak?”
Right.
Never mind.
Julian pulled a rolled map from inside his coat and tossed it against my chest.
“Phantom Genesis is the Boss’s masterplan,” he continued.
“You Warlords are not important enough to know the details.”
Arrogant bastard.
It would’ve been better if you’d not say the second line.
“But one thing is certain…” Julian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“We are going to introduce anarchy.”
Wind rushed between the cliffs.
Julian pointed toward the map.
“Goods routes.
Distribution points.
Coalition placements.” Julian muttered, as he lit cigarette.
“Your job is to regulate the movement and place everything exactly where instructed.”
“Phewww” he blows the smoke on my face.
“Open it!” he sneered.
I opened the map slightly.
Weapons.
Storage zones.
Transit paths.
This wasn’t normal cartel movement.
This was preparation for a goddamn War.
“And make sure the Shadow Coalition receives the goods correctly,” Julian continued.
“Those useless animals can barely think for themselves.”
Shadow Coaliton?
Who would give such an important task to someone as stupid as them.
The Shadow Coalition was basically an entire army of wannabe criminals with weapons and low IQs.
They are part of the Troupe, but the least base of it.
Julian finally turned around and started walking away.
“I’m done speaking now,” he called back coldly.
Still…
If this operation worked, this was my chance.
“Julian!” I called him.
He stopped.
Slowly, he turned around.
Those eyes get me.
Every damn time.
“I’ll handle the job,” I said carefully.
“But I want something in return.”
For a moment he said nothing.
Then the corner of his mouth twitched.
That’s not a good sign.
He took out the cigarette from his mouth and chuckled as he walked back to me.
Not a normal smile.
The kind that makes people disappear.
“What do you want, my love?” he asked softly.
A knife appeared in his hand.
The knife glided in his hand so smoothly I almost missed it.
Moonlight slid across the blood covering the blade while he slowly licked along its edge like a complete lunatic.
How insane was this guy?
And if rumors about his father were true…
I honestly didn’t want to imagine worse.
I forced myself to keep speaking.
“I want a recommendation, for the position of Lieutenant.” I finally got the truth out.
The wind died.
For a second, the air just became too humid.
Julian kept staring at my face as he walked forward, placing the cigarette in his between his lips.
Then he laughed quietly under his breath.
“I wouldn’t recommend you.”
He placed his hand over my shoulder.
“If you complete this mission properly… I’ll make sure it happens.” Julian whispered near my ear.
As uncomfortable as it may sound, it was a good news, just a bad way to convey it.
My heartbeat slammed against my ribs.
Julian tapped the knife lightly against my floral shirt.
Slowly grazing them.
“And burn this ugly thing.”
I didn’t say anything.
I was simply too scared to speak, too happy to cry.
“Alright then, my job here is done.
And I’m getting the hell outta here!” Julian said getting on his horse and flicking the cigarette off his wrist.
With a single pull of the leash, his horse lifted both of his legs and struck a heroic pose he said, “Now, Let’s scoot away boy!” into his majestic white horse, and together they into the canyon darkness like some blood-soaked ghosts.
I waited until he disappeared completely before finally breathing properly again.
Creepy bastard.
To be honest, couldn’t even breathe freely when he’s around.
“Tzzzz!!” my phone buzzes.
It’s goddamn Tuco again.
What kind of a stupid is he?
Couldn’t even manage one single night without me.
I’m too damn tired to pick up his call anyway.
But this map was really interesting.
I looked at the haul they gave me to handover.
All explosives.
All set to a particular frequency already.
Meaning the detonation button is somewhere that’s far.
I rolled open the Plan Sheet beneath the map.
My eyes widened instantly.
“Shit!” This is …
Is this what is going on?
What kinda Boss would’ve thought of this?
The Phantom Genesis is a plan to …
destroy the Entire world!!?
This chapter is going to be a different Pov from chapter 1 …
soo don’t get confused