Chapter 1: The deaths
Strength, money, power and violence.
Those 4 things were what made up Atlas Harrisons life. Those 4 element made life easy to live, almost too easy. But he liked easy. Easy was fun. Life was fun. Seeing himself over-power people, seeing people fear him yet respecting him. Life was fun.
Atlas glanced at his Rolex watch. It was already 20:53 and he had to be there by 9pm. He felt a trickle of cold water run down his neck. Great, it was raining. Where was that damn taxi driver?
2 minutes later the taxi arrived. Atlas scowled. "About time," he growled. The taxi driver coughed nervously. "Sorry sir there-"
"Are you going to go or what?"
"Yes sir, sorry sir."
Atlas stared out the window as the car began to drive. His reflection stared back. He could tell he was getting more older as days passed. His slicked black her was starting to get grey strands and his forehead was covered in permanent lines, which was mainly because he was frowning all the time. He would admit that he looked old for 36.
The taxi man cleared his throat. "We're here sir." Atlas threw the man a $5 note.
"keep the change."
As the taxi drove away, he stood and looked at the house in front of it for a few seconds. Funny, how 20 years ago he vowed to never come back here again yet look where he was. He didn't want to be here. Could he still go back.
No. It was too late anyway.
He marched up and knocked 4 times. The door opened and there was a puff of smoke in his face.
Atlas gagged. "What the hell?" A familiar women stood at the door, twisting her hair with her finger.
"Hey big brother" She said. There was no emotion at all.
He coughed. "Denice... Urgh you look terrible."
And she did. She looked like a ghost and the dark circle under her eyes were a clear sigh she hadn't been sleeping. Her mousy hair was tied in a loose ponytail and... had she even been eating? She looked like a skeleton.
She narrowed her eyes. She took a drag of smoke and exhaled. "Come in then. We got something to talk about."
Atlas sighed and followed her in. The house was looking un-liveable. Dust coated every inch and were those cockroaches?
"Denice make this quick." He growled. She sighed.
"Alright, but before anything... Are you taking care of Carol properly?"
He blinked in surprise. "Carol? Oh yeah Carol. Carol's with her grandma. She can take care of her." Denice glared at him. "You're joking right?. She's pregnant with your child!"
Atlas sighed. "I know but right now I'm too-"
"Too busy? Were you going to say too busy? Atlas, you're an actual dumbass. You know that right? She's pregnant because of you. This happened because of you!" Atlas's hand curled into a fist. The hell? What this lowlife think she was saying to him? He opened his mouth but she cut him of. "Alright, so you're not going to be involved at all?" She said.
"You got that right."
Denice took her phone. What was she doing? Atlas frowned at her. "Denice... What-" Denice put her phone down and smiled triumphantly. "You are no longer the CEO of Ralphs computers."
For a second his mind went blank. What-What did she say? "D-Denice, what are you talking about?" Denice looked at him pityingly. "So, grandfather and uncle came to visit to me a few weeks ago. They didn't like the way you ran the company. Threatening employees and using your power to ruin their lives, Atlas it's disgusting. Anyways, when they heard about Carol and that was the last straw. They said if you didn't support her they would strip you of your role and-and Atlas don't interrupt. There's no point in saying you're going to do it now because you wouldn't properly care for her or the child. Oh and they're also gonna freeze your bank account."
No. No, No. Nonononono. His life? His money? His power? It would disappear. He only had strength and violence. Wait, he could still live with that. No. He couldn't. For that he money. Shit. Shit. His fist was shaking in anger. It was... his fault? No not his. Never will be. It was...because of...Denice? Yes. Yes, it was her.
"You little piece of shit." He whispered, his voice trembling. Denice spotted his fist. She scoffed. "You're going to hit me. Just like before?" She was taunting him. He didn't like that.
"No. I'M GOING TO KILL YOU" He screamed. He lashed out his fist at her. A familiar move. She tried to duck but too late. As soon as his fist made contact with her head.
As she fell her head hit the corner of the table. It hit the corner of the table too hard. Way too hard. Then...Blood. It came pouring out. The blood was too much.
Silence.
She wasn't moving at all. Atlas bent down to check her pulse. Nothing.
He killed his sister.
Was the air always this heavy? It was to heavy. That was when he felt something. A hand. He spun but there was no one there. But the hand still was. Now it was on his throat. There were two hands. Atlas couldn't see and tried to shout out but the hands just squeezed tighter.
Then darkness.