Conquering The City Of Doom

Jonathan's eyes were filled with horror as he watched the scene unfolding in front of him.

Keeping his composure despite the knife on his throat was Jonathan's father, Jedah Talbain.

His entire family lay dead around him.

His mother, aunts, cousins, uncles... even his younger brother, Donovan.

"Was this all worth it... all you had to do was listen?", asked a distorted voice coming from behind the main assailant, a man with a menacing cheek scar.

"You won't get away with this" his father replied, still being defiant.

After which he heard that sound, that distinct snapping sound... and knew that the signal had been given.

The man with the cheek scar would smile menacing, as he watched from the wardrobe, unable to do anything.

He saw his father turn to him, and utter his final words... "Don't look back Jonathan... RUN!" And then the knife would swipe across his throat.

Jonathan's body suddenly jolted upwards as he awoke.

His breath was uneasy, and he could feel the surreal tension that had built within him.

"DAMN IT!" He almost yelled to himself, as he collapsed back into his bed.

"Could I have done something if I had just stepped out of the wardrobe?" He asked.

Ever since he saw this horrible event, he's had this persistent nightmare for the last 15 years.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of my phone ringing.

At first, he didn't want to answer the call, but when he saw the name "The Elder" he let out a deep breath before answering the call.

"Where are you Jonathan?, we were supposed to meet with the shareholders this morning" asked The Elder, trying to control his tone as to not disrespect Jonathan.

Archie Langdon, Also known as the Elder, is the head of Karan industries, perhaps the largest weapons manufacturing and private military organization in the country.

He was the man who saved Jonathan from the streets of Noria, after he fled to the city following the death of his family.

His son Armin had been killed on the line of duty, and Archie was so impressed with Jonathan, that he decided to make him his successor.

A former general, and medical doctor, The Elder, and would teach Jonathan everything he knew.

Jonathan turned out to be a better leader, fighter, and doctor than The Elder had ever hoped for, surpassing all expectations.

He led the private armies of Karan to conquer neighbouring countries, he decimated armies with his powerful tanks and rockets... all which he invented himself.

At one point, one of Jonathan's generals were routed and captured by the enemy.

This caused him to head into the enemy camp with a single minigun and 5000 rounds of ammunition, decimating the 2000 strong enemy camp, and rescuing the general.

The Elder was so amazed that he now wished to retire early, so Jonathan would succeed him as head of the company.

But he hadn't yet told Jonathan of this plan

And today was supposed to be the day the multi-billion dollar would be transferred over to Jonathan, but he was not at the stakeholder meeting, hence the call.

"Im sorry Elder, but I can't make it to the meeting... not until I've faced my past" Jonathan told the Elder.

"This meeting decides your future at the company?, are you sure you want to do this?" The Elder reminded Jonathan.

Jonathan chuckled at this bluff, before responding,

"I am willing to face whatever consequences, although with all due respect, I don't think the Karan industries would be able to face the consequences of losing me".

The Elder laughed loudly, as he knew that Jonathan was right, he wouldn't dare pass him up for the position.

"You're right Jonathan, I do need you, the company needs you, that's why all I ask is that you return to Noria, no matter what" he said, his voice almost sad

"I will My Elder, I assure you" promised Jonathan, as he turned off the call.

Jonathan sighed.

With that out of the way, it was time to focus on the mission.

Vengeance.

He intended to find the bastards responsible for the murder of his family, and make them pay.

But more than that, there we're two people he had left behind in that city, two people he would have to find again.

The first was Amelia Logan, his personal guardian angel.

Jonathan had failed to run that night... frozen with fear.

After they killed his father, they burned down their house to make sure nothing was left... Including him.

Amelia found him, pulled him out of the burning building, allowing him to survive.

He needed to find her, to let her see the man he'd become, and thank her for what she did for him.

The second was Ronald Herman, Jonathan's best friend... at least he used to be.

He was supposed to come to the Talbain family home that night.

Jonathan didn't know if he managed to escape, or if he was killed with the rest of the family, and he needs to find out the truth.

*******

Jonathan's POV ~

My plane touched down at the New Strafon airport at approximately 6:15 am.

Once I entered into the airport terminal, I take out my phone and place a call.

"Have you found her?" I asked.

"Yes I have Commander, but I have some unfortunate news" replied Demitry.

"Is she... dead?" I asked, my voice filled with caution.

"Fortunately not sir, but her current situation within her family is not ideal" replied Demitry.

"What's going on?" I asked again.

"I feel it'll be best to see it yourself, Commander, I will send you the details to your phone, as there is something else that requires your immediate attention" replied Demitry.

"Amelia is to be engaged tonight, but the suitor hasn't been chosen yet" explained Demitry.

"Chosen?" I asked, slightly confused.

"Indeed Commander, her parents are eager to get rid of her, and if they're successful, it's not certain what her fate will be" added Demitry.

"I see, then I guess I know where I'll be heading now" I concluded, before ending the call.

I entered the first taxi I saw to the Logan family house, while I read the file on Amelia, Demitry sent me.

The journey was anything but boring, though.

I got to see New Strafon the city of my birth... I hadn't been here in 15 years, and from what I could see, the city hadn't really changed much.

Although, seeing how decrepit the city was through an adult's eyes was truly a different experience.

I could see brazen crime and violence on the streets, people out of their minds on drugs, prostitutes hanging, and the deeper we got into the inner city...

"Wait... Inner city?" I thought to myself.

"Why are we going into the inner city?" I wondered, as I began looking at the driver with suspicion.

I read through Amelia's file, I could see that the Logan family were an upper middle-class family, so they wouldn't live in the inner city.

Furthermore, I tried glancing at the taxi driver through his front mirror, but he had a hat obscuring his face.

But I could still tell he was a relatively young man, maybe slightly younger than me, but he looked really decrepit... much like the rest of the city.

Before I had a chance to ask the driver what the hell was going on, the driver would step out of the car.

We had arrived at a secluded alleyway.

At this point, my suspicions had now been all but confirmed, and I knew I had to be on guard, or it'll be bad.

Suddenly, I saw a gun pointed to my face... just as I was about to set foot out of the car.

The gunman would say in a bold voice, "get the fuck out... slowly"

I shut my eyes for a second, as I could see the flashbacks of that night, 15 years ago, when I lost everything.

"Don't make any sudden movements, man... or you're dead" the gunman added

This is gonna be some welcome party.