Chapter 2: Weeks later

 Albert had developed a habit of taking enough painkillers to numb an elephant.  Just the same though, Albert is a really big guy.  Intimidating to see the first time anyone meets him.  As he walks down the street in his long suede black trench coat, he swings his large left arm and holds a large to-go tea in his right arm like it’s a trophy and he is a championship wrestler making his way to ring for the main event.  His neck is the same width as his large head and his head is completely hairless.  If not for the collar of white dress shirt he’s wearing people at his back would be able to a large tattoo of a ram on the back of his neck.  A ram like the kind the devil would ride on Armageddon: fanged, red-eyed, black, nostrils in a v-shape blowing a two streams of smoke across his shoulder blades and two black horns that stretch out and curl in an s-shape below and then around Albert’s ears.  The ram is astrological sign for Aries, but he could care less.  That would explain why directly under the Ram in a bold black and thorny text it says “Bringer Of Death.” 

Albert is from Bristol, U.K.  His deep voice is accented English as such.  Albert came across the sea to this city by way of family when he was just a teenager.  Maybe it was because of his size or his accent, but the fact that he appears as a force to be reckoned with has led to his half-life-long-career.  A career Albert would rather leave behind.  Albert walks alone down the main street of his city towards the hospital.  At the hospital is a friend and Doctor whom will gladly write up a prescription for Albert’s painkillers.  The best painkillers money can buy.  Once Albert pops a few Oxycottons like their smarties he’ll show no sign of emotion or fear.  If not for the large tea in his right hand people would think Albert is on his way to kill somebody.  The hurt on his face is hard to separate from anger.  That’s the thing everybody is afraid of most about Albert; no one really knows what he is thinking.  His face is so deceiving.  On the surface he’s a rock, on the inside he’s play-do. 

Albert is scared.  Very scared.  Albert doesn’t know it yet but he should be scared.

Chapter 1: The Catalyst

The job was done.  The only man who could’ve put the evildoers of this city behind bars is dead.  Not only is he dead, but also his entire body completely erased.  Shot, hacked to pieces, burned, remains crushed and then scattered like grass seed.  A man named Albert handled this job.  Albert is the mystery and the man whom basically ensures that if anyone in town sees a crime being committed they fear to speak of it to the police.  The sign entering the city should read, “Welcome to South Lake Gardens: A place to learn how to keep your mouth shut.”

There was only one more detail to attend to.  That detail was crying and thrashing in the trunk of the car.  It is fourteen-year-old girl who will never see her father again.  Albert watched as his partner in crime, Walter opened the trunk to examine his prize.  Walter is a bitter old man.  Fat, sick and twisted.  The fearful eyes illuminated by the trunk light give a rush of pleasure to the balding senior.  Albert leaves a house burning in the background and stands next to Walter in the driveway.  In the trunk he can see her.  Another nameless, innocent, victim she is.  Eyes wide with terror and hair soaked in tears.  A mouth that would surely scream for help if not bound tightly shut by a roll of duct tape.  Albert’s eyes turn to Walters smile and then back to the girl.  He knows what’s next.  It has to be done.  But just like every time, it makes Albert sick.