HOSPITAL – CORRIDOR – THE NEXT DAY
Sharky pushed open the door.
Daek was there, leaning against the wall. Takuya, sitting on a plastic chair. Amélie, her eyes red. The other Family members, scattered in the hallway, their faces closed.
Midas stood before the window. He wasn't looking at the city. He was looking at his reflection.
"Silva. Is she okay?" asked Daek.
Midas didn't answer right away.
"The doctor said we had to choose. The mother or the child."
Silence.
"We want to see little Julie born," said Takuya. "But…"
"Staying with Silva is better," Daek added.
Midas turned to them.
"I haven't chosen yet."
Sharky stepped forward.
"I've chosen."
Midas looked at him.
"The Yakuza. I'll handle them."
Midas nodded.
"Perfecto, too. We need to find him."
The Family stood up.
"We'll handle it," said Daek.
They walked out.
---
YAKUZA WAREHOUSE – SAME DAY
Sharky entered alone.
The warehouse was immense. Crates, chains, dim neon lights. And men. Many men.
Onizuka sat on a crate, a katana resting on his knees.
"You came. I was waiting for you."
Sharky didn't answer. He drew his blade. The ancient blade. The Shogun's blade.
"You know, I also made a pact with this weapon."
He caressed the blade.
"It gives me the ability to strike my enemies by imagining a place. A position. An angle."
He stood up.
"But each use costs me a bit of my lifespan."
Sharky unsheathed.
The men charged.
Sharky moved. His blade slashed. One man fell. Two. Three.
He danced between the blows. His T began to glow.
Onizuka attacked.
His katana split the air. Sharky dodged. The next blow hit him in the shoulder. Then the arm. Then the ribs.
Sharky bled, but he stood. His T lit up.
"TENKAI!"
He lunged.
His blade split Onizuka's skull in two.
The boss fell.
Sharky wiped his blade. He looked at the corpses around him. Onizuka's men lay scattered, cut down.
He walked out of the warehouse without looking back.
---
HOSPITAL – SILVA'S ROOM
Midas sat at the edge of the bed. Silva slept. Her face was peaceful, despite the bruises, the cuts.
He remembered her words: "Protect our daughter. No matter what."
He stood up.
He walked out of the room.
He walked to the maternity ward. He saw the doctor.
"I've chosen. The child."
The doctor nodded.
Midas didn't watch the birth. He stood in front of the maternity ward window, his hands clasped behind his back.
Little Julie was born. She cried. She was alive.
The doctor came out.
"Mr. Gray…"
Midas looked at him.
"Silva passed away. I'm sorry."
Midas didn't answer.
He entered the room.
Silva lay there, her eyes closed. She looked like she was sleeping.
Midas approached. He kissed her forehead.
He walked out.
---
PORT – ANTELOPE'S WAREHOUSE – NIGHT
Midas walked along the docks. The sea was black. The streetlights barely illuminated anything.
He didn't know why he had come here. An inner voice had whispered to him to go. The port. Where it all began.
He broke into Antelope's warehouse.
The crates were lined up. The smell of wood, dust, and sea.
He remembered the moments spent with Silva. Their first meeting. Their first night. The laughter. The arguments. The promises.
"Do you remember?"
A familiar voice echoed behind him.
Midas turned around.
Perfecto stood there. Leaning against a crate. A smile on his lips.
"I remember everything."
Midas said nothing.
Perfecto stepped forward.
"You're wondering why, aren't you?"
Midas clenched his fists.
"I'll tell you."
---
TO BE CONTINUED…