"Death came knocking. But I wasn't there to answer"
"I should have died with you on that night"
His voice echoed.
Standing in the blistering cold, unfazed by the tenacious downpour. Currently drenched in the cold. His uniform was soaked all the way.
The honorary burial of his best friend was held in the evening.
Clad in his blood stained army combat uniform. He refused taking an umbrella, allowing the downpour to overwhelm him.
The one armed and one eyed Sebastian glanced down, his eyes fell upon the graveyard of Ace Granbell.
A fellow infantry soldier who died on the war front.
Tears down rolled his cheeks.
This is September 19th, 2035.
The end of the American-Iraqi war.
The war ended but at what cost?
It ended in the American's victory but with over ten thousand casualties on the America side. It was a season of mourning.
Mass burial sessions were conducted for the fallen soldiers.
Families were permitted to visit the graveyards of their loved ones who died on duty.
But his friend had no one to cry for him.
His family hated him, their hatred for the young soldier was on a different level entirely.
everyone was paid not to attend his burial.
Ace Granbell, the ex Young Master of the Granbell Family was his only friend.
Despite born into a wealthy household. Ace was disposed into the battlefield, forced into the infantry position.
He met his end three days before the war abruptly ended.
Sebastian wept. He rejected the buyout offered to him, he needed to be there and usher his friend into the world of the dead.
Standing alone in the savage storm. The crushing loneliness weighed on him, the haunting silence was evident.
Sebastian chuckled. Still crestfallen, recalling the old time he had with his best friend on the battlefield. Sebastian collasped before the grave.
Gently placing the bouquet of flowers on the grave of his best friend.
"Ace Granbell. Before the start of the war against Iraq, we were both infantry soldiers and you were my best friend"
"We promised each other that we would survive this war together"
"This is already our tenth year in service. Why didn't you just wait three more days until the war ended?"
"Why did you have to die so quickly?"
"What about our promise? What about the future we planned? We were going to travel outside the country"
"Weren't we going to marry our wives on the same day? Why did you have to go this way?"
Sebastian screamed.
Unable to control his emotions, he kept punching the cemented ground with his fist, despite his external bleeding.
He didn't stop punching the ground.
"You had to go just when the war was about to end. I'm an orphan, i don't know where to go. Hell i don't even have friends"
"You were my only friend and yet you chose to die like this?"
"I'm sorry but I won't be forgiving you until we meet in hell"
"Wait for me"
Sebastian whispered, he slowly got up from his knees. He glanced at the graveyard of his best friend before leaving the scene.
Sebastian exited the scene shortly after. Heading into the darkness.
Unbeknownst to him, he was being watched in secrecy, Hidden under the shade of the darkness.
Their silhouettes were exposed.
Two figures emerged from the darkness. They were both clad in black trench coats, watching Sebastian exiting the scene without making any move.
Not hiding the jagged clawed scar on their faces, they both lighted their cigarette. Puffing out smokes from their mouths.
They felt the pressure of the intense downpour.
Their timberlands were already stained in the muds and their drip soaked wet.
"He's finally gone eh? such a crybaby" they chuckled. Mocking the sadness of Sebastian.
"Let's call the boss, we need to know our next move" The first figure made a suggestion.
He reached into his pocket, he brought out a samsung Galaxy S23 ultra, quickly dialing a number.
Within seconds, the call was answered.
"Ma'am" He voiced.
"Yes? Any news?" A feminine voice echoed from the other end of the call.
"It's just as you predicted my lady. Sebastian who was the only one that refused your buyout attended the burial of Ace Grandbell"
The figure reported.
"Tch"
"I knew it, that fucking bastard is probably the only friend that useless Ace had. Have you been able to locate that thing?" The feminine voice questioned.
"Yes my lady" the figure answered.
"Oh? Then where is it?" The feminine voice asked. Her tone is becoming more aggressive.
"It's in the hands of this trash" the figure reported.
"Huh? What do you meant by that?" She asked.
"Well based on the military law, since Ace died without having a next of kin or properly having his will"
"His properties were rewarded to his best friend Sebastian. Including that ring, its under his possession"
The figure reported.
Silence reigned afterwards.
"My lady. Should I buy that ring from Sebastian's hands?" He asked.
"No. There's no need to give that trash any penny, we gave him a warning and he didn't heed to that warning"
"I needed to make sure no one attended the burial of that bastard Ace but that foolish soldier called Sebastian ignored my warnings and even refused my buyout payment"
"He should suffer the consequence of his actions"
"Take him out and retrieve that ring"
"Bury his body in the sea"
She issued her command and the call ended swiftly, they both glanced at each other.
In reticent, they followed the trial of Sebastian. Exiting the scene.
The order has been given.
Sebastian is now a target of Assasination.