Chapter 9. It takes two to dance the tango.
November 24, 2023 at 6:32 AM
At the same time,
Mike and Soulless took out their pistols and pointed them at each other.
- It’s like a
scene from a movie. Mike said.
“And you have
fetishes for warehouses.”
- It turns out
that for some reason all our meetings are in warehouses.
“Work, where
is he?” Sakura asked.
- In the main
office, there is a warehouse, you can get there by a fire escape.
- Well, what are
you going to do next? Mike asked.
-Finish.
-Yes? Won’t your
conscience gnaw at you?
-No.
- I wasn’t
surprised. He killed Nat, and so did the Bee. You killed everyone who believed
in you and turned your guns on your best and only friend.
“And he’s on me.”
- You can’t argue.
Well, let’s wrap it up.
- Last words.
-Wow! You give me
the last words. Well… How’s life anyway?
- I’m not
complaining.
- Well, where do
you go. Everyone is afraid of you, chickens don’t peck at money. If you want
to, any leg will spread. It’s a fairy tale.
- Everyone chooses
their own path.
- Yes, it is. But
you’ve swerved from yours.
-Are you sure?
-Yes. No one in
their right mind would kill that many people.
“Then you
too.”
-No. That’s what
makes us different. I was chasing a quiet life, a simple one. You know, work,
family.
- And death.
Soulless Mike interrupted.
-Hmm. Of course,
we are not immortal. Mike said with a grin, “And you were chasing who
knows where and why. — he added.
- I was chasing
meaning.
“yes. And at
the same time, he constantly complained to me that he was tired, and I endured
it out of friendship, trying to understand you.
- And in the end,
he became like me.
- Bent under you.
Pleased?
- Not for me, but
for your imaginary thinking.
- No, I don’t. For
you. You think you’re the navel of the Earth.
- Everybody thinks
so.
“Are they
wrong?” You dispose of other people’s lives as you please.
-Yes. Because they
wanted it when I gave them a choice.
“You didn’t
tell them, though.
- Everyone has a
brain to understand this.
- You deliberately
chose those who have nothing left to lose.
-Yes.
“You knew
everything.
-Of course.
“Then why
didn’t you do something?”
- Because we’re
not done yet. It takes two…
- To dance the
tango. Mike interrupted the soulless man.
-Yes.
“So, what did
we dance?”
- Recent
movements.
-Hmm. Mike
grinned, “Then I’m waiting for a standing ovation.”
-Early.
“Well, then,
let’s do it first.”
-…
“You knew I
was alive, what I was going to do, you knew they were in this game, you knew what
to do, and you predicted all their actions. After all, it was not for nothing
that you put on a bulletproof vest then.
-Yes.
- You had a dream
to gain fame and recognition. So why did he go into the shadows?
- You have to be
realistic.
“But not a murderer.
Vlad, you’re broken and confused, I tried to help you, but you closed yourself
off more and more, but I don’t blame you.
“And you
followed me.”
- Hahaha, I admit
it, yes. Not a bad legend I made up for myself, right?
-Yes. You said you
killed four.
- And you
believed.
-No. I waited.
“So you knew
it was me, but you didn’t do anything?”
- You said that I
am not a bad actor, only we are on the same stage.
-Ha. Remember.
Yes, you and I are of the same field.
-No.
-Why? You and I
have known each other since childhood, graduated from the same school and went
to the same college, we know more about each other than anyone else. You’ve
taken over an entire city, wasn’t it time to come out of the shadows?
-No.
- Because you
changed and decided to burn the whole world. You once told me, “Let
everything bloom or burn in the fire.” You’re like that in everything.
“And
you?”
- I’m in the
middle. I decided to let it be as it was. There is good and evil. Balance, you
see? And you decided to upset this balance.
-Yes.
“You’ve
killed so many people. And you don’t care. All the news was about murders, and
you sat and drank coffee with a stony face. You didn’t kill anyone involved.
- We all risk
something.
- Not in the lives
of others. Have you ever wondered why you got to the last fugitive?
-Thought. You’re
the one who did your best.
-Of course. I
wanted to kill you when you broke into the apartment, but you survived and
left, and then I covered my tracks.
“You could
have already turned me in to the Cleaners or something.
-Could. Well,
what’s the interest in that? You can’t even see it.
“You’ve
figured it out a long time ago, but you’ve been playing our game.
-Yes.
- But there is
always one winner in the game.
- So pull the
trigger and it will be the end.
- Some kind of dry
end.
“He’s always
like that.
- Haha, that’s
right… So, what happens if you win?
-No problem. I’m
going to die.
-Again.
-No. Finally.
“You’re not
even going to fight?”
- What’s the
point? I will not deceive death.
“And then
what’s all this for?”
- I’ll be
remembered.
- Like a murderer.
- At least that’s
the way it is.
- Did you achieve
your goal?
-Yes.
- In a friendly
way, I understand you.
Soulless and Mike
shot at each other. Soulless hit Misha in the heart, and Misha hit the lower
part of the lung. Soulless and Mike fell, and after a while Soulless got up and
walked over to Mike.
-Bulletproof
vest… I didn’t put it on… Yes? Mike said in a hoarse voice.
-Yes…
-Ha ha ha…
That’s the end… I won’t go to the beach…
Soulless kicked
Mike’s gun.
-Yes…
- See you in
hell…
-Yes…
- And it wasn’t a
bad game… Draw…
-Draw…
“Haha, you’re
an idiot… But I’m not going to lie, I like it…
- Me too…
“You, when…
You’ll close your eyes… Don’t forget me…
- I won’t
forget…
- We haven’t lived
long together…
-Yes…
- Don’t worry…
Hear… I’ll give you a cauldron… Book…
-Ok…
- I remember my
childhood here… Do you remember how I helped you…
-I remember…
- I wish I could
go back to the time when we were at school…
-Yes…
“If it
weren’t for those freaks… Maybe you and I could see the world… As we
wanted…
- We didn’t always
succeed…
- Yes, that’s
right…
- Goodbye, Vlad…
- Goodbye, Mike…
Mike closed his
eyes. And the Soulless One went to the nearest wall, leaning his back against
it, and he sat down and closed his eyes, and thought:
-
“Curtain…”
At that moment,
the door opened and Sakura ran into the warehouse, she ran up to the Soulless
One and began to shout:
-Hey! Hey! Don’t
you close your eyes!
-Ha. Vetch…
Sakura picked up
Soulless' hoodie and saw that he wasn’t wearing a bulletproof vest.
“Why didn’t
you put it on?!” Why?!
-This is… My
ticket… One-way…
-No! No! No!
Sakura began to cry.
- At least
before… Don’t whine by death… I’ve got it…
-No! No! You
can’t!
“I’m
mortal…
- Don’t close your
eyes!
-Tired… Do you
still have my token?
“Y-yes…
- When I die, put
it on me…
“You knew it
was going to happen!” Knew!
-Yes…
-What for?! What
for?!
-Last… Dance…
-Fool! Fool! Idiot
bitch!
-Yes… Vetch…
I’m sorry for everything… I couldn’t…
“Don’t say
that!” Don’t tell me!
- Thank you for
everything… You know, I had a friend… And now I’ve killed him…
- Don’t die!
-I can’t…
-Can!
“As usual,
you…
Sakura grabbed the
walkie-talkie and shouted.
“Soulless is
wounded!” Strongly!
“Bitch!”
Not this, Falcon shouted, grabbed his rifle and bag and ran to everyone.
-Where is?! The
forester shouted.
“Ss-warehouse,”
Sakura replied, trying to stop the bleeding and her tears.
-In vain…
They’ll come running… They’ll blame you…
“I don’t
care! Sakura shouted.
“Work,
Player, how do you get to this fucking warehouse?!” Rain shouted.
- You can get
there by fire escape, it is the closest to the Tsar and the Target. — replied
the player.
Soulless took his
phone out of his pocket and began to call someone.
- Who are you
calling?! Sakura shouted.
-Hello…
-Yes. I’m almost
dead…
-Yes… Yes….
Soulless put down
the phone and said:
- That’s it now…
-A what?
The Cleaners began
to retreat.
- I made a deal…
Everything will be fine now…
“What other
deal?!”
“I’m going to
die, and you won’t be touched…”
“Did you make
a deal with the Cleaners!?”
-Yes… Money can
buy everything…
-What for?!
“Before I
died, I wanted to… Kha… Kha… I wish I had a boiler without heating…
-No!
- I still have
apartments there… Water the flowers… At least something will come from
me… Keys… In the office… One more thing… Remember, me… Called…
Vlad…
At these words,
the Soulless One closed his eyes. By this time, the “blacks” ran into
the warehouse.
- Monocle and Tsar
check out the warehouse! Forester said.
The Target, the
Mail, the Cigarette Smoking Man ran up to the Soulless.
- A lot of blood
loss! The Smoker said.
“What’s wrong
with that?!” Falcon shouted from the doorway.
“The head of
the Reds,” Sakura replied.
“She’s not
lying, there’s a corpse of the Reds!” The king said.
The Tsar took off
the mask of the “red” and fell into a stupor.
“Your…
“What’s going
on?” The forester asked.
“Why, it’s
Panic, damn it!”
-You sure?
-Yes.
“Fuck
him!” Let’s save the Soulless! Shore shouted.
- I’m on my way.
Blok said.
-Block?! What?
Monocle shouted.
“You do as
you wish, but I have an order.” Blok replied.
-Vlad! Mike shouted.
Vlad turned around
and saw that Mike was running to meet him.
-Hello! Mike said
cheerfully when he reached Vlad.
-Hello. Vlad
answered.
- Did something
happen to you? You’re kind of sad.
-No. Everything is
fine, I just didn’t get enough sleep.
- I told you,
don’t play a lot on the computer.
-Aha.
“Come on, are
you ready for school?”
-Almost. I’m going
to get the notebooks.
-Me too! Let’s go
together?
-Let’s go.
- I still can’t
believe that we are going to the fifth grade.
-Me too.
It was snowing
outside, the whole street was lit with lanterns, and Vlad was returning home
from school.
-Help! It came
from the nearest alleyway.
- Hey you! Vlad
shouted.
Vlad was stabbed
in the liver.
“Give me that
fucking tourniquet!”
“Who else is
that?!”
“Fuck
him!” It’s all up in smoke! Tango, how are you?!
-That’s all
right…
- Find the cargo!
Bee shouted.
- Goodbye, Bee.
Soulless said.
-No! Please!
“Why didn’t
you start hoping then, but climbed up on your own?”
- There were not
enough people.
- It’s their own
fault, and they paid the price.
“Then when
will you pay for everything you’ve done?”
-…
“You see. You
think you’re immortal and you can do anything.
Soulless pointed
his gun at Nat’s head.
- May I have the
last word?
-Yes.
-Thank you. You know,
I respect you, really, but you’re a scumbag who should have died a long time
ago, like Rose, like me now, and like everyone else, but I’d be so sorry for
what I did anyway, so I’ll see you in hell. I’ve closed the doors, you’ll open
them yourself. So see you in hell.
-Yes. Do you still
drink whiskey?
-Yes. Soulless
said and filled his glass.
- Listen, we
really have problems, big problems.
- Not interesting.
-As usual.
-Thank you. Mike
said and nodded his head, “Where did I stop?” — he continued.
- On the fact that
you did something later. Vlad said.
- Oh, yes. Well,
and then we—” Mike thought for a moment, “I forgot.
Vlad sighed and
said:
- As usual.
“Come on. I
don’t have a hard drive in my head.
-Aha.
- By the way, I
heard that some “hero” has appeared here?
- Are you talking
about the one about whom all the news is buzzing?
-Aha.
-Heard. It was
hard not to hear, no matter where you looked, everyone was discussing him. They
say he was even given the nickname “Soulless”, it seems.
- Yep.
- Why is it that
the “soulless” is considered a hero, but heroes should have a soul?
- They say he
brutally kills his victims.
“Then he’s a
criminal.
“Well, he
kills criminals.
- Yes, as well as
civilians.
- Well, that’s why
“Soulless”.
- Hmm. A hero was
made out of a murderer.
-And… You’re the
“Soulless” one. Ah-ha-ha, who I tell you won’t believe that
“Soulless” himself came for me.
- No, really. Not only did he save me from these freaks, but he also
gave me a blood transfusion. True, you are a moral freak for torture. I never
ask for that.
- The paradox of people. You drink with a moral freak, you say that he
makes you drunk, but you keep drinking.
-Afraid? Hmm. The bee made a surprised face, “Can you imagine
they’re afraid of you?” Bee added, shifting her gaze to the Soulless.
- As you say “entertainment”. Everyone is afraid of you, but
here is an estimate of the great and terrible “Soulless” killed by
their own people. That’s a laugh. Yes, society even came up with a name for
you, before that everyone addressed you by your pronoun.
“You’re not doing it for fun.
- Again, you think that you can see through everyone. There is only one
thing, but everyone is afraid of you because I think that you are an incredible
person, but in fact they act like robots according to a program. I survived
Sakura’s stupidity, and she paid the price.
“In the apartment, then, your snipers?”
-Almost. I didn’t become the head of the house right away. I had to kill
someone and now I’m here.
“And yours are lying down there.”
- Who would have told me that. How much did you put in? Or did Sakura’s
ass go crazy? And by the way, why Sakura? You’ve also got a Bee or a Rose.
Could it be that the Soulless One himself showed feelings for someone?
-Shut up.
“Come on?” Again, I guessed right. Don’t fume, we’re old
friends.
“You’re my enemy.
- How quickly you can become an enemy.
-Think so. You know, even then I liked your speech, in psychology. He
seemed so smart. Only everything you reproach others for, you do yourself.
-Really?
“You don’t seem to know?” You’ve got only one thing in your
head: Find a load, fuck and outplay someone. And they have a family, a job, a
study. The essence of the name changes has not changed.
— Did you achieve your goal? Misha asked.