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“Spoiler, we die in the end.”
Atticus
PROLOGUE
22nd February 2021
3:55pm
Grand Kremlin Palace, Moscow.
Russia.
Billy Monroe shook hands with Sergei Olga, the president of Russia. They had just completed peace talks and signed the most significant agreement in the history of both countries.
“I, for one, am glad that we have done this. The decision we have taken is the height of wisdom. It takes a courageous man to have offered what you did, President Monroe. The world will remember you for this. And you, President Olga, have demonstrated the height of team-play. Your names will go on throughout history. I had been wondering for how much longer the differences between both your nations would remain. The world is evolving, and we can only become better by joined efforts,” Aaron Ben-Ammi, the UN Secretary-General, said from behind them, where he sat. He had acted as a referee during the meeting, which had gone better than he expected. There had been no bantering. Billy had shown great self-control through it all. There were moments when Sergei had tried to prove difficult. However, Billy remained easy going. His character had been the foundation of the meeting’s success.
“That is true. I am glad that we have come this far,” Billy said, smiling brightly. They stood up and began to walk towards the door. Their escorts followed them. They knew that, beyond the door, so many reporters were waiting to hear the meeting’s outcome.
“I must say,” Sergei said, leaning over. “Between you and me, you’re the smartest president America has ever had.”
“I’d say the same of you, sir. It takes two smart minds to do something this momentous,” Billy said, nodding his head vigorously. Two men opened the large doors, and some escorts went ahead to make way for the men that mattered. They waved and smiled at the press; then, the UN Secretary-General gave a short speech to the public, announcing the meeting's outcome.
When Aaron was done, Billy and Sergei shook hands before the press, allowing them to take pictures.
Sergei smiled brightly but his seeming goodwill didn’t fool Billy. Billy knew that Sergei thought he was stupid and would look for every means possible to exploit the agreement to his favor and America's detriment. Sergei had only signed the agreement for what he stood to gain from it. He knew Sergei.
But he didn’t care. That wasn’t the goal yet. In fact, that kind of thinking was what he needed.
Soon after the meeting, Billy returned to his hotel room. He looked at his wristwatch. It was 7:37 pm. He wanted to sleep but he was waiting for a phone call. He took a shower. The call still hadn’t come. He wondered what was taking so much time.
He sat on his bed and thought about his wife- the wife that had been given to him by the ones above him. Then, he thought of his children- poor kids whose futures had already been programmed. They were going to turn out to be like him.
And he wasn’t a good person.
Like a thief, sleep came upon him. He didn’t know when he fell over on the bed and began to sleep. His escorts watched over him. There was no need to fear.
However, the dreams always brought fear with them: seeing himself run away from home… meeting Nikolas under the bridge… becoming part of something big… partaking in combat classes… being punished for slow thinking… struggling to rise through the ranks of his class… leaving Russia…
Suddenly, his phone rang, and he jumped up from sleep. Slowly, he realized that the sound had come from his phone and he calmed down. His two escorts looked puzzled at his reaction. Before he could pick his phone, the call ended. He looked at the caller ID. There was no name. he knew who was calling. He also knew he was in trouble. He wasn’t supposed to miss the call.
Sure enough, in a couple of seconds, the call returned.
“Excuse me,” he said to his guards and they left the room.
He picked the call up immediately.
“Hello,” he began.
“You know you were not supposed to miss my first call, don’t you, Igor?” a lady’s voice came from the other end.
“I know. I’m sorry. I fell asleep,” he begged. The lady was his Chief-of-Staff- at least in the public's eyes. She was way more than that.
“You’re lucky Adrik wasn’t yet a part of the call. I’m sure he wouldn’t have taken it lightly,” she said.
“I know, High Priestess. I promise it won’t repeat itself.”
There was a brief silence before she spoke again.
“I saw the news. You’ve been working so hard these days. I’m so glad it has all paid off well.”
Billy smiled.
“To say I’m relieved will be an understatement. Sergei just kept trying to play stubborn. It took all the wisdom I could muster to put him in that corner,” he said.
“I’m proud of you. It turns out you’re not so much of a scatterbrain after all,” the lady said. Billy frowned at that, but he said nothing. It was foolish to react rashly. She had given him he now wielded. She could easily take him down.
“Do you know if Adrik knows about my accomplishments? I’m sure he’ll be pleased with me,” he said. Adrik had believed in him. When the other council members had argued that he’d be unable to handle the presidency, Adrik had ensured that he was chosen.
“Oh, I bet he knows. He asked me to call by this time because he was in another meeting. I’ll add him to the call now; however, I believe you know it will be rather idiotic to expect him to congratulate you heartily,” she said.
The next second, the call was put on hold. Shortly after, the meeting resumed. This time, it was a male voice that spoke from the other end.
“Alexei, Vivien tells me you did a great job. I believe we are in line for the next phase,” the man said.
“Yes, Tsar Adrik. I’ve
positioned us to strike without being noticed,” Billy said.
“Russia shouldn’t have been in a hurry to bite that bait,” Vivien said. “It’s never good to be arrogant. You’ll never know when you’re falling into a trap.”
Billy would have chuckled if Adrik hadn’t been listening. Vivien always had a way of making him laugh.
“True,” Adrik said. “Sergei will have to bear the initial brunt of our move. However, it’s a brief one. And, besides, he was too self-willed to be of any use to us. He has to go.”
Billy nodded. He noticed how silent Vivien was. He always wondered what went through her mind whenever she became quiet like that.
“Well, then, I’ll contact our weapon’s unit in Russia to prepare our package. It must be completely invisible. You and Vivien are to ensure that your defense and intelligence teams know nothing about this. Not even rumors should go around the US. You have brethren in every unit of government, military, and media. Use them wisely,” Adrik said.
“Yes, sir,” Billy and Vivien said together.
“Good. Vivien, disconnect Alexei. I want to speak with you in private,” Adrik said.
“Okay,” she said. “You know you have to wipe out all evidence of this conversation, don’t you, Igor,” Vivien said. The next second, Billy’s phone beeped. The call had ended.
