Chapter 1: LET THE GAME BEGIN..

 " You have nothing to worry about. You seem to forget I am a grown up man." Mike said and chuckled. " Alright. I will see you later. Love you." He was done with the call. Turning right, he headed straight into an alley. After about two minutes of his walk through the alley, a strange breeze blew across him. The air of fear swept through his lungs. The alley was deserted. His only companions were fear and the darkness of the night. " What's wrong with me?" He muttered, rubbing his palms together.

" Help." An almost inaudible voice spoke. " Help…me. " The weak voice called again. Then, his gaze traveled slowly through the night. His whole body went cold as he saw it. A dying man lay by the side. He hastened to him.

" Oh my God. What's wrong with you? " He squatted and lifted the man's head. " Blood. You are bleeding. What happened? Wait right here. I will call the ambulance. " He tried to stand but a hand gripped his cloth. It was the dying man. The breath of life was leaving totally. With the remaining strength he had left, the dying man used his other hand to draw a symbol in the air. " Stop… them…".

" What does …  that mean? Stop who ?" Mike asked.

No reply came. The grip on his cloth loosened as the man slowly drained into unconsciousness. The light from an oncoming vehicle shone. Mike quickly took cover. The men alighted and without a word, heaved the lifeless body into their van. Then, they drove off. Mike walked out of the dark. His eyes had seen it. The same symbol that man drew was boldly printed as a design on their clothes. The weak voice of that man kept echoing his head ." Stop… them." With thoughts still spiraling through his head, he started walking. Whatever that man meant, it clearly spelt danger.

                          

   Inside a heliocentric room that had been plunged into near darkness by putting away almost every source of light , a  large round table that had been specially constructed using  the African blackwood, one of the densest and hardest wood in the world, was rightly positioned in the center of the room. A candle stand structured like the menorah was placed in the slight depression in the center of the table. Every seat round the table had been occupied by men dressed in black suits excluding one seat. All men rose to their feet as the sound of a footstep approached slowly. The oncoming man walked straight to the only seat that had not been occupied. Wrapped around his shoulders, was a large flag of the United States of America.

" We hunt those who have hunted us." The man said .

" We hunt those who have hunted us." The rest repeated after him.

" Let blood have blood and let the wages of sin be death." He said again.

" Let blood have blood and let the wages of sin be death. " The men repeated again.

" This day marks the era we have awaited. What shall we ensure?"

"  To never go back."

He took the flag off his shoulder and slowly touched its tip on one of the lights on the candle stand. The fire caught on the flag started spreading slowly as it burnt the flag of the United States of America. Without a word, he walked out of the table and headed to a bowl where he dropped the flag and let it burn. Then, he returned to the table. With a wicked smile, he said " the mighty eagle shall fly no more for the reaper shall reap the eagle. " He smiled again. " The time has come. Let the game begin."

Positioned on a part of the wall, a small camera recorded the events of the moment.

                   

    Somewhere in the United States of America with the location 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC, the capital of the nation, the white house which was the President's residence and workplace elegantly mounted itself. The system of security was more active than it used to be. The recent happenings in the country was now a bigger cause for concern. Different security uniforms made moves in the vicinity. The military, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the police and other security personnels flooded the area.

  Inside the auditorium, the president mounted the podium to deliver a heartwarming and reassuring  speech watched by approximately three hundred and twenty-eight citizens scattered all over the Land. The atmosphere of panic and apprehension was high.

…." I am fully aware that no one in this country is ignorant of the troubles which have befallen us. Both the sane and the insane have knowledge of what I am saying. So, I will be as brief as possible. I am here to clear the air of confusion and rumor that has filled the nation…"  he paused. Then continued. " Social media have been crawling with unending questions demanding positive answers on the issue at hand. I am here to tell you that whatever it is you have heard is right. The United States of America is at war. At war with an unseen foe . A deceitful and tactical one who wishes not to be found. For some time now, there have been too many cases of the sudden disappearance of some congressmen and women. In recent times, attacks have been made on my life and that of your vice president. At this point, saying we know who or what is behind these happenings will only make us liars . But this is only to make you aware of the truth you seek. No one ought to panic. This will be sorted out in no distant time. It's my fight. Whoever is behind this has me as the target. Out of the five hundred and thirty-five members in the Congress, a hundred and twenty-two have been confirmed missing. Their kidnap happened almost simultaneously. I announce this with great shame. But I have an assurance for you. This fight will be won! It's a promise I make to every citizen of this great nation at this moment. We will see to the end of this. In —" his next words sank in . He coughed . " We —" he tried to speak again but was cut short by the hit again. He held his chest.

" Sir!" A personal security called him.

" Are you alright?" Another said in a tiny whisper.

" I'm fine. I'm fine. " The president managed to speak. The hit came harder . He coughed hard this time.

" Sir!"

" Sir!!" The security team was already taking cover.  The president staggered backwards and forwards. Then , he slumped to the floor.

" Sir! Take him out!" Orders started flying in the auditorium and the people present were already looking for refuge. It was obvious they were under another attack. This time, the president was the victim. And so, the long awaited speech came to an abrupt end without the signal.

Inside a poorly lighted chamber, some men dressed in fine black suits gave a mischievous smile as the speech ended. The White House was in chaos and could be seen clearly in national news.

" This is another big step into the future. " One said. He raised his wine cup . " To our victory. "

" To our victory!" Others chorused , raising their wine cups.  

" Cheers!!"

Walking sluggishly down the West wing of the white house, Vice president Arnold Kroft knew his world was in motion. Everything spinned slowly initially. Now, they are gaining momentum. He felt as if he was on a planetary body spinning with great velocity that its centrifugal force was totally out balancing the centripetal force.

" What is happening to me?" He muttered as he struggled more to move. Possibly, could it be that what struck the president  was already striking him? He thought. He was there when the president broke out in a coughing bout. For some reasons he could not explain, right in front of the whole citizens watching the speech present , online and through several television sets scattered in homes across the country, he started feeling really dizzy all of a sudden. This condition was one he could not afford to let anyone know of. It made no sense and the shame attached to it was a lot. So, he decided to keep it to himself. It was probably a result of too many restless nights of work. Now, it was getting back at him. Even his wife had warned him that it could deteriorate his health. The dizzy feeling came once in a while, before it started coming more frequently to the extent of wanting to disgrace him in public occasions. It was already happening again. His world kept spinning. It spinned so fast.

" Help me…" he tried to scream. But his strength failed him. He was losing it. It was no longer the feeling of being dizzy. It was more than that. He knew he was draining into unconsciousness and needed help.

" Help…" It failed again. It was already late. Everyone was too busy trying to escape for their own lives . the United States of America was suffering a great blow . He took his phone from his pocket . He needed to dial someone. But the numbers were too many . His brain formed multiple images. He slumped and fell on the floor. Almost immediately, a team of health workers arrived at the scene with their stretcher. They bundled him quickly and started moving out hastily from the building.

Inside the poorly lighted room , a phone rang.

" Hello . Tell me what I must know." The man picked.

"  Mission one was successful. " The voice replied from the other side.

" I watched it. How about mission two?"

There was a little pause. " We just completed it. "

" Now, there is one more thing."

" Which is?"

" Leave the premises entirely."

" Already on that."

" We will speak again." The call ended. " Cheers again to another victory. " The men continued their merriment.