Everywhere he turned, it seemed that William Stewart was ten steps ahead of him. It was maddening. After his father’s “mysterious” death, he took over everything, He brought up land everywhere and began funneling all of the drug money through several businesses. His favorite part was preying on overzealous businessmen and draining them dry. Exhilaration filled him as he watched them crumble at his feet. Every time he imagined Will’s face, and it brought him the closest to ecstasy.However, the more he tried to expand, Will was always in his way. Whatever land he tried to buy, Will was there. Whatever business he tried to take over, Will was there. But he didn’t get angry. His plan was already in place to bring William Stewart down. Grace had gone back to him. His damaged weapon, breaking him down from within. She didn’t know it, but he had been watching their whole relationship and would use her to finally destroy him.
Robert’s debts soared to astronomical heights. It was amusing how easily it played out. He kept tabs on Robert, often popping up on him at unexpected times. Robert plotted against his nephew. He wanted to take Stewart Industries over and it use it as his own personal piggy bank. Robert had some connections in Singapore from his time there, and it proved useful.However, when left to his own devices, Robert proved to be a touch dramatic.***“Hello, sir,” Robert said over the phone, sounding too much like an overstuffed peacock. “I have something for you that I think you’ll like.”“Do you?” he yawned.“Yes! I found a way to get money from my nephew. I think you should come see it.”He perked up.“Really? I’ll be right there.”He had to admit he was intrigued. What scheme had Robert concocted? Mistake number o
(trigger warning: mentions of suicide and violence)The plan was in full motion. He felt like a child on Christmas morning. After kidnapping Jessica Royce, the next target was Emma Wells. He didn’t relish the thought of harming a new mother, but he would do what needed to be done. However, Robert had developed a penchant for killing. And it was still new so he wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone or anything. He recognized that frenzy, that fresh desire to take life. It was a powerful feeling, to be the bringer of death.Grace continued to come to him as she fell further and further into madness. That last rejection snapped something inside of her. He liked to think that it was her last grasp of reality. For a while he thought he was the catalyst of her insanity. However, it was always there. She left a perfect life in search of something she would have. Grace had everything. A man that essentially worshipped her. An h
(trigger warnings: violence)Gunshots were like birdsong to him. But killing Robert didn’t bring him any satisfaction. It was like stepping on an ant. The world wouldn’t miss him at all. In fact, he felt like he was doing the world a favor. Robert was a blight. The worst kind of person out there.Not that he was any better. He was about as evil as they came, but at least he knew it. People like Robert Stewart thought they were better than they were. Thought that they were justified in their wickedness, as though their immorality was somehow for some greater good. It was laughable. At least he knew that his interests were all self-serving. Every step he took was another one towards his goal. The reason he became Ghost still waited for him. It had started simple enough.They were friends as children, and the jealousy was innocent enough. Will was popular and he wasn’t. It was really that si
“You said he was Grace’s ex-husband?” Captain Whitlock fell back in his chair.“Yes,” Will’s gripped the edge of the desk. He hated how all of this was making him feel. It was like a partially healed scab was being picked at. It was a past injury flaring up, the phantom pain of a lost limb. Old hurts. Hurts that should have been forgotten long ago now all rose to the surface. And he hated it. He swore he was done with those feelings. But now they were back in full force.“What do you know about their relationship?”“I can’t do this right now,” Will said, looking at his fists. Their relationship. Those words were like a knife twisting in his gut. Ugh! I hate this! Why does this still hurt?“I’m sorry,” the captain said. “But we don’t have the luxury of tiptoeing around your feelings right now. I know this is hard, and it probably hurts. But to be
It was as though he was moving through sand. Nothing registered. Nothing clicked. Not the unnatural metal of the handcuffs as they tightened around his wrists. Not the officers’ angry voices as the read him his rights, or the rough hands that pushed and shoved him into a cell. Not when those cell doors slid home with a loud, echoing clang. Captain Whitlock tried to stop the way they were mishandling him. But they had lost one of their own. A young man who was vibrant and full of life, at the beginning of his career.Another one. Because of me?“I get one phone call. I need to call Emma,” he said, his eyes not seeing anything.“Fuck you!” another officer spat at him. “Fuck your phone call!” And then punched him in the face. Will moved with the punch but didn’t protest or make a sound. He didn’t feel it. I would punch me too.“Hey!” Capta
As promised, Sabrina had arranged safe and covert transportation for Emma and Lizzie. The driver was also given a password for extra security. The car ride was long, tense, silent. Lizzie always fell asleep while in a car, so Emma was thankful for her daughter’s peace. When she got older, they would tell her about how craziness her infancy had been. Their world was a mess, and they had done their best to shield her from everything. So far, they’d been successful and she wanted to keep it that way.Alex greeted her when she arrived, and ushered her inside. Sabrina took the sleeping baby girl upstairs so she could continue to rest.“I just got a call from Will’s attorney,” he said, pulling out a chair for her. “He told me of the charges. They’re completely ridiculous, but the cops are hurting and they are out for blood.”“So, no one is doing anything about it?” Emma asked, fists resting on the
While Emma and Alex traveled back towards his home, Emma continued to hatch out her plan. She would need everyone to cooperate to pull this off. There so much to do and she would not be able to do it all on her own. Honestly, there wasn’t much she could do on her own. There weren’t any resources that she had that she could tap into. However, she had friends and those friends were well connected throughout the city. And she would contract their help. It takes a village, after all. For now, she would keep the grander details to herself. They would all just have to trust her.The first thing that had to happen was let the shock of the incident die down, and then clear Will’s name.“We need the CCTV footage from Will’s neighborhood, and from in front of the police station,” she said. “And we need to try and access the cloud drive from his car.”“The wheels in your head are turning, I see,”
Six months later “Stewart Industries Landmark building construction was completed today. The twenty-story building boasts retail, commercial, and event space. The impressive building has already become a hallmark of the city with a silver tower as its crown. Glass windows glisten in the sun. And anyone in the city can enjoy the gorgeous public park that surrounds it. It is a gorgeous and shining collaboration of the best and freshest minds in the city. William Stewart has named the structure, ‘The Conrad Tower,’ in honor of his beloved late grandfather. The city awaits now for the building to open and for all the new opportunities it will create. This has been Susanne Winters for Channel 16 news.” They all cheered and toasted the completion of the building, gathered around Will and Emma’s living room. “Here’s to The Conrad Tower!” Will raised his glass. “And to all the people that helped make it possible! I wouldn’t have been able to do this without you all. Thank you.” They raised
The high from the success of the show had worn off, and Will felt himself spiraling. His pulse quickened; a sheen of cold sweat sprouted on his forehead. He held it together the best he could while around others. But alone, with nothing but his memories to accompany him… it was always the worst.As he arrived home and prepared himself for another lonely night, he was greeted by something unexpected. A large truck was parked in front of his home. Men moved in and out of it, bringing things inside.“…The fuck?” he muttered as he parked his car. “Excuse me,” he called out to them. “This is my home. What are you doing here?”“I hired them,” a voice said from the doorway of the house. He looked over towards the familiar voice, not daring to believe it. But there she was, bathed in the light from inside the house. “Hi, Will. I’m sorry if I startled you, but I w
Their days were filled with appointments. Every time they turned around, there was somewhere to be. Will had been discharged and had the company to take care of. With the building finally underway, Stewart Industries was thriving again. It was a rare moment that he got time to himself. And even when he did, everyone else was busy with their own hectic lives. Will floated around his giant, empty home. He went to work, came home, did his physical therapy exercises, and went to sleep. Alone. He found, in recent days, that alone was not a good place for him to be. Nightmares plagued his sleep, and he jumped at the slightest noises. Monsters had moved from under the bed and in the shadows to inside his mind.He hated it.Emma hadn’t been able to make good on her promise to move back. Things were hectic, and no one had time for anyone anymore. It had been almost two weeks before he saw anyone. They all called and messaged each other, but it wasn&rs
Will’s recovery was slow. The doctors had informed him that taking that bullet as such close range did a lot of damage, but it was the reason he wasn’t dead as nothing major was hit. He wasn’t out of the woods yet and would need a good round of physical therapy. The medical staff agreed that he needed to stay in the hospital for at least a week so they could monitor him. Emma and Alex fussed over him, making sure he listened and did everything according to the doctor’s orders.On the fourth day, he was restless and just wanted to leave. Alex was in the room with him, telling him off for not listening.“You’re being a brat,” Alex scolded him.“I just want to get out of this bed,” Will whined.“Try getting out again, and I’ll break both your legs.”“How very Mafia of you,” Will smirked.“Shut up,” Alex swatted at
Chaos exploded around them. Shouts and screams filled the air as Captain Whitlock ordered that Ghost be apprehended and an ambulance be called. Ghost dropped his gun and raised his hand in surrender as his fantasy came to life right before his eyes.“Beautiful!” he said over the din. “It’s more beautiful than I could ever imagine.”“Shut up,” Captain Whitlock spat as he wrenched Ghost’s hands behind his back. “You’re going to go away for a very long time. They may even make a case for the death penalty against you.”“I hope they do,” he said with a contented sigh. “I’ve done all I have ever wanted to do.”“Take this vile piece of shit. And read him his rights. This arrest needs to be perfect. I swear if this fucker gets out on a technicality, I’ll fire the lot of you!”An officer took Ghost a
Will turned around and the world moved in slow motion around him. About ten feet away from them, there he stood. Ghost. Denis. The man responsible for all the pitfalls in his life stood ten feet away from them, the sunlight glinting off the barrel of an ornate silver gun. How could he have been so careless?“Surprise,” Ghost sang.“How…” Will began to ask.“How did I get so close?” Ghost finished. “Without anyone noticing. Hmm…” he used the gun to scratch his temple for a moment and then pointed it back at them. “I’m the monster in the dark. The one under your bed. The one your parents warn you about. Oh wait… your parents wouldn’t warn you about anything. They’ve been trying to sacrifice you to the darkness for years,” he said with feigned contrition.“What do you want?” Will asked. His eyes darted around, looking for
They really thought they were smart, huh? They thought he would fall for their little traps. However, he couldn’t deny that they had presented him with the perfect opportunity. Will was serving himself on a silver platter. It would be so easy to just take care of him then. His ultimate fantasy could play out the way he’d always dreamt of. The very public murder of William Stewart was just something he couldn’t pass up.What reason was there even to hide anymore? They had revealed his identity. Everyone knew who he was. So, what purpose did the shadows serve him anymore? Perhaps it was time to come out into the light and end this charade. His last card against Will had been used up. He’d run out of games.“Let’s play,” he chuckled, loading his gun. “No plans. No backups. This is it.” His heart raced with elation as he envisioned a bullet ripping through Will. Hearing his loved ones cry as his body crump
The interview was a smash. The city was on high alert, and Ghost’s name was on everyone lips. The few times Sabrina went out, it’s all she could hear anyone talk about. She couldn’t help but feel a little proud. Captain Whitlock received dozens of calls and tips. Many people said how they knew Denis, and how there was no way he could be Ghost.Others said that they’re surprised they never saw the signs. Some offered clues and places that Denis used to frequent. He traipsed the city, following these clues. Most led to nothing. Just traces of an old that Ghost himself probably wouldn’t recognize. But there was one call…“Um… hi. Is this Captain Whitlock?” It was hesitant man’s voice.“Yes, how can I help you?”“I’m calling about Denis Ratcliffe.”Captain Whitlock received so many of these calls he was numb to them.
Will let the water wash over him as he tried to steady his frenzied heartbeat. The truth was that they were terrified. For Ghost to be so brazen as to just waltz into the police station and open fire did not bode well for any one of them. It was clear that Ghost was just as ready to end this as they were. He leaned his forehead against the cold tile, letting the rhythmic beating of the water of against his back soothe him.Soon enough, a shower wouldn’t be such an event. At least not the ones he took alone, anyway. Steam rolled off of skin as he emerged from the shower. Emma had laid out some clothes for him. Just a white t-shirt a pair of gray sweatpants. He laughed. Now that he was free and clean, he wanted to hold his baby.He went downstairs, back to the dining room where everyone was gathered.“Where is Lizzie?” he asked.“Right here,” Emma said. She stood behind him, holding a