The Forsaken Afterlife

 

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[Chapter One]

The moonlight radiated from the skies, glimmering on Xander’s eyes as he emerged from the nearby rose bush. Blood dripped from the cuts he sustained from hiding there, but it didn’t bother him. He had his eyes on something much more lucrative. He wanted something no one in the world was allowed – The Artefact. He had spent years preparing for this day, and his heart was racing as he crept across the damp grass that clung to his Converse. As he moved further and further away from the museum, his mind began to wander, mentally checking all the steps he had to cover in order for the robbery to succeed. It wasn’t long before he reached the way in – a fire exit that ran right into the museum’s main gallery hall. It had been in the original plans for the museum, but after multiple renovations spanning several decades, the exit was now sealed. Until tonight, that was. Xander reached into his backpack and pulled out a mini torch, which he gently placed inside his mouth. The light was dim enough not to be seen by the guards on watch, but it was bright enough for Xander to find the area of grass where the exit stood.

"Aha! Found you!" He said.

He placed his hand on the grass and pushed it deeply into the moist, muddy cover that lay on top of the doorway, which led inside. He moved his hand slowly to his right and suddenly brushed against a firm object. With the glimmer in his eyes enhanced by the moonlight, he wrapped his fingers around the object and pulled. With a loud clunk, he opened the exit. The sound echoed through the eardrums of the guards on patrol, who went to check on the disturbance. Cursing to himself, Xander climbed down into the exit tunnel that ran deep underneath the museum. He closed the door just as the guards approached the scene, unaware that Xander lay, as still and as silent as a mouse, beneath them. Xander waited and held his breath as he heard the footsteps above, his heart thumping louder than ever before.

Xander was a wanted criminal. The situation he was in gave him a major buzz. He enjoyed the thrill of the steal, but also the excitement and tension of nearly being caught. As the guards hung above him, Xander couldn’t help but close his eyes and lick his lips as the adrenaline pumped throughout his body, leaving a temporary high in its wake. As the adrenaline subsided, the guards left, leaving Xander to continue his theft.

Xander slowly crept down the ladder so as not to alert the guards; it wasn’t long before his foot touched the wet ground below him. The door above him wasn’t closed properly, which would allow for his later escape. Rain came in, drizzling onto Xander’s red-and-black chequered shirt that now clung to his muscular chest, showing off his 4-pack.

"Tsk! It’s cold! I should have brought more layers," Xander quietly said, disgruntled.

Xander continued his mission and began to walk on, until eventually he came to the end of the exit. He was weary at the fact he hadn’t encountered any rodents, which was a first in his grand theft adventures. He stood at the end of the exit and looked up as a rope fell from above.

The fire exit originated in the basement level of the museum. It slanted upwards throughout the whole stretch of the tunnel, punctuated by a ladder at the end. The problem was, an extension had added a new floor onto the museum, and thus the basement level was no longer used as the main gallery, but instead as a store room. The rope that was dropped allowed Xander to reach the ground floor of the museum, right underneath the desk of a certain employee who was in cahoots with Xander. His name was Sam Weelburm – and he was Xander’s childhood friend.

“Nice to see you’re getting a workout nowadays!” Sam shouted down.

Xander just glared at Sam as he climbed the rope and eventually managed to pull himself up and out of the tunnel, looking back at Sam, who merely nodded in response.

"Yeah, yeah! I know what you’re going to say, and yes, I do have the security pass," Sam said.

Sam reached inside his white-and-blue-striped shirt and pulled out the security pass, trying to show off his skills. Xander glanced at Sam, showing no emotion.

"Aw! Come on! Don’t be like that! Is it because of Jess again? I told you already! I didn’t know anything!" Sam said with puppy dog eyes.

"Of course you knew! The only reason I’m here with you is because of The Artefact! If it wasn’t for that, you’d be getting more of the silent treatment!" Xander replied.

Sam sighed and held his hand out, hoping Xander would take it, thus reaching a truce. Xander was hesitant, but Sam’s puppy dog eyes were better than puppies themselves! Xander’s hand gripped Sam’s, which felt rough and hard compared to Xander’s, which was soft and tender. A gleeful expression that verged on the border of creepiness crept onto Sam’s face before the two continued on their quest.

"The Artefact lies on the other side of the building, making it difficult to get there due to the number of patrolling guards on duty. You ready for this? Do you remember the decoy plan? Oh, and did you bring the bottle?" Sam checked.

"Why would I go to the trouble of setting out the plan if I didn’t follow through or even bother to learn it? Of course I remembered the bottle!" Xander snapped.

Xander took a green wine bottle from his backpack, and with a smile on his face, he left the room, careful not to be seen while keeping to the shadows. Sam shook his head and laughed before he readied himself for what was to come next.

Xander kept to the shadows like a guilty husband, for in this instance, separation would put his life in jeopardy. He managed to stealthily bypass most of the guards who were on patrol, but no plan is ever perfect. Xander reached the halfway point when he stopped behind some pillars that towered way above him. It was here that he placed his right hand deep inside his navy blue jeans and pulled out a lighter. As he tried to ignite the lighter, one of the guards spotted him. He froze as he heard the guard issue the alert to the others. Panicking, he rapidly flicked the lighter, which refused to work. The adrenaline created the high that Xander craved, but he was unable to enjoy it. Instead, fear for his own life took over. Just as he managed to get the lighter to flicker to life, the patrol group quickly encircled him.

The flame lit the taper in the petrol-filled wine bottle, and Xander chucked it into the room behind him, the guards now standing mere feet away. The room behind him erupted into a sea of flames as a guard grabbed him. Xander took the opportunity to fight against the guard closest to him, who was stunned by the explosion. Manoeuvring his body, he threw the guard who was holding him onto the ground, allowing himself to escape to safety. He sprinted with all his might as the fire alarm roared. In his fit of desperation and overexertion, Xander slipped on the water that the sprinklers had sprayed, cursing at himself as he attempted to regain his previous composure. The water kept hitting his body as if even the elements themselves wanted him to be caught. The guards quickly snapped out of their confusion and split up, one group chasing Xander and the other dealing with the fire.

"Tsk! I was hoping things would go smoothly!" Xander said.

A guard to his right made the first move and lunged at Xander, who dodged and retaliated by elbowing him in the back of the neck. With a crack the guard fell to the ground, unconscious. Xander took the opportunity to go on the offensive, so he let his body take over. His foot connected with one of the guards to his left. The force of the kick sent the guard flying into the one next to him. Only two guards remained. Xander tilted his head sharply to the left as multiple shots were fired by one of the remaining guards.

"Now, now! Why would you shoot a defenceless nineteen year old?" Xander said, mockingly.

Xander’s movements were fluid and natural, as if his body was on autopilot. Propelling his right arm behind him in an upward motion, he forced the guard to hit himself with his own weapon. Closing the distance between them, he grabbed the gun before the guard had time to recover. Xander aimed at the leg and shot. The guard roared in pain as the bullet connected with its intended target. The remaining guard, also shocked at what had happened, just stared blankly at Xander.

“First day?” Xander questioned.

The guard nodded feebly as Xander approached. He stared intensely at her before speaking,

“Please just go and help your fellow patrol men!” Xander said.

The guard whimpered and did as she was told. Xander sprinted down the hallway as more guards poured through the doors to see what the issue was. Seeing half of the patrol group sprawled across the floor, the guards began to panic. During this time, Xander kept himself hidden once again, until he was merely steps away from the room where The Artefact was being held.

“You’re late!” Sam said.

Sam emerged from the bathroom to Xander’s right. Xander explained the situation, and Sam laughed in response before opening the door to the room. His was an awkward laugh, the one that expressed his fear and anxiety.

“Ladies first!” Sam said, grinning.

Xander gave Sam a glare and walked in first. The Artefact lay in the centre of the room within an enormous glass box. Xander, overcome by the beauty of what stood in front of him, slowly walked towards the box. All the security systems were shut off, and The Artefact was within touching distance. Xander pressed his hand against the glass and marvelled at what was in front of him, unaware of his surroundings.

“Step away from The Artefact!” Came a voice from the darkness that lay a few feet behind the box.

“Who’s there?!” Xander asked, bewildered.

"My name is Scott Walker! I’m from Scotland Yard! You have walked right into my hands! You’ll be going to jail for a long time, Tomcat!" Came the voice.

Xander backed away as Scott walked towards him, his blond hair and blue eyes glistening in the moonlight that shone through the window above. Scott smiled and tried to close the distance between him and Xander, a fatal move. Out of nowhere, Xander watched as a bullet shot through the air and pierced Scott’s forehead. Blood oozed out of the newly created orifice, and Xander watched as Scott’s eyes turned white, and his body fell to the ground with a loud thud.

Xander looked behind him in horror at Sam, who stood with a pistol in hand, aimed at the now dead Scott. What left Xander filled with horror, was not the fact Sam had shot Scott, but that in Sam’s other hand was none other than The Artefact.

“How did you….what’s goin-” Xander said, interrupted.

"I’m sorry, dear friend. I have my orders. No hard feelings, okay? The Imperialists are very strict on their rules. If I disobey, things won’t end well for me!" Sam said, smiling that same, almost-creepy smile.

Before Xander had a chance to respond, Sam pulled the trigger, and the bullet flew towards him. Xander’s memories flashed before him as he fell to the floor with a thud. His vision began to blur, and his life ceased to exist.

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