The Oracle Syndicate : A Story of Family, Friendship and Love

Squelch. Squelch.

Drip. Drip.

Whizz. Whizz.

Bang. Bang.

Gunshots echoed throughout the forest. The jungle, usually calm in the night, buzzed with activity. People were marching through the woods. There were people on the ground with torches and guns swarming the forests. In the sky, flying were throes of helicopters using their night vision powers. On the Serpent Tributary, boats with divers and mariners were diving into the river and scouring the banks. The fact was that they were hunting for fugitives on the orders of the Czar, Grey, Blair, Morgan, and Thane families.

"We, the Hunter Commission, hereby decree that a manhunt be organized to capture the criminals Solaris Czar, Rhode Morgan, Luciano Grey, Kassidy Thane, and Sasha Blair for the crime of treason and conspiring to destroy the heirs of the Czar, Grey, Blair, Thane, and Morgan families. Anyone who captures them shall be rewarded generously."

This decree was the start of chaos in the underworld and above the surface. The truth was, none of the charges were true. They were being framed.

While the hunt was going on, our targets were halfway across the jungle escaping. Leading the escape was a young man with black hair styled in a military crew cut, tall at 6 feet, olive-skinned, and blue eyes.

This man was Rhode Morgan, a soldier.

Behind him were two girls holding snipers and covering each other's back as well as Rhode's. One had short blond hair in a pixie cut, 5'9" tall with green eyes and fair skin. This was Sasha Blair, a medic.

The other girl was 5'6" tall with brown hair braided into a bun, ruby-red eyes, and tanned skin. This was Kassidy Thane, a hacker.

Flanking the girls was a man with a muscular build, dark skin, grey eyes, and short black hair. This was Luciano Grey, a sniper.

In front of him was a man with a powerful but lean build with rose gold eyes, fair skin, and long black hair pulled up into a high ponytail. This man was Solaris Czar, a strategist.

They were making their way when two gunshots whizzed past them. All of them ducked in time to avoid the spray. Sasha lifted the gun towards the sky and shot at the two people flying above them. All five of them raced into the thickest part of the jungle covering them upwards. However, luck was not on their side.

Gunshots started raining them on the sides. Rhode threw up a shield with his staff, making the bullets ricochet and hit the shooters. Kassidy and Sasha shot at them. However, a bomb came flying in their direction and exploded, blowing up the entire area.

After the debris and the dust settled down, all five of them were sprawled around in different directions. Solaris slowly got up onto his knees, only to have the wind knocked out of his lungs and slammed back into the ground. He felt something on his back, holding him down, and a stick on the back of his head. He looked up to see the rest of them in a similar position. While they were struggling, a tall man with a majestic aura and strong physique stepped out. 

This man was Hayden Grey. Luciano's elder brother. A commander of the manhunt and the heir of the Grey family. He had a cruel smirk on his face at the sight of them pinned down to the ground.

"Well, well, well, well. Look what we have here. Five rats were pinned down. Oh my!! How fucking brilliant."

He cackled and moved towards Luciano, standing in front of him. With movements too fast to see, his leg came crashing down onto his head making the four struggle against their captor's hold. Hayden ground his heel on the top of Luciano's head, pushing the man further into the ground. 

"HAHAHA!!! To think that you are one of us....how stupid did you think we are ? No way in fucking hell are you one of us. A runt and a waste of space. You should have not been born after all. Now, die in peace and stay dead." Hayden spoke as a soldier passed him a gun. He cocked the gun up and held it against Luciano's head. Luciano looked up at his four-found family members. They all struggled as they realized what was going on.

Luciano's eyes hardened with determination and resolve. " I love all of you. Don't cry. Don't give him the satisfaction of being able to break us. I wish...we had..more time. My true siblings."

Luciano communicated telepathically to the others, making them reluctantly agree and tears were streaming as they realized that their end was near. Solaris shakily nodded. A small smirk appeared at the corner of Luciano's lips. He looked straight into Hayden's eyes and spoke.

"Fuck you, Hayden. I hope you get your just desserts."

The smirk on Hayden's lips wiped off and his expression grew stormy. He put the gun in the middle of Luciano's forehead and pulled the trigger.

BANG!

Luciano's body dropped down, blood pooling around the back of his head. Sasha and Kassidy let out mournful wails while Rhode roared his grief. Solaris was still with grief clinging around him. Hayden let out a cackle of joy at the sight of Luciano's dead body.

"YES!!!YES!!!FINALLY! That son of a bitch is finally dead! HAHAHA! Now, it is your turn."

Hayden lifted the gun and fired off in rapid succession at the remaining four.

Solaris saw everything in slow motion.

The bullets flew hitting in the direction intended. One bullet struck Sasha in the heart making her choke on her breath before a second bullet struck her in the middle of her forehead, causing the life in her eyes to fade as she fell...dead.

Another bullet hit Rhode in the shoulder, a second in the chest and the other in the heart and he fell, his eyes promising retribution and regret.

Kassidy dodged but was hit in the back before a bullet pierced her neck, making her spit out blood and fall in front of Solaris, wide-eyed. Solaris stared at her eyes, watching the light grow dim and all he saw was blankness.

He looked up to see Hayden strutting over to him. Hatred and rage coursed over him. This man had been their bully and tormentor. He was the reason why they could never get a single day of peace in their lives but also the reason why they were never recognized by their adoptive parents.

"Now, now...don't look at me like I am the cause of your misery. It is all your fault that you're illegitimate bastards. Blame the people who gave birth to you. Now, it is time to say goodbye, bastard. Any last words ?"

Solaris took a deep breath as the memories flashed by in his mind. The joys of his parent, his found family, and most of all...his one crush. Tears streamed down his face. He opened his eyes, looked at Hayden, and spoke in a low menacing voice.

"Hayden Estel Grey, may you suffer from nightmares and be haunted by the souls that were killed by your hands for all of eternity. I solemnly swear that there will be a time where your castles in the air will crumble and you will have nothing left but to go to hell."

Thunder clapped at the response. Hayden laughed as he listened to the funniest joke in the world.

"A pity that you will not be able to execute that wish. Sayonara, Solaris. See you in hell."

BANG!!!!

A bullet shot out of the gun, striking Solaris in the heart. Feeling the impact, Solaris spat out blood before collapsing face-front. Hayden walked off with a swagger in his step towards the jeep parked nearby. He commanded.

"Burn the place down. Don't leave anything alive."

With that, he drove off. The soldiers opened cans of gasoline and poured it everywhere. As the soldiers backed off, one lit a match and threw it, setting the fire. As the fire grew, they drove off unaware of a person watching.

Solaris felt the life in his body leaving as the fire consumed everything around him. As he let death consume him, he gave a final prayer.

"O Goddess of Moon and Time, give the strength and courage to survive and be reborn with my family. I pray to change the course of our fates and survive. Please grant me my prayer."

Solaris knew that they wished for the same thing. He vowed that if they were reborn, they would fight for their survival. Finally, he knew no more.

That night, a huge fire spread over the jungle destroying everything and no one knew the cause except for those involved who celebrated their victory easily.

However, there was one thing they forgot. Those who wronged the choice will never escape the consequences.

Elsewhere, lay five people in a marble hall. They were dressed in white purification robes, seemingly asleep. Their eyes opened. They all sat up and looked at each other.

Shock colored their faces.

They were back.