Chapter 14: Three Steps Ahead

"What... did you say?"

It was around ten at night; Tonight was a night Harvey decided to rest instead of going out as Vengeance. Before falling asleep, he smiled when he thought about today's events. The situation with Luke and Sienna was fascinating to watch unfold, even if it blew up in his younger friend's face. Moving past that, his relationship with Alex moved onto something beyond tutor and student slash acquaintances. Now it felt like they were good friends, someone he could confide in, and she, in turn, could as well.

With that in mind, he turned around and fell asleep. It's been a long time since he had a whole night's sleep since he started his crusade of punishing the worst sinners and those genuinely evil, which is why he was a little upset when he received a phone call an hour after falling into dreamland. Lifting his phone to see the collar I.D. with groggy eyes, he was surprised to see Ms. Tamara's name. Answering the call, Harvey received news that sent shivers down his spine.

"Harvey... I'm so sorry about calling you so late. But I didn't know who else to call! I can't find Mr. Bone... Oh my god... Harvey... Roberto. Roberto is... He's-He's!"

Harvey's eyes widened as he cracked the phone in his hand slightly. Immediately, he got up and dressed himself in the outfit he wore earlier today. As he was about to head to his garage, his head turned to look at the bookbag that was leaning next to his dresser. It contained his vigilante outfit and weapons. Harvey grits his teeth and picks it up.

VROOM VROOOM

Harvey's garage door slowly closed behind him; he was driving his black Kawasaki motorcycle. The speeds he was going at were beyond legal; he appeared to be a black blur to the people walking around the city streets. He was driving carelessly and irresponsibly in the direction he sensed Roberto's blood spilled.

'Harvey.' Spirit spoke. 'Calm yourself.'

Harvey said nothing as he finally reached the neighborhood. Parking his bike a block away, Harvey lays his backpack beside it. They were hidden from sight. Once done, Harvey broke into a sprint. Turning around the corner, he saw several police cruisers and officers.

"Hey! Stop right there!"

Harvey did not follow the officer's orders and jumped over the yellow caution tape. Two officers in plain clothes got in front of him and held him at bay, but to their surprise, they were slowly being pushed back.

"Get out of my way!"

"Kid, you need to calm down!"

"Adam! Hold him still!"

"Shit, I'm trying here! The kids freakin' strong!"

The two officers struggled against Harvey until a new low, grave voice broke through the struggle. He wore a blue striped button-up shirt and had dark, greying short hair.

"Atwater, Ruzek. Let him go."

Harvey finally slid by them and stopped before a body covered by a white sheet. The puddle of blood was slowly seeping into the fabric. Harvey's eyes gradually shifted, and he saw a dirty beat-up hat covered in blood.

"...Roberto."

The officer who spoke up earlier walked before him, blocking him from looking at the body anymore. Harvey grew cold and fidgety; he couldn't think straight, and his mouth hung open. The officer in front of him looked at him apologetically and rested a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Son, my name is Sergeant Hank Voight. I'm with the L.A.P.D. Do you know this man?"

"...His name is... R-Roberto. He's my friend."

"Listen, son, I'm sorry, but someone attacked your friend. It's not a pretty sight. I don't recommend you keep looking at him, trust me." Voight said. "You need to go home now. We'll handle this. Trust me."

"..." Harvey said nothing, too numb to respond.

Harvey nodded and started walking back in the direction he left his bike, only to bump into his teacher. Bone saw the sight behind him: the bloodied hat on the ground.

"Teacher."

"Is that... Roberto?"

"...yes."

"I see... Let's go, kid. There's not much we can do."

•••

Harvey and Bone stood in Tamara's living room; they were all sitting in silence. The death of Roberto lay heavy over them all. Tamara looked down at her hands and raised her head to speak.

"They put the dogs on that poor, sweet old man." Ms. Johnson started. "Chewed him up like a piece of meat."

Harvey lowered his head even more; his fists tightened so much that his nails dug into his palms, causing him to bleed. Bone looked at Tamara and rubbed her shoulder, trying to comfort her as best as he could.

"I just don't... I don't understand this place anymore."

"It'll get better." His teacher said. "Let's get you upstairs. You need to get some rest."

"Harvey... Go home. There's nothing more we can do. No training tomorrow."

Harvey nodded and stood up; he looked at Tamara and nodded at her. She wished him goodnight. After walking outside and closing the door, He turned his head to the right and saw an animal-themed chess set. Memories of Roberto flooded his mind. When he first met him at the barbershop, walking with him around the neighborhood, chatting about life and the advice he would get from him, the encouragement he would get from when he trained with his teacher, and finally, all the fun chess games they had.

Gritting his teeth, Harvey didn't notice his left cheek burn away slightly, revealing a part of his jaw. It immediately healed over, leaving no trace of what just happened.

"There's nothing Harvey Miller can do tonight. But there's plenty for Vengeance to do."

•••

A man in an expensive suit stepped out of a black SUV; a cane was in his hands as he closed the door. Looking over to the two-story home, he chuckled and nodded. This man was James Whitlock, a dangerous and feared mob boss who ruled over southern Los Angeles. Bending down slightly, James looked at his driver and bodyguard, Teddy.

"Wait here."

Teddy nodded and killed the vehicle's engine. James then started walking toward the apartment he found out Bone was living in; He decided to park a little further away to not alert the highly skilled fighter of his presence here. With his message sent, Bone should have no qualms in accepting his proposition of fighting for him. After all, Bone now knew he was capable of getting to anyone. He checked his handgun in his pocket. Should their conversation not go how he wants it, A little reassurance could go a long way.

Gah!

James turned his head at the sound. It came from the direction he left Teddy. What could that imbecile have done now? Shaking his head, he proceeded forward. Whatever it was, he will deal with it once he finished his business with Bone.

"Hm?"

James stopped walking and looked behind him. It sounded like chains. Gripping his cane, he waited in silence. Whoever this was would regret being born. To think they could interfere with his business! Well, they'll get what's-

"Grah!"

James's train of thought was interrupted when something wrapped around his throat and pulled him off his feet. James struggled to remove the chain from his throat as he was dragged off. His momentum suddenly stopped as he looked up to a figure standing over him. It was a man dressed in a leather jacket and hoodie; his face was bathed in darkness.

"Found you."

The hooded man raised his leg over James's face. James started to yell something until the man's leg stomped on his head, knocking him out cold. The hooded man turned to a tied-up and beaten Teddy.

"Now... Tell me where all the men that work for you are."

•••

James felt like his head was about to implode. Shaking his head to wake up fully, he looks down and sees his hands and feet bound to a steel chair. Grunting in frustration, he tries to free himself, but to no avail.

"DAMNIT! Who did this!"

Looking around at his surroundings, he notices he is in one of his many warehouses. Boxes and crates were littered everywhere, a few SUV's and sports cars were parked in front of the parking bay.

"What the?"

James then notices all of his men are on the ground. They were all beaten and bloodied; some had burn marks on their bodies. They were all mumbling incoherently and were crying. James turned to his left and saw Teddy bound with steel chains; he was being hung in the air. Upside down.

"Teddy? Teddy! Wake the fuck up!"

"...Boss?" Teddy said as he tried opening his eyes, a task made impossible by how swollen they were. "That you?"

"Good. You're finally awake."

James quickly spun to look behind him, a task made impossible thanks to him being bound. The man from before walked around him. The hood was still over his head. James noticed that the man was limping and was bleeding into his clothes, Several rips and tears covered his clothing.

"You did this? Who the fuck do you think you are! Do you know WHO I a-"

WHACK

James was interrupted by a powerful punch to the face; teeth flew and landed a few feet away. Another punch made it's way into his stomach, causing James to dry heave.

"It was hard. Getting your men to come here." The hooded man started. "It wasn't until I used your phone and your little gopher over there to force them to come. Apparently, the threat of having them and their families killed is a very real one, if said by you."

"...Who are you?" James asked after catching his breath. "Why are you doing all this?"

"...You can call me Vengeance." Vengeance said as he dragged a chair over in front of him. "As to why I'm doing this... Does the name Roberto sound familiar?"

"Roberto? That old man?! You're doing all this for an old fool!"

Vengeance got up and punched James in the face. Reaching down, he grabbed one of James's fingers and bent it, breaking the digit.

"That kind old man. Was my friend."

"Geeh! You fucker!"

James yelled in fury. He then shook in his chair again. He was trying his best to try and escape. Vengeance shook his head and slapped James across the face.

"Enough. Let's finish this already." Vengeance spoke as he flicked his right arm out, a baton falling into his hand. "I've learned something tonight, thanks to you."

James was about to curse at his captor again when his eyes widened at what he saw next. The baton in the hooded man's hand started to change in texture. It was morphing to almost an asphalt and rocky surface, and cracks appeared randomly throughout the weapon. Fire slowly flickered out and illuminated the baton in a warm light. Vengeance slowly approached him, every step elevating his fear to new heights.

"W-What are... you!"

Vengeance said nothing as he began to beat James. Breaking several bones throughout his body, all the while ignoring James's cries for mercy. It wasn't until Vengeance dropped the baton with a grunt; his breathing was strenuous and difficult. Walking up to James, he grabbed his crying and burnt face and turned it up to look at him.

"I want to kill you! End it now! Get this heavy feeling of rage off my chest... but I won't do that. You don't deserve that."

Vengeance said as his eyes began to glow orange in the darkness of the hoodie. James saw the glowing orbs stare deep into his soul. He felt naked in front of those eyes. His entire being felt open for this man- NO! This demon to see!

"You're going to suffer. Just like all those who suffered, thanks to you. Now..."

"Look into my eyes. Your soul is stained by the blood of the innocent. Feel their pain!"

James began to scream as everything he'd ever done in his lifetime assaulted him. Every evil act, Every crime, murder, and sin was felt by him at once. His mind couldn't handle it all, couldn't process it! How could he!? He was a monster! He deserved all this and more!

"AAAHHHHHH!"

•••

Harvey walked up to Ms. Johnson's home and sat in a chair before Roberto's chess set. He winced from the pain of one of his injuries. He didn't break any bones tonight, but his body received a lot of hits and scratches. It would take a few hours for him to heal completely.

"You were right, Mr. Roberto. It pays to be three steps ahead of your opponent." Harvey moved his knight piece forward. "Thank you. For everything."

Harvey silently cried as he continued playing chess. The smiling visage of the kind old man who showed him kindness sat before him—playing one last chess match.