Chapter 1: Childhood Of Pain

  A new story begins following the tales of a boy whose life has taken a dramatic turn of supernatural elements. As he gets older he would come to the idea of throwing emotions aside but there is an element of him which fights against casting emotions aside. What fate will await him?

  Will he cast aside the emotions or will he fight for it? To find out we must start from where his story begins.

  November 21’st 1989

  We tell our story in Havel City, an eerie leftover landscape with towering skyscrapers loomed like silent sentinels, their windows reflecting the dim glow of streetlights that struggled to penetrate the darkness.

  Abandoned shops and warehouses that were boarded up losing identity and value. They stood lifeless as they witness corruption and crime every day.

  Dimly lit alleyways snaked through the city like dark veins, beckoning the lost souls who sought refuge in the shadows. The low hum of traffic and the far-off sirens served as a continual reminder of the city's ever-pulsating pulse.

  Smoke from cigarettes and the stink of waste that clung to the city's underbelly combined to create a smell of decay and desperation that permeated the entire area. Walls covered in graffiti served as a witness to individuals who struggled to survive in this concrete jungle.

  Danger could not be avoided in this hell on Earth city, almost everywhere looks as if it was flourishing off negativity. Each alleyway is presented as a hiding place or where you will be able to get away with the trouble which appeared to fail for those who choose to hide than cause problems.

  The atmosphere was heavily scented with foul smells, cigarettes and the sweet burns of cannabis.

  But for our hero, he didn’t have to suffer from this as we tell the tales of Lee Beckton.

  Born In the City of Havel City in the year 1974. The boy looked to appear normal as Lee was a teenager that didn’t appear to be an example of Havel City's miserable, horrendous, disgusting so-called people.

  The boy was not encouraged by anything, The person that influenced that behaviour would be his mother who was called Marianna.

  From the age of a young kid, Lee tiptoed around his mother to avoid her explosive temper which would go on for hours. The walls of their small living space seemed to close in on him as her hurtful words filled the air like venomous arrows.

  She used to say, "Lee, you're nothing but a burden," in a contemptuous manner. "I find it unbelievable that I must look after you. You are a useless waste of space, just like your father.

  Lee never understood his mother from a very young age, it surprised him how she never laid hands on him at all but only gave him verbal dialogue which could have led young Lee to suicide.

  Her verbal assaults cut deep into the young boy's heart, leaving invisible wounds that festered over time. He longed for love, for affirmation, for a mother's tender embrace, but all he received was rejection and harsh words.

  The more Marianna kept torturing her son, the more Lee would become numb to it in future years he still felt pain but the pain was no longer displayed on his face but all inside of his heart whose heart was slowly becoming colder.

  The Year 1990 come by

  Lee despite his lifestyle was going to school as he is finishing his years in high school. But in high school, things were no different for him.

  Compared to his classmates nothing was lighting up for Lee. The boys were relentless in their taunts and jeers, finding joy in making Lee's life miserable. They would knock his books out of his hands, mock his appearance, and call him names that cut like daggers. Lee didn’t appear to look strong in the eyes of those who antagonize him and saw him as a common person that easily is abused physically and verbally.

  The girls were no less cruel, gossiping about him behind his back and spreading rumours that he was “suicidal because he can’t get acceptance from anyone.” which only served to deepen his isolation. He always says to himself about the girls when they weren’t around:

  “They’re just like my mother…every single one of them,” he said

  The majority of Lee's schooldays were spent in heightened alertness as he waited for the next onslaught. He avoided looking anyone in the eye who may take delight in his suffering and kept his head down. But despite his best efforts to blend in, the bullies were always able to find him.

  He will say that the present events hurt him when he was growing up.

  He will describe the current events as having caused him pain in his formative years.

  In the agony he was going through in school, he began to wonder whether anything was even possible.

  “Girlfriend, friend, job, house, redeemed mother option to restart… no all of that seems to be impossible for me.” He told himself

  Sunset. After that torture was done he would suffer from the words of his mother on a continued basis like she had to keep her streak alive. But the moment he stepped through those doors it would end up being the day he changed the course of his life.

  "Look at you, you pathetic excuse for a son," Marianna spat, her eyes blazing with contempt. "You think you can escape your failures at school, but you can't hide from the truth. You're worthless!"

  Lee remained there with a harsh expression on his face because he didn't want to let her enjoy watching him respond. He had endured her harsh tantrums for years and had grown immune to the pain.

  Marianna continued, raising her voice with each new sentence, "You'll never amount to anything. "With the way you are, no one will ever love you." “With the way I am you say, there is no way of me I have no purpose but you’re giving me a purpose to walk out of those doors and never see until you find a way to redeem yourself from a moron to a new improved mother!” Lee said with no hesitation.

  Marianna's eyes widened with shock, not expecting this reaction from her son. She had become accustomed to his silence, his passive acceptance of her abuse. His defiance unsettled her, and for a moment, she faltered.

  “WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY BOY, WHO’RE YOU CALLING A MORON JUST WHO DO YOU THINK YOU’RE SPEAKING TO!” Marianna said

  Two eyes locked in a room of silence. Marianna's anger flared, and she took a step forward, her face contorted with rage.

  Lee did not move from her he gave her the same look he had always been receiving for the current majority he has lived with his mother.

  “I am out of here, to make you happy you won’t see my face again,” Lee said as he walks through the door

  Walking through the door he would experience his mother's touch in a way that he didn’t want as she forces him back in but Lee retaliated as he pushed her far back from him.

  He showed years of pain sending it right back at her.

  “I’M THROUGH WITH YOU!” Leaving her apartment permanently.

  Lee as he stormed wasn’t satisfied as if he needed to get karma on very specific people.

  Lee was more driven than ever when a new day started and the sun rose. He seemed ready to take matters into his own hands since he had a resolve to no longer be a victim. He returned to school while armed with a metal baseball bat, not out of fright or apprehension.

  He was immediately greeted by the bullies' well-known sneers and mocking laughs as soon as he entered the school grounds. However, Lee, this time seemed different in certain ways. His eyes burned with a wave of anger they had never seen before, and his posture showed newfound confidence.

  Lee moved towards the gang of boys who had abused him for far too long without saying a word. He swung the metal bat, sending ripples through the group as it struck the ground with a loud, thunderous thud. The bullies stepped back, their bravado momentarily shattered.

  “Listen up you jerks!” said a steady Lee

  They all froze.

  "I've had enough of your torment, and I won't take it anymore. If you want to mess with someone, find someone else. You're not going to find satisfaction in bullying me any longer. I guarantee that" Lee stated

  Lee’s uncharacteristic actions had everyone confused.

  It seems the boys got the message but Lee wasn’t done yet he had turned to the girls who were no exception in his eyes.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  He slowly walked up to them saying:

  "You think spreading lies about me makes you powerful? It only shows how insecure and pathetic you are. Instead of tearing others down to make yourselves feel better, try building each other up for once.” Lee told them

  They all understood the assignment

  He was staring at everyone with pure hatred as they added to the misery he had to face.

  His face of anger switched as Lee started to laugh as if he was a mental patient. Everyone who was witnessing this saw a complete alternate Lee that made them shiver to the ground. Lee was unintentionally presenting himself as a psychotic maniac that had no regard for life.

  School staff members were coming so Lee knew it was time to go,

  With that, Lee dropped the metal bat, leaving it on the ground as a symbol of his defiance. He turned and walked out of the school, leaving behind the bullies and the poisonous atmosphere that had choked him for so long.

  Lee was aware that quitting school was a risky course of action, but he was sick of being in such a toxic environment.

  Leaving the school feeling satisfied with himself, Lee questioned if he was stable or not. “Was that too much?” he said rubbing his eyes.

  Now leaving his school and home, Lee did not know what to do with himself he did not know what path to take but Lee will temporarily find one.

  Days have passed since the occurrence leaving his mother and school. Lee was barely getting by in the treacherous Havel city he felt like it was the end of the line for him but his mind said “No, you will not end this race now”. So Lee was keeping his journey alive.

  Wondering in the streets of Havel City Lee found himself drawn to a small gym tucked away in a forgotten corner of the city. The sign outside read " Aaron Boxing Gym," and something about it called to him. He stepped inside, unsure of what he was looking for but feeling a glimmer of hope that he might find it here.

  “Maybe this place can be of use to me,” Lee said

  Lee steps into the building where the sounds he hears are nothing more than punching bags and the loud thuds of pads. Lee felt intimidated wondering if he was going to experience pain here as well so he slowly tried to creep out. But a man asked, “Hello there how can I help you?”.

  Lee did not move and turned as the person that asked him was a burly man with a salt and peppered beard. Lee did not say anything back to him as he was shy.

  “I’m sorry let’s try that maybe I came off a bit strong, hello my name is Aaron the owner of this gym it’s your first time being around here. You’re here for boxing I presume?” Aaron asked giving Lee a friendly smile

  That was a first for Lee.

  Lee took time to think before nodding. "Well, I suppose so. Even though I know very little about it, there is something about this place that appeals to me.

  Jack laughed. You've come to the correct place, I suppose. Boxing is more than simply punching; it's about diligence, concentration, and identifying strength inside. It may alter the way you perceive things. It was a time of evolution for Lee.

  Lee asked Aaron, “So when can I start?”

  “We can start right now,” Aaron responded with energy.

  And so, Lee began his journey into the world of boxing under Aaron's guidance. The older man became a father figure to him, offering not only boxing training but also life lessons that Lee had never received from his mother. Aaron saw the pain and anger in Lee's eyes and recognized the potential within him.

  Lee immersed himself in his training with unflinching vigour as the days went into weeks. With each punch, he let go of the feelings that had been building up inside of him for years, finding refuge in the gym. Through the rigorous workouts, he began to gain physical strength and confidence.

  In the boxing ring, Lee learned to face his fears and insecurities head-on. He realized that his emotions were not a weakness but a source of power. He embraced the anger and pain, channelling them into his punches.

  Lee developed into a formidable fighter while under Jack's watchful supervision from a lost and shattered young man. He improved his techniques and become faster and more robust every day.

  Six arduous years had gone since Lee entered the gym for the first time, and at 6'2" tall and in the best shape of his life, he was now a towering figure. The endless hours of practice and commitment he had put into boxing had transformed his once slim build into an athletic and well-toned one. Lee’s dark brown hair had grown slightly longer, falling just above his shoulders in a slightly messy yet stylish manner.

  His piercing green eyes would land the attention of females but he didn’t care about that as it only brought bad memories. His tan skin was evidence of hours spent in the gym and outdoors, soaking up the sun during his rigorous training sessions.

  Outside the gym, he had become close to Aaron whom he has told his story during the six years on how he ended up in the gym. Aaron was the only person whom Lee can see as a friend and as a father. The only one who brought happiness to Lee to get to where he is now.

  Things were going well for him for the first time in his life but now those good six years will go down the train

  The Next Day

  As part of his regular life, he enters the gym as usual being as a routine, but something was off. But on this day, something felt off. There was a heaviness in the air that seemed to weigh down on him.

  "Hey, Aaron, you here?" Lee called out, looking around the gym.

  No one responded, and the gym was unnaturally quiet. His stomach began to churn as he made greater progress inside the gym, and his heart began to race. Near the entryway, he noticed a group of individuals huddled together, their expressions dark and their eyes heavy with sorrow.

  What is occurring? Lee questioned, his voice quivering.

  As he turned to face him, one of the regulars at the gym started crying. Sorry to break it to you, Lee, but Aaron...... Aaron's gone."

  Lee's heart was in an unconscious state a bowl of emotion that overwhelmed him. "How? What happened?" Lee managed to ask, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Another gymgoer, his voice breaking from sorrow, said, "He was shot last night." We are all in shock since it was a senseless act of violence.

  Lee's eyes began to well up with tears as he attempted to digest the information. In his most trying times, Aaron had been there for him, directing and encouraging him when no one else would. He had since left. “It’s not fair,” Lee said letting out his emotions. Lee thought he was in the clear of darkness but it came back for him. It was not too long after the death of Aaron that Lee isolated himself again never appearing in the gym he was going to that cold area again.

  In his search for a new path, Lee wandered the streets of Havel City, feeling the weight of his emotions pulling him down. He didn't know where to go or what to do, but fate had something in store for him.

  One day, as Lee walked through a rundown neighbourhood, he came across a well-built man standing on the steps of an old apartment building. The man had a commanding presence, exuding an air of authority that demanded respect. He had a pitch-black ponytail and an olive undertone complexion. His attire was striking, wearing a three-piece suit with a red blood tie, and earrings on both ears. This man was Winston Wright, a formidable figure in the criminal underworld.

  "Hey, you look lost," Winston said with a hint of intrigue in his deep voice.

  Lee nodded, not sure why he felt compelled to open up to this stranger. "I am. I don't know where I'm headed anymore."

  Winston patted the step next to him, inviting Lee to sit down. "Well, sometimes life takes us on unexpected journeys. My name's Winston, by the way."

  “I am Lee, Lee Beckton” as he introduced himself.

  “If you ever want a job, you can contact me nothing too crazy but with your skills, you can be a debt collector in my business” he explains

  Not caring he was ready to join. It was almost as if this was planned perfectly by the mysterious leader of a criminal organisation.

  “I’ll do it just to cure my misery.”

  “You will have a lot of enjoyment working for me,” Winston said with an evil smile. A new path had begone for Lee as we head to the year when things got even more diabolical.

  May 30th, 1997

  It was a rainy day nothing had changed In Havel City; everything remained the same. Nothing changed for the better neither did Lee as he wore a black-hooded bomber jacket underneath, he had a simple white t-shirt, which now looked more like a uniform to him. His blue jeans were practical and allowed him to move swiftly when needed. Completing the outfit were his tactical boots. Lee was now twenty-three years of age compared to himself in 1990 that image was completely erased.

  He was a debt collector considered to be low ranked in the enterprise. Lee had failed to see his hypocrisy as he once told himself seven years ago he wouldn't be an example of Havel City crimes and that was exactly who he came out to be.

  Still being in his best form and the adaptation of a boxing style his job was very easy dealing with people that owe Winston money. But Lee didn’t work he had a loyal partner named Taz who worked alongside him.

  “Another day completed,” said Taz

  “You got that right,” Lee said in a deep tone.

  For the majority of the day, all he was doing was collecting debt with the force of opposition who foolishly decided of refusing of giving up the goods so Lee and Taz can give them to the big man.

  A bit later in the evening, as Lee was enjoying some time to chill out and unwind, he got a letter he wasn't expecting. When he opened the simple envelope which had a return address, he discovered a short note written in exquisite handwriting.

  "Lee,

  I want to talk about your current role in my business. You know where to meet me.”

  Winston

  Lee's heart was itching with caution thinking possibly what this could be about but he agreed as he hadn’t done any wrong by him.

  The location for the meeting was a vacant warehouse outside of Havel City. Lee entered the dimly lit space with doubt and distrust spinning about in his head. He was conscious that this encounter might mark the beginning of a new chapter in his life, so he needed to use caution in making choices.

  “Welcome Lee,” Winston said having bodyguards with him.

  “Hello Mr Wright,” Lee said with manners

  Winston said, "Lee, I've been happy with your work for the past year even now as I speak," with a small smile. You've proven to be a valuable help to my business. Your abilities as a debt collector have proven highly effective.”

  “Thank you, boss.”

  "I believe it's time for you to move up in the ranks," Winston added. A person with your abilities has greater chances. I'd like for you to join my inner circle."

  “What do you mean by that?” Lee questioned.

  Widening his grin, Winston showed a hint of hatred in his eyes. It means that you will have more authority, possession of assets and a chance to be at the very top of the food chain's hierarchy. You'll be in control of managing some aspects of the business, making sure our employees are loyal as well as dealing with traitors and other minor things

  Despite being a criminal who doesn’t care what decision they make; he was no idiot of what Winston when the spoke of “Dealing with traitors and other minor things”

  To Winston's Surprise what he heard was “No” He quickly responded to that rejection asking him “Repeat yourself what did you just say?”

  “I said no what you just told me has thrown me off despite how I am now I will not inflict death upon anyone,” Lee said nonchalantly

  Crime lord Winston's eyes flickered with frustration. Someone was slowly walking behind Lee. The person behind him hit him on the back of his head and Lee fell to his knees.

  Well, like that so-called Aaron, this was a waste of time and a letdown. When Winston mentioned Aaron's name, Lee was perplexed as to why Winston brought up his name.

  He started to put all the pieces together; Aaron being shot and meeting Winston not too short after thinking of the past he had one thing to say.

  “Was it you… were you responsible for his death?” he said in a wave of whispering anger.

  “Now I wouldn’t say I did it myself personally but I did give the order. Now before you go off to say why did I order it, let me tell you something don’t lose your fights in your youthful days then proceed to run away when you fail to pay up the money you lost me each time, decades later I find and kill you plain and simple.”

  Without having the chance to continue, he was struck out.

  “Dispose of this disappointment.”

  The moon poured a glittering sheen over the gloomy seas as it floated high in the dark sky. The boat had been tossed by waves, and the air was strongly salted.

  With his unconscious body on a boat, the guards took Lee far away from Havel City and sent him to the middle of the ocean.

  The guards say, “Time for this punk to go over.”

  The guards quickly tossed Lee’s body into the ocean deeply. The boat quickly sailed away leaving nothing but Lee slowly sinking.

  A luminous demonic skull mask that begins to light green as Lee was descending to the ocean floor and understanding he was going to die suddenly shakes him up. However, fate had other plans for Lee when he noticed the glowing mask. His body started to emit sudden, radiant green flames.

  “WHAT IS HAPPENING!” He wondered

  The flame-covered layer of Lee's face was now separating into another layer which took an appearance of a mask exhibiting the emotions concealed by the mask's deep, hollow eye sockets that were devoid of any light or shine.

  Lee, who at this point had any human qualities, was unable to express the events that were occurring.

  A brand-new chapter awaited him, one that would bring about a brand-new desire: vengeance.