It was 3:20 AM and everybody was sleeping in their homes. Suddenly something exploded on Brick Street, in the Royal City of London.
"WHAT IN THE BLOODY HELL IS MAKING THAT NOISE. PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SLEEP 'ERE!" Someone shouted from one of the buildings on that street. His voice was soon muffled by the second explosion.
Nate hid behind a car. He did a very small mistake and now Arty Sherman, one of the most feared men in London was sent to kill him.
Nate was sleeping happily in his flat when suddenly Arty blasted the door open and blew up Nate's model car set in the process.
Nate had to jump from the second floor on the street below. He slowed his fall with air magic. He was still wearing his green pajamas. He didn't even have the time to put on shoes or pick up a jacket, it was cold outside.
Arty was a 47-year-old hunter, who hunts and kills people for money. There were many hunters in London, but none was as loud as Arty. Arty specialized in explosive magic, not very well for doing the work silently. He was loud but got work done every time, that's why he was one of the most feared men in London. Now he was after Nate.
'Should've killed that rat right there in that alley. Come on Nate, for 7 years you did everything carefully and never made a mistake, now you made one and that loose cannon is after you. Think, think, you damn idiot!'
"Come out Nate! You know you can't hide from me. Sorry for your room though, but I can't help it, I got a contract to kill ya. Now come put nicely, so I can kill you and go to sleep." Arty shouted.
"If you want to sleep, why didn't you wait for the morning? You know I always come to your café for the breakfast. You could've killed me then, we would have been both asleep right now. You're also waking up neighbors, this fuckin middle of the night, Arty." Nate shouted from behind the car. He took a glance and saw Arty was leaning his back on the telephone pole.
"I can't help it mate, that bastard wanted you dead in the middle of the night, while you were asleep. But you're a friend, Nate I didn't want you to die without knowing why. That's why I blew up your door first, to give you a warning." He picked up a pebble off the road and threw it far away from Nate. The pebble hit the ground and a huge explosion made a small crater in the road.
Nate wiped his brow and started thinking about how to survive. "You could've knocked first you, pot for a brain. You blew up my limited edition Lego set, Arty. I paid 10 Gold Plates for that, for God's sake."
"Can't help it mate, but I feel bad now. I should've knocked on the door."
"Yeah Arty, you should've!"
"Doesn't matter now, I'll get a lot of money out of this contract."
"Oy! How much is he paying you?"
"20 Gold Plates and 30 silver crowns, why?"
"What if I paid you more, will you kill him instead of me?" Nate crossed his fingers.
"How much you offer?" Arty caught the bait.
"Double what he offered and lifetime immunity, no red coat will ever bother you, what do you say?"
"You got that much money? And how're ya gonna manage the immunity thing? You've a connection to the Royals or something?"
"Two words, Black Hog!" Nate dropped a bombshell that was way bigger than any blast Arty made.
"Black Hog? You fuckin kiddin me, boy? You've got a death wish, boy? You know people from Black Hog?"
"Not just anyone, I know Warthog personally. He's a friend. I know you had feuds with some Hogs, but if you let me live I guarantee they'll leave you in peace. They won't even look at you or your bar." This was an even bigger bombshell than before.
"Your client is fukin Warthog? Now I understand where ya got 10 Gold Plates for that Lego set. You in some deep shit, mate. All right, I'm listening." Nate sighed of relief, his plan worked. He took a deep breath and came out from behind the car and walked over to Arty. "I can't believe you're involved with the Black Hog. You really think Warthog will listen to you?"
"I know he will. You go back home and get some sleep. I'll talk to that Orc. I also need someplace to sleep tonight. I would've slept at your place, but your girls hate me. I'll just sleep at a club." While Nate was speaking Arty was staring at him dumbfounded.
"I hope you know what you're getting into, Nate. I know Black Hog's powerful, but Asher is no fool either. He has ties with the Royal family, so be careful. I'll keep this secret for now. That payment better is at my doorstep or we'll have to do this again." He said and left.
Nate came back to his flat and saw people standing at the door. They saw him walking up the stairs and started asking questions after questions. He didn't answer any of them and went inside his room.
Nothing remained of the door; everything was blown up to pieces. His expensive Lego set was scattered all over the place with some pieces melted halfway. He remembered that he had to get away from here. He quickly changed into his formal attire. He picked up his phone and charger from the nightstand, put them in his pocket, and walked past the curious neighbors down the stairs and out of the building.
He pulled out his phone and dialed the number of Russell Black. After trying for the three times he picked up.
"Hey Russell, what club is nearest me? My place blew up and now I need someplace to sleep." Nate explained.
"Have you seen the time? It's 3:30 in the night, I was sleeping you asshole! Pixies should be open right now, it stays open all night. Don't call me now, Tina's there, ask her. Good Night you son of a…" Nate cut the phone and started walking.
After walking for an hour, he was now on the Great Russell Street. There he saw the neon signs for the nightclub Pixies. He went inside and walked to the bar. There behind the bar was a girl with short pink hair serving a drink to a customer.
Tina saw Nate and shivered. He sat in a private booth and gestured for Tina to come.
"What're you doing here this late, Nate?" She asked in her squeaky little voice as she sat beside him.
Nate yawned loudly, "Asher sent Arty after me, blew up my flat, and my car set with it. Fortunately, I got away, had to make a deal with him." She gasped loudly. "Anyway, I can't sleep there now, Red Coats might be swarming that place. Give me one of the rooms and call boss, tell him I'm here." He got up and went to the kitchen. There he opened a door to the basement. The basement was more like a hallway with many doors. He opened room no 3.
"Call me if you need anything. I'll go and call the boss. Should I send a girl?" Nate waved his hand.
"No! Just go and let me sleep." He said and fell asleep immediately.
*-*
The next morning Arty woke up late. When he returned last night, he had a hard time sleeping. He walked over to the front door to grab today's newspaper. He opened the door and with the paper, there was also a package, Arty picked it up. 'To Arty Sherman, From Nate Wells. Here's your payment.' He opened it and saw a letter, under the letter was another bag and something was in it. He picked it up and opened it. A wide grin appeared on Arty's face. "He was telling the truth, after all." He muttered to himself.