Extracts

The Factory

Lucio and Francesco walk in through the main gate and into the heart of the factory. It was a multi story building and the two were standing in the middle from which you could look up to all levels of the building. At the bottom floor we're huge tanks of the liquid and tubes coming out of it from on top.

"What's going on here, where are all the workers," Francesco complained.

"Don't know," Lucio answered when suddenly on all four levels men appeared pointing their guns at them. The two men weren't phased.

"It's just a bluff," Lucio whispered. "Mohamed, good to see you too."

A short big man stepped forward between the men, "Lucio, you sure got some balls just walking in here. You do know who this belongs to."

"Cours i do," Lucio replied with a mischievous grin.

"Then you also know that you're trespassing his territory. Do you want to start a war," the little man asked nervously.

"No no of course not, not yet," he mumbled," we're just here for a field trip. Taking my brother to go sightseeing."

"Cut the crap, what do you want? He's not here if you're looking for him," Mohamed said.

"Where's all your workers, it's Tuesday afternoon yet I don't see anyone handling the machines," Lucio replied.

"You're not answering my question, besides that's none of your business," Mohamed replied, getting more and more anxious.

Gunshots erupted out of nowhere. A few body's fell down the railings and landed next to lucios feet. Shocked Francesco looked up. All the guards from the factory were shot dead, the only person left was Mohamed.

"Fucking hell," the small man sweared when seeing all the dead bodies around him.

"Are you gonna answer my question now? Where are your workers at?" Lucio said with an annoyed tone.

Mohammed pressed a button on a remote control and a door opened. Out came two dozen kids.

The two brothers looked at the workers surprised. "Really, kids?" Lucio said.

"Best workers. Can work around the clock and no one misses them," Mohammed explained a bit proudly, "it was my idea."

Some of the kids looked frightened by the sight of the dead bodies, some looked at them with no emotion at all. As if seeing dead bodies was part of their daily routine.

"Lucy, we can't have kids working in the factory," Francesco whispered.

"No, we can. What the King did was smart so we'll keep it going. Besides look at the basters, I bet most of them have no family so this is their home, you really want to take these kids home away," Lucio said.

"This is not a home," Francesco hissed.

A little boy came forth,"can I go see my sister now? Please."

Another child said, "I want to go back to my aunt."

A few more kids also started speaking up revealing having some connections outside.

Lucio looked up to Mohamed, "You said no one would miss them."

"That's what I was told too," Mohamed replied.

Lucio clicked with his tongue and his men dragged Mohamed away, "wait you can't do this. You won't get away with this. He'll come for you and cut off your head. Mark my words."

"Alright everyone who wants to go home to someone step on this side, everyone who has no one to go home to go on that side," Lucio commanded.

The kids did as they were told, around ten of them still had someone outside waiting for them. The others were led back into their rooms.

"Kill them," Lucio said.

Francesco looked at him outraged, "we can't do that, they're just kids."

"Kids with connections that could cause us problems," Lucio grabbed his shoulder, "we need to get rid of them. Don't go soft just because they're kids. No one went easy on us when we were kids so why should we." To his men Lucio said, "bring the kids behind the factory and then get rid of the evidence. Francesco will come with you."
Francesco wanted to rebel but knew he had no choice.

Behind the factory he lined up the kids. The little boy who spoke first turned around, "I know we're going to die now but can I ask you for a favour."

Francesco sighed and then nodded.

"Can you tell my sister I'm not angry with her and that I am thankful for her trying everything she can to save me," He gave him a bracelet and francesco put it in his pocket.

He felt horrible, he didn't want these kids to die but knew he had no choice. He nodded and stepped back. Lucio's men took the kids out in cold blood and then burned their bodies.