Integrity Of Violence

Chapter 19 - Maya

Maya

"Are you plotting his downfall? Because I am." Hunter gave me a look as he sat on the other side of the couch.

I was biting my nails. Right after, we got out of the board meeting, I dragged Hunter to my suit. Ali noticed us but he did not say anything. The meeting just included Ali talking about the atrocities of Bloodbane and how we were putting the whole nation in danger.

I did not understand how he could just say all that knowing that Bloodbane was sitting right in front of him. He was scheming something. If I ever get a grip of his plan, I will have to do something about it.

"What is he thinking?" I asked Hunter. He sighed.

"He brought us here making it look like we were amazing detectives and we were the only hope of this nation and bla bla bla. He brought the killers to catch the killers. How does that make sense?" He said. 

That made sense. But then, was everything he said in the jungle just pure bullshit? "He wants to judge our perspective of justice," I said.

Hunter was in disbelief. "What?"

I looked at him. "Do you remember the case of Zulfikar Al-Ghayb? The detective who exposed the billion-dollar propaganda and shut down Social media?"

He nodded. "After that, our case was the one that people focused on."

I smiled. "While I was running away in the jungle, Ali approached me." I looked at the camera placed in the room and moved away from him a little. "That is Abdullah Ali Akbar."

Hunter was about to gasp but then I widened my eyes signaling him about the camera. He calmed down and gave me a look. "What?"

"Yes," I said. "By that, right now, the only person who can threaten us is him. Somehow, he got to know about us and now he made us get involved in this mess."

Hunter closed his eyes and took a deep breath. I know it was a lot for him to contain his anger but that was what was needed right now. We needed to assess the situation. I did not know the end of this whole thing. But I can plot it after Ali tells us his plan.

Speaking of the devil, Ali knocked on my door. I looked at Hunter and warned him to stay calm. "Yes," I said as he came in wearing his ridiculous smile. His hands were stuffed in his pocket as he looked at both of us. He did not look like he wanted to discuss anything regarding why we were there and what we were supposed to do.

He sat on one of the couches and took a deep breath. "How are you guys enjoying your stay?"

If I tell him anything right now he will longer this conversation. "Good. I think it is about time you tell us what we are supposed to do right now."

He smiled and shrugged. "I made that clear in the meeting." He was being ridiculous.

I clicked my jaw. I could feel Hunter's patience running loose. "You want us to catch the killers that are us?" He scoffed.

Ali looked at the window behind us. He did not seem to like us mentioning the fact that we were the killers the whole world was after. "I kept you away from public slander and the prison that will never be as comfortable as the couch you are sitting on."

I gripped the couch. Now, my anger was rising. "Why are you beating around the bush? Just tell us what you are going to do."

He stood up. Although I had no prediction of his plan whatsoever, as he said in the jungle that he was going to save us, it might not disappoint me much. Will he help us with the mission? I scoffed internally.

Going towards the window, he sat on the handle of the couch and looked at us. "What did you both ever think of justice?" He played with a Rubik's cube from the side.

I bit the inner corner of my cheeks. "How would you like us to answer that?" I treaded.

"Truthfully,"

"If the server of justice can be brought for money, what do you expect from the world, Ali?" I locked eyes with him.

"Is justice rusted, Maya?" He wanted me to answer positively. That way it will not make him guilty for hiding us from court.

"What do you think, Ali? Isn't that the reason why we are here?" I stood up to match his eye level.

He took a deep breath before he recited,

"مِنْ أَجْلِ ذَٰلِكَ كَتَبْنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسْرَٰٓءِيلَ أَنَّهُۥ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًۢا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَآ أَحْيَا ".ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُنَا بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرًۭا مِّنْهُم بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ لَمُسْرِفُونَ ٣٢

Ali repeated a verse of the Quran calmly while looking into my eyes. When he was done, we were silent for a moment. My heart started beating harder. I don't know why but I have never felt weaker in front of anyone than this moment.

"For this reason, We decreed for the children of Isrā'īl that whoever kills a person not in retaliation for a person killed, nor (as a punishment) for spreading disorder on the earth, is as if he has killed the whole of humankind, and whoever saves the life of a person is as if he has saved the life of the whole of humankind." His eyes seemed to point at me.

 "Certainly, Our messengers have come to them with clear signs. Then, after all that, many of them are there to commit excesses on the earth." He said. "You and I both know that this is a verse of the Quran. My justice and my principle of justice was based on the words of Allah." He said.

He came dangerously close to me. "The only reason why you are alive in front of me is because every soul you killed was filled with corruption. Their death was goodness. Otherwise, I do not stand sinners." 

I gulped. Hunter was looking at us carefully. He would jump at Ali if he did anything wrong.

"And so, will you help us now?"

He backed away. "Every single person you will see from now on is connected to the government. From billionaires who rule and ruin and janitors who clean your flat. Everyone knows something sensitive and everyone you see from now on is a criminal.'' He moved close to Hunter and looked at him.

"I am giving you both free access to destroying the world government and eradicating evil. But this is only until you prove to me that everyone you kill has a reason to die."

"To be honest, everyone should die." Ali rolled his eyes at Hunter.

"Are you saying that we are fooling everyone?" I asked.

He turned to me. "Certainly."

"What about these board members that you recruited?" I sat. "Are we fooling them too?"

"We are manipulating the authority of every country from now on. In the excuse of finding the killer, be the killer. The detective at dawn, Bloodbane at night."

I took a deep breath. "What do you get from all this?"

A ghost of a smile appeared on his face. "Justice," He whispered.