Archer Diaries

Truth Be Told

Maybe I don't know why things happen but they do. Maya says it's by divine design. Fate as she likes to call it. What use is suffering for something when you're not fated to have it? Truth be told I don't believe in fate. Believing in such a thing means I'm not in control. I have learnt to crave control. It's the only thing that makes sense. I'm nothing without it. I learnt that the hard way, that to survive this life, it is all i need. I don't want to control others, just me. No one can decide my fate except me. I make my life as it is mine.

******

The room was dimly lit by the single yellow bulb hanging from the ceiling, causing shadows to dance menacingly across the walls. It was The Room to those who knew about it and Hell to those who dare crossed Gary like the man hunched over right now. His bloodied face was contoured into pain and something else, something he shouldn't be expressing considering the situation he was in but he was a proud man, unwilling to show any form of weakness in front of Gary's lackeys.

"Ugh! This is getting boring fast." Barry grumbled, pushing himself off the wall. He walked over to the man and yanked his head back, making him wince in pain. "You know you can make this easier for yourself, right? This stubbornness would get you nowhere, Alfie. You know that."

Alfie spat in his face and gave him a bloody smile, "Go to hell!" he sneered

Barry chuckled in amusement and let him go as he reached for his handkerchief in his pocket. He wiped the bloodied spit from his face. "Oh Alfie!" Without warning, he backhanded him so hard that his chair toppled over and he was on the ground. He didn't stop there, he kicked him in the crotch with so much force that anyone doubted he would ever recover from, that was if he was left alive which was highly unlikely.

Mason watched from the shadows uninterested as Barry vented his displeasure on the guy. He couldn't say he pitied Alfie since the man was a narcissistic jackass who loved drugs and abusing women. The type of men he hated the most so no, he was not going to save the man from Barry's wrath. Fed up with the grunting, he turned to the two other people in the room.

Hal was a tall bulky man with dirty blonde hair shaved at the sides. Half of his face was hidden in the dark but the hardened look was still noticeable. His nose was crooked showing he'd had his fair share of fights. Dre, the other guy, was a few inches taller than Hal and just as muscular. He stood close to the light so it was easier to make out his features. His hair was cropped low and a short line run through the side. His bushy brows came together in a frown and his dark brown eyes watched the scene before him without flinching. His brown skin was littered with tattoos which weren't so visible due to the scanty illumination. They were just two of Gary's numerous employees.

A loud shrill filled the room halting all movement. Mason saw that all eyes were on him before he realised the noise was coming from him, his pocket to be precise. He reached into it and pulled out his phone. He frowned slightly when the number displayed on the screen wasn't one he recognised. He excused himself and went out to the equally dimly lit hallway.

"Hello!" he said when he answered. All he heard instead was laboured breathing. He pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at the phone before returning it to his ear. "Who the hell is this?"

"It's me!" came the hoarse voice of Robyn. "Please get me out of here!"

His heart froze as he heard her plea. Various scenarios played out in his head in a split second, none of which was good. "Where are you?" he tried to ask calmly but failed.

"The police...precinct."

"The precinct? Why?" She began sobbing unable to form complete sentences. "Calm down, Robyn and tell me what happened."