Chapter I, The night out

The beginning of the whole ordeal

 Big skyscrapers, big city, big roads and cars. Everything is big. Perhaps too big... The year is 2016 in Washington, USA. Hailing from Haiti, James earned a new position in his job as an official translator which was located in the Haitian embassy in Washington DC.
 Shrewd diplomat, his negotiation skills are in par with his linguistic skills. Having learned seven languages as a child(English, French, Spanish, German, Turkish and Italian), James was immediately hired as an official translator in the Haitian Embassy in Canada. Through years of hard work, he has been promoted and sent to the US. After another four years of hard work for the embassy, James still couldn't get used to the busy life, daily car jams and loud nightlife. After successfully being persuaded by his friends to go to a nightclub for a few drinks, he started feeling better about himself, more... appropriate to the society he lived in, at that point. After his first night he, to no-ones surprise, got drunk, but this was good. James no longer felt like a fish out of sea, but as a part of that, how he described it, wild community. Even though he was spirited and very lively as a person, he was still always a fly on the wall to most nightclub fights, arguments and situations of mocking one-another. Life went on like this for some time... and then the phone rang:
- Hello? - say James;
- 'Oi! Jamie boy! - was the reply his Scottish friend, Allan, used;
- Hey, Al'! How is it going? - says James, happily;

- Haha! Good, good ma' boy. Look 'ere we're goin' to the 'Plex tonight. Comin' along, aren't ya' now? - replied Allan, full of spirit;
- Heh, of course I am, man. Why are you calling to ask me this? I thought you knew my answer! - said James jokingly;
- Actually, bud, there is quite a specific reason. We're goin' to get ya' some company with the right type'a hole! - Allan said and cackled loudly;
- Ooh, alright. Sounds cool. Is nine fine? - James replied, a bit shocked, but still happy;

- Aye. I'll see you there. Don't ya' dare be late, ya' 'ear me? - Allan asked;

- I won't, worry not. See you! - said James and hung up the phone.

James, quite shocked by this, began preparing for the night, as it was already seven into the night. This was a surprise, as the last time James hugged a girl was seven years prior, back when he was in Haiti... who was his sister to whom he was giving a last hug before going to Canada. Therefore, he was very nervous. He took a shower and made sure to dress to impress. A fine black, tailored suit with a white shirt under, black dress pants and dress shoes, all adorned with a nice black leather fedora and black leather gloves. The time was nigh and he got into his car, smoothly driving to Midtown Partyplex, his usual hangout place. Upon arrival he saw his three friends, Allan, the one who called him. To his left were Damien and Adam, while to his right was the most beautiful girl James had ever seen, Ashley. Wearing a red dress, hair straight and black high-heels along with pure white elbow gloves. Allan was full of life, proud and brave. The typical no-bullshit type of guy, but was a great friend and great company. Good sense of humor, too, but loved to fight. Damien was young and green, still pretty immature, but always great company. He would be the one who would be making fun of everyone when drunk. Adam was a calm and collected guy, always knowing what to say and when to say it, but also very mysterious. He knew everything and no-one could hurt him, because of his knowledge on many things about things going around him, and life in general. He was also rich. And Ashley was what many would describe as a cute and sweet girl. Highly intelligent, but not arrogant in the slightest, very social and friendly, understanding and tolerant, she was the perfect girl for James. But, she was not to be joked around with. Having finished Military school and her father being ex-marine, she knew her way around many weapons.
As James approached he was greeted by Allan and the boys who, right after greeting him, introduced him to Ashley who met him with a very warm smile and they shook hands, forging a pretty formal and respectful introduction to one another:
- 'Oi!, Jamie boy! You weren't late, that's a surprise - said Allan, before laughing; 

- That is right. You sure do look stupid in that suit, haha!- Damien added, immaturely, as it befits him;

- Don't mind the idiots, James. Glad you could make it. You do look pretty good in that suit. - Adam said reassuringly, before looking at Ashley, quickly turning his look back towards James, finishing it with a wink of understanding;
- Yes, I wasn't late, thankfully. - James replied to Allan, before turning towards Damien - Damien, hello. I see that you are as stupid as ever before - James told Damien, obviously a bit irritated at his constant annoying immature behavior, before thanking Adam - Thanks, Adam. Glad you're here, too! - smiling.
Allan ended the possibility of a fight breaking out between Damien and James by introducing James to Ashley:
- Aye, aye. Anyway, Ash, this is our good friend James! - he told Ashley, whilst pointing his hand at James, who smiled towards Ashley;

- Pleased to meet you, Ashley. - James told Ashley, definitely noticing her smile;
- Likewise, James. Don't mind my brother. He was always an idiot, but I'm glad that you already know that. - Ashley said, letting out a slight giggle, referring to Damien; 
- Oh, didn't know he was your brother... - James said, quite surprised and embarrassed;

- I am, sadly. - Damien added, slightly jokingly;
- No worries, we all think he is an idiot. - Ashley replied, before chuckling slightly and shaking her head at Damien;
- Well, are we goin' to stand 'ere like crazies, or are we gonna' 'ave some good time?! - Allan asked, lively;

- Yeah, let's go inside. - James added, before approaching Ashley and escorting her inside.
When they got inside, the time for fun had started. Everything was going smooth. Allan and Damien were drinking they're usual sixth beer, while cracking jokes together and laughing loudly at every one, including the corniest ones. Adam was sipping on his second glass of Bourbon, sitting quietly whilst listening to the words being spoken around him, resting one of his hands close to his right suit jacket pocket, seeming very suspicious. James was drinking his third glass of Bourbon whilst talking to Ashley who was drinking some Smirnoff vodka. The night was going well until Damien, having drank his eight mug of beer, approached James and grabbed him by his right shoulder, while Ashley had gone to the ladies room. He started talking to James:
- Sooo, Jamesh! How is YOUR night going, huh?! - he asked, trying to seem cool and calm;
- It's going good, Damien. I can see that you are having a lovely time. - James replied carefully;
- Yesh! I'm having a great f*****g time, man! - Damien yelled as loudly as his voice carried him;

- Tone it down, Damien, you don't want anyone getting the wrong idea, man. - James said, a bit worried;
Damien started shaking his right hand left and right - No-one will mess with me!;
- You never know. You need something, man? - Adam jumped in, sticking his hand into his right suit jacket pocket, looking for something;

- I ughr-... Yes! James! I need to tell you that my sister is a great person. Don't you break her heart or something! I will kill you if you do so! - Damien yelled, obviously drunk and angry.

- I won't, I promise. Calm down. - James said, now being totally calm;
- You don't tell ME to calm down, you hear?! - Damien replied, getting more and more aggressive;
- Okay, back off man. Now. - Adam said while getting up from his chair and forcefully pushing Damien back towards Allan, who grabbed him and sat him down on his chair, cackling;

- Hahaaa!! What is it, Damien!? You s**t your pants?! You aren't DRUNK, are ya' now, boy?! - Allan asked Damien provokingly.

The two drunks argued while James thanked Adam:
- Thanks, Adam. A bit more of that and there would've been trouble. - James said confidently;
- Yeah, especially because of that. - Adam chuckled and said, pointing at Damien's poorly hidden hunting knife;
- Holy s**t... Thanks, Adam. - James said, now a bit less confident;
- No worries, man. You enjoy the rest of your night. Don't worry, I got you covered. - Adam said, before bowing his head ever so slightly towards James and returning to his chair.
Ashley came back and her and James hit the dance floor.
The music was great, James and Ashley were having a great time... until they heard that sound. There was a shrieking scream all of a sudden and a middle aged man was seen lying on the floor in-front of Damien who had his hunting knife in his hand. Only difference was: there was blood dripping from it. Shots were fired by the security guard, one hitting Damien right in his left shoulder, causing him to fall on the floor, dropping his knife. All of a sudden, more shots were fired, but now the guard was shot in the chest. The shots came from the bar and the man holding the gun was no-one other than Adam. It was now clear to James what he was holding onto in his jacket pocket. There was absolute panic in the nightclub and Ashley was screaming. Adam was seen speed-walking out of the back, his Colt .45 in his hand, followed by Damien, and Allan was nowhere to be seen. Before anyone could say anything, James grabbed Ashley by her right arm and ran with her towards the front exit, which was now empty as the other guards were chasing after Adam and Damien. Upon leaving, James saw Damien's knife on the ground, which he forgot. He did something only a true friend would do and grabbed the knife, pocketing it, escorting Ashley outside afterwards.
The two quickly bolted towards James' car and James drove away. In the car, Ashley was panicking:
- Oh my God, no! What just happened?! - Ashley asked hysterically;
- I don't know. All I know is that we have to get the F**K out of here, and now! - James said, sounding worried.
The drive was long and Ashley remained quiet during it, before finally opening up:
- Why did you take the knife? What if they find it at your place? What if anyone saw you?! - Ashley said, obviously worried about James' future;
- If. - James replied.

- This is not a joke! If they find it, you could lose your job and freedom! - Ashley continued;
- If. - James calmly replied;
- Oh my God... Adam texted me right now. He says that Damien is okay and that he is getting patched up. - Ashley said, letting out a sigh of relief, whilst looking at her phone;
- All's well when it ends well, I suppose. - James replied carelessly;
- Yeah.. I guess. He is SUCH an idiot, God! - Ashley said, irritated. 
They reached Ashley's house and they looked at each other a bit. James closed in on Ashley slowly, not caring about the risks of what he's about to do. They kissed for long, before Ashley broke into tears on James' shoulder.
She cried for long, sobbing and contemplating what just happened. James hugged her and kept reassuring her that everything is going to be okay. Ashley wiped the tears off her face, thanked James for everything and got out of the car, heading towards her door.
James, totally unconscious of what just happened, drove home. Upon reaching it, he stopped his car engine and sat there for a minute or two, thinking about what just really happened. He was thinking; Why did Damien do that? Who was that guy? Where did Allan go? Is he alright? And, most importantly; Who is Adam Findkin? Who is he REALLY? He parked his car in his garage, went inside, carelessly taking his clothes off and throwing them to the floor, before falling asleep in his bed. A dreamless sleep. Tomorrow was not only a new day for James. It was the beginning of a totally new life for him.