The Corruption of Pangaea

By Raymond G Newsome

The citizens of Pangaea live their lives surrounded by towering walls in separate districts, each with their way of life and level of crime. Most live normal lives with jobs and families. A number of unfortunate souls are trapped in the darkness lurking in the shadows. After three individuals face a series of traumatic events, they decide to fight back against the darkness and the man responsible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raymond G Newsome
• Release date: Jun 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201483715

Book preview

Creed

The traffic flowed with its evening melody under the weakening light. Street lamps glowed below the rooftops. Distant spotlights lit up the growing shadows from hovering zeppelins. A figure stared at the scene with growing intent. His hood flapped in the undeterred wind. He crouched on the edge like the gargoyles of Notre Dame. The tail of his long coat dangled around him. A pair of kukris curled up in their sheaths against his back. He stood up ready to return home unsure of the plan.

A woman’s scream reached his ears from the alley below him. Two men pinned her against a brick wall beside a dumpster. She struggled against the pair with all her strength, but she was outnumbered. The smaller, subservient man held her as the larger man unfastened his pants. He pressed her face into the wall and leaned closer. His breath reeked of cheap liquor.

Shut up, bitch. I don’t know who the fuck you are asking me to give you fifty bucks for some fun. Then you try to run off with my money without putting out? You’re about to learn some fucking respect! When I say now, I mean now!

Steam poured from the manholes reducing the light’s visibility. The hope of help waned forcing their victim into fight or flight mode as she tried to break free of her captors. Jack slapped her in the mouth, and she fell limp against the man restraining her.

That’s better, Jack said, yanking his pants down to his knees. He shoved the skirt up in front of him moving her panties as he aimed for penetration.

That’s right, Jack. Teach her a fucking lesson. Kevin said. His excitement built inside. He was getting hard at the potential pain she would experience.

Bend her over the dumpster, Kevin. I’m going to ride her like the little bitch she is. It’ll be the last time she tries to steal money from me.

Shuffling sounds echoed in the restricted space. With the rats and strays that wondered the alleys, no one noticed the newcomer approaching from the dark end of the alley. A hood covered most of his face without hindering his vision. His fists clenched and unclenched as fury grew in his eyes.

The man stopped six feet away from the others where he watched the scene progress. His body temperature reached a boiling point. He reached for the weapons on his sides. His knuckles turned white from gripping the hilts of a pair of kukri knives.

An inner fire burst to life as he spoke to them. I think everything would be better if you would have walked away.

Both men froze in their tracks.

The hooded figure sprinted at them. Blades sliced the assailants’ legs leaving them on the ground. Their screams filled the alley as they writhed in pain waking the woman. She ran away in terror not knowing what to make of the turn of events.

Creed stood over the injured attackers. What gives you the right to treat others that way?

Hey man, she tried to cheat us, Jack retorted. He held onto the bleeding stumps that resembled his legs. Blood trickled from his lip.

Creed grabbed the pair by their shirts dragging them against the wall. He punched Jack in the mouth leading to a new gush of blood. Yeah, it’s her fault she’s on the streets letting others use her body. She gets a measly fifty dollars to willingly be raped by shit bags like you.

Kevin whimpered with his arms up in front of his face. He expected the same treatment Jack received by their attacker. Please man, let us go.

Creed slapped him in the side of the head. Shut up! You’re a sleazy coward. You’re not even brave enough to hurt her yourself.

What the fuck do you want from us? Jack’s voice broke as his anger returned.

I want the bullshit to end. Creed stood up and stabbed the men in their chest until they stopped moving. The kukri knives were covered in blood much like his clothes. He wiped his weapons off on their backs before slipping them back into the sheaths.

Creed ran down the alley when he heard the approaching sound. He snatched a bottle out of his pocket dowsing his shirt as it bubbled. The steam covered his ascent up the fire escape used to reach the others from the rooftop. He managed to make it halfway when the sound grew closer forcing him to speed up. It would be detrimental to his plans if he was caught.

Sirens blared on the street while the patrol car slammed its brakes. Two officers approached the alley with caution. Firearms led the way toward the dumpster where they stopped and stared. Steam rushed through with a gust of wind as the guns landed in their holsters. A hand went to the microphone on the driver’s shoulder.

We have two bodies in an alley off Central Avenue between Fifty-Second and Fifty-Third. He rubbed his eyes knowing the scene was still in his head.

Hey Cortez, come here, Officer Hawkins called.

Victor Cortez jogged over to the bodies. What is it?

Look at the wounds. Does anything seem familiar? Dina Hawkins leaned close to point. She took care not to touch anything.

Cortez studied the scene. Are those the same kinds of cuts as the bodies we found five blocks from here last week?

Yeah, they are. I mean they’re almost identical. Hawkins said. She stood up and stepped back to the opposite side of the alley.

What the hell is going on? Cortez thought he had seen it all. He walked to the cruiser; its lights flashed blue. Victor rummaged in the truck then packed a scene kit back to his partner. A kit contained yellow tape, sample and evidence supplies, and self-sealing body bags.

Hawkins began a grid for evidence once Cortez blocked off the alley. She had fifteen minutes to find anything before the Dark Men arrived for the bodies. She set up the grid sensors from the other end of the dumpsters to the drainpipe halfway down the alley. Dina pressed the trigger button waiting for the grid to reveal something.

Cortez checked the other end of the alley. The steam restricted his vision, but he doubted there was anything to find. If this was the same killer, they would not find anything, not a fingerprint or a splash of blood. Whoever this guy was, he was efficient.

Dina scanned the holographic layover. A couple of blips appeared. A fingerprint on the dumpster belonged to one of the dead men. The second piece of evidence found was a female hair on the second victim. Hawkins scanned the hair for a match. She walked over with a sample bag. The bag sealed as soon as the hair slithered to the bottom. Her scanner beeped. She had a match and a possible witness. Her eyes grew wide.

Fuck, she whispered. She looked for her partner. Cortez, you got anything?

Not a damn thing!

I have a possible lead. It’s going to be a bitch getting anything from it though. Come help me seal these two before they arrive.

Cortez walked back down the alley to the scene. They pulled the first man onto a plastic body bag. Metal clips shot from the top to the other end snapping in place. The thin layer was sealed closed to the rest. Cortez hated vacuum-seal bags. The thought of being stuck in one terrified him.

Hawkins pushed his shoulder. Quit gawking and help me with the little one.

The second bag sealed as the Dark Men arrived. The officers stepped back watching them pack the corpses into an unmarked van. The Dark Men tossed the pair into the hatch, closed it, and drove away. Cortez wondered if they even knew how to talk.

Dina looked at her scanner. She had it active while the Dark Men collected the bodies. Jesus Christ, they’re creepy.

What did it say? Cortez leaned closer for a view of the screen.

It didn’t even get a pulse. The body temperature was so low it couldn’t register. I don’t know what they are, but I don’t want to find out.

Yeah, I hear you. Hey, do you know what they do with the bodies?

No.

Neither does anyone else. The families receive a notice that a relative has died, and that’s it. My dad told me people used to have funerals and buried their dead.

That’s weird.

He said it, not me. So, who’s this lead?

Maria Sinclair.

Fuck, she’s not part of the Downtown Sinclair family, is she?

Yeah.

Why can’t you ever have good news for me?

Shut up and get in the car. Dina climbed into the passenger seat.

The cruiser drove toward Downtown. Victor Cortez cursed under his breath. He took the first Interloop with a sign to their destination. If one of the Sinclair family was involved, they might as well return to the precinct and pretend nothing happened.

The hooded man watched the police car enter one of the Interloop exits. It spiraled up and around a few of the buildings then dropped back down to the ground level of the city. The wind prevented his ability to hear the woman’s first name, but the male officer repeated the last name.

Creed grinned. Sinclair, huh? Interesting.

He dropped off the other side of the building and disappeared down the alley on a black motorbike.

Ghede Nibo

The man rushed down the alley wide-eyed and panicking. His tie flapped over his shoulder even as he bounced off a cement wall. He opened his mouth to scream, but he strangled and coughed instead. The man’s adrenaline pumped more into his body while fear flooded his mind. He stumbled for a second then continued, managing to keep his footing. An absolute truth held his conviction to run no matter what. If he fell, he would die.

Car horns blared at the psycho forcing his way across the busy street for the safety of the next alley. He only had to reach the next street over to the closest police department. The man jumped through a group of people into the darkness. He took three steps feeling his confidence grow. The paint canister rolled away with a clunk followed by the sickening thud of his full weight. Then there was nothing.

Cold steel tapped the top of his balding head. It is time for you to wake up, Judge Orman. You have slept long enough, sleeping beauty.

His voice felt muffled against the tape across his mouth. He almost lost his breath pleading for his life. A cramp developed between his shoulder blades from his bound arms. He looked up with tearful eyes at the man with a smooth head and weird tattoos. Judge Orman had heard rumors of this man.

You do not look surprised to see me. Have you been expecting me, maybe? He perched on his legs in front of the judge. Do you know why I am called Ghede Nibo?

Judge Orman shook his head.

In the few remaining scripts of my religion, Ghede Nibo was considered the first human to die by violence. He became the connection between the living and the dead for other victims of violence. He became their guardian after death. As their guardian, I also became their avenger.

Judge Orman mumbled in vowels. He struggled to loosen his binds sliding down the wall. He wallowed in the trash surrounding him on the pavement. Nothing worked. His head became covered in scrapes from the cement he thrashed against.

You are only hurting yourself. The binds will not give. Now I want to explain while we are here together. Ghede ran a hand up his hairless head. He held a knife in his other hand letting it reflect light from street lamps from both ends of the alley. We all sin in our lives, Orman. Some sin less than others attempting to lead a good life with regret for those sins. However, others sin without a care in the world except for the greed that motivates them. This could be a greed for money, power, or other material possessions.

Orman lay among the trash in the alley less than a block from a police department where he would be safe. He refused to move and even fought the need to breathe.

I think you understand fully why we are here. That is why you ran from me. We both know what you have done in your position. You turned your back against the people who walked into your courtroom begging for help. You turned a blind eye to everyone who has you on their payroll. Instead, you punished the wrongly accused and the victims of your employers.

Orman felt his heart skip a beat. Blood rushed his ears while a new feeling found a hold. Who was this nobody to judge him? Who could this fool think he is? His eyes shot daggers at the piece of trash standing over top of him. A bald man covered in tattoos holding a knife thinks he can criticize his choices. He was the great Judge Orman who sat on the bench in the second largest district in the city. No one like this lowlife could ever...

Ghede leaned down, placing his blade against the judge’s throat. His single gold tooth glittered in the same light as the knife. Do not doubt I know what you are thinking, dear judge. You wonder why I am calling you on your sins, do you not? Have you not heard the stories about me? I am the one they call, the Sin Eater.

Ghede straightened to his full height turning his back to the terrified man on the ground. He ignored the deer-in-the-headlights stare attempting to pierce his body. You see, the problem is your so-called status. You judge other people how you see fit, but you believe you are above judgment. No one is above judgment. You are not above judgment. I am not above judgment. However, I do collect sins of others, and now I am here for yours. I would apologize, but I think this city will be better off when you are dead.

Orman mumbled into the restraint over his mouth trying to plead for his life. He rocked side to side, almost rolling onto his face. Ghede caught his shoulder pinning him long enough to rip off the tape. Orman howled out from the pain of hair and skin being pulled free from his face.

I’ll have your head, you fucking psycho! I’ll do more than that. I’ll make an example out of you. You will dangle from the flagpole of the courthouse! Orman screamed, despite the strained throat. His nostrils flared with his tongue pressed between his teeth.

Ghede Nibo yanked the man off the ground, pinning him to the wall. Tut-tut, that is no way to speak to someone. What makes you think you will have the chance to do such things, Orman? Your evil ways end here in an alley like the rest of the trash.

Ghede dropped him. He ignored the gasp when the man’s breath left his body as it hit the ground. One hand reached for the judge’s leg and pulled him into position. His resolution was complete, and the sinner had been judged.

Judge Orman’s head pounded with a trickle of blood streaming from a gash. His hands throbbed from scrapes and possible fractures. His vision blurred, unable to make out the tattoos on his attacker. Was it his imagination, or did they move of their own accord?

Ghede drew symbols around the man in chalk. He chanted to himself, a little audible above the traffic from the streets. A couple of raindrops fell from the sky forcing him to rush his scribbling. The chant became clearer as Ghede Nibo sat on the man’s abdomen. He sprinkled liquid from a flask on the forehead.  The knife sliced open the shirt so he could place a tiny piece of dry bread on Judge Orman’s bare chest.

Judge Orman gasped when the blade entered his body. He watched his killer remove the bread crumb from his chest ingesting it. Ghede kissed the dying man’s forehead leaning over his mouth. Judge Orman felt his life force flowing from his body into the Sin Eater. Ghede Nibo gave one final twist of the knife.

Raindrops fell harder and faster into the dead man’s face. The chalk symbols were smeared with each splatter. Ghede Nibo listened to the traffic wiping off the judge’s blood on his leg with a peroxide wipe. He hid the knife scaling a fire escape to the rooftop. Lightning flashed above him, proof that the storm had landed. Not that it made much difference.

He rushed across to the opposite ledge letting his legs push him to the next building. Ghede forced his way to the shortest building five blocks away. He climbed down the escape waiting for a taxi to pull up. Ghede gave the driver an address and relaxed in the backseat.

Officer Cortez

The Downtown District belonged to the elitist families and their companies. Calvin Sinclair and his family owned the largest media conglomerate in the overpopulated metropolis. He controlled the zeppelins floating above the skyscrapers. Every judge in the city remained on their payroll. The name paralyzed law enforcement to frustrated whispers and locker room curses.

The Sinclair Company had ties to every corporation in the city. He held all the cards and keys, including the leaders in City Hall. Nothing moved outside of his circle without his say. He embraced his power both dark and light. Calvin Sinclair owned the city, and that made him untouchable.

Officers Cortez and Hawkins pulled the cruiser into a parking space. Victor mumbled under his breath. He knew they found a dead end, but Dina insisted. She refused to accept defeat, wanting any possible chance with Maria Sinclair. Cortez walked around the front end of the car. Hawkins waited on the sidewalk. They approached the on-duty security.

Victor Cortez flashed his badge. We’re here to see Maria Sinclair.

The guard ignored both officers. Dina decided she would try. We are here to ask Maria Sinclair about two dead bodies down in Dawnbury.

She stepped toward the house. Her action sparked enough attention for the appearance of a red dot on her shirt. Cortez jerked her back to his side.

Don’t do that. It’s alright. Come on, Hawkins.

Why did you stop me? She demanded.

Cortez leaned down close to her ear. Shut your mouth for now and trust me.

The guard interrupted. If you have any questions for Miss Sinclair, I suggest you go back to your precinct and contact their lawyer. Now return to your vehicle. Another step toward the property constitutes trespassing. I don’t want to resort to force.

No, we got the hint. We’re going now. Cortez raised his hands.

Dina opened her mouth, but Victor spun her toward the cruiser, quickening his pace. He shoved her into the passenger and climbed behind the steering wheel. He jammed the cruiser in gear speeding down the street.

Why the hell did you do that, Cortez?

He would have shot you on the spot. I’m not ready to watch another partner die. There are other ways to get answers from Maria Sinclair.

What do you mean?

Cortez cut around to the next street. He found an empty spot near the entrance to the Sinclair parking garage. Victor pressed a button cloaking the car to look like another civilian sedan. She has to return home. We can pull her over before she makes it onto the property.

You’re a sneaky son of a bitch.

You have to be when dealing with families like the Sinclairs. They’re untouchable once the lawyers get involved.

Do we even know if she’s home?

No, but we don’t have any other leads.

How long can we sit here and wait? Dina checked her watch.

If we’re lucky, we have two or three hours, tops. Do you have a hot date tonight or something? Victor asked, a sly smile played on his lips.

The radio sprang to life calling them to the scene of a robbery in progress. Victor frowned, not prepared to explain what they were doing in a different district. He mumbled a curse then clicked the button to answer. We’re on our way.

Dina heard Cortez mumble a few more curses under his breath. He rushed toward the crime, turned on the lights, and removed the cloaking function two blocks from the garage. The traffic swerved out of their way. Dina Hawkins glanced through her sideview mirror at the fading possibility.

Calvin Sinclair

Calvin Sinclair monitored the exchange between the pair of officers and his guards. If a cruiser appeared before his house, it typically resulted from that waste of a daughter of his. His knuckles cracked with pressure from the opposite hand. His thoughts raced on the proper punishment for that damn girl. He was tired of cleaning up her messes. She had to change or die. Those were the only acceptable terms at this point.

A phone rang on his desk, but he knew the conversation that awaited him. He felt a growl build in his stomach wishing to be released as he answered it.

What is it?

They were here wanting to speak with Ms. Maria about dead bodies in Dawnbury.

Damn that girl. You did well sending them away. Make the calls to make it disappear. I don’t need anything about them traced back to this house. I’ll deal with my daughter as soon as she returns from her embarrassing romp outside of these walls. Calvin ended the call.

How much longer would he have to tolerate this bane on his existence? He should have killed her when that useless bitch of a mother died. Insolence! Calvin kicked the chair across the room letting it splinter against the wall. His teeth ground together in a sneer. Maria would have to bear his wrath on her return.

Until then, he had other things to consider. Calvin walked to his office for a few more private calls. There were dinner invitations for the night he must extend to important clients. He suppressed the disappointment for his idiot